We run, we jog, we join gyms, and we exercise just so that we can stay fit and healthy. When it rains or snows we feel at a loss when we miss our daily exercise. Yes, without a doubt there is a lot of fun in exercising outdoors and in the company of others. But then there are circumstances beyond our control that bar us from indulging in these activities.
But now with a variety of exercise machines available easily, we don’t have to miss out on getting a great workout. Treadmills may not be considered to be the best machines for a workout by people who prefer strenuous exercise. But surprisingly they are wrong. These machines can give you a great workout.
In fact, they are one of the most high selling exercise equipment in the world. People who shy from walking or jogging outdoors can now do it with a treadmill in the privacy of their homes. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced runner you can get a great workout on a treadmill.
Benefits of 30 Minutes on the Treadmill a Day
Heart Health - Walking, jogging, running or sprinting on a treadmill challenges your heart, which is a muscle. Elevating your heart rate for the duration of a 30-minute workout helps improves cardio capacity and stamina. The American Heart Association and American College of Sports Medicine recommend 30-minute workouts on most days each week to improve and maintain heart health.
Improved Blood Cholesterol - Not all cholesterol is bad for you. High-density lipoprotein, or good cholesterol, helps decrease your risk for atherosclerosis, a blocking of the arteries that can lead to heart attack and stroke. Exercise such as walking on a treadmill at a brisk pace for 30 minutes may help boost HDL levels by as much as 5 percent if you exercise regularly, according to MayoClinic.com.
Low Impact - If you can’t perform high-impact workouts every day, such as aerobic dancing, jogging, jumping rope or other exercises that require you to leave the ground with both feet, walking on a treadmill is an option for you. Not only is walking a low-impact exercise, but the soft cushioning is a more forgiving surface the asphalt and concrete surfaces on which you walk outdoors.
Improves Stamina and Endurance - Exercising for 30 minutes a day will help you build cardio stamina and muscular endurance, or your ability to perform physical activity over time. Beginners should walk at a pace less than 4 mph to prevent fatiguing before 30 minutes. Shorter, high-speed workouts on a treadmill help you build the capacity to do high-intensity exercise, but slower or moderate-intensity walking for longer periods helps you build stamina and endurance.
Burns Calories - Using a treadmill for 30 minutes each day helps you burn calories. A 160-lb. beginner, walking at 2 mph, will burn 183 calories per hour. At 3.5 mph, she’ll burn 277 calories. Jogging at 5 mph for an hour burns 584 calories, while running at 8 mph burns 986 calories.
Adding Variations
To make your exercise regime interesting you can add variations to it. Modern day treadmills can make you jog on a flat, inclined surface at varying speeds and inclines. Of course you must start out slowly on an even surface and once your body had warmed up you can try variations.
You can imagine yourself climbing a hill or running up and down them or climbing a mountain. But the art is pacing yourself depending on the incline you have selected. You don’t have to step off the treadmill to adjust it as all the controls are at your fingertips.
Getting into a Rhythm
To make running on a treadmill fun you must develop your own rhythm. It’s always better to experiment on your own rather than following in somebody else’s footsteps. Nobody knows your body than you do. Therefore you should be the one to decide which regime to adopt.
Plus of course the treadmill gives you the advantage of changing it at will. It’s not like jogging on the same track day in, day out, which after sometime does become boring. On a treadmill you can decide how you want to work out on a particular day and then hop on and get going.
Staying Fit
Varying your routine, listening to different music, while walking or running is a great way of staying in top physical shape. You don’t have to spend hours on a treadmill every day. Even a brisk run of 15-20 minutes will have you panting and burning up calories.
It might be storming or freezing outside, but you will be exhausted and feeling in top shape after your workout on the treadmill.
It’s because of the numerous advantages associated with treadmills that they top the list. Plus you can use them throughout your life. Therefore, get a treadmill and go for a great workout that will make you beam with vigor and good health.
Want a treadmill, but not sure which one to get? Check out our Ultimate Buying Guide to find which treadmill is right for you.
