The 4th of July is coming up, and for me that means going to the beach and spending the whole day relaxing, enjoying the waves, and watching fireworks. It also means I need to get back into beach-going shape.

One good way to keep fit is with the Proform treadmill. Having a treadmill at home (if you have the room for it!) is a convenient way to get in shape because it means you can get a great workout, without even having to leave the house.

For me, I’ve found that often the greatest obstacle standing in the way of working out is inertia. Even if I have a gym membership, driving all the way to the gym can be a drag, especially after a long day of work. Having a Proform treadmill changes that equation, making working out as easy as changing into some gym clothes and stepping onto the machine.

Besides being convenient, treadmills are a great way to lose weight because they provide a great cardiovascular workout, which is what you need to burn fat. A lot of guys (myself included) tend to go to the gym just to lift weights, which is good for strength development, but doesn’t really burn many calories. Doing an intense 30-60 minute workout on a Proform treadmill will get you burning off you may have packed on during the day, and get you losing weight.

Of course, even with the convenience of having a Proform treadmill in your house, you still might have trouble motivating yourself to workout. I know what that’s like, I’ve been there. One way that I found that’s effective in giving an extra bit of motivation to workout is to listen to my iPod shuffle. Before I begin my workout, I load the little guy up with my favorite music, and some educational podcasts and audio books. This helps make working out more fun, and even educational.

With the help of the Proform treadmill and a little bit of motivation, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting into shape for the summer. Put some time into getting a workout, then go out to the beach and show off the fruits of your labor!

-Takeshi, shopping blogger and proform treadmiller