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I'm looking for a smaller, portable exercise machine and am considering a manual treadmill but I'm not so sure about them. We used to have an electric and an eliptical before a move and now I just don't have room for anything heavy or large. Any experience with a manual would be appreciated! Are they horrible to use?
I just bought a Weslo manual treadmill from Walmart about a month ago. I think it is great but I will tell you the pros and cons.
Pros-
I get a good workout on the first incline. I started out doing 20 minutes of walking and I am now doing 1 hour per day.
It is light weight. Wheels would be nice but I can still pick it up and move it without any trouble.
Easy to use. I bought a lubricant made for treadmills and spray some on each week. Just get on and start walking.
I think it is a better workout then an electric treadmill.
Cons-
It is loud.
You do need to hold on to the handles. If you just plan on walking it is great. I'm not so sure about running on it.
You will pretty much keep a steady pace....no real interval training if that's what you want.
My display broke after a week...but irrelevant to the treadmill itself.
You do have to start it yourself with leg power unlike an electric one that is "on" but that is a good thing
Overall...It is much better than I expected and I am very happy with it. I have lost 10 pounds in the last few weeks from doing this and eating better.
I tried running well jogging on my treadmill this morning. It can be done but man it is a very tough workout. I lasted about 10 seconds, lol. I will have to work up to that
I found a couple other things that might work, a mini elliptical and a mini stepper. I'm still undecided re what to get and have been checking out those items on Amazon but finding mixed reviews. My elliptical was my favorite but I can't find enough room to carve out a decent spot for a good one.
Consider a jump rope instead. Its a LOT cheaper and manual treadmills are just junk. Its darn near impossible to find anyone who makes those anymore because they are just old "technology". Like those old shakety belt things that you see in old old films like the Little Rascals or Three Stooges where women would attach those belt things around their bottoms and let it jiggle, the manual treadmill is about as old and useless as that compared to the new more advanced equipment available.
I tried running well jogging on my treadmill this morning. It can be done but man it is a very tough workout. I lasted about 10 seconds, lol. I will have to work up to that
Do you have to hold onto the handles when running? That would limit your speed, imo.
Do you have to hold onto the handles when running? That would limit your speed, imo.
No I can let go....but balancing is a little harder than an electric treadmill that just rolls for you without your legs moving, lol. The trick is keeping yourself at a consistent speed whether running or walking. It's actually easier for me to jog without using the handrails than it is to walk. Go figure. I trip up while walking if I let go but not jogging.
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