Let’s face it. On January 1, 2010 we all did our best to come up with some of the best New Years Resolutions we could think of. It’s time to get back in shape and you’re motivated more then ever to hit your brand new goals!

Fast forward 2 months… Have you taken the time to digest the past 2 months on how you’ve done so far.

• Did you ever start?
• Stopped because of motivation?
• Up & Down?

Either way, we’re all human and we need things in our life to keep us motivated and focused. Below are 3 tips to help you stay on track and reach your goals.

1. Change your Workout Routine

I know I’ve fallen victim to this more times then I can count. You start out running on the treadmill, complete the workout on the same old paper you walk around the gym with and you’re done.

Why is this bad? It’s boring for one and your body is becoming used to the same workout. You’re not pushing yourself. The result? The fantastic weight loss or muscle you built the first month isn’t moving like it was. You’re body needs to be pushed out of it’s comfort zone.

Get crazy. Change things up completely and the results will be a positive which ultimately keeps you motivated.

2. Get a Workout Buddy

It’s hard to get to the gym on a consistent basis. Early morning workouts you’re tired, lunch time you have errands to run and by the time you get home you’re exhausted.

Teaming up with a buddy at the gym is great for a few reasons. You feel that responsibility to keep working out together, you push yourselves and again, the results are positive.

3.  Reward Yourself

Yes, there’s the typical reward or incentive where at the end of all this you’re going to go on the trip you’ve always wanted to take. That’s great but even after just a few weeks or month you’re already feeling a lack of motivation.

Here’s a great solution to this. You can still have that grand finale at the end but why not treat yourself to a few finer things in life along the way?

Say for example your goal is to lose 40 pounds. Setup smaller goals along the way and for each one setup rewards for each.

• First 10 Pounds – 1st Prize (smallest prize)
• 20 Pounds – 2nd Prize
• 30 Pounds – 3rd Prize
• 40 Pounds – Grand Prize!

If you’ve read this far, hopefully you found this useful. If you have any other additional tips you’d like to share, we would love to hear them!

The LiveStrong LS9.9T Treadmill is a solid performer in the sub-$1000 category thanks to features like a solid 2.75 CHP motor, a large 20″ x 55″ running surface and a bevy of other features that are sure to make your workout effective and fun.

A great feature offered on the LS9.9T is the LiveTrack Performance Tracker. This handy electronic fitness journal tracks your progress over time, including your current workout, your average workout and your last workout. It also records stats for weekly goals, weekly totals and even lifetime totals. And the really cool thing about the LiveTrack is the results. According to LiveStrong “Research shows that those who journal their fitness routines, on average, achieve greater success than those who do not.”

Another solid selling point for the LiveStrong LS9.9T is the warranty. Usually machines in this price range come with a bare bones type of warranty that offers little protection in the long run. The LS9.9T bucks the trend by offering a lifetime warranty on the motor and frame, 3-years coverage on parts and a full 1-year unlimited in-home repair plan.

If you’re looking for a solid treadmill with an easy-to-digest price tage, the LiveStrong LS9.9T could be just the machine for you. MSRP on this model is $1,999, but you can buy it direct from LiveStrong for $999. LiveStrong also offers both 1 and 2-year extended service plans for an additional $79 and $109 respectively.

Click Here to Learn More or Buy the LiveStrong LS9.9T Treadmill.

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I mean, this is a product endorsed by Lance Armstrong so these have to be high-quality treadmills right? I guess the question is, are these LiveSTRONG® Treadmills worthy of the yellow jersey? Well, we’re here to tell you that indeed they are.

DEAL ALERT: Right now, you can buy the LiveSTRONG 16.9T Treadmill for just $1,699. Click here to BUY

Onto the TTR Review

Now, the LiveSTRONG 16.9T comes in as the top of line treadmill offered by LiveSTRONG Fitness so we needed to rate this accordingly. We first looked at what we think are 2 of the most important things when buying a treadmill.

• CHP – Continuous Duty Horsepower
• Warranty

After taking a look at the specs, right out of the gate, the top-end treadmill passed with flying colors. It touts a confident lifetime warranty on the frame and motor, 5 year on parts and 2 years in-home labor. On top of that it also struts a hefty 3.5 CHP motor. Oh my. Plenty for the avid, advanced runners that like those long-winded runs.

Onto to the display and dock. Most high-end treadmills come with an iPod® dock and so of course, we weren’t surprised to see that it also came with that feature. BUT, on top of that, they’ve added a nice little feature that we haven’t seen much of. They’ve integrated some Pioneer® Speakers into the dock. So if you don’t want to have your headphones on, you can still listen to your workout playlist.

