Reviews like the Schwinn 418 (est $800) , which wins a couple of best-buy ratings. The Schwinn 418 has a flywheel design, like the Smooth elliptical trainers above, and the handlebars move, providing an upper body workout. Heart-rate sensors are located on the handgrips. There are 12 programs, a weight capacity of 275 pounds, and an 18-inch stride, which should be comfortable for most users. Schwinn offers a 15-year frame warranty, shorter than the lifetime frame warranties offered by Precor and Smooth, but reviews say the quality and durability of the Schwinn 418 are excellent for this price range. Compared to the higher-end Spirit XE 350, the Schwinn has eight resistance levels compared to 20 for the Spirit. The Spirit has a higher weight limit and a two-year labor warranty. Schwinn only gives you a six-month labor warranty.

However, we're read some recent complaints about manufacturing flaws with the Schwinn 418. Several owners posting comments to Amazon.com report that the Schwinn elliptical trainer broke in the same place -- that the welds holding the mast to the frame are too weak. Although the price is low, the six-month labor warranty and reports of the exact same durability problem gives us pause. Though it costs more, the Spirit XE 350 comes with a two-year labor warranty.

In this price range, TreadmillDoctor.com likes the NordicTrack Elite 1300, Epic 1000 and ProForm 21.0 (est $850) . All three of these elliptical machines are made by the same manufacturer, Icon Health and Fitness. We found the ProForm to be a bit easier to find in stores. This model has an 18-inch stride, gel handgrips on the handles and 12 programs. Its big innovation is that it includes a few video games you can play on the small console screen. You control the games with the handgrips. Reviews say this feature is pretty gimmicky, but the elliptical trainer as a whole is a good value. Unfortunately, the ProForm warranty is one of the worst in the industry -- only 90 days on parts and labor. The weight limit is 250 pounds.

The Fitness Quest Eclipse 1100 HR/A elliptical trainer (*est. $400) has an unusual one-year limited warranty on parts and labor. Blake Bissaillion from BuildingMuscle101.com recommends the Fitness Quest Eclipse, saying that its steel frame is sturdy and won't wobble even at higher speeds and that it can support up to 275 pounds. Bissaillion says the Fitness Quest elliptical trainer is lightweight and compact enough to be wheeled from room to room. The Fitness Quest 1100 HR/A has a 275-pound weight limit, ten preset programs and two heart-rate-controlled programs -- a large number for this budget price range. The heart-rate sensors are in the handgrips, which move to provide an upper body workout. This model uses a flywheel design like the Smooth and Schwinn elliptical trainers above, but the stride length is only 15 inches, which may be too short for tall individuals (as opposed to the Spirit XE ellipticals above, which have a 20-inch stride). We found some good owner comments for this model.

Other reviewers like the ProForm 900 (est $600) . Like the Fitness Quest above, the ProForm 900 has handlebars for an upper body workout and an included heart-rate monitor, located on the handgrips. This ProForm elliptical trainer has six exercise programs, but at additional cost, you can download more programs from the Internet. It also has a fan in the console to keep you cool. Although these extra features sound nice, reviews say such things are often gimmicky, especially when the machine itself isn’t built to last. Reviews warn that the ProForm elliptical trainer does not have the stability of higher-priced elliptical trainers, plus ProForm's standard warranty is very short -- only 90 days.

At TreadmillDoctor.com, editors highlight the Image 8.5 (*est. $400). This model is also made by Icon Health and Fitness, and it shares the same short 90-day warranty. This flywheel model has a 17.5-inch stride, movable handles for an upper body workout, and a handgrip heart-rate monitor.

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Nordictrack Elliptical replacement wheels 100mm

