Does a treadmill do any good?
FashionQueen86
Posts: 51 Member
This might seem like a stupid question, but it's like almost every time I'm on a treadmill, I feel like it's lying to me. It takes super long to burn calories yet my body feels like it's being pushed hard enough to burn more than what the machine says. I'm able to jog the treadmill for an hour between 3.8 or 4.0 mile speed. The question I have is that are treadmills even that effective? That's all you pretty much see in gyms, but I could have sworn I saw somewhere that it does more damage than help.
What exercises helped you lose a lot of weight?
What exercises helped you lose a lot of weight?
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I did all my cardio on an elliptical and treadmil in the winter. I reached maintenance in February. You're going to lose weight regardless of what you do if you eat at a deficit. But I ate back all my calories and still reached goal.
So yes, they work. But nothing beats running/walking outside with wind hitting you.
I only use machines when the weather is gross on a cardio day. 0 -
I lost my first 50 lbs using a treadmill for exercise. It helped with aerobic conditioning. But, my caloric deficit caused my weightloss. Exercise doesn't burn the calories you'd hope it would.0
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They're less effective than running outside, but much more effective than sitting on the couch.
I run on a treadmill regularly (I like to run at weird times when I don't feel safe running and I live in an area with fierce winters) and I think it works just fine. I burn a lot of calories according to my calculations (I don't use the machine's numbers).
What damage do you think it is doing? How much are you wanting to burn?0 -
The calorie burns on machines are generally wrong. Don't rely on that number for actual calories burned.
I would suggest alternating your days: one day do your 60 min. jog, but the next day do maybe 30 min. of high-incline intervals. It's not the treadmill itself that will stall you from seeing results. It's being too repetitive, doing the same routine and not pushing yourself.
Also, I used the calories burned number as a gauge only. I input my stats and then record my time, what type of workout I did, and the calories burned number. Then I know that I need to keep pushing myself to exceed that number to keep seeing results.0 -
The thing about exercise is it takes an awful lot to burn significant amounts of calories, hence your primary focus should be on creating a deficit from what you consume. If anything many machines overestimate the calories burned rather than underestimate. Treadmills are as effective as the intensity and duration you put in. Try an incline.
Imo the cardio you are likely to see are treadmills, eliptical, spin bikes rower, arc trainer, stepper, stairmaster, then others might have a krankl, rope machine, jacobs lader. Treadmills are just fine, why not practice pushing yourself a bit for short periods to increase your fitness level?
What exercise helps you lose? the one that has you weighing , logging your food and exercising portion control. If you are going to use exercise to assist with weight loss then id do a mix of cardio and resistance on a regular basis. Exercises you can stick with, enjoy and make an effort to improve.0 -
I run on a treadmill because the impact of concrete beneath my feet is a bit more than my body can take.
As far as effectiveness, it's more effective than doing nothing. However, you are, for the most part, only working your legs. Working your arms as well raises your calorie burn something like 40%, I think. So, a four-limbed aerobic activity like using the elliptical or taking kickboxing class would burn more calories.0 -
3.8 - 4.0mph is not very fast, and is more of a brisk walk than a jog, so it isn't going to burn a lot of calories because it doesn't take that much effort to move your weight around at that speed. Walking/running speed is different for everyone because of gait, and stride length, but I think it's safe to consider 3.8-4.0mph to be a walk unless you are extremely short.
Since you're going for a straight hour, what you probably should be doing is trying to increase your speed. Your heart needs to get used to working better under times of more exertion. I would suggest working toward a goal like maybe completing a 5k in under 35 minutes.
Here's a treadmill c25k program:
http://www.c25k.com/c25k_treadmill.html
You're already getting past the 5k mark if you're going at least 3.8mph for a whole hour, so start out at week 1, and see how your jogs/runs feel at 4.5 mph. If that is too easy for you, then increase it to 5mph the next day you run, and so on until you find a speed where you actually do feel like you're exerting yourself by the end of the session. Just remember, the first few intervals might not make you feel as though you're exerting yourself at all, so don't automatically increase the speed after the first few minutes just because it's easy.
