The benefits of using treadmills
Walking past a gym in the evening, you are likely to look inside and see rows upon rows of people running on treadmills. Why? Well, as it turns out, there are a number of reasons to workout on a treadmill. Here are just a few of them.
They are easy to use-one of the chief benefits for using a treadmill, at least at the entry level is that they are easy to use. You don't have to know how to do anything more complicated that walk to use a treadmill. The learning curve from that point on is fast and easy. Once you are walking on the treadmill, you can turn up the speed by very small increments, soon you will move from a slow walk to a fast walk. Eventually you can start to jog or even run.
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Jogging is good for you-walking and running (I'll just refer to jogging and you can decide if your jog is a walk or a run) is a natural and healthy form of physical activity. You can burn anywhere from 200 to 800 calories an hour by jogging on a treadmill.
Besides the metabolic boost you get from the exercise, jogging is also known to strengthen your legs, butt, and core. If you start a jogging program, you will begin to see noticeable results within the first couple of weeks. The main benefit is to the large muscles in your thighs but you will soon notice yourself to tighten up in your abs and even shoulders.
Losing weight and strengthening your muscles are excellent benefits. But wait-there's more! You will also strengthen your heart and your entire cardio vascular and respiratory systems. Runners have lower resting heart rates and lower blood pressures than non-runners and their lungs work more efficiently too. Not a bad deal for a little time spent on a treadmill each week.
Electronic programs are motivating-newer treadmills are built with sophisticated programs that keep jogging interesting. On most treadmill models, you can select "courses" that offer different benefits like strength training, calorie burning, or endurance building. These courses not only help you to develop as an athlete and work on your own fitness goals, they will also keep you on the treadmill longer and help you not get bored. Running is nearly as much of a mental game as it is a physical pursuit. Modern treadmills help in both arenas.
Another electronic feature that is beneficial is the heart rate monitor. Monitoring heart rate is the single best way of evaluating a workout. It is also an important safety feature if you have heart concerns. By the way, if you do have a medical condition or heart concerns, consult with your doctor before beginning a treadmill program.
You can do it all year long-I am an ultra-marathon runner and I do not like to run indoors or on roads, (I like to run on trails). However, I live in Salt Lake City Utah and there are times when trail running is impossible, for example, after three feet of fresh snow. At times like these, after coming home from snowboarding, I have to get on a treadmill. I don't love it but the benefits can't be denied. It is the only way to simulate running when you can't go outside and run. To me, this is the only benefit of a treadmill that gets me to use one. Having features like a negative incline allow you to do hill workouts without the hills. Using the presents simulates a real workout. Still, it isn't the same as real running. No, it's not as good as going outside to play; however, if there is snow on the trails, it is better.
