I got a smart walking pad to trick myself into loving cardio its 50% off for Prime Day

I’m not a cardio person, and honestly, I never thought I would be.But after watching countless before-and-after videos from people who swear by the 12-3-30 method (TikTok’s beloved incline-walking workout), I started to wonder if it was finally time to give in.Research suggests that incline walking can burn roughly the same number of calories as a self-paced run while relying on a significantly higher percentage of fat for fuel.And because it’s generally considered a lower-impact option than running, it tends to be easier on the muscles and jointsHere’s the problem: It’s not exactly easy to find hills in New York City.

And after four months of a freezing winter and multiple snowstorms, I wasn’t particularly motivated to head outside for long walks anyway.That’s when I heard that one of my favorite fitness brands was launching what I now consider to be the Rolls-Royce — or maybe even the Tesla — of walking pads.The MERACH UltraWalk W60 Walking Pad Treadmill is the newest addition to the brand’s lineup of at-home fitness equipment, and it’s packed with so many smart features that it feels more like a piece of smart-home tech than a bulky workout machine.

And during Amazon Prime Day, which is running June 23 through June 26, this sleek new machine is on sale for 50% off at $299.Since using it, I’ve not only convinced myself to do cardio, but I’ve actually started enjoying it — and not just because I can slide the walking pad into my tiny living room, park it in front of the TV, and binge my favorite shows while getting my steps in.The W60 actually does a whole lot more than that.The walking pad also features a built-in Bluetooth speaker for music, podcasts and audiobooks, plus customizable RGB lighting effects that sync with your music to create a more immersive workout experience — it also helps me see the belt more clearly when the lights are dimmed.For health-tracking purposes, the W60 syncs with Apple Health and Google Fit and connec...