Treadmill Workouts

The Key to Treadmill Workouts - Staying With It

You've spent a good ten minutes on treadmill workouts for each of the three days you've owned your new treadmill. And you're despairing of ever being able to complete a half hour walk. You can barely waddle along for ten minutes, and someone thinks you're going to jog for a half hour?

Treadmill workouts thought it looked easy. And if not easy, they thought it at least looked doable. Now that the process is underway, it's downright difficult and starting to border on impossible. But it's really not.

Treadmill workouts are one of the best ways to get in shape and to stay that way. You can take your walk, day in and day out, without ever facing the elements, dogs or potholes waiting to twist your ankle. You can watch TV or talk to your family while you walk. Despite all the conveniences, it's still going to take some work.

The first key to success is to plan treadmill workouts that are possible, and then do everything you can to stick with it. Make yourself accountable. Post your regimen on the wall or refrigerator so that it's a constant reminder of your plans.

Make your treadmill workouts compatible with your ability. If you're really out of shape, start small. And if you're starting small, make the steps equally small. Don't time yourself with a watch - use a kitchen timer so that you can tell exactly when you've walked three minutes. And if three minutes is your limit, make sure you walk those three minutes several times each day.

Increase your treadmill workouts as you're able, but hurting yourself isn't going to accomplish anything. If you started with three minutes, try walking for a few seconds past the three minute timer until you're walking four.

Slow and steady treadmill workouts are better than no workout. Don't berate yourself because you can't complete long treadmill workouts - reward yourself for making it to three minutes and feel the sense of accomplishment because you're working on four minutes.

Treadmill workouts are never going to be easy - but if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.