What will running on a treadmill do for me

It also activates more muscles, which contributes to building more lean muscle mass. This helps you lose weight, since muscle burns more calories than fat. Generally, 4 to 6 mph is the average jogging speed.

You can increase the speed or add more minutes to make this workout harder. For an easier version, increase the incline by 0. In addition to weight loss, cardio activity like a treadmill workout offers many benefits. It may help:. As a form of cardio exercise, using a treadmill is an excellent way of burning calories and losing weight. They can work with you to create a customized treadmill weight loss program.

For best results, combine treadmill workouts with strength training. Both forms of exercise can help support weight loss and overall health. The NordicTrack Vault is a smart mirror that makes it easy to get a full-body workout from the comfort of home. See how it stacks up against its…. See which ProForm ellipticals our expert has handpicked for your home gym. See what our experts have to say about the Tempo Studio and how it compares with other home gym solutions.

Instead, the stiff shoe forces your foot to slap down. Your body may have given up on even trying and your walking stride is more like a flat-footed stomping march.

To correct it, take a couple of minutes during a walking session to think about what your feet are doing. Are you striking with the heel and rolling through the step? Is your rear foot giving you a push off?

There are a few things you can focus on to change this habit. First, think that your forward foot is showing its sole to somebody facing you. Then concentrate on keeping the rear foot on the ground longer and giving that strong push off to show the sole of your shoe to someone behind you. What do you do with your arms if you aren't holding onto the handrails? Your arms are the key to a great walking workout. With proper arm motion , you can go faster and burn more calories.

You can help correct some of the shoulder and neck problems you may be developing sitting in front of the computer or TV all day. The secret is that your legs only move as fast as your arms do. To speed up your legs, first speed up your arm motion and they will follow. There are two things you must know about any treadmill you are going to use—how to turn it on and how to turn it off.

But if this is your home treadmill or one you often use at the gym, take a few minutes to get to know its features so you can get the most out of it. Go only as fast as you can go while still maintaining good walking posture and form.

If you find yourself overstriding, leaning forward, or hunching your shoulders, then back off the speed until you've reached a speed that allows you to walk correctly.

Why not try running? If you think you aren't getting a good workout walking on the treadmill, but your walking form is bad at higher speeds, add running intervals to your workout. Running will give you extra bursts of higher heart rate and a change in your form.

If you find yourself getting on the treadmill each day and doing the same old workout, it is likely you are not improving your fitness as much as you could. Your body has fully adapted to your usual workout and won't change unless you give it a reason to change. Now that you know the basics of good treadmill walking form, put them to use. The treadmill is one of the most popular ways to get cardio exercise because it is convenient and it eliminates excuses about walking outdoors in hot, cold, or wet weather.

Still, you will need to set goals and get into the habit of using the treadmill regularly to receive all of the fitness and health benefits.

By avoiding common treadmill mistakes, you'll stay safe and make the most out of your walking and running workouts. Something else that will really benefit you if you choose to run on a treadmill is the fact that you are completely in control.

Depending on your fitness level you may want to have a light workout or you might be an experienced runner wanting an intense workout. The point is that on a treadmill you can control all of the aspects to suit your fitness level to a tee. You are in control of the warm up and cool down, the speed and incline, and even how much energy you expend on a certain amount of time.

Plus most treadmills also come with programmable capabilities so you can customize your run down to the exact minute, kilometer, and speed too. The best part is that you get to see what your fitness level is and how hard you are pushing your body. This thanks to the fitness trackers and heart rate monitors that many models now come with, items which are great for seeing the progress you make over a certain period of time.

Another big advantage of running on a treadmill is that it can help you train for your next big race or that ultra-long marathon with ease. You can control the speed and the incline of a treadmill and that comes in really handy for race day. Being able to train for a race in conditions that are as close as possible to the real thing is very important and can make the difference between winning or losing the race. If you know what the terrain and the route of your next race are like, you can program those statistics, such as the incline and pace, into the machine in order to get you as prepared as can be.

For every hill that stands in your way you can literally account for it months before you actually have to run the race. Some of the newest models of treadmills actually come with specialized race simulation software.

The next big boost that you get from running on a treadmill is that it can really help your brain function better, be healthier, and make you feel much happier.

The first reason for this is because running and aerobic exercises like biking cause your brain to release increased amounts of endorphins. Endorphins are the chemical compounds in your brain which make you feel happy. Pull these back toward your shoulders, alternating sides with your steps -- but only after you feel comfortable with the movement of the treadmill so you won't lose your footing.

Another option is to use light dumbbells, around 2 to 5 pounds, to perform biceps curls or overhead presses as you walk. Building muscle isn't the only benefit of walking on a treadmill -- it also burns calories to help you lose fat throughout your body. Walking at 3. You can't spot reduce -- in other words, walking on a treadmill won't necessarily help you lose fat in your thighs first.

Bodies lose fat in different sequences. Continuing with regular walking workouts, though, helps burn fat in all areas of one's body. Reference 5.