Which is Best, a Treadmill Or the Firm Wave?

Whichever piece of home exercise equipment you choose, there are several factors to take into consideration.

• How much available space do you have?
• How much are you willing to pay?
• Do you want something that can be hidden away in a closet, or left out all the time?
• Do you want something to tone and shape muscles as well as give you a cardio workout?

It's really worth sitting down and having a good think about these points - there's nothing worse than buying a home exercise machine and realizing it's not what you wanted!

The Firm Wave is a cleverly designed, curved exercise system that can be used in several ways:

• Curve-side down it works your legs and core, burning calories and toning your mid-section as well as improving your balance and co-ordination.
• Curve-side up it is more stable and can be used for Step exercises.
• Add exercise bands to create a full-body muscle toning system.
• Can also be used for Pilates exercises to create long, lean muscles and flat abs.

The WAVE can be used in a small space and put away in a closet when not in use, making it the ideal piece of equipment for a small spare room or apartment. Cost-wise, the WAVE represents great value for money and comes complete with several DVDs and a useful wall chart.

A treadmill, on the other hand, represents a much larger investment, costing from $200 for a manual system, up to several $1000 for a state-of-the-art motorized model with varied speeds, programs and inclines. My experience is that spending around $2000 will get you a first-class home treadmill with a lifetime guarantee on the frame, a smoothly-running motorized belt that is wide enough to be comfortable and long enough to take large strides, and enough programs to ensure you reach your training goals and never become bored! Oh, and don't forget the heart-rate monitor and calorie-burn counter that are also included on these models.

Most companies will deliver and install your treadmill at that price. All you have to do is step on and press a button. Treadmills are permanently set up and take up a lot of space, although there are several folding models if space is a premium.

As an exercise professional, I rate both the treadmill and the Wave. However, a treadmill is much larger and more expensive, and cannot be used for toning the arms and shoulders - and I don't recommend trying Pilates on a moving treadmill!

It doesn't actually matter which piece of equipment you go for, just as long as you actually use it. My personal choice for convenience and value would be the Wave - there are not many pieces of equipment that work your heart and lungs, tone muscle, burn calories and strengthen your core, all in one small value-for-money package!

Carol J Bartram is a qualified Personal Trainer, Pilates Instructor and Sports Therapist who has looked at many pieces of home fitness equipment. She thinks The Firm Wave, an inexpensive Personal Gym is a fabulous piece of home exercise equipment, which will help you to lose fat, get stronger and look great.

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