No, we haven’t run totally crazy here at Treadmill Reviews. While we are big fans of treadmills, they aren’t a secret weight loss tool, especially if you aren’t using them appropriately.
If you want to skip over the treadmill hurdles which can halt your weight loss, you need to know about the 5 reasons why all your treadmill running isn’t helping you lose weight.
1. Not Watching Your Calorie Intake
When it comes to weight loss, 80% of the work is done in the kitchen, with fitness contributing 20% of the work of losing weight. What this means is that your calorie intake plays a huge part in your weight loss and even the most vigorous-feeling workouts don’t burn nearly enough calories to make up for overeating.
For help with balancing your nutritional needs, exercise calorie burn, and to just keep you on track overall, you may want to use a fitness app such as MyFitnessPal, Fitbit, Lose It!, and others.
2. Treadmill Workouts Are All The Same
While it is important to follow a regular workout schedule, if your treadmill workout is exactly the same every time, it can leave you without the weight loss you were looking for. This circumstance is due to the fact that your body will acclimate to a certain level of exertion and you will burn fewer and fewer calories. To fix this, be sure to:
- Do HIIT workouts
- Engage in cross-training
- Try heart rate zone workouts
- Mix in longer workouts
3. Rest Days Are Skipped
Your body needs rest to recover from your workouts, as exercise creates micro-tears in the muscles and can cause water retention, which can make you believe you are gaining weight. During a rest day, your body can flush excess water and focus on healing, leaving you with more energy to approach your workouts.
Also, overuse injuries can more easily occur if you are not taking rest days, and if you are hurt when working out, it can leave you sidelined for weeks, if not months.
4. Leaning On The Treadmill Arms
A common mistake many treadmill users make is that they lean on the arms of the treadmill for support as they work out. Not only can this throw your body out of alignment as you exercise and lead to injury, but it also cuts down on your treadmill workout intensity. Without the extra intensity of you pumping your arms, you will lower your calorie burn.
It is better if you slow your pace if you cannot maintain it without leaning on the treadmill arms. That way, you are receiving the full benefits of your workout, rather than risking injury for a lesser calorie burn.
5. Not A Short-Term Solution
Running on a treadmill is not a short-term weight loss solution. Sticking to a dedicated running routine can help you maintain your weight, build muscle, improve your memory, lower your heart disease risk, and many other fantastic health benefits. But these benefits are only really available for those who are willing to commit to using their treadmill over the long-term.
If you are serious about your weight loss and fitness goals, you may want to make sure you have the best treadmill possible. With your budget and workout needs in mind, be sure to check out the best treadmills of 2019. That way, you can finally make some serious headway on your goals.