How many calories can I burn exercising for ½ hr per day, 3-4 times a week?    How do I decide what gym equipment will help me most?
This depends on what mode of exercise you choose to do, the intensity at which you perform the exercise and how much you weigh.  For example, in 30 min. you can burn approximately 400 calories doing step aerobics, 250-500 calories bicycling, 300 calories on an elliptical runner, 180 calories walking and 300-400 calories running, all assuming you weigh 150 pounds.  If you weigh less than that, you will burn fewer calories; if you weigh more than that, you will burn greater calories.

I recommend interval training; for example, 10-15 min. of 3 different exercises to keep everything fresh.

It’s been suggested to me that exercising will help my stress level – very high stress job.

Do you agree and what methods of exercise would work best?

Absolutely! One of the most significant benefits of exercise is an outlet for frustrations and therefore, a reduction in stress levels. This happens for many reasons.

• Exercise gives your mood a natural boost because it decreases stress hormones and increases endorphins.
• Exercise takes your mind off your problems, redirecting it to a different task.
• Exercise makes you feel better about yourself, giving you confidence to handle stressful situations.
• Exercise improves your overall health both in the short-term (increasing your immunity to fight off colds and flu) and in the long-term (increased longevity and “feeling younger”).
• And, most importantly, exercise lowers physiological reactivity toward stress.

Simply put, exercise not only helps you deal with your current stress, it supplies immunity toward future stress. Now that’s a great reason to exercise! I recommend a combination of both cardiovascular exercise (exercise that increases your heart rate) and weight training exercise (exercise that tones and defines your muscles) as a means of reducing stress.

I am looking to purchase either a treadmill or a stairclimber.  Which would you choose? What features should I look for in a treadmill?

Both are cardiovascular machines meant to increase heart rate and burn calories and fat.  It’s a personal choice.  Stairclimbing is a more advanced exercise and requires more endurance than walking, but if you are planning to run and walk using a treadmill, then either would provide appropriate training for your cardiovascular system.  I would recommend getting either piece on a 30 day trial to be sure you like what you’re getting and that you’ll make a commitment to actually using it.  We have good intentions, but more often than not, home equipment gets used as a clothes rack more than it gets used for exercise.

At Fit for Life, we have both treadmills and stairclimbers in addition to recumbent bikes, Arc Trainers and Elliptical Runners for cardiovascular exercise.  Remember, the more choices you have, the more benefit you receive and the less likely you are to get bored with your routine.  Plus, you have the option of taking group classes, you have camaraderie and professional staff available to answer all your questions.  Choose a piece of equipment for 30 days on trial and come to Fit for Life for 1 week FREE and then make your final decision.