Treadmill tip I found

shortntall1

http://walking.about.com/od/treadmillworkouts/a/treadmillhold.htm

Thought maybe some would find it interesting

jenncornelsen

i hold on . but thats because i have the incline at 15% and otherwise ill probably fall off. i try to go a bit without but ya. been working good enough for me

jenncornelsen

when i jog on the treadmill at 3% then im not holding on

LKArgh

jenncornelsen wrote: »

i hold on . but thats because i have the incline at 15% and otherwise ill probably fall off. i try to go a bit without but ya. been working good enough for me

If you need to hold the treadmill to not fall off, you are going faster than you should.

shortntall1

aggelikik wrote: »

jenncornelsen wrote: »

i hold on . but thats because i have the incline at 15% and otherwise ill probably fall off. i try to go a bit without but ya. been working good enough for me

If you need to hold the treadmill to not fall off, you are going faster than you should.

This.

DirrtyH

This will probably not end well.

I don't care what people do on the treadmill, but I always wonder about people on the stair machine. Not that they hold the handles - you're supposed to do that, and I do it too. I'm sure I'd fall and seriously injure myself if I didn't. But the people who lean forward and put all their weight on their arms... what benefit are they getting from the machine by draping themselves over it?

zyxst

So what about people with balance problems? Are they not allowed to use the treadmill? Should they remain at home or go outside?

shortntall1

I wouldnt get on a treadmill if I had a balance issue..I wouldnt want to break something lol..Id figure on something else..I mean, why do it if you dont get the benefits you are supposed to? I would find something that I could do where I would get the full benefit. Hey do what you want. But for me, its a waste of time if I cant get what I am supposed to get out of it. It's like eating chips. No nutritional value but hey, its eating.

spicy618

DirrtyH wrote: »

This will probably not end well.

I don't care what people do on the treadmill, but I always wonder about people on the stair machine. Not that they hold the handles - you're supposed to do that, and I do it too. I'm sure I'd fall and seriously injure myself if I didn't. But the people who lean forward and put all their weight on their arms... what benefit are they getting from the machine by draping themselves over it?

I wonder that also, when I'm on the stairmaster. I think some people feel the longer you are on there, no matter how you do it, will burn the most calories.

I don't hold onto any handles (stairmaster, elliptical, treadmill). However, I go as fast as I can without holding. I feel like i'm improving my balance... maybe not but I feel better when I'm carrying my own weight and not hanging onto to something.

I must say, there are some people who just don't have the balance, no matter how slow they are going. It might be a medical issue.

shortntall1

Well, I guess Im just the type to learn things that can help me. If someone came up to me and said I could do something to improve my workout, Id thank them for the help. I wasnt judging. Like I said, do what you want. Its your time and effort. Maybe theres some here who would want to know.

jgnatca

Man dancing on treadmill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPLANtOTLF8

There's a weird form I've been seeing lately that makes no sense. The treadmill is put on a steep incline, the girl is hanging on to the bar, and leans backwards as she walks. Essentially she is walking as if there were no incline at all. I thought the incline was to change the form so there is less impact on the heels. The way this girl is doing it, it's like she's hanging on for dear life.

zyxst

shortntall1 wrote: »

I wouldnt get on a treadmill if I had a balance issue..I wouldnt want to break something lol..Id figure on something else..I mean, why do it if you dont get the benefits you are supposed to? I would find something that I could do where I would get the full benefit. Hey do what you want. But for me, its a waste of time if I cant get what I am supposed to get out of it. It's like eating chips. No nutritional value but hey, its eating.

So people with balance issues aren't allowed to use the treadmill then? Bookmarking this thread for the next "no judges you at the gym" post.

victorprocure

Do people really care how someone is using the treadmill at a gym. I'm just impressed with people who go to the gym regardless of how they choose to do an activity

algingher

I have to agree with Tinabob here. A big part of the reason I do at home workouts and avoid the gym is because of the people watching you and judging you. I know it shouldn't matter to me but it does. And why worry about what others are doing, it's obviously working for them at the time. Maybe they're just starting to work out and holding on is the only way they're able to keep it up? Either way, I don't see why it's anyone's business but their own.

Just my two cents.

jgnatca

My first few months on the treadmill were dreadful. Painfully slow and my hands drooping at my sides or hanging on to the bars. My fitness and form have improved.

zhvah18

Tinabob777 wrote: »

I'm sorry, but it's posts like this that make the anxious not want to go to gym.

Time and again, we see posts from people terrified to be judged in the gym. Then they are told, "no one is watching you" but you are! Why? They might be hurting their workout, but it's not hurting yours.

^^ This.
And it really is one of the reasons i chose to lift at home and own my own elliptical.

jenncornelsen

lol lucky for me i work out at home! no judgement there. well maybe the cat . but i understand where your post is coming from and i am working my way to holding on less. i have poor balance and dont use the bar to 'hold' myself ' but just lightly have my hands on it . makes me feel safer. i like that the incline works my butt and thighs but yes mess's with my balance.

ninerbuff

jenncornelsen wrote: »

i hold on . but thats because i have the incline at 15% and otherwise ill probably fall off. i try to go a bit without but ya. been working good enough for me

If you're holding on at 15% incline, then it's too steep for you to do. Holding on reduces 30%-50% of the resistance, so you're just better off lowering the incline down to what you can do without holding on.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

gothchiq

Depends how I'm feeling. If my allergies are acting up and my balance is off, I'll have my hands lightly on the bars. Beats derping and getting thrown off the back. If I'm feeling fine, then I don't need that.

chivalryder

Opinion A.