Lastly, they’ve put a twist on the workout programs by using the LiveTrack™ Fitness Journal. It’s still 12 workout program but it’s more like a journal. One reason we really liked this idea was that it creates a fun and exciting way to track your workouts. Let’s be honest, running on the treadmill isn’t the funniest thing to do so adding something unique like a journal was an added bonus to keep you motivated.

LiveSTRONG 16.9T Images

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TTR Recommendation

After you get done reading through the specs and warranty info, not to mention who endorses this product, it’s a no-brainer. For a price tag of just $1,699 this treadmill is easily worth more and will give you everything from a $2,500+ machine.

With that being said, if you’re in the market for even just an intermediate or advanced treadmill, you might want to spend a few extra bucks to get the LiveSTRONG 16.9T Treadmill. After all, those few extra bucks go towards something meaningful. For every treadmill sold, part of the profits is donated to the LiveSTRONG® Foundation to fight cancer.

So again, is this treadmill worth the Yellow Jersey? Of course.

Click here to BUY the all-new LiveSTRONG® 16.9T Treadmill

Ask most people in the fitness industry and they’ll tell you: Precor is simply the top of the line…the Cadillac of treadmills. For good reason too. They’ve built a solid reputation for quality products and excellent customer service. Precor has been around since 1980 when they introduced their first piece of fitness equipment–an ergonomically designed rowing machine for home use. Today they make a variety of fitness equipment including treadmills, ellipticals, weight machines and more.

The Precor 9.33 Premium Series Treadmill is on the upper end of the Precor treadmill offering. And to put it simply, this machine is a runner’s dream. It’s clear when you step on this machine that someone has put a lot of thought into the overall design and the feature set. But more than that, the treadmill itself just feels nice and sturdy. We put a 180-lb tester on this machine at a flat sprint and throughout the test the unit never wobbled,  shook or bounced excessively.

One feature that’s light years ahead of anything else on the market is Precor’s Integrated Footplant Technology. Sounds complicated–and it is. But the results are pretty astonishing. When you’re running on the Precor 9.33, Integrated Footplant Technology measures your foot speed and re-calibrates the belt velocity over 100 times per second. The end result is a treadmill that adjusts and supports your natural stride rather than interrupting it. Brilliant idea.

Another bit of engineering that we really loved was the Ground Effects Technology. This integrated cushioning system is very simple, yet ingenious in its design. Essentially the Ground Effects Technology cushions your foot at the point of impact for less stress on your joints. The system then adds rigidity at the back or your stride for a firm push-off and greater overall stability. The result is a cushioned running surface that doesn’t feel squishy or spongy.

The Precor 9.33 features a full 3.0 HP continuous-duty motor that provides ample torque for any walking or running workout. Plus a host of club-quality features like a 15% incline range, 16 built-in workout programs, a bio-feedback center with integrated pulse monitor and a warranty that covers every single part for 10 years.

Of course all this technology doesn’t come cheap. If there is a downside to the Precor 9.33 treadmill, it’s the price. At around $4200 this machine is certainly on the upper end of the price spectrum. But if you’re a serious runner or simply someone who demands the best–the Precor 9.33 fits the bill and receives our highest recommendation.

Learn more about the Precor 9.33 Premium Series Treadmill

The Reebok 8000 C Treadmill provides a slightly different feature set in the low to mid-range treadmill market. The idea behind this unit is to provide both a cardio and strength training workout in the same session. To accomplish this, the Reebok 8000C comes with 6 built-in cross training workouts that– when combined with the included 2-lb. hand weights–provide a total body workout. There are also 9 “weight loss” workouts 9 including 300, 400, 500 and 600 calorie workouts–plus a 1 lb. Per Week workout.

For a treadmill on the lower end of the pricing spectrum, we were impressed with some of the features that come standard on the Reebok 8000 C. You’ll get the AirShock™ Cushioning System that Reebok touts will reduce impact by up to 28%, a built-in workout fan and an integrated heart rate monitor system.

Our favorite feature on this machine was the Interactive CrossTrainer system. This program provides visual prompts on the console for the user to perform a variety of strength training exercises.

Some things we didn’t feel were quite up to snuff include the limited 90-day warranty on parts and labor and the smallish 19-inch treadbelt width. Aside from those, we felt this machine would be quite adequate for a beginning user. The built-in programs are challenging and unique and–overall–the standard features are on the upper end of what you’d expect in this price range.

Click Here to get more information on the Reebok 8000 C Treadmill.

Yes it’s October again. Leaves are falling, temps are dropping and tubes of fake blood are selling like hotcakes. At TTR we’ve decided to get in the Halloween spirit by detailing some of the scariest treadmills we’ve ever seen. CAUTION: If you’re squeamish about horrifying gizmos, frighteningly bad designs and insane contraptions you may want to stop reading now.

