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. A really cool mental challenge you can do during your treadmill workouts is pyramid walking. All you have to do is try to increase your pace by .1 mph every minute. Do this for 15 minutes. Then, try to decrease your pace by .1 mph every minute for the remaining 15 minutes of your treadmill workout.
Walking for Dancers. If you have good coordination and love to dance, you can use your treadmill workouts as a time to increase your balance and strength. All you have to do is walk backwards at an even pace for a portion of your treadmill workouts.
Numbers. To keep your mind busy during a workout, count your steps for one minute. Take a break the following minute, and then count your steps the next minute. Not only will this help you see when you need to pick up your pace, but over time you can see how your foot speed increases.
Circuit Training. Many people find that circuit training is a great addition to treadmill workouts. Start out by walking for five minutes. Then, step off your machine and do crunches, push ups, lunges or free weights for one minute. Then, get back on your treadmill and repeat until your workout is completed.
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.
Step and Walk. Take turns walking on your treadmill and using a stepper. The number of minutes you allot to each is individual based upon your fitness level.
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 is quick and intense. It is favored by many who are looking to bring variety into their workouts while keeping their fitness goals moving to the next level. Heart rate training involves monitoring your heart rate for the duration of your workout and moving in and out of different heart rate zones for two or three minute intervals.
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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