What are you doing when you’re on a treadmill? You’re either walking or running, depending on the speed. Both are good cardio workouts. Are there benefits to using a treadmill rather than walking outside or doing laps in the mall in the morning? There are. The first is the fact you can do it in your own home. You don’t have to get street-ready to walk on a treadmill. You can wait until you finish showering, washing your face, brushing your hair or teeth. The only preparation you require is warming up before you start.
Staying inside can extend your exercise time.
You won’t have to cancel your run or walk due to rain. You also won’t have to run or walk in inclement weather, whether it’s too hot, cold, or wet. All three conditions can make walking or running outside a little more dangerous. Overexertion and heat stroke during hot weather are easy to achieve. You can become dehydrated, even if you carry water with you. You can slip and fall on ice during cold weather. While it doesn’t happen often, we all witnessed how bad ice can be if it gets cold. It’s harder for you to see and for cars to see you during rainy weather.
You can more easily push yourself to improve when you use a treadmill.
Treadmills have different settings and a variety of programs. It not only takes the boredom out of steady-state running or walking, but it can also boost your endurance. You don’t have to remember to push yourself harder for a short period. The treadmill does that for you. Some allow you to set a program based on your goals, whether they’re boosting endurance, maintenance, or burning fat.
You don’t have to depend on the available terrain to work your muscles harder.
Treadmills offer different inclines so you aren’t always running on a flat surface. Unless you’re planning your route carefully and have access to an area with hills, it’s not possible if you’re running or walking. There’s also less impact on your joints on the treadmill than if your feet were pounding the pavement. It’s still not a low-impact exercise, just a bit easier on the joints.
- Treadmills provide the ultimate in goal setting. It takes the guesswork out of how far or how long you ran. You set the treadmill for mileage or time and just walk or run.
- You can choose the muscles you want to work on by setting the incline on a treadmill. Unless you’re running up mountains, you can’t focus on hamstrings and calves. Best of all, you can run for a half hour at an upward incline without spending the same time coming back down.
- Using a treadmill provides all the heart-healthy benefits of any cardio. It lowers blood pressure and improves cardiovascular health. It’s far safer to run on a treadmill at night than it is to run outside.
- If you’re not ready to face the public by running outside, don’t do it. Get on the treadmill and exercise. You’ll boost your mood and be ready for the day, facing people with a smile.
For more information, contact us today at Iron Fit San Antonio