How to take an ordinary treadmill work out and make it great!
One of the most popular as well as the most effective exercise machines available is the treadmill. A treadmill is a great way for people of all fitness levels, ages, and sizes to get a complete workout. In addition to being able to walk, jog, run, or put the belt at an incline, most treadmills are equipped with different programs that tell you how many calories you've burned, your heart rate, and other important information.
But treadmill workouts can get ordinary after a little while. The following are some tips for taking an ordinary treadmill workout and making it great.
|
|
Push yourself
Doing the same workout over and over can lose its effectiveness after awhile as your muscles get used to the same routine. You can make your ordinary workout great by adding a little routine to it, making your workout more effective and less mundane. Some ways to push yourself on the treadmill include:
- Add sprints. Walk for 2 or 3 minutes, then do a fast run for 30 seconds to one minute. If your goal is to burn fat, this is an excellent way to do so.
- Carry hand weights while you walk. You can pump them by your side, or do bicep curls or other simple exercises as you walk. Not only will you increase your calorie expenditure, but you'll tone your arms at the same time.
- Put the treadmill at an incline. You can gradually increase the incline, or you can set it at a higher incline and walk on it for the duration of your work out. Inclines are good for building up your leg and butt muscles, and can also help you burn more calories. Keep in mind that if you have to hang on to the hand rails while you're walking at an incline, you probably have it set too high. It's alright to use the handrails to steady yourself, but you should not have to hang onto them for the duration of your workout.
- Increase your speed by a little every minute or two. For example, walk at 4 mph for two minutes, then 4.2 for a minute, then 4.3 for a minute, then jog at 4.5 for two minutes, and so forth. Not only will this help you build up endurance, but it will help you to burn more calories as well while keeping boredom at bay.
Use the treadmill's programs.
Many people get on the treadmill and simply walk or run for their specified amount of time, then hop off without taking advantage of the programs the treadmill offers. Break out of this ordinary treadmill routine and try something a little different. Get to know the programs your machine offers. These can include Fat Burner, 5 K Training Run, Uphill programs, Interval training, and many others. Try a different one every time you get on the treadmill. You will turn your ordinary routine into something more effective and more fun.
Keep in mind that while you are trying new things on the treadmill, make sure you remember safety. Always know how to turn off the treadmill if it gets too high or too fast.
The above are just a few of many things you can do to transform your ordinary treadmill work out into something great.