Once you find a good speed, stick to the program until you can actually run the whole time at that speed without needing walk breaks. Once you're able to do that for a week, or two, then increase the speed incrementally. There will obviously come a time when you've reached your maximum, but that's likely quite long off, and by that time you'll be able to tell what is, or is not too fast for you.0 -
FashionQueen86 wrote: »This might seem like a stupid question, but it's like almost every time I'm on a treadmill, I feel like it's lying to me. It takes super long to burn calories yet my body feels like it's being pushed hard enough to burn more than what the machine says. I'm able to jog the treadmill for an hour between 3.8 or 4.0 mile speed. The question I have is that are treadmills even that effective? That's all you pretty much see in gyms, but I could have sworn I saw somewhere that it does more damage than help.
What exercises helped you lose a lot of weight?
Of course the treadmill is effective. I lost 50lbs and was able to get my 5K time to just under 20min with 99% of my running on the treadmill. It's like any other exercise/machine. The effectivity depends upon how much work you put into it and how well you're watching your diet.
Not sure how many calories you're expecting, but I would guess 3.8mph for 60 min would be what....200 cals...maybe 250.0 -
Caloric deficit for weight loss and exercise for health and to help that deficit. YES, it does help!0
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janejellyroll wrote: »
They're less effective than running outside, but much more effective than sitting on the couch.
yupp! but that does not mean its right for you. I would suggest switching it up some, do some shorter slightly faster runs, put it on hilly/random mode. Treadmill times feels way more torturous to me flat and the same speed than when I put hills in it, makes no sense since hills are "hard" but I think monotony wears on the mind and body.
or, find another way to exercise you like more.
or run outside, way more fun!0 -
Yes. Get your heart rate up and break a sweat, and yep, you are burning calories. Good job! Don't trust the machine's calculations for calories burned, though, they're pretty inaccurate. Buy a good heart rate monitor with a chest strap to get a closer estimation.0
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4legsRbetterthan2 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »
They're less effective than running outside, but much more effective than sitting on the couch.
yupp! but that does not mean its right for you. I would suggest switching it up some, do some shorter slightly faster runs, put it on hilly/random mode. Treadmill times feels way more torturous to me flat and the same speed than when I put hills in it, makes not sense but I think monotony wears on the mind and body.
or, find another way to exercise you like more.
or run outside, way more fun!
With all the exercise options available, nobody should ever set foot on a treadmill if they don't like it.0 -
I lost almost 60lbs on a treadmill (along with a deficit). I enjoy both treadmill and outside. On a tread mill it is easier for me to do some interval training, which helps me increase my pacing. When I am hitting the pavement it is harder for me to push myself like I can on the treadmill.0
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You might want to consider adding intervals if you want to work on increasing your calorie burns.0
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janejellyroll wrote: »They're less effective than running outside, but much more effective than sitting on the couch.
I run on a treadmill regularly (I like to run at weird times when I don't feel safe running and I live in an area with fierce winters) and I think it works just fine. I burn a lot of calories according to my calculations (I don't use the machine's numbers).
What damage do you think it is doing? How much are you wanting to burn?
I guess the damage I was referring to was on the knees.0 -
FashionQueen86 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »They're less effective than running outside, but much more effective than sitting on the couch.
I run on a treadmill regularly (I like to run at weird times when I don't feel safe running and I live in an area with fierce winters) and I think it works just fine. I burn a lot of calories according to my calculations (I don't use the machine's numbers).
What damage do you think it is doing? How much are you wanting to burn?
I guess the damage I was referring to was on the knees.
Was the claim that it would damage your knees more than running outside or more than another type of machine used for cardio?0 -
peachyfuzzle wrote: »3.8 - 4.0mph is not very fast, and is more of a brisk walk than a jog, so it isn't going to burn a lot of calories because it doesn't take that much effort to move your weight around at that speed. Walking/running speed is different for everyone because of gait, and stride length, but I think it's safe to consider 3.8-4.0mph to be a walk unless you are extremely short.
