Common Treadmill Mistakes to Avoid
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Whenever I use the treadmill at the gym, I like to get the most out of it while I am there. If you are the same way, there are some common mistakes to avoid to help improve your workout:
Too Many Distractions
Often times I see many people walking slowly while they watch the televisions or read a book or magazine. It’s important to keep your intensity at a good level in order for your workout to be effective. Interval routines work well for this, especially if you want to make the time fly by — which is mainly why many people distract themselves with tv, books, magazines in the first place.
Not Utilizing the Incline
You can get a great workout just by increasing the incline on the treadmill. Increasing the incline will increase the work needed by your legs and glute muscles. I sometimes increase the incline while doing intervals and it can be tough!
Holding On or Leaning
You can burn more calories by not holding on to the handlebars or leaning on the machine. Constantly holding on or leaning means you take your body weight off of your legs. If you feel you need to hold on, try reducing the speed.
Performing the Same Routines
Doing the same routine on the treadmill is not only boring but can eventually be ineffective after awhile. Try changing it up once in awhile with intervals or by increasing your intensity.
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Comments
Thanks for the great post!
I’m with Peter - the treadmill is a last resort for me. But a trick that I try (and wrote about in a recent post, “7 Tips for an Effective Workout”) is visualization.
I’ll visualize my muscles contracting as I move or imagine being outside. It’s gotten me to put more oomph! into my workout…and it’s fun, too. 
Keep up with the great blog posts - they’re super helpful!
The treadmill is good, because it’s low impact compared to running and better for your joints. It does work, but the problem is that it gets boring after a while.
I hate to be on a treadmill for long periods, because I get so bored. My wife is the same way. She likes to work out, but is tired of the same old routines.
My wife found a class in our area (we live in Orlando, FL) called Rhimba Synergy Fitness. She spoke very highly of it so I tried it, too.
I think it’s great. They combine international music with a cardio workout. The class was fun and really got my heart working. I signed up for more classes because both my wife and I really enjoy it.