US $29.00

29d 17h 21m

Nordic Track CX 925 Rear Drive Elliptical trainer

US $350.00

1d 4h 19m

ProForm SpaceSaver 930 Elliptical Fitness PFEL59107 LED

US $449.00

14h 54m

Proform XP 115 Elliptical

0 Bid

US $.01

1d 15h 12m

PROFORM XP110 REAR DRIVE ELIPTICAL TRAINER

0 Bid

US $199.99

2d 44m

Elliptical Ramp Roller NordicTrack Healthrider 206612

US $73.33

3d 15h 18m

Elliptical Ramp Roller NordicTrack Healthrider ProForm

US $80.80

25d 14h 17m

6V TENSION MOTOR NORDIC TRACK PROFORM W BRACKET NEW

US $40.00

25d 6h 19m

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The Precor EFX 5.17i elliptical trainer has an accessory holder on the console for your water bottle or CD player. Precor comes standard with a child safety feature to prevent accidental startups, but you have to pay extra for the optional heart-rate monitor. The Precor EFX 5.17i elliptical trainer doesn't include an upper body workout, but step-up models do, including the (*est. $2,700) and the EFX 5.33 (*est. $3,800). However, these two models have a 20-degree fixed ramp, so if you like to adjust the incline while working out, you might opt for the EFX 5.17i instead. With Precor elliptical trainers, you must choose between an upper body workout and an adjustable incline.

We featured the Precor EFX 5.21 (*est. $3,700) in a previous version of this report, but chose to replace it with the EFX 5.17i, which is less expensive but has comparable features. For the extra money, the Precor EFX 5.21i gives you two extra workout programs, a slightly larger 13- to 30-degree incline, and an included heart-rate monitor. The only downside to Precor elliptical trainers (besides the high price) is the large size and weight (the very qualities that make them so stable), so make sure you have enough space.

Another higher-end option is the Life Fitness X3 elliptical trainer (*est. $3,000). This elliptical trainer has movable handlebars for an upper body workout and an interactive heart-rate monitor to help keep you in your target heart-rate zone. The Life Fitness elliptical trainer has 12 workouts, including a "My Workouts" section that stores weight, incline levels and progress for up to four workouts or people. However, experts at TreadmillDoctor.com say this model is overpriced for what you get, and in this price range, Precor is better.

If you're looking for a lot of features on a limited budget, reviewers like the Smooth CE 3.2 (est $1700). Experts say it's durable for the price and offers a full complement of features for the money. It has nine customizable programs, a 300-pound weight capacity, and comes with a wireless heart-rate monitor. Movable handlebars give your upper body a workout, but reviews especially like the pivoting foot pedals, which decrease ankle strain. One drawback: The stride length on the Smooth CE 3.2 is 16 inches, which may be too short for taller people. However, Smooth's step-up model, the CE 7.4 (est $2,500) has a 19-inch stride, equivalent to the Precor elliptical trainers above.

Smooth's elliptical trainers use a flywheel instead of rollers on a ramp for the leg movement, and thus, the user can’t adjust the incline. The machine's speed and resistance are based on the workout program, but these can be customized as you work out. This is an improvement over Smooth's former CE models, which didn't allow setting changes. The high-end Precor EFX 5.17 elliptical trainer (*est. $2,700), on the other hand, has an adjustable incline to vary your workout. (Reviews say a variable incline can help isolate different muscle groups.) Smooth elliptical trainers have a lifetime warranty on parts and a one-year labor warranty.

According to reviews at TreadmillDoctor.com, Spirit elliptical trainers are a great value right now; editors think that Spirit is actually underpricing its elliptical trainers. This manufacturer gets good reviews for its treadmills, but we didn't see as many reviews for its elliptical trainers. Both the Spirit XE 350 (*est. $1,450) and the Spirit XE 550 (*est. $1,750) have a long 20-inch stride and upper body handles. Articulated foot pedals reduce ankle stress. Twenty resistance levels and ten workout programs help vary your workout. Neither of these machines has an adjustable incline (a feature you're unlikely to see at this price level). Both models have heart-rate control, a fan and an accessory holder. Both machines include a lifetime warranty on the frame and brake system, plus five years on other parts. A two-year labor warranty is included, which is more generous than Smooth.

The Spirit XE 350 has a 350-pound user weight limit; the XE 550 has a 400-pound weight limit. Added features on the higher-end XE 550 include molded handgrips, a cushioned foot pad and a heart-rate "autopilot" feature, which varies the resistance automatically to keep you in your target heart-rate zone. The entry-level Spirit XE 150 (*est. $1,250) costs less, but doesn't have many heart-rate features, has a smaller display, a 300-pound weight limit and no adjustable foot pedals.