Since you're going for a straight hour, what you probably should be doing is trying to increase your speed. Your heart needs to get used to working better under times of more exertion. I would suggest working toward a goal like maybe completing a 5k in under 35 minutes.
Here's a treadmill c25k program:
http://www.c25k.com/c25k_treadmill.html
You're already getting past the 5k mark if you're going at least 3.8mph for a whole hour, so start out at week 1, and see how your jogs/runs feel at 4.5 mph. If that is too easy for you, then increase it to 5mph the next day you run, and so on until you find a speed where you actually do feel like you're exerting yourself by the end of the session. Just remember, the first few intervals might not make you feel as though you're exerting yourself at all, so don't automatically increase the speed after the first few minutes just because it's easy.
Once you find a good speed, stick to the program until you can actually run the whole time at that speed without needing walk breaks. Once you're able to do that for a week, or two, then increase the speed incrementally. There will obviously come a time when you've reached your maximum, but that's likely quite long off, and by that time you'll be able to tell what is, or is not too fast for you.peachyfuzzle wrote: »3.8 - 4.0mph is not very fast, and is more of a brisk walk than a jog, so it isn't going to burn a lot of calories because it doesn't take that much effort to move your weight around at that speed. Walking/running speed is different for everyone because of gait, and stride length, but I think it's safe to consider 3.8-4.0mph to be a walk unless you are extremely short.
Since you're going for a straight hour, what you probably should be doing is trying to increase your speed. Your heart needs to get used to working better under times of more exertion. I would suggest working toward a goal like maybe completing a 5k in under 35 minutes.
Here's a treadmill c25k program:
http://www.c25k.com/c25k_treadmill.html
You're already getting past the 5k mark if you're going at least 3.8mph for a whole hour, so start out at week 1, and see how your jogs/runs feel at 4.5 mph. If that is too easy for you, then increase it to 5mph the next day you run, and so on until you find a speed where you actually do feel like you're exerting yourself by the end of the session. Just remember, the first few intervals might not make you feel as though you're exerting yourself at all, so don't automatically increase the speed after the first few minutes just because it's easy.
Once you find a good speed, stick to the program until you can actually run the whole time at that speed without needing walk breaks. Once you're able to do that for a week, or two, then increase the speed incrementally. There will obviously come a time when you've reached your maximum, but that's likely quite long off, and by that time you'll be able to tell what is, or is not too fast for you.
Thanks a lot! All you have a great responses!0 -
A couple years ago I participated in a biggest loser contest at my office. It was winter so running outside wasn't an option but there were treadmills in a small fitness room in the basement. From day one I decided to run a 5k Monday-Friday. Three months later I was 28 pounds and crowned the winner of the contest. So, yes, treadmills are quite effective. My dietary changes probably played a bigger role in the weight loss but some quick number crunching suggests 7lbs could be attributed to the treadmill.
Also I agree with peachyfuzzle that you should be trying to move faster. When I was 50lbs overweight and just starting my first 5k I was going at about 7.5mph (with a few walking breaks). A bit later on in the year I was able to hold down a pace of about 9.5mph for the whole 5k.0 -
Running is a repetitive strain activity, so any running is going to put some strain on your knees. To minimise this, put the treadmill on an incline so there is less striking (jarring) of the heel.
Calorie deficit is the most effective for weight loss. Running outdoors or on a treadmill is going to give you a cardio workout and give you more endurance.0 -
FashionQueen86 wrote: »This might seem like a stupid question, but it's like almost every time I'm on a treadmill, I feel like it's lying to me. It takes super long to burn calories yet my body feels like it's being pushed hard enough to burn more than what the machine says. I'm able to jog the treadmill for an hour between 3.8 or 4.0 mile speed. The question I have is that are treadmills even that effective? That's all you pretty much see in gyms, but I could have sworn I saw somewhere that it does more damage than help.
What exercises helped you lose a lot of weight?
Fork put downs and table push-aways....