Who gives a frack what other people are doing in the gym, as long as they aren't doing this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3QAvaaVZQc

Opinion B.

I simply don't understand why people use cardio machines to begin with. I mean, it's like standing around dong nothing, but sweating while doing it. Makes no sense to me. I'd much rather be in the squash court, getting my rage on while smashing a little black ball against a wall as hard as I can.

Your mileage may vary. For all I know, walking up an endless staircase might give you the wildest orgasms imaginable (which could be dangerous, falling down two steps from the convulsions might hurt). This doesn't happen to me, so I'll stick to things that are fun for me.

Actually, maybe that's why people hold onto the rails. They don't want to fall down when they reach their peak and their legs can no longer hold themselves up.

TX_Rhon

For the most part, I will hold on if I am messing with my ipod or getting a drink because I am not the most coordinated person in the world. But I hate to think others are judging me as I do. I'd rather see someone holding on a treadmill instead of sitting on their sofa so kudos to them for trying!

lishie_rebooted

shortntall1 wrote: »

I wouldnt get on a treadmill if I had a balance issue..I wouldnt want to break something lol..Id figure on something else..I mean, why do it if you dont get the benefits you are supposed to? I would find something that I could do where I would get the full benefit. Hey do what you want. But for me, its a waste of time if I cant get what I am supposed to get out of it. It's like eating chips. No nutritional value but hey, its eating.

Because there are still benefits.

I broke my leg and soon I'll be able to go to the gym again.
You bet your *kitten* I'll be walking on the treadmill and I might have to hold on.
And you can bet that if you said *kitten* to me, you'd get an earful back.
You do not know someone's medical history.
Walking on the treadmill, holding on, might be part of their recovery plan.
You might not see the benefits to it and that's your own problem.

Do not judge what you do not know.

jemhh

I will look around and people watch so I notice what people do on the treadmill, elliptical, etc. but I don't really care what they are doing. I am sure that people see me walking slowly while writing in a notebook and get horked off about it but, again, I don't care.

Mr_Knight

zyxst wrote: »

So what about people with balance problems? Are they not allowed to use the treadmill? Should they remain at home or go outside?

Balance problems often come from weak muscles and connectivity issues, especially in the lower legs. For those people, holding on to the treadmill rails isn't the answer - strengthening their bodies is the answer.

ninerbuff

DirrtyH wrote: »

This will probably not end well.

I don't care what people do on the treadmill, but I always wonder about people on the stair machine. Not that they hold the handles - you're supposed to do that, and I do it too. I'm sure I'd fall and seriously injure myself if I didn't. But the people who lean forward and put all their weight on their arms... what benefit are they getting from the machine by draping themselves over it?

If you try the Stepmill, just climbing without your hands holding on, you'd realize that you really can't go as fast as you can holding on. Also your heart rate will get up just as fast at a lower speed with "light" hands just as well as a higher speed holding on tightly. The arms take away a lot of the resistance when you use them.
If you do have to hold on, hold to the front of the rails where your arms provide less reduction of resistance.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

shortntall1

Who the heck said Im judging?? I found this article and thought Id share it for those who may want to know. Im not the treadmill police. I said it twice, do what you want. Some people like tips etc. I know I do. That's how I learn. I thought tips were helpful. I know personally, Ive got tips on here that have helped me.

TheVirgoddess

Honestly - I detest posts like this. As if people aren't intimidated enough by the gym. We should actively try to give them more reasons to feel self conscious and judged.

I hold on, very lightly, when I'm on the treadmill. For two reasons: 1) I've literally been on a treadmill three times in my life. I'm still learning. 2) I have a brain condition that gives me balance issues and again, I want to be safe and learn my limits.

I'm not on the treadmill for maximum workout efficiency. I'm on there to cool down from my lifting session. I have excellent posture and I'm not worried about fake running.

And at least I'm putting the extra effort into working out instead of judging people.

ninerbuff

zyxst wrote: »

So what about people with balance problems? Are they not allowed to use the treadmill? Should they remain at home or go outside?

If there's an issue with balance, then by all means use the handrails, but for those with none, they should try to refrain from using them. Of course there are exceptions like if they are sprinting and then jumping off to side rails using their hands (HIIT intervals for example).
But if it's steady state cardio, try to not involve holding on.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

xcalygrl

The point behind the post is a good one, but the delivery is all wrong.

This would have gone over better: "Hey guys, did you know that holding onto the treadmill can reduce the work you're actually doing? Here's a link." than the OP up there. The OP, while it may not be intended, is judgey. What another does at the gym doesn't impact your workout. And what you consider as "cheating" yourself out of a good workout may actually whoop another person's butt. Not all of us are on the same fitness level nor have the same goals in mind.

shortntall1

Oh lord. Really? If you knew me in real life you would see I am the last one to judge. I truly thought these forums were for asking questions, getting tips and advice from those who have been there before. I didnt write the article. I just shared it because I thought it was helpful.

ninerbuff

Tinabob777 wrote: »

I'm sorry, but it's posts like this that make the anxious not want to go to gym.

Time and again, we see posts from people terrified to be judged in the gym. Then they are told, "no one is watching you" but you are! Why? They might be hurting their workout, but it's not hurting yours.

Eh, if I saw someone doing it and they were plodding along on an incline treadmill, after their workout I'd mention to them that they aren't using their time as efficiently with all the hard work they are putting in doing it that way. Of course being a trainer in the gym, my advice might be more accepted than someone who's just another member.
But glancing around any gym, you'll catch people doing things that aren't as efficient, but it's just a glance. Hardly will anyone else say anything to them and they would be aware.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition