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The more you want to use it, the more we would recommend that you go for high quality treadmills.

When you understand the basics of a quality treadmill, then it will be easy to find one that is perfect for your home and budget.

Long or short workouts determine the quality of motor you need for your treadmill.

I usually end my treadmill routine with about 15 minutes of quality stretching.

Researches have shown, that during exercising most people forget to breath deeply or they are unable to integrate their breathing pattern with the exercises causing them muscle pain and fatigue after the workout.

Exercising Safely With Your Pet
The last time I took my cat for a jog around the block was...well, actually I've never done that since my cat collapses in exhaustion after walking 3 steps from his food bowl. Dogs, however, make great exercise companions - They pretty much force you to get more exercise since, if you don't walk them often enough, they get hyper, they chew on everything in sight and, of course, they leave little gifts for you to clean up.

Walking the dog is a nice way to stay active, but getting a little more intense with running is another way for you and your dog to get in great shape. There are a few things to keep in mind if you're thinking about that:

• Take it slowly - Just like people, dogs need time to build endurance and strength. Janet, our Veterinary Medicine Guide recommends that you start with walking. When your dog can handle 20-30 minutes of continuous walking you can add in a little jogging.
• Watch for heat stroke. Dogs are so excited to go out and play that they don't always know when to stop. If it's hot and humid outside, it's possible she'll exhaust herself or experience heat stroke before you even realize it. Janet recommends exercising in the morning or at night when it's cooler, giving her fresh water frequently and hosing her off before a walk or run. If you see your doggie panting too much, that's a sign he needs to cool off and take a break.

Exercise of the Week: Curtsy Squat
"How many squats, lunges or step ups can a person do before her head explodes?" This was what one of my clients said recently and I give myself credit for not saying, "Gee, I don't know. Let's find out!" Actually, her comment was understandable since squats, lunges, deadlifts and step ups are often the foundation of any lower body routine. It's easy to get into a rut but, sometimes the smallest adjustment can change an exercise and make it feel like something new and wonderful (or, at least, effective). The curtsy squat falls into that category because it's almost like combining a crossover step up and a squat into one exercise.

I like this move because it targets the outer thigh, along with the quads, but the crossover can put strain on the knee if you're not careful. There is an awkward angle and doing this on a step can exacerbate it, so skip this move if you have any knee problems or if you feel any pain doing this exercise.

Do it right: Stand on a step or platform and cross the left leg behind the right, taking it down to the floor. Try to avoid twisting the right knee as you lower into a squat (the range of motion on this will be small, particularly if you're on an elevated platform). Push back to start and repeat for 1-3 sets of 8-16 reps.

Exercise of the Week: Curtsy Squat originally appeared on About.com Exercise on Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 at 05:00:35.

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Weight Loss Backlash
When you lose weight, you probably expect, or at least want, people to be supportive and complimentary. It's nice to hear things like, "Wow, you look amazing!" or "You look so good, I kind of hate you!"

Unfortunately, not everyone will respond to your weight loss in a positive way. They may be jealous or they may be a little confused if your appearance has changed dramatically. They may not even realize they're not being supportive, but whatever the case, it's possible you'll get one or more of the following reactions to your weight loss:

• The backhanded compliment - "You look great! Wow, you must have lost a ton of weight." This person may not realize they've just suggested you once looked like a big fat cow.
• The behind-the-back gossip-fest - Some people may say nice things to your face, but then talk about you behind your back. This situation happened at a job I once had when a woman opted for gastric bypass surgery. Some people in the office decided this was 'cheating' and that this somehow meant the woman was less successful. The woman inevitably heard about the gossip and felt so bad, she ended up finding another job.
• The weight loss monitor - Then there's the person who watches every move you make and says things like, "Should you be eating that many carbs?" or "If you don't watch it, you'll put all that weight right back on." That person may be a busybody, or he or she may genuinely think that kind of advice is helpful but, either way, it can drive you crazy.
• The saboteur - "You're so skinny! You should put on more weight." Now, this type of comment isn't always meant in a negative way. To some people, you may look too thin - or, it could be that you are too thin and people are concerned. However, sometimes this reaction comes from jealousy and it can be frustrating when you feel like you have to defend yourself.

The Truth About 'Toning' Shoes
Can shoes really tone your butt? That's the burning question that has emerged this year, what with the introduction of 'toning' shoes like the Reebok EasyTone Shoes, Skechers Shape-Ups and MBT Sport Walkers.

There are plenty of 'toning' shoes out there, but do they really help you burn more calories and tone your hips and thighs as the ads claim? According to the American Council on Exercise, the answer is, not really.

In the ACE-commissioned study, researchers had a group of women go through a series of treadmill trials to compare how they responded to exercise while wearing different shoes - regular running shoes, Skechers, MBT shoes and EasyTones. They then measured muscle activity using EMG (electromyography) to find out if the muscles responded differently while using the 'toning' shoes. The results:

• The toning shoes showed no significant increases in muscle activation
• There were no significant differences in rate of perceived exertion (RPE), oxygen consumption or calories burned while wearing the toning shoes as opposed to the regular running shoes.

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