Time For A New Treadmill Workout

May 4, 2008

If you’ve been doing the same treadmill workout routine for a while, you may be getting bored with it and more importantly, it won’t be as effective as it used to be anymore. As your body gets used to certain muscle movements, they won’t be as effective in shaping your body the way you’d like them to anymore.

How do you mix things up? Here are a couple of ideas…

Interval Training

The basic idea is to raise and lower your heart rate by mixing up the intensity of your walking workout. You can do this in two different ways… raise and lower the speed at which you walk and raise and lower the incline of your treadmill. Start by warming up for 5 minutes at a low walking speed. Then continually increase the speed until you are walking pretty fast. Continue walking at that pace for 3 minutes, then allow yourself to rest for 3 minutes by walking at a slower pace. Rinse and repeat a few more times.

Add Handweights

Work your upper body while you walk by doing simple arm raises or working your biceps or triceps with light weights or even just two filled water bottles.

Walk Backwards

This can be a little tricky at first, but is a great way to work out your hamstrings, abductors and adductors (outer and inner thighs).

Start with your treadmill at its slowest pace and start walking backwards. Try your best not to use the hand holds as it defeats the purpose of walking backwards. You will work your muscles more effectively without holding on. Slowly increase the speed of your backwards walking as you get used to this new exercise. It’s a great way to improve your balance as well.

Posted by admin | Filed Under Walking at Home 

Similar Posts

Comments

Got something to say?