We highlighted the Vision Fitness 6200HRT elliptical trainer (*est. $1,500) in a previous version of this report. The manufacturer upgraded this model to the X6200HRT (*est. $2,000), which also gets some high scores in reviews. Like the Life Fitness elliptical trainer and Spirit XE 550 above, the Vision Fitness X6200HRT will automatically change resistance to maintain your target heart rate (sensors are located in the handgrips). The movable handles work your upper body, plus this model can fold up for storage.

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PRECOR 544 EFX PARTS LIFT MOTOR EXCHANGE

US $175.00

24d 12h 11m

LIFT MOTOR EXCHANGE FOR PRECOR 546 ELLIPTICAL

US $175.00

9d 11h 45m

Precor EFX 546 V2 Rear Drive Elliptical trainer

US $1,700.00

3h 22m

PRECOR ELLIPTICAL PARTS 546 EFX BATTERY

US $75.00

2d 10h 22m

Precor EFX 525 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer

1 Bid

US $6,700.00

7h 35m

Precor EFX 517i Rear Drive Elliptical trainer

US $1,000.00

10h

1

You've decided it's time to start exercising. Congratulations! You've taken the first step on your way to a new and improved body and mind.

"Exercise is the magic pill," says Michael R. Bracko, EdD, FACSM, chairman of the American College of Sports Medicine's Consumer Information Committee. "Exercise can literally cure diseases like some forms of heart disease. Exercise has been implicated in helping people prevent or recover from some forms of cancer. Exercise helps people with arthritis. Exercise helps people prevent and reverse depression."

And there's no arguing that exercise can help most people lose weight, as well as look more toned and trim.
Of course, there's a catch. You need to get -- and keep -- moving if you want to cash in on the benefits. This doesn't necessarily mean following a strict, time-consuming regimen at the gym -- although that can certainly reap benefits. The truth is you can get rewards from many different types and levels of exercise.

"Any little increment of physical activity is going to be a great boost to weight loss and feeling better," says Rita Redberg, MSc, chairwoman of the American Heart Association's Scientific Advisory Board for the Choose to Move program.
Your exercise options are numerous, including walking, dancing, gardening, biking -- even doing household chores, says Redberg. The important thing is to choose activities you enjoy, she says. That will increase your chances of making it a habit.

And how much exercise should you do? For heart health, the AHA recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as walking, on most days of the week.

Yet "if you're getting less than that, you're still going to see benefits," says Redberg. "It's not like if you can't do 30 minutes, you shouldn't do anything, because you're definitely going to see benefits even at 5 or 10 minutes of moving around."

Ready to get started? Health and fitness experts helped WebMD compile this beginner's guide to exercise, including definitions of some common exercise terms, sample workouts, and recommendations on home exercise equipment.

A way to measure the intensity of your exercise is to check you heart rate or pulse during physical activity. These should be within a target range during different levels of intensity.

For example, according to the CDC, for moderate-intensity physical activity, a person's target heart rate should be 50% to 70% of his or her maximum heart rate.

Get Ready
The first step to any workout routine is to evaluate how fit you are for your chosen physical activity. Whenever you begin an exercise program, it's wise to consult a doctor. Anyone with major health risks, males aged 45 and older, and women aged 55 and older should get medical clearance, says Cedric Bryant, PhD, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise.
But no matter what your medical condition, you can usually work out in some way.

"I can't think of any medical issue that would get worse from the right kind of exercise," says Stephanie Siegrist, MD, an orthopedic surgeon in private practice in Rochester, N.Y.

After assessing your fitness, it helps to set workout goals. For example, do you want to prepare to run a 5K? Hit the gym five times a week? Or just walk around the block without getting winded?
"Make sure the goals are clear, realistic, and concise," says Sal Fichera, an exercise physiologist and owner of New York-based Forza Fitness.

Whatever your goals and medical condition, approach any new exercise regimen with caution.
"Start low and go slow," advises Bryant. Many beginners make the mistake of starting out too aggressively, only to give up when they end up tired, sore, or injured, he says. Some get discouraged because they think an aggressive workout will produce instant results.

"Generally speaking, when people go about it too aggressively early in the program, they tend not to stick with it over the long haul," says Bryant. "What you really want to do is to develop some new habits that you can stick with for a lifetime."

