Because Mr. Winter is soon to sweep in, if you don’t prepare yourself with a back up plan for cardiovascular exercise, chances are you will gain unnecessary weight. If you are living in an unsafe walking area, albeit rough, busy roads or a rough neighborhood, exercising at home is perfectly fine but you have to be careful not to get complacent.

Workouts on a treadmill versus the real road can be less effective, especially if your treadmill does not have an incline. Inclines help with toning the lower body and burning fat. If your treadmill has incline capability, use it. Challenge yourself by varying your speed. Increase your speed for one minute and back it down for two intervals. Interval training keeps your body working and doesn’t allow it to get into a comfy, heart rate zone which may not be that effective for your cardiovascular system. Treadmills can be helpful if you have a knee injury. The bed of a treadmill absorbs some of the impact, giving your lower body a break.

The cons of a treadmill include; price, storage or space limitations and improper use. Used incorrectly can result in a ride off the back of the bed. The biggest con? The clothes line factor. Not using it and having it become a portable dumpster in your basement.

Best bet? Go outside and hit the real road. There is nothing like taking a walk or a jog outside. The workout on a treadmill can get boring. Outdoors scenery offers more to entertain you and your workouts seem to be over sooner. You will burn more calories outside. Because the treadmill absorbs some of your body weight, you are not moving 100% of you of your weight through space, hence the work outs will be a bit less intense. Moving across the ground is as real as it gets. The natural hills on regular terrain forces your cardiovascular system to work harder.

The cons to outdoor workouts include; danger with traffic, inclement weather or dogs. If you are walking on the roads, the natural slant to the road can cause stress on your ankles or hips. NO matter where you decide to exercise, flat surfaces are best. Dirt is better than pavement and concrete is the worst. Be sure to alter your speed and incline for best results.

If you are looking to buy a treadmill, make sure it can be serviced in YOUR home so you don’t have to box it up and ship it, if it breaks down. Plus, when shopping for a treadmill, if the sales person doesn’t fit you to a treadmill based on the weight of the people who will use it, take your business somewhere else.