Exercise Equipment Guide: Treadmills, Weights, and Home Gyms

What happens when your treadmill stops suddenly, and how can you troubleshoot common home gym equipment? Selecting the best mini-trampolines, resistance bands, and cross trainers can significantly improve your at-home fitness results and safety.

Starting cardio training in gym.

Adaptive Motion Trainer vs. Treadmill

An adaptive motion trainer is similar to an elliptical, but you can walk, run and step on it. Treadmills have a rolling belt and shock-absorbent surface.

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Competition workout

Deadlift Machine vs. Deadlift Barbell

Whether done with a barbell or on a machine, deadlifts are a multi-joint exercise, making them more effective for strength training and calorie burning than exercises that isolate one muscle.

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Dumbbell Squat

Bodyweight Squats Vs. Dumbbell Squats

Squats are a functional lower-body strength exercise. They simulate everyday activities, such as picking a box up off the floor. The body weight squat is the most basic, beginner squat; you only use your body weight for resistance.

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Round vs. Hex Dumbbells

Hex and round dumbbells are fixed-weight dumbbells for use in commercial and in-home gyms. Both types of dumbbell are made of cast iron and offer a large selection of weights. However, hex and round dumbbells have different designs and features, each with advantages and disadvantages in the weight room.

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Clean and jerk workout at fitness gym center

Hex (Trap) Bar Deadlifts vs. Barbell Deadlifts

The deadlift is a total-body strength exercise that works several muscle groups in your upper and lower body. The trap, or hex, bar is a specialized training tool that lifters use for two exercises: the deadlift and the shrug.

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Does the Ab Roller Actually Work?

The quest for six-pack abs marches on with a long line of in-home abdominal training devices. The AB Roller is one-such device. Although the AB Roller alone will not give you a lean, ripped mid-section – spot reduction is not possible -- if you use it properly, it can help you strengthen your core muscles.

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Dip and Leg Raise Machine Exercises

A dip and leg raise machine allows you to do body weight exercises that target your upper body. You can do leg raises for your abdominal muscles and dips for your chest, triceps and shoulder muscles.

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Man focus on doing exercise in the gym

Magnetic Bike Vs. Strap Exercise Bike

Exercise bikes offer a low-impact cardiovascular workout. They are available in an upright design, which mimics a standard road bike, and a recumbent design that offers a semi-reclined riding position and full back support. All exercise bikes offer varying levels of pedal tension.

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Woman talking on the telephone

Replacement Parts for Gazelle Exerciser

The Gazelle Glider is a line of in-home cardio machines made by Fitness Quest and endorsed by Tony Little. As of March 2011, the Gazelle models are the Edge and Freestyle, though there have been a variety of models over the years. If you need a replacement part for your Gazelle, contact the manufacturer directly.

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About the ProForm 760 EKG Treadmill

The ProForm 760 EKG is an older model, motorized treadmill for residential use. Sears, Roebuck and Co. department stores sold the 760 EKG around 2001. This is a basic in-home treadmill with standard specifications. It does have some advanced features such as iFit technology and heart-rate control programs.

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male legs in health club

The Treadmill Belt Won't Move

If you flip on the switch, set the speed and nothing happens, your treadmill is an unhappy camper. Troubleshooting involves putting on your inspector hat and taking a tour of the belt. You may have to proceed to the console if that doesn't solve the matter.

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running on a treadmill

Troubleshooting a Treadmill That Won't Start

If your treadmill doesn't start, you will need to troubleshoot the possible cause. Depending on the make, model, age and condition of your machine, the problem might be something you can repair yourself.

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Woman Running On Treadmill At Gym

The Controls Are Not Working on a NordicTrack Treadmill

Although you hope nothing goes wrong with your NordicTrack treadmill, it's best to be prepared in case something does. Many glitches involving the controls on the console can be solved relatively quickly with some simple troubleshooting steps.

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People on treadmill in gym running

How Fast Is 10 on a Treadmill?

The console of a treadmill displays immediate feedback about your current workout, including distance, time, grade, calories burned and speed. If the console displays that your current speed is 10, this could mean 10 mph or 10 kph, depending on your treadmill make and model and how you set up your machine.

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Man Feet On Treadmill

A ProForm Treadmill With Excessive Noise

It can be very frustrating to suddenly have your ProForm treadmill start making excessive noise, whether it is a clunking, vibrating, humming or squealing noise. A motorized ProForm treadmill has a lot of moving parts. If these parts become worn or loose, they can make a variety of noises.

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Sports people on treadmills

How Much Electricity Does a Treadmill Use?

A treadmill is a significant financial investment. However, the spending isn't over after you purchase your machine. You might have considered the cost of maintenance and repairs, but what about the cost of running your treadmill?

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Weights in weight rack

Is Neoprene Better Than Vinyl for Dumbbells?

Dumbbells are made of cast iron but many manufacturers cover the iron with other materials to improve the look and feel of the dumbbells. Neoprene and vinyl are two of the most common dumbbell cover materials.

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Stairclimbing machine in the gym

What Is a Stair-Treadmill Ergometer?

Although a stair-treadmill ergometer sounds like a high-tech piece of exercise equipment, it is actually another name for a stair climber or stepmill. An ergometer is an exercise machine that can measure your work output. A stair-treadmill is the combination of a standard stepper and a treadmill.

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Fitness Woman Running On Treadmill

Problems With a NordicTrack C1800

NordicTrack produced the C1800 model treadmill in 2002. It is a residential treadmill with a space-saving, fold-away design. The C1800 has a 1.5 CHP motor that supports speeds from 0 to 10 mph. The ramp inclines up to 10 percent. Users of this NordicTrack treadmill have experienced problems with the motor and the belt.

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