Treadmills are a popular aerobic exercise machine that can help individuals lose weight and achieve other health benefits, especially for those with busy schedules or who prefer to workout indoors. Treadmills are versatile and can be used year-round, making them a great option for anyone looking to get in shape. In addition to weight loss, working out on a treadmill can help improve cardiovascular health, reduce the risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases, improve sleep, boost mood, and improve brain function.
One effective way to use a treadmill for weight loss is through high-intensity interval training
HIIT involves alternating sets of high-intensity exercise and rest, which can be done in a relatively short amount of time. According to a study, HIIT workouts can be an effective way of reducing body fat and burning calories.
·Start with a 5-minute warm-up at a walking pace of 2 mph
·Run at your maximum speed for 30 seconds
·Followed by a 60-second vigorous walk
Repeat this 5 to 10 times, then cool down for 5 minutes at a walking pace of 2 mph.
To prevent boredom, reduce the risk of injury, and avoid a training plateau, it’s important to switch up your treadmill routine. A sample workout plan might include a leisurely walk or gentle yoga on Sunday, a treadmill HIIT routine on Monday, a light treadmill jog and strength training on Tuesday and Thursday, another treadmill HIIT routine on Friday, and a barre class or bodyweight workout on Saturday.
Adding hills to your treadmill routine can also make it more challenging and help you burn more calories. Walking briskly or running at an incline activates more muscles and contributes to building more lean muscle mass, which helps you lose weight since muscle burns more calories than fat.
·Start with a 5-minute warm-up at a walking pace of 2 mph
·Set the incline to 1 percent and jog at 4 to 6 mph for 1 minute
·Increase the incline by 1 percent each minute until you reach an 8 to 10 percent incline
·Decrease the incline by 1 percent each minute until you’re back at a 0 to 1 percent incline
·Cool down for 5 minutes at a walking pace of 2 mph
In addition to weight loss, cardio activity like a treadmill workout offers many other benefits such as improved endurance, better control of blood sugar, increased HDL (good) cholesterol levels, improved memory and cognition, protection against Alzheimer’s, healthier skin, strengthened muscles, decreased fatigue and joint stiffness, stress and anxiety relief, better sleep, increased energy levels, boosted immune system, and improved sexual arousal.
To get the most out of a treadmill workout, it’s important to combine it with strength training. Both forms of exercise can help support weight loss and overall health. If you’re not sure what type of treadmill workout is best suited to you, talk to a certified personal trainer who can work with you to create a customized treadmill weight loss program. If you’re new to exercise or haven’t worked out in a while, talk to your doctor before you start a new fitness routine.