1) The Underwater Treadmill – Ah yes, a relaxing day at the pool. You’ve got your sunblock, your water wings and your snorkel. So what’s missing? A treadmill of course!

The SPT Aquatic Underwater Treadmill simply drops into your pool and allows you to “walk or run in a weight-free environment against the natural smooth resistance that only water can provide.” Really? Whatever happened to–I don’t know–swimming in your pool?

2) The Anti-Gravity Treadmill – And you thought NASA only made space ships. This little doozie is called the Woodway G-Trainer. The G-Trainer™ creates a powerful lifting force, known as Advanced Differential Air Pressure Technology (ADAPT), that allows for precise ultra-low impact ambulation.

In all seriousness it’s a good tool that helps patients recover faster from orthopedic and neurological conditions. But dang, what a beastly looking contraption to have in your living room.

3) Treadmills for Tots – It’s just what every kids wants to see under the tree on Christmas morning…the Treadmill for Tots! Your kids will have hours of fun running and walking and running and walking…or not.

It’s actually not a bad idea, but whatever happened to playing football or riding bikes? Must be a generational thing.

4) The Rollator Treadmill – Just when you thought it was safe to stay inside… That’s right, the Ooms Rollator is the world’s first treadmill with wheels that actually moves when you walk.

I thought the whole point of a treadmill was so you could exercise inside? Again, probably a generational thing.

5) The Dog Treadmill – Our list just wouldn’t be complete without the treadmill for dogs–the Jog A Dog.

If you’ve got a pudgy pooch the Jog A Dog is “designed with the input of veterinarians, physical therapists, breeders and engineers” to help your dog get off the couch and get in shape.

There you have it. The 5 scariest treadmills on the market today. If you own, or have seen, a scary treadmill we’d love to see it. Just attach a pic to the comments section below this post or email us at info@top-treadmill-reviews.com. Happy Halloween!

With the amount of treadmills offered, that come in all shapes, sizes, brands & prices — we used our expertise and best judgment to assemble this list. So without further ado, here we go…

1. Sole F85 Treadmill

Year after year, the Sole F85 Treadmill is awarded the “Best Buy” Treadmill award and it’s more than deserving.

The Sole F85 treadmill may just be the best folding treadmill for runners. It has a powerful motor, extra long running surface and an impressive warranty. Sole has the reputation for building quality machines at value prices. They back it up with an industry leading two-year service warranty.

2. Nordic Track Incline Trainer X3

Yes, this Nordic Track X3 isn’t your traditional treadmill but we at TTR love all of the traditional treadmill rules it breaks.

• 40% incline? Check.
• Lifetime Warranty? Check.
• All the Bells & Whistles? Check.
• Built & backed by a trusted brand? Check.
• Fairly priced at $1,599? Check.

Need we say more?

3. Landice L770 Pro Trainer

The Landice L770 Pro Trainer Home is a rock solid treadmill for any fitness enthusiast. From beginner to pro—the Landice does its job and does it well.

We loved the bullet-proof construction, the class-leading warranty and the simple, yet effective design. Likely this is the last treadmill you’ll ever need and comes with a warranty to prove it. TTR gives the Landice L770 Pro Trainer Home it’s highest recommendation.

4. Sole F63 Treadmill

I’m sure you’re wondering why 2 Sole treadmills are on the same list? If you don’t like go make your own list because both the Sole F85 & Sole F63 deserve a spot on this list.

The Sole F63 is a wonderful treadmill that is more reminiscent of a higher end model than an entry-level treadmill. The F63 comes with all the bells and whistles, but doesn’t sacrifice quality or performance in the process. The Sole F63 also comes with a lifetime warranty on the motor and frame. Plus, at an ultra-reasonable $999 price point, we’d say this treadmill ranks right up there with the best of ‘em.

5. True Ps800 Treadmill

When first stepping on the True PS800, all I could think to myself was “this is a high-quality treadmill”. I’ve noticed that the True treadmill brand isn’t getting enough respect for the quality it brings to the table.

The True PS800 is packed with features and has a running surface like a commercial grade treadmill. This True treadmill can take anything you throw at it. Whether you purchase it just for individual use or have your whole family running on it, you can feel good knowing it will hold up for you.

DEAL ALERT: The Horizon T92 is on sale from $1,099 to $799. It comes with a Lifetime Warranty on the Motor and the Frame! Click here.

For the select few quality treadmills that come in under $1,000, the Horizon T92 Treadmill is right there with the best. There are some good deals, and this treadmill is one of them. The Horizon T92 comes with a 2.25 CHP motor, which can tolerate lots of use from power walkers and light joggers.

One thing we did notice however was the weight limit. Even though the manufacturer states that this machine can handle up to 325 pounds, it probably wouldn’t stand up to that much weight for long. We would recommend a more expensive, heavier treadmill for users above 230 pounds.

A nice characteristic about this treadmill is that it comes with 13 workout programsm, which allows you to vary your workouts. That’s quite a choice of programs for a treadmill in this category. With so much variety, you can constantly switch up your routine and never become bored.

TTR Recommendation

With a price tag of just $799, this treadmill still offers some nice features you wouldn’t normally find in this price category. The Horizon T92 offers their COMFORTselect™ adjustable cushioning for a softer feeling when you run which is nice on your knees. It also offers a wide deck and a durable, 2-ply belt with 20″ x 55″ workout space. Also, for your convenience there’s a speakers and MP3 input, heart rate grips, and cooling fan. Those are things you don’t think about when buying a treadmill but come in handy when you’re in the middle of a workout.

If you’re looking for a treadmill for walking or jogging this is a great treadmill for you. The 2.25 CHP motor is ideal for those types of needs and it comes with lifetime warranty. With a price tag of $799 and a lifetime warranty, that’s pretty tough to beat.

Click here to buy the Horizon T92 Treadmill.

More and more today’s treadmill buyer is focused not only on performance, but comfort as well. In fact comfort is the reason why many people choose to purchase a treadmill versus running outside. In turn treadmill manufacturers have started paying closer attention to cushioning systems. That’s why the NordicTrack Reflex SR Treadmill caught our eye. It uses a different idea in cushioning–one we think hits the nail on the head.

The Reflex SR doesn’t use shock absorbers or specialized belt construction–rather the deck itself is designed to actually flex and reduce impact on each step you take. The specialized deck is made of a composite material that absorbs impact and actually returns energy to your stride so you can workout longer without feeling like you’ve just run the Boston Marathon. We brought a used Reflex SR into the shop to test out the ReflexDeck cushioning and even though it had a few miles on it, the ReflexDeck felt great. Our 180 lb. tester ran for over 30 minutes and–for once–couldn’t have agreed more with the manufacturer’s claims about how vastly superior this cushioning system is. Apparently he wasn’t alone either. According to NordicTrack.com the Reflex SR was “awarded highest user-rated cushioning in the market and reduces impact by up to 42%.”

Other features that stood out on this model include:

• 2.25 Continuous-Duty Horsepower Motor
• 0-12% Incling
• 0-12 MPH Speed Range
• Built-In Heart Rate Monitor
• Built-In Sound System with Plugin for your Mp3 Player
• 350 lb User Weight Capacity

With a full lifetime warranty on both the deck and frame, plus a year of bumper to bumper parts and labor coverage on everything else it’s really hard to go wrong with the NordicTrack Reflex SR treadmill. The cushioning system is by far one of the best we’ve tested and the $1,199.00 price tag makes it affordable enough for most budgets. Overall, we’d rate this machine a great buy!

Click Here to learn more about the NordicTrack Reflex SR Treadmill.

Revolutionary new concept in workout motivation…or simply a clever marketing ploy? In all honesty, the ProForm 980 “Audio Trainer” Treadmill is probably a bit of both. According to Proform.com  “Now you can lose weight and feel great in just 8 weeks with iFit® Workout Card Technology. Simply plug in your Workout Card, press go and let iFit® do the rest, it’s really that easy.” If it was that easy we’d all be a lot thinner, but to its credit, the ProForm 980 Audio Trainer isn’t all marketing fluff.

This machine features a capable powerplant that produces 2.25 continuous-duty horsepower–plenty of juice to move along the average user. The treadbelt is a full 20″ x 55″ and features a stated 325 lb. weight capacity. In our tests, this machine was best suited for a user under 250 lbs.

As for the “audio training” features, there are some cool additions on this treadmill that will definitely spice up your workout. First is ProForm’s iFit system. This feature allows an special iFit card to be plugged directly into the treadmill. Each iFit card features a different 8-week workout program designed to help you reach a specific fitness goal. iFit cards can be had on the ProForm website for anywhere from $29.95 for a single card to $89.95 for one of the Jillian Michaels 3-packs.

Other audio components on this unit include a music port so you can plug in an iPod or other mp3 player, plus an Intermix Acoustics™ 2.0 Sound System which, as far as we could tell, is a set of speakers in the console.

The ProForm 980 Audio Trainer includes a lifetime warranty on both the frame and motor and is priced at a reasonable $1,199.00 at most retail outlets. If you’re a serious runner this machine probably shouldn’t be number one on your list. But if your a casual exerciser that enjoys the added motivation of audio training and upgradeable workout programs, the ProForm 980 should definitely do the trick.

Click Here to learn more about the ProForm 980 Audio Trainer Treadmill.