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Treadmill workouts
First published: 24 February 2014
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Spice up your treadmill workouts with our top tips. Hopping on the treadmill can seem like the perfect easy workout option, but it may not be as interesting or rewarding as you’d imagine. If plodding the treadmill is getting a bit dull – and you aren’t seeing results – check out our treadmill workouts below to up the ante.
Mix it up
You can run at a steady pace on the treadmill, which is great for endurance, but if you want to up your fat burn, variety is key. Try doing some High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) – 30 seconds at a high speed and 30-60 seconds of recovery is a good bet. HIIT is a great way to boost your burn. ‘Some research indicates that if you do a (shorter) more intense workout (such as high intensity intervals), you will burn more fat because the body continues to work after the workout is over,’ says personal trainer Mollie Millington (ptmollie.com).
Go high to low
Varying the incline is also a good way to up the intensity of your workout and add some interest to your sessions. ‘If you are like me, and get bored easily, place the treadmill on a variable incline workout to give the run some interesting challenges,’ says Mollie. ‘But if you find you have to hold on to the treadmill when on an incline, it’s too steep!’
The right pace
For a good workout you need to keep the pace up. ‘It is a bit easier running on a treadmill than outside, so don’t be afraid to push yourself. Just be sure you’re not running too fast (with your waist/hips hitting the treadmill) or too slow (almost falling off the back),’ says Mollie.
Stay safe
Getting up some speed on the treadmill can be dangerous, so make sure you’re always in control of your speed, can reach the stop button and that your laces are safely tied! ‘Be sure your shoelaces are tied, leave your outer layers in your locker and wear the red safety clip – having the treadmill remove your skin if you fall will keep you out of the gym for a while,’ says Mollie.
Head to the studio
Not sure you can motivate yourself to pace the treadmill alone? Check out these treadmill-based classes and make it a group effort:
Barry’s Bootcamp
This celebrity workout haunt offers high-intensity workouts, in the semi darkness, which combine intensive efforts on the treadmill with free weights exercises.
Frame Camp
This awesome class is just 30 minutes long and blasts your body with a combo of treadmill intervals and free weights.
Orangetheory
David Lloyd Leisure is launching the amazing Orangetheory workouts in the UK. Using the treadmill, a rower and free weights, this class is guaranteed to get that burn going.