Fitness Definitions
Even long-term exercisers may have misconceptions about exactly what some fitness terms mean. Here are some definition of words and phrases you're likely to encounter:

• Aerobic/cardiovascular activity. These are exercises that are strenuous enough to temporarily speed up your breathing and heart rate. Running, cycling, walking, swimming, and dancing fall in this category.
• Maximum Heart Rate is based on the person's age. An estimate of a person's maximum age-related heart rate can be obtained by subtracting the person's age from 220.
• Flexibility training or stretching. This type of workout enhances the range of motion of joints. Age and inactivity tend to cause muscles, tendons, and ligaments to shorten over time. Contrary to popular belief, however, stretching and warming up are not synonymous. In fact, stretching cold muscles and joints can make them prone to injury.
• Strength, weight, or resistance training. This type of exercise is aimed at improving the strength and function of muscles. Specific exercises are done to strengthen each muscle group. Weight lifting and exercising with stretchy resistance bands are examples of resistance training activities, as are exercises like pushups in which you work against the weight of your own body.
• Set. Usually used in discussing strength training exercises, this term refers to repeating the same exercise a certain number of times. For instance, a weight lifter may do 10 biceps curls, rest for a few moments, then perform another "set" of 10 more biceps curls.
• Repetition or "rep." This refers to the number of times you perform an exercise during a set. For example, the weight lifter mentioned above performed 10 reps of the bicep curl exercise in each set.
• Warm up. This is the act of preparing your body for the stress of exercise. The body can be warmed up with light intensity aerobic movements like walking slowly. These movements increase blood flow, which in turn heats up muscles and joints. "Think of it as a lube job for the body," Bryant explains. At the end of your warm-up, it's a good idea to do a little light stretching.
• Cooldown. This is the less-strenuous exercise you do to cool your body down after the more intense part of your workout. For example, after a walk on a treadmill, you might walk at a reduced speed and incline for several minutes until your breathing and heart rate slow down. Stretching is often part of a cooldown.

Sample Workouts for Beginners
Before beginning any fitness routine, it's important to warm up, then do some light stretching. Save the bulk of the stretching for after the workout.

Once you're warmed up, experts recommend three different types of exercise for overall physical fitness: cardiovascular activity, strength conditioning, and flexibility training. These don't all have to be done at once, but doing each on a regular basis will result in balanced fitness.

• Cardiovascular activity. Start by doing an aerobic activity, like walking or running, for a sustained 20-30 minutes, four to five times a week, says Bryant. To ensure you're working at an optimum level, try the "talk test": Make sure you can carry on a basic level of conversation without being too winded. But if you can easily sing a song, you're not working hard enough.
• Strength conditioning. Start by doing one set of exercises targeting each of the major muscle groups. Bryant suggests using a weight at which you can comfortably perform the exercise eight to 12 times in a set. When you think you can handle more, gradually increase either the weight, the number of repetitions, or number of sets. To maximize the benefits, do strength training at least twice a week. Never work the same body part two days in a row.
• Flexibility training. The American College on Exercise recommends doing slow, sustained static stretches three to seven days per week. Each stretch should last 10-30 seconds.
To learn how to perform certain exercises, consider hiring a personal trainer for a session or two, or take advantage of free sessions offered when you join a gym.

Home Exercise Equipment
Exercise doesn't have to be done at the gym. You can work out in the comfort of your own home. And with calesthenic-type exercises such as squats, lunges, pushups, and sit-ups, you can use the resistance of your own weight to condition your body. To boost your strength and aerobic capacity, you may also want to invest in some home exercise equipment.
Experts offer their thoughts on some popular home exercise items:

• Treadmill. This best-selling piece of equipment is great for cardiovascular exercise, says Bracko. He recommends starting out walking at a low intensity for 30 minutes and applying the talk test. Depending on how you do, adjust the intensity, incline, and/or time accordingly.
• Free weights. Barbells and dumbbells make up this category of strength-training equipment. Dumbbells are recommended for beginners. Fichera suggests purchasing an 18 pound adjustable dumbbell set, which can be adjusted in 3 pound increments.
• Other strength training equipment. This includes weight stacks (plates with cables and pulleys), flexible bands, and flexible rods. Fichera says flexible bands are good for beginners, especially since they come with instructions. But he doesn't recommend them for long-term use; your muscles will likely adapt to the resistance and need more of a challenge.
• Exercise ball. Although instructions and/or a companion video can accompany this gadget, Bracko worries that beginners may use exercise balls improperly. "Some people fall off or can't keep the ball still," he says. But if you enjoy working out with an exercise ball, it can provide a good workout.
• Exercise videos and DVDs. Before working out with a home exercise video or DVD, Siegrist recommends watching through it at least once to observe the structure and proper form of the workout. To further improve form, she suggests working out in front of a mirror, if possible, or having someone else watch you do the exercise.

