Treadmill Or Not

[bcalvanese]

I know a lot of folks use treadmills but I just cant for some reason.

The time goes by soooooooo slooooooooow. A minute seems like an hour.

It feels funny to my legs. Like I'm just keeping up wityh a belt instead of moving my body accross the ground.

It feels too easy. My Sister can run 3 miles on her treadmill yet cannot even run a quarter mile on the actaul ground.

I much prefer jogging/power walking outside in the local parks. I see many other people to say hi to. I can look see nature and get some fresh air. And I am actaully moving my body along the ground and adjustin to irregularities of the ground with each step.

Blazing heat or freezing cold does not bother me either. I stay hydrated and dress accordingly.

I would like to know what other people prefer, and why they prefer one over the other.

[A_Lurker]

You'll always have to set the treadmill slower than you can do outside.  The treadmill forces you into an even pace, and outdoors I always logged a faster pace.  I usually put a little bit of an incline (1 always, higher at other times).  Mine has some presets that varies the inclines and speed, but I don't think my fitness level was ever good enough to use them.

However, I live in a snow belt, so it's a better option in the winter.  Today we have a heat warning and it's pouring rain at the moment.  I was actually thinking about putting the treadmill down (I have a folding one) and using it.  I have a TV on a shelf on the wall, so watching it is a pretty good idea.  My last place the TV was across the room (so I had to turn up the volume) and when I used to use the treadmill a lot I watched old episodes of TV shows (so roughly 45 mins).  Now I suspect if I use it today it will be Netflix.

[silverwalker]

I agree that I'd rather be outside walking than on a treadmill.  But we have one in my complex and I can use it for free.  So in extreme weather it is better than nothing.  The ideal way for me to use the treadmill is to go with a friend-- our different paces don't matter a bit.  And we can talk up a storm to make the time go faster. 

[USAF-Larry]

I had to use the treadmill as part of my PT after my spine surgery, and it did a good of getting me walking and back in shape. At that time, it was necessary to be able to hold onto the handrails to balance myself as I walked.  I much prefer walking outdoors, but in inclement weather I still use the treadmill to get in my exercise. I do a routine of varying the incline and the speed so that it does not get boring.  So, while the treadmill is not my favorite form of exercise, it is part of my arsenal of keeping fit.

[shipo]

Call me a bigot, but I call such devices "Dreadmills" and avoid them like the plague.

Most beginners find running on a treadmill to be MUCH easier than running outside in the real world.  I've discussed their impressions of how the different environments affect them and it seems to boil down to the extra attention to the details of the surface they're running on, traffic, natural and man-made obstructions, wind, weather, and even the flora and fauna which tires them out.  Once acclimatized to running outside, switching back and forth seems to be much easier for them.

Of course the above comments are anecdotal as I cannot bring myself to even try running on a treadmill; the last time I did was when rehabbing from a broken leg and I wasn't sure which suffered more, my broken limb, or my brain.  🙂

[FitBeforeFifty]

I'd rather run 10 miles in the pouring rain or in 100 degree heat than 5 miles on a treadmill .. I just can't stand it because it seems like I'm just counting down the seconds until I'm done.

I occasionally run a short run (3 or 4 miles) on a tread mill but that's about as long as I can force myself to stay on them.

[SunsetRunner]

I thought about buying a treadmill for those rainy days where I dreaded going outside but after some time on my sister's treadmill I decided it wasn't for me.The experience was just too different/weird. I ended up buying an elliptical instead.

[proverbs31]

I prefer walking outdoors but being a SAHM I can't do that so I need to use the treadmill. I actually like it and will read on my Kindle, listen to music or play a game on my Kindle and time goes by VERY fast! For me it's better than nothing! On days I am able to go outdoors (when hubby has a day off) I do. We have harsh winters so I pretty much do only the treadmill during the winter months.

[shipo]

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@FitBeforeFifty wrote:

I'd rather run 10 miles in the pouring rain or in 100 degree heat than 5 miles on a treadmill .. I just can't stand it because it seems like I'm just counting down the seconds until I'm done.

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What you said and to that I'll add I'd rather run 10 miles in 0 degree cold with a heavy snow flying than 5 miles (or less) on a dreadmill.

[JohnRi]

I used to own a treadmill, I hated it.  I now have a stationary bike.  I hate it.

Get me outside in heat or cold, I'd don't care.  Raining is about the only thing that I don't like.  And about the only time I ride my stationary bike, or used my treadmill.

I'll take the Texas heat 103 Thursday, over a treadmill!  Or I'll ride my actual road bike. 

There is just something about sitting on a machine, spinning your tires so to speak, getting nowhere...

[Discalceate]

Locate the treadmill in front of a TV, put on a decent film.

[shipo]

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@Discalceate wrote:

Locate the treadmill in front of a TV, put on a decent film.

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Can't do it; even with the A/C at full-tilt-boogie so much sweat slings off my arms at each forward stroke I cover the instrument panel of the dreadmill, the wall, and the TV with water and salt.  Ewwww!

