Aerobic Equipment: The Treadmill and More

Aerobic exercise is an important component of a healthy lifestyle. Find out more about aerobic equipment that can help keep you fit.

    Millions of Americans walk or run on treadmills or use other types of equipment to get aerobic exercise, and according to the National Sporting Goods Association, they spend billions of dollars every year on home aerobic equipment and gym memberships. The benefits of aerobic exercise done on these machines include better cardiovascular health, improved bone and muscle strength, and an increased sense of well-being.

Why You Need Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic exercise is good for your heart. Learn about the latest aerobic exercise guidelines and the health benefits of aerobic exercise.

    The most recent guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine recommend 30 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise five days a week or 20 minutes of high intensity aerobic exercise three days a week to maintain good health and reduce your risk of chronic disease. For aerobic workouts, 60 to 80 percent of your maximum heart rate is generally the zone you should reach and sustain to get the most benefits.

Design Your Best Workout Plan

Take an active role in finding a workout plan that fits your personality and fitness goals.

    According to the National Institutes of Health, lack of physical activity, along with poor diet, is the second leading preventable cause of death in the United States. "Many Americans are overweight and most don't exercise regularly. Both of these contribute to cardiovascular disease, the number one killer in the world," says John Higgins, MD, assistant professor of cardiology and an exercise physiologist at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

The Secret to Stronger Muscles

If you want bigger, stronger muscles, you don't need to reach for the heaviest weight on the rack.

    One look at Olympic weight-lifters shows that the heavier the weights, the stronger the weight lift, right? Although there's definitely some truth to this conventional workout wisdom, a new position paper published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism argues that there's more to the story. 

Should You Try the Bar Method?

Move over Zumba, there's a dance-based workout craze in town. Here's how the Bar Method can help you burn fat and tone your major muscle groups.

    If dancing your way to fitness sounds like more fun than logging hours on a treadmill or sweating through a Pilates class, consider a bar-based class, such as the Bar Method. A bar workout is a dance class that combines ballet moves with core conditioning, yoga, Pilates, and weight training, and lasts about an hour. Bar Method is simply the name of the original franchise that created and popularized the workout. In the past few years, the Bar Method and other forms of ballet-based fitness have experienced a surge of popularity, thanks to the workout’s ability to help exercisers shed pounds, sculpt their bodies without bulk, and gain more energy in a motivating group exercise class.