Best Heavy-Duty Treadmill for Daily Runners
Landice L7 Cardio Trainer

TreadmillDoctor.com and Consumer Reports both subject the Landice L7 Cardio Trainer to expert testing and rank it against other treadmills, but neither provides much information about the model's features. Runner's World gets runners to test treadmills, and it provides more detailed test results, but it does not score or rank models. The review at TreadmillSensei.com is longer than the others; it is based on the reviewer's personal experience with the L7 Cardio Trainer. About.com includes the L7 Cardio Trainer in a list of the best $3,000-and-up treadmills, but it provides almost no information about the treadmills on the list.

If you run on your treadmill every day, experts say the heavy-duty Landice L7 Cardio Trainer) is well worth its relatively high price. Its powerful 4-horsepower motor and inch-thick running deck are built for abuse, reviews say, and you won't find the L7 Cardio Trainer's warranty (lifetime frame/parts/wear items, one year labor) on even the best mid-priced treadmills, such as the Sole F80 (*est. $1,500). The L7 Cardio Trainer doesn't fold up or have that many bells and whistles, but critics are more likely to recommend the more basic L7 Cardio Trainer than any other upscale treadmill. They mostly like the features it does include, such as a wireless chest strap heart rate monitor, which is optional on the less expensive Landice L7 Pro Trainer (*est. $3,000). Another less expensive Landice, the L7 Pro Sports Trainer (*est. $3,000), does include the monitor, but reviews more often recommend the L7 Cardio Trainer with its additional built-in workout programs. More than one review cautions buyers to read the fine print on the Landice warranty, to make sure they don't do anything to invalidate it.

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Landice L7 Treadmill Belt

US $139.00

25d 13h 19m

LANDICE L7 Pro Trainer Treadmill Lifetime Warranty New

US $2,895.00

24d 15h 23m

LANDICE L7 Pro Sport Trainer Treadmill Life Warrnty New

US $3,195.00

24d 15h 23m

LANDICE L7 Executive Trainer Treadmill Life Warrnty New

US $4,095.00

24d 15h 23m

LANDICE L7 Cardio Trainer Treadmill Life Warranty New

US $3,495.00

24d 15h 23m

LANDICE TREADMILL BELT L7 L 7

US $99.99

23d 9h 17m

NEW Landice L7 Treadmill Decals Replacement Stickers

US $2.99

17d 10h 9m

LANDICE L7 OEM Treadmill Belt Treadbelt 58x20 70468 New

US $159.95

7d 17h 10m

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Best All-Around Treadmill
Sole F80

A variety of specialty treadmill-review websites, including TreadmillDoctor.com, TreadmillSensei.com, TreadmillTips.com and Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com, weigh in on the Sole F80, as do owners posting at Amazon.com. Unfortunately, Consumer Reports does not include this treadmill in its comparison tests, nor is it tested by Runner's World.

All of the sources we consulted are in solid agreement about the Sole F80 folding treadmill, calling it the best treadmill in its price range. This machine has a generous 350-pound weight limit with big rollers that help reduce wear and tear. One especially credible reviewer praises the Sole F80's hydraulically-assisted folding action, which makes it easy to store. Its belt is comfortably wide (20 inches) but only 55 inches long, so although the F80 is sturdy enough for running, reviews say tall runners may want to step up to the Sole F85 (*est. $1,750), which has a longer belt. The Sole F80's warranty (lifetime motor, deck and frame; five years electronics, belt, rollers and labor; and two years in-home service) is one of the best at this price. If you don't think you'll do much (or any) running on your treadmill, reviews say you probably don't need to spend so much. Consider the Sole F63 (*est. $1,000) or Gold's Gym Maxx CrossWalk 650 (*est. $600) instead.

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