The LifeSpan TR4000i treadmill was featured as one of the best treadmills for runners in the latest issue of Runner’s World. According to the premier magazine for runners, the LifeSpan TR4000i folding treadmill gives runners the ‘Most from the Smallest Space’. It is sized perfectly to save space in your home, while providing the power, durability, and performance runners need.

The TR4000i meets all the criteria experts recommend in the article for runners looking to buy a treadmill – 1) large motor, 2) spacious running surface, 3) easy to use controls and a deck that feels good underfoot, 4) great mix of hill and speed interval programs, and 5) solid warranty supported by quality service.

In addition, the TR4000i includes a USB data port to save workout data as you exercise, for easy uploading to a personal online health and fitness management account. View and track all your exercise (indoor and outdoor), and your vital stats in one place. You’ll see daily, weekly, and lifetime accomplishments too.

Each new year inspires millions of people to make changes to improve their lives. Among the top new year’s resolutions are those concerning health and fitness, such as weight loss and exercise. Approximately 75% of these resolutions are kept the first week, however, the number of resolutions kept after six months drops to 46%. Even though many resolutions are broken, research shows people who make new year’s resolutions are 10 times more likely to accomplish their goals than those who don’t.

If your resolutions involve being healthier and exercising more in 2010, here are 10 tips to help you get started exercising and stay motivated.

• Set realistic goals. Make sure your goals are attainable. Set small goals with target dates along the way will help you achieve success along the way toward your ultimate goal.
• Make sure your resolutions are simple and clear. A well-stated resolution such as “I will take 500 more steps per week” is much more specific than “I will lose 20 pounds in 2010.”
• Keep your resolutions in sight. Post them where you can see them several times a day to remind you of what you’re trying to accomplish.
• Adopt an exercise attitude. Instead of looking at exercise as painful, time consuming, an obligation or a punishment for bad eating, try a more positive perspective. View exercise as a break from a stressful workday, an energy and mood booster, time for yourself, or a mental and physical reward after a hard day of work.
• Change your lifestyle so you can be successful. Be honest with yourself and analyze your current eating and activity habits. Replace bad habits with good habits, one at a time. This sounds easy, but you have to change the way you think about exercise and eating, change the way you schedule your day and how you prioritize your tasks. Understand that exercise is a life-long habit necessary for maintaining good health. Small behavioral changes over a long period of time can make big differences.
• Make a plan for success. Now that you’ve stated your resolutions, how are you going to accomplish them? If you’re going to take more steps in a week, how will you do this? Outline the ways you will increase your physical activity, including times of day and duration of activity. Your exercise program should involve doing activities you enjoy, and include a variety of activities to keep you motivated and avoid plateaus.
• Find a friend. Sharing your resolutions, your progress, and your successes and failures with a friend will help you stay on track to accomplish your goals. Working out with a friend can also motivate you, especially on days you don’t feel like exercising.
• Journal your activity progress and track your stats How are you doing compared to your plans? Write down what you did that was good and what you could do better. Good resolutions have measurable outcomes, which you can measure over time. Record your statistics, such as blood pressure, weight, or body measurements on a regular basis. Use the LifeSpan Fitness Club to log your exercise and monitor the changes in your body.
• Celebrate your successes. Establish rewards so that you can celebrate your successes along the way. Make sure your rewards are not detrimental to your resolution. If your ultimate goal is to be healthier, don’t reward yourself with a milkshake. Taking the time for a bubble bath or a good book are much better rewards!
• Be willing to change rather than quit. Even if you have the best stated resolutions with good action plans, you may find some things work while others don’t. Revisit your goals every month and compare your progress to your original expectations. You may need to modify your goals as you progress, but don’t give up. If you are better off today than before you started you’re still successful!

If you’re serious about your New Year’s Resolutions, taking the time and effort to honestly evaluate your goals, plan them out well, and follow through accordingly will pay off. Making a serious change in your life is never easy and never quick. If you want it, you’ve got to work for it.