June 28, 2008

Keep Your Treadmill Workouts Interesting with These Tips

by Torri Tompson

Let's face it; walking on a treadmill can get rather boring after a while. But, the good news is there are many things you can do to make your treadmill workouts fun and interesting again. Here are just a few:

Movies, Music, CDs and TV. Use your treadmill workouts as a time when you catch up on your favorite TV programs, the newest movie releases, audio books and motivational CDs. If you have music in your bones, workout to your favorite music and your workout times will go by fast. Don't be afraid to sing along and entertain the kids and pets. They'll get a kick out of it!

Pyramid Walking. Increase your walking pace by .1 mph every minute for 15 minutes. Then, slow your walking pace by .1 mph every minute for 15 minutes. This is an awesome mental and physical challenge.

Dancers. If dancing is a favorite pastime, you can build up your strength and increase your balance by walking backwards on your treadmill. Keep your pace steady and even. This should only be tried by people who have good coordination!

Count the Numbers. If you are a number junkie, count your steps every other minute. See how your steps change and increase as you move from one fitness level to another.

Circuit Training. Treadmill workouts can benefit greatly by adding circuit training into the mix. Those of you who are interested in strength training can do lunges, crunches, free weights or some other strength building exercise for one minute after every five minutes of walking.

Stretching. Stretching exercises are also a great addition to treadmill workouts. Stretching is a favorite for many people because it feels good! After you successfully complete ten minutes of treadmill walking, get off your machine and treat yourself to five minutes of stretching exercises.

Walk and Climb. Place a stepper next to your treadmill and alternate between walking for five minutes and stepping for five minutes.

Walk To a Destination. Many people love finding out how many miles it is to a favorite destination or relatives home and seeing how long it takes them to walk there on their treadmills. Chart your results and see how far it takes you to walk where you want to go.

Heart Rate Training. Heart rate training involves finding out your maximum heart rate and cycling in and out of different heart rate zones for two or three minute intervals. This type of treadmill workout shouldn't last more than 20 or 30 minutes and you shouldn't do it more than three times per week because it is intense.

Did any of these suggestions interest you? If they did, try them during your treadmill workouts, or make up a few of your own routines. The most important thing is that you bring the interest and fun back to your treadmill workouts so that bad guy, boredom, knows he isn't welcome.

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