Aerobic Activity

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:

Music, CDs, TV and Movies. Most everyone has a favorite style of music. Use this to your advantage. Listening to your favorite music during treadmill workouts can make the time pass faster and it also helps you focus more. If music isn’t your thing, you may prefer to listen to audio books or motivational CDs. Treadmill workouts are also a great time to catch up on TV shows and watch movies.

Pyramid Walking. Increase your walking pace by .1 mph every minute for 15 minutes. Then, slow your walking pace by .1 mph every minute for 15 minutes. This is an awesome mental and physical challenge.

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.

Walk Around the World. If there is a place you have always wanted to vacation or live, why not see how long it would take you to walk there? You can chart your progress on a map. This is a very fun challenge for many people.

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.

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.

Share This