ICON Fitness Weslo Cadence 450 CS Treadmill


Fighting Weight Gain - Diet & Exercise

I was severely injured while serving in Iraq two and a half years ago. It has been a long and difficult road to recovery. It would be near impossible to put the experience into words. The injuries that I sustained caused permanent damage to my right leg, back, shoulders, ears and my right arm. After a fifteen months of therapy and surgeries in an Army medical unit I was finally sent home. When I was injured I weighed 210 pounds and I was in pretty good shape. I generally ran every other day and lifted weights twice a week. After nearly three years I have put on a lot of weight (260 Lbs). The injuries are tough enough to deal with physically and psychologically, then I see myself gaining weight. The more weight I gain the worse I feel, physically and mentally. At times it can be a very frustrating state of mind, depression, anger and helplessness are common. Now on top of everything else, my weight has become an issue. I have decided that despite pain I will do everything in my power to keep going and try to lose some weight. Having been very active in sports and staying in shape before my injuries, I know what I have to do. I have to eat right and exercise period.

Having always been active and in pretty good shape it’s the most humbling thing I have ever had to deal with. In addition to physical injuries which make it difficult to exercise, my metabolism has changed for the worse. I suspect the slew of medications that I have to take has something to do with it. It might also be my age or the trauma to my body. The one thing that I do have control over is my diet. My wife went on the Adkins diet while I was in Iraq. When she came to see me in Ft. Lewis Washington, I couldn’t believe how great she looked. She had lost 60 pounds and looked like she did in high school. I have tried the Adkins diet twice and have had no luck. So I will try to eat healthy smaller portions and drink a lot of water. Adkins works for some people but it just doesn’t work for me. Adkins is not very healthy either, my wife Denise takes a lot of vitamins when she is on the diet.

My mother-in-law gave us a treadmill that she had but didn’t use anymore. It’s not anything too fancy but it works well. The machine is made by ICON - Westlo and is called Westlo Cadence 450 CS Treadmill. We don’t have a lot of extra room so I like the fact that it’s a save “SpaceSaver” model. When I’m not using the machine I can lift the deck up and lock it into place. When the deck is up the machine takes up very little space ( 24” X 30” X 61”). It also has rollers so it’s fairly easy for one person to move. She purchased this little machine for $299.00. So it doesn’t come with lots of bells and whistles. It comes with the basics.


Features

♥ 2.0 HP Power Drive Motor
♥ Comfort Cell™ Cushioning
♥ 0-10 MPH Speed Control
♥ Power Incline up to 10%
♥ 16'' x 45'' Non-Slip Treadbelt
♥ SpaceSaver® Technology
♥ Safety Key


Console / Display

The console is set up pretty well. It comes with two holders, both holders will hold your water bottle. It also has a flat area where you could place other miscellaneous items. The display is small but readable nonetheless. It has three small windows that provide information in bright red lit up numbers. Window #1 displays the calories burned as well as your pulse when you place your thumb on the Optical Pulse Meter. Window #2 is a running time clock of how long you’ve been on the treadmill. Window #3 gives the user their speed and distance. There is also a large green start button and a large red stop button. There is also two buttons to move the deck incline up or down. Lastly there are two buttons for the speed, speed up or speed down. The display layout is user friendly and easy to use. There is also a safety device incorporated into the treadmill. There is a small plastic key that must be inserted into the console in order for the treadmill to work. This key is on a string that is attached to your waist line with a small clip. If you fall, the key will be pulled from the display and the treadmill will stop immediately.


Size / Weight
126 LBS
4’ Long X 2 ½’ Wide X 4’ High While in use or down.
2’ Long X 2 ½’ Wide X 5’ High While folded up.


Muscle Zones Worked

♥ Quadriceps
♥ Hamstrings
♥ Gluteus Maximus
♥ Calves
♥ Cardio Vascular System


Conclusion

I like this small treadmill for a couple of reasons. First off it is small and doesn’t take up much room when it’s folded up. It also runs every time I turn it on with no problems, glitches or squeaks. I am about ten pounds heavier than this product is rated for so I do not incline the machine. This treadmill is rated for 250 Lbs. Furthermore at this time, I can not run . I use the machine to walk sort distances for short periods of time. If I ever get where I can run, I’ll take a look at a better machine with more options. I have looked at a couple and read a lot of reviews on some real nice machines. In particular, I like the Pro Form CS17e Treadmill and it can be purchased at a fair price. This would be my pick for my next treadmill and it comes recommended by personal trainer Jo.com. If you’re just starting out and can’t justify spending a large amount of money, the Westlo Cadence CS 450 would be a good machine to start with. Although I have not had any problems with my Cadence 450, I would not recommend the machine for someone who wants to do a lot of running. This is not a heavy duty machine and it’s more suited for walking or jogging for a person who doesn’t weight much.

I suspect it’ll last me a long time just walking on it. It also lets me know what I need to know. I will try to walk ¼ of a mile everyday. It will let me know when I’ve done that, how long it took me and how many calories I have burned. I really don’t need anything more complex than this machine for now. I also find the Cadence 450 a comfortable treadmill to walk on. It doesn’t jar my legs or hips too much. It’s also pretty quiet. You can watch TV or listen to music while your using the treadmill with out having to turn them way up. The best thing about the Cadence 450 is the price. They can be purchased for around $300.00 if you shop around. By comparing prices right here at Epinions you can find a good deal on this treadmill. By setting goals, making priorities, exercise, diet and trying to keep a positive outlook I hope to lose weight and be able to walk a mile again. The Westlo Cadence 450 CS Treadmill is a place to start. I would recommend this treadmill for light workouts or for physical therapy patients. I give the Westlo Cadence 450 CS Treadmill three of five stars.

Web Site; www.weslo.com


Thanks for the read,
©2005 Joe McMaster


Recommended: Yes