Your diet is going to be largely responsible for your weight control. I exercise like a crazy person...I love lifting weights, I love jumping on my bike and riding 50 miles...I love taking a good swim in the summer...I love a nice long hike in the mountains, etc...like I said...I workout and exercise like a crazy person. I've lost weight, maintained weight, and gained weight all while exercising like a crazy person...the difference between those three objectives wasn't the exercise...it was my diet and calorie (energy) intake.0 -
I consider the treadmill to be a cardio machine where weight loss is kind of incidental. If I were to recommend, I would say that you should aim for a heart rate that you maintain for 30-60 minutes, and not even focus on calories. Then get a good video to watch and forget about what you're doing.
There really is no great exercise for losing weight. The overall idea is to eat at a deficit, then get muscle mass (by doing some regular exercise of ANY kind) because muscles cause a metabolism boost, which in turn will cause more weight loss.
I have done walking at 3.5 mph for the last year, and only just now started adding actual strength training 1-2x a week. Eating at a deficit, drinking plenty of liquid, and getting good heart rate up and sweating for 30+ minutes a day equals good success. Don't be focused on numbers (except to know for sure you're really eating at a deficit).
I don't even look at numbers anymore at the gym, except timers and my own heart rate. It's all you need!0 -
You should try some speed intervals to get your heart rate up. Your speed is considered a brisk walk, not yet a jog. I run on the treadmill at 5 mph and burn around 100 cals per mile.0
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FashionQueen86 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »They're less effective than running outside, but much more effective than sitting on the couch.
I run on a treadmill regularly (I like to run at weird times when I don't feel safe running and I live in an area with fierce winters) and I think it works just fine. I burn a lot of calories according to my calculations (I don't use the machine's numbers).
What damage do you think it is doing? How much are you wanting to burn?
I guess the damage I was referring to was on the knees.
Running is high impact....street or treadmill. Many other forms of exercise are high impact also. There are some people who can't do a lot of high impact (myself for example....but I'm over 50).
For me, exercise is a lifestyle change. I spent a lot of time finding something I enjoy enough to do for years to come.
Intervals (as already suggested) might add some interest.: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/cardio/treadmill/treadmill-interval-plans/0 -
As pointed out above (and accurately), exercise is for fitness. Eating at a calorie deficit is for weight loss.0
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I put my tablet there. Lol I can't see the time and where I'm at and I watch tv. Bonus!0 -
You can get a bigger burn on a treadmill by walking on an incline than you can running, well depends upon how steep you make it. I walk on mine at 10% incline at 3.5mph and can burn 400+ calories in 30 minutes. Much more than running on no incline.0
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I like walking on the treadmill (no high impact stuff for me, ever). No bugs. No worries about weather. I do like the breeze outside, but I don't miss the traffic fumes when I'm in the gym. I also like being able to push myself with varying the incline and speed.
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For me, getting a treadmill was the best thing I ever did. As everyone has said, it's the amount of food that we eat that determines weight loss, but honestly, I never did eat much anyway and ultimately, my weight gain is due to my life being spent on my couch typing. (work from home) Sometimes 12+ hours a day, and most days, I would move from the couch to my bed, so to say my lifestyle was sedentary was an understatement.
Getting my butt up off the couch and moving was absolutely key for me. I haven't changed what I've eaten much at all, but I have lost around 13-14 pounds since March 1. I went from about 3,000 steps a day up to over 10,000, usually more.. I don't jog on it, but I walk at a pretty good incline at 3.5 mph and do 3-5 miles a day. I'll do that interval thing where every half mile, I'll sprint for 15-20 seconds.
Walking on my treadmill upped my available calories I am able to eat per day, so basically, it helped create a caloric deficit. Plus, it's not very healthy to sit all damn day.
I have a Neflix account and I also like to collect movies, so there are days where I don't want to stop because i'm in the middle of a really good movie! LOL0 -
I love my treadmill and have always hated running before. I do intervals - 2 minutes running, 2 minutes walking at a progressively steep incline, for 30 to 35 minutes. But I also do Jillian Michael's DVDs like 30 Day Shred, a couple of days a week, to work in some strength training, which I think is extremely important for overall fitness and loss of inches.0
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