How to make using the treadmill not so boring
The treadmill is an excellent way to get and stay in shape. It provides a number of different ways to work out, from running to walking to climbing uphill, and keeps you away from the elements and hazards of running or walking on the road.
However, one of the downsides of treadmill use is that it makes working out tedious after awhile. When a workout gets boring, people are more likely to dread their workouts and then stop them altogether. But there are many ways to make using the treadmill not so boring. The following are some suggestions:
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- Listen to music. Go to any gym and it is rare you will see someone running or walking on a treadmill without headphones on. Listening to music not only helps to pass the time, but it can also help keep you energized when the music is upbeat. Apple's iPod is a popular choice for treadmill enthusiasts, as you can download and listen to your favorite music. Books on tape (or CD, or MP3) are also a good way to listen to books on a treadmill, since it can be difficult to hold a book while running.
- Vary your workout. Going at the same speed for 30 minutes is enough to bore anyone. Your treadmill workout won't be as boring if you can change your workouts up a little bit. You can do this in a number of ways, such as adding an incline for a minute or two, or increasing the speed slowly, or doing 5 minutes at one speed, then 5 minutes at a different incline, and so forth. By constantly changing the speeds and inclines, you get a better workout and time goes by faster.
- Split up your workout. Let's say you walk or jog on the treadmill for 30 minutes at a time. You can split up your workout into 2 fifteen-minute sessions, making it easier to stick with and less boring. If you have a treadmill at home, do a 15 minute workout on it in the morning, and then another one in the evening. Or, if you are at the gym, do 15 minutes on the treadmill, then lift weights, stretch, or use another machine for a few minutes before going back on the treadmill. It is easier to get bored if you are on the treadmill for 30 minutes as opposed to two 15-minute sessions.
- Read a book or magazine. If you are doing a fast walk or walking uphill on a treadmill, you can bring a book or a magazine to help pass the time and make using the treadmill not so boring. Some people use books and magazines as motivation to go to the gym at all, telling themselves they are only allowed to read their favorite book or magazine if they are working out.
- Watch TV. If your treadmill is in your home, move a TV in front of it so you can watch your favorite movies or television programs while you work out. At the gym, most treadmills are hooked up to TVs, so you can just plug your headphones in and watch TV at the gym as well.
The treadmill doesn't have to be boring. You can make your treadmill workouts go by quickly by taking into consideration some of the above tips to make using the treadmill less boring.
