Keep Your Treadmill Workouts Interesting with These Tips
Boredom is one of the main killers of exercise programs. If you feel your treadmill workouts are becoming boring, mix it up a bit. There are a lot of things you can do to make your treadmill workouts interesting and enjoyable. Here are a few ideas:
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. One way to keep your mind from growing bored during treadmills workouts is to try mental challenges. Pyramid walking is when you try to increase your walking speed by .1 mph every minute for 15 minutes. Then, decrease your walking speed by .1 mph every minute for the last 15 minutes.
Dancing Exercises. Many dancers find that walking backwards during their treadmill workouts not only makes them more fun, but it builds their strength and balance. Don’t attempt this unless you are confident in your coordination!
Numbers - 1, 2, 3. For one minute, count how many steps you take during your workout. The following minute, give your mind a break. Start counting your steps again for one minute. Counting steps makes treadmill workouts fly by for some people. It also is nice to see how your foot speed increases over time.
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 just feels good! After walking for ten minutes, get off of your machine and do stretch exercises for five minutes. Get back on your machine and repeat this process until your workout time is up.
Climb and Walk. Someone who wants to take it to the next level can put a stepper next to their treadmill and take turns stepping for five minutes and walking for five minutes.
Chart Your Progress. Pick a place you have always wanted to visit and chart your mileage there after each workout. See how long it takes you to walk to Hawaii, China or the Bahamas.
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.
These are just some ideas to make your treadmill workouts more fun and interesting. The possibilities of what you can do are endless. Try new things and see what works for you. Keeping boredom at bay will keep your fitness goals on track and make your treadmill workouts fly by.
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