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Top 5 Treadmill Mistakes To Avoid

Cardio is crucial to any fitness regimen, whether your goal be weight loss, muscle building, or improved health; you can read more about why cardio is so beneficial in this article from NordicTrackCoupons.com here.

Although we may be a little biased here, but we believe treadmills to be a great way to get in your cardio workout. They have also been proven to be one of the most popular cardio choices as well, so it’s not just us who thinks so.

Yet the treadmill workout might not be giving you the optimal quality cardio workout if you are not using it properly. We want to make sure you are getting the most out of your treadmill purchases, and want to help you avoid making mistakes that may be harming your workouts. Running.about.com listed a bunch of treadmill mistakes we wanted to share with our readers, so we picked a few we feel most important, while also added a few of our own, but you can see their full list here.

Top 5 Treadmill Mistakes To Avoid:

  1. Using the handrails. This makes your workout easier, which means you are burning less calories. Using the handrails encourages poor posture and body alignment, producing an unnatural, inefficient gait. Using the handrails can also increase risk of injury. It is best to maintain your normal stride, as if you were running outdoors. Only hold on to the handrails if you are trying to get a reading for your pulse, otherwise let go!

  2. Repeating the Same Workouts Every Day. Just as you shouldn’t with your workout regimen, you should not repeat the same treadmill exercise day in and day out. Mix up your routines by adding incline, adding intervals, and increasing your speed and time. Don’t give your body the time to adapt to the same workout, therefore it will not burn as many calories.
  3. Running the Same Pace Your Entire Run. For beginners it’s good to find a speed you are comfortable with, but you always want to be challenging yourself as well. Sticking with the same set pace your entire run will not only leave you bored, but will not burn as many calories as if you were alternating intervals of sprints/jogs with jogs/walks. With this in mind, be sure you are also starting out slow for a good warm-up and finishing with an easy jog or walk for a cool down.
  4. Improper Running Form. Many feel nervous about falling off the treadmill, or feel unnatural when stepping on the treadmill; you should have the same stride as if you were running on a track or any other surface. About.com recommends running with “your normal, natural gait and avoiding any short, choppy strides.” Another important rule with this is to not look down. Many constantly look at their feet; this inhibits your natural gait and only causes you to slouch over. Be sure to keep your eyes forward and shoulders straight.
  5. Making the Mistake More is Better. Many think the more and more they workout on a treadmill is going to give them more and more results. Make sure to give your body the rest it deserves, treadmills are still a pretty intense workout and can cause a lot of stress on your body.  Take rest days using a foam roller to help give your body a massage and relieve any stress.

 

 

Written By: Jentry