5 Ways to Use a Treadmill

5 Ways to Use a Treadmill

The one fear that people have when investing in a home treadmill is that they won’t use it as they do at the gym or health club. A few months down the road, you notice how dusty it has become & how much space it’s taking up. And you remember how much weight you were determined to lose by using it faithfully every day. But now, unfortunately, it doubles as a clothes rack.

A treadmill provides the best overall cardiovascular workout & it’s still the number one exercise machine for those who want to lose weight. So it’s an investment in your health that will pay large dividends… if you are prepared to get the maximum benefit from it!

Here Are 5 Ways To Get The BEST Use From Your Home Treadmill

Do Your Research First

Make sure you look at what each treadmill offers you & compare it to your unique needs. For example, if you live in a condo or like things neat & clean, a folding treadmill might suit you best. If you want a folding treadmill, do you prefer a manual folding treadmill (like most folding treadmills) or do you want a shock-assisted folding treadmill with wheels on the bottom that’s easy to move? If you like to drink water during your workout, make sure there’s a water bottle holder included in the treadmill console (it might surprise you that low-cost treadmills do not have this feature)

Do you get bored easily & need a challenge? What about getting a treadmill with lots of user programs or one that is Fit compatible? These things may seem little & maybe it might cost you a bit more, but if it means you’re actually going to enjoy your workout, it will be well worth it!

Place The Treadmill in a ‘Happy’ Spot

Open & stimulating. Don’t put it so that you face the bare wall when you walk or run. I’ve tried this & the workouts don’t last long! If you get bored easily, put it facing the Television/LCD or facing a window where you can have an attractive view while working out. Rooms & spaces have a definite ‘feel’ to them, and that will affect the success of your workouts. Make sure your treadmill is placed in an area that makes you feel energised, happy & mentally stimulated.

Get Your Exercise Arsenal Ready BEFORE The Treadmill Arrives

Do you like listening to fast music when you exercise? Do you like watching your favourite movies? What inspires you to work out & feel your best? Get these things ready even before your treadmill arrives & you’ll be three-quarters of the way there. Have several workout or favourite CDs around. Get your favourite movies or shows on tape. Gather your favourite magazines.

By having an ‘exercise’ stash around your treadmill, you’ll be inspired to work out & you won’t be stuck running around looking for something to do when you want to start exercising. Again, this may seem simple, but it works. Why do you think gyms have televisions/LCDs and CD players handy?

Make An Exercise Plan

Before you start working out, try making a plan, a road map to your rock-hard body, so to speak. By writing down how long & what kind of workout you’ll be doing in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, etc, you’ll get yourself psyched up for success. Remember that every time you work, you are planting the seeds for the kind of dream body that you want.

By having a plan, you can see just how many seeds you’ve planted & even how long it will take to start reaping the results! Have fun with it and you’ll be motivated to achieve your health goals & get maximum benefits from your treadmill.

Track Your Progress

Ok, this is related to (#4), but it’s more of an ongoing thing. By tracking your progress every day, you get a major sense of accomplishment, which snowballs into even greater fat-burning results. I suggest you have ‘Minimum Goals’ like (I’ll walk for at least 10 minutes, or I’ll do 5-30 second intervals). These are easy to do & you’ll probably go beyond them, which will encourage you even further & heighten your sense of accomplishment. And of course, you’re also getting maximum benefit from your treadmill. Those are 5 ways to get the best use from your home treadmill. Just remember that even a little bit of preparation will pay off large dividends in the long run.