It is no secret that Americans are getting fatter each and every day. It seems that each bit of a burger, sniff of a fry, and sip of a soda is sending us all down on a pathway to inevitable doom. Are we all really destined for heart failure at the age of 40? Is it too late to change things or is there something we can do to stop this downward spiral?

I want you to do something for me. I would like you to take your index finger and your thumb and place it on your waist. Now take your fingers and squeeze them together. If you feel more than skin and a tiny bit of fat then keep reading. After reading this article, you will have enough information to get rid of that mysterious substance that you felt between your index finger and your thumb.

What I am about to talk about will probably change your life. I am here to announce cheap treadmills. I know, I know, you must be gasping for air at this point. After all, I did just shock you to your core. In all seriousness, treadmills are a great way to get in (and stay in) shape. We will be discussing what to look as you are shopping around for a cheap treadmill.

If you are overweight (and you must be since you failed the pinch test) then the motor on your treadmill is of great importance. As a general rule of thumb, a larger and heavier motor will mean that your treadmill will last longer. Continues horsepower is a measure of how powerfully a motor can run without slowing down. If you plan to simply walk on your treadmill, then 1.0 to 1.5 continues HP should suffice. However, if you want to run then you will have to look for something in the 1.5 to 2.0 range.

Since running (either on a treadmill or outside) can be a bit hard on your knees. This is why a cushioning system is so important. The cushioning system absorbs the kinetic energy from your body and thus relieves stress to your joints. You must be careful not to get a treadmill that feels too soft or spongy though, this can also be harmful.

An incline feature is another thing you may consider. Basically, an incline makes it as if you are walking up a hill. This added resistance can really target your calf muscles. Most treadmills have the ability to incline automatically just by pushing a button. You should look for inclines that range from 0% to at least 10%. If you can find one that goes higher then go for it. Steer clear of any treadmill that uses a hydraulic piston because those have been found to break quite often.

If the treadmill is going to be used for tall people or for running then you need to get a long belt. A long belt is one that is around 50-60 inches. Short belts are from 45-50 inches. Standards widths of the belts range from 16 to 22 inches.

Most of the displays are either LCD or LED and contain information for the user such as: time, distance traveled, speed, incline, calories burned, pace, and heart rate. While a treadmill with all of these advanced features may be more expensive, it is up to you to decide what features you need. For some, monitoring heart rate can be extremely important. The display panel can also show you custom workouts. Lastly, it can store user specific information so that more than once user can have custom settings on the machine.

Let us not forget one last important aspect of a treadmill, the warranty. Since this is a serious purchase, you need to check to make sure a few things are covered by the warranty. Look for these items: the motor, deck, frame, belts, rollers, electronics, and labor. A good company will normally offer a lifetime warranty on the frame and the deck. Motor warranties can range from 10 to 30 years. For the other parts a warranty of 3 to 5 years is standard. Labor is normally just one year.

The best place to find treadmills for cheap is online. I am sure a site like Craigslist has a good selection of cheap treadmills for sale. For further cost savings you should look for a cheap manual treadmill since they tend to be a few hundred dollars less than a regular treadmill.

Now that you know what to look for, get out there and lose weight today!