Top Mistakes to Avoid on the Treadmill
Exercising on a treadmill can be a great way to burn calories while enjoying a lower-impact workout than cross-country running or jogging. At the same time, however, if you’re making any of the following treadmill exercise mistakes, you could be putting your fitness and/or safety at risk.
Holding Onto the Bars
A treadmill is designed to help you mimic the feel of going for a walk, jog, or run through real terrain. The hand bars provided on a treadmill are only designed to help you catch your balance in the event that you begin to fall; they’re not really meant to be held onto for the duration of your workout; doing so prevents your upper body from getting the movement it needs for an effective workout.
Sticking to One Routine
In general, your body needs to be challenged on a regular basis in order for you to continue seeing results. If you’re doing the exact same treadmill workout day in and day out, your body will eventually get used to it, and you might hit a weight-loss or muscle-building plateau. Add some variety to your treadmill workouts to avoid this problem.
Looking at Your Feet
If you find that you’re constantly looking down at your feet while you work out on the treadmill, try to break this habit. Not only does looking down actually make you more prone to tripping and injury, but it can also lead to lower back and neck pain. Keep your eyes up and enjoy some people-watching or whatever’s on the TV in front of you at the gym!
By avoiding these mistakes along with having the best gym gear for your workouts, you’ll be well on your way to a more effective treadmill workout.
