File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Sup /fit/, first time poster here.

I am male, 6 feet 2 inches, 150 pounds (BMI 19.5). I'm pretty thin, I eat well, don't smoke, hardly drink and I'm generally in good health.

However, my physical fitness is astonishingly bad. I can run slowly for about twenty seconds before I keel over, and I have no upper body strength to speak of (I can't do a single proper press-up or chin-up). I really enjoy playing paintball in the woods, but the day is marred when I'm out of breath within a minute and wheezing into my mask (causing it to fog). I'm so weak my arms ache after holding a 4kg paintball gun for a couple of hours.

I've finally decided to fuck this shit and start getting my arse in shape. Number one on my list is to build some stamina and improve my running, though I would also like to gain a modicum of upper body strength.

So to start, I'd like to get a treadmill. I know that it would probably be cheaper and more effective to get some trainers and go outside, but until I can jog for more than thirty seconds I'd rather puff and pant in my own home. So far, I've picked the York 'Inspiration' treadmill (pictured) which, at £300, is at the top of my price range.

Is this a decent choice? Are all treadmills created equal?

Thanks in advance for any advice.
>> faggot !kzxLmJyzX.
If you plan to move to outdoors once you have a basic level of fitness, join a gym. £30 for a month membership is plenty to get you started, if you buy one at home it becomes useless after a while. Machines cannot compare to outdoor running.
>> Anonymous
Whoops, forgot my link.

http://tinyurl.com/6rdlmh
>> Anonymous
>>242707
How long do you reckon it would take me to reach an acceptable level of stamina (I apologise if this question is impossible to answer)?
>> Anonymous
A treadmill is a treadmill.

I used my parents old treadmill way back when I FIRST wanted to be in shape. JOGGING a mile on that thing was my workout.

Now I love running outside on a path I measured with my car. While I've never done more than 7.2 miles outside, it's a drastic improvement.

If you MUST buy one, don't overthink it, because you'll evolve past it eventually.
>> Anonymous
Two tidbits of advice... ditch the treadmill and take it slow.

About a year ago I was in a similar situation, except i was too heavy, 272, and wanted to lose weight. I couldn't walk more than a half mile or so without getting fatigued and couldnt run more than a block, and could only do 4-5 pushups. So I started walking outside. Every single day after work I would walk for 30 minutes, as briskly as I could, and would slow down for a while when I got really out of breath. After only the first two weeks or so, I would get less and less tired, so I started jogging a little in my walks, for only maybe 10 feet at the most and then go back to walking, catch my breath and then jog again for as long as I could stand it. Then after a few weeks of that, I found I could jog for a lot longer, maybe 100 feet or so, and I just continued this for a while and then just continued, every few weeks I would try to challlenge myself a little more, a little faster, a little longer. Along with the walking and running, I was also doing circuit training two days a week. That not only helped my running and stamina but my strength as well. Less than a year later, I'm no marathon runner but by taking it slow, both progressively and literally, I went from not being able to run at all to being able to run 3 miles in under 30 minutes and do 3-5 sets of 15 pushups.
>> 04 !!LtgOgT0wJFN
Try for one of the "LIfe fitness" ones. Not the fancy ones with the screen, but the LCD interface, like an alarm clock. Much better.
>> Anonymous
>>242751
You sir, are 4 kinds of awesome! Keep it up.
>> Anonymous
>>242716
>A treadmill is a treadmill.
NOT FUCKING TRUE.

Though I agree most with the folk that say you ought to use a gym and then transition outdoors (nothing beats running around outside esp. in the dead of winter if you dress proper), I must add that if you are looking at treadmills, most cheap home models are only good for walking or jogging paces.

When my parents got one I tried to run on it when I was back home visiting and it would struggle to high hell at the higher speeds with every stepdown. Turns out many of the home ones don't have the torque to keep the belt moving at high speeds when you connect with a step (pressing the belt to the slipplate), so just be sure you are getting a RUNNING treadmill if you are going to buy so it will last ya thru your progression.
>> Anonymous
>>242751
High-five.
>> Anonymous
I'm sort of in the same boat as OP. I'm using my parents treadmill right now because I have some time away from school. I make it a point to run 2 miles just about every day. I'm heavier than I'd like to be and my job/hobbies keep me at the computer a lot so it seemed like a good idea.

2 miles may not seem like much to you guys but it is a pretty significant workout for me. I've been doing it for about 2 weeks now and I've noticed a bit of an increase in stamina. I can usually do about half a mile or so at a fast jog before having to take it down a notch. The main objective here is just to lose some weight and feel better about myself. I'm going to stick to the treadmill for now though, I don't like exercising around other people, for whatever reason.

Good luck to the OP and anyone else in the same boat as me.
>> Anonymous
>>242702

Will she take off?
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Let me preface this by saying I'm not joking/trolling/whatever.

Treadmills are a waste of money if you're so out of shape you cant run for more than 20 seconds. If I were you, I would consider these ahead of a full-blown treadmill:

* A cheap stepper (~$100 US)
* A couple of stackable steps, like in my pic (~$75.00 US)
* Treat yourself to a really nice pair of trainers and just go walking outside. Build yourself up slowly and avoid any crazy expectations.
* Skip-rope

All those will provide good cardio at a fraction of the cost, will help you get in shape, and are easier to have around the house. If you do lose motivation after a while, you wont have a £300 clothes-hanger mocking you and eating up living space.
>> Anonymous
>>243023
They charge 75 bucks for some molded plastic? What a fucking racket.
>> faggot !kzxLmJyzX.
>>242712

About a month to get a basic level of fitness, providing you dont piss around and put some effort in. I don't know how anyone can have such bad fitness to be blatently honest, i was 310lb and i could still do a decent amount of cardio before getting tired. I'm now around 238lb and decided to start running outdoors. It can't compare to machines at all, it truly kicks my ass compared to running on a machine.

Even a month at a gym will get you to the point where you can go jogging, then from there extend distance and increase intensity. Using weights at the gym, since you are weak then get an instructor to set you up so you don't end up in a mess on the floor or start off on machines (inb4 flame) to avoid injuries.

>>243023
>>If you do lose motivation after a while, you wont have a £300 clothes-hanger mocking you and eating up living space.

If he fully intends to use it daily, then it is fine to buy a treadmill if he has the money to burn. Don't judge people by your own experience.
>> Anonymous
I'm not trying to troll at all but is 150 lbs at 6'2 healthy. I realize everyone has different body structures and all but I'm 6'2 almost 210 10% bodyfat. I also realize this has a lot to do with playing hockey for years up into college. I guess I get the image of an anorexic. Again no offense just wondering because its a complete opposite of me.
>> Anonymous
Oh and it makes me feel fat even though I'm not
>> Anonymous
if you start running at that height and weight, you're going to have to eat more or you'll look like a skeleton.