[bcalvanese]

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@shipo wrote:

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@Discalceate wrote:

Locate the treadmill in front of a TV, put on a decent film.

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Can't do it; even with the A/C at full-tilt-boogie so much sweat slings off my arms at each forward stroke I cover the instrument panel of the dreadmill, the wall, and the TV with water and salt.  Ewwww!

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LOL

If I used a treadmill the room would look like a CSI murder scene, and the murder victum a sweat gland. There would be sweat splatter everywhere.

Also, how could someone watch TV, read a book, or play a game on their phone while doing cardio anyway?

I can barely breath let alone multi task.

[A_Lurker]

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bcalvanese wrote

Also, how could someone watch TV, read a book, or play a game on their phone while doing cardio anyway?

I can barely breath let alone multi task.

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Well, I'm still just under 300 lbs, so my treadmill work is a 3 mph walking pace.  It might not for other people, but this brings up a sweat after a period of time.  I would never watch something I needed to pay any real attention to, which is why I always pick something I've watched before.  For some reason I prefer it to music (which I've also done).  I personally don't find walking (treadmill or outside) all that thrilling.  When I lived in a different city I used to walk down to the lakefront most days (~4km one way) but even that became boring after a while.  I basically just put the TV on to pull my focus away from the boredom of walking. 

[JohnRi]

Here is something to think about Lurker.  If the exercise you do, you hate, there is about 75% chance you will quit.  My suggestion, is try to find something you enjoy doing.  Running, biking, swimming, anything, yoga, spin class...  but if you enjoy it, you are almost 100% certain to lose weight and get to your goal

Before a back injury made me quit, I used to play Racquetball 7-9 hours a week.  It kept me in good shape, and I loved the game.  Really the only sport I was ever any good at.

Turns out I'm pretty good at walking too.  I power walk between 3.8 and 4.5 miles per hour.  I like to walk on exercise trails with other people, so I can pass them.  And the shocked looks from some of the slow joggers, when I pass them!  Not to mention youngsters trying to walk fast, and this old man passes them up!  I live for breaking my speed records. 

So find something you like, it will make it a lot easier, and you happier.

[A_Lurker]

@JohnRi - Yes, I agree.  I swim and lift weights, and Mon-Fri I can keep pretty busy at work.  It's been a hot, dry, summer for us so I haven't been as much into the garden as usual.  However, sometimes I use the treadmill when I can't get outside to move around.  I also think I will be using it this fall/winter to build up endurance.  I'm working on swimming more as well, but that will end in probably October at the latest.

[emili]

I do both and I enjoy both for different reasons. Just like I enjoy lifting free weights and using the machines. For example- my first thing in the morning miles are outside. I couldn't imagine doing them on the treadmill because I like watching my neighborhood wake up. But in PA we have a heat index of 110 this week- so my afternoon run or walk would feel like torture outside but is quite nice at the gym surrounded by other people who are there for the same reason. And please don't hate on me for this observation- its just my perception- treadmill haters are a bit judgemental of those of us who use the treadmill. Not necessarily here on the thread- just in general. Can't figure out why..

[JennyJenn]

I LOVE my treadmill. I prefer walking outside, but freezing, slippery, icy winter will keep me indoors, and sometimes I can't take the humidity of summer. I love the heat, but the humidity makes my lungs close up and I can't get a good workout, so I turn on the air conditioning and treadmill.

I turn on the TV (a must, to distract me) and the closed captioning and I walk. I don't walk as fast as I do outside, but I tend to walk for more time than I do outside. During commercials, I'll walk backwards or do a sprint to shake things up a little. I can drink as much water as I want when treadmilling (before and during) and go to the bathroom with ease since I'm home 🙂

On days my back might hurt or I'm not feeling so great, I'll treadmill instead of going outside so I can hop off the second I feel bad. Can't do that while walking - not that that happens too often, but I can sense those off days. So instead of simply skipping walking, I do the treadmill and at least get some in. Sometimes I feel a lot better after walking - but I never would have known that if I only walked outside becuase I would have opted out that day.

So I'm someone who prefers walking outdoors but adores/loves/craves my treadmill, too. I think I appreciate the mix of the two, and my treadmill allows me to have freedom.

[DanielleinDC]

If you don't like a treadmill, you don't have to use it. If you don't mind extremes in temperature, then go running outside.

I'm fine with a treadmill (the wooziness I used to feel when finishing my power walks has faded as I get used to it), especially since I do not want to be outside in 90+ degree temperatures with a heat index over 100 or in freezing cold temperatures when winter comes. I also don't want to have to play dodgecar when I cross the street or worry about other pedestrians, joggers, or people who ride their bike on the (narrow) sidewalks. I live in a city; that happens when I'm going from point A to point B. To keep my treadmill walks from getting boring, I bring my iPod along and listen to music.

[TerriST]

I agree completely and love the treadmill.  I am not a fam of walking outside with all of the obstacles.  Either music on my phone or the gym has mutliple TVs and you ncan plug into the audio