Walking vs. Treadmill Walking

CricketClover

Today I dragged myself out of bed at 5:30 am and drove to the gym only to find that I couldn't get in. It is a key access gym and usually I just swipe my card and the light turns green and I open the door. Today, the light turned green but the door wouldn't open so I know it wasn't just me. Plus when I pulled up and noticed only two cars I got excited but now I know where they all were. I sat in my car for a few minutes and saw a couple of other people try and give up so I drove back home. I decided to walk around my apartment complex to get in a little bit of a workout.

Anyway, after all of that to the topic. Usually when I am on the treadmill walking between 3.5 and 4.0 with a slight incline my heart rate goes really high (yes I have a HRM) when I say high I mean like 170-190 for just walking! And usually for walking 2 miles I burn about 400 calories per the HRM. Today walking outside where there was changes in elevation and walking the same speed, I use Endomondo when walking outside so I know my distance and speed, my heart rate was between 120-150 with a calorie burn of 300. My question is, why would my heart rate be so much higher while on the treadmill? It makes no sense to me!

Simonscat

maybe it's due to the incline being constant, where as walking outside it changes.
Or...you're probably walking faster to keep up with the belt, cos i know that i tend to walk faster because i'm scared to slide off the machine!

i find walking or running outside does you more good than a tredmill..

Lexie28

One of the trainers at my gym told me to ignore the readings on the treadmill as they could vary from machine to machine. One factor could certainly be your incline but I find that walking and running outside is more difficult as your incline changes frequently.

The big thing is how you feel. Did you feel like you got a good workout by walking outside? When I run on the treadmill...it is so much easier than running outside...however I do know that I have a high heart rate on the treadmill. I have no idea what it is outside.

The biggest difference for you may be your pace...the treadmill will keep you at a good pace while when you're outside it varies...and if you're anything like me...you may take it a little easier outside.

Also the machines that you are using to gage your speed and heart rate may not be calibrated equally.

Hope this helps.

eellis2000

Today I dragged myself out of bed at 5:30 am and drove to the gym only to find that I couldn't get in. It is a key access gym and usually I just swipe my card and the light turns green and I open the door. Today, the light turned green but the door wouldn't open so I know it wasn't just me. Plus when I pulled up and noticed only two cars I got excited but now I know where they all were. I sat in my car for a few minutes and saw a couple of other people try and give up so I drove back home. I decided to walk around my apartment complex to get in a little bit of a workout.

Anyway, after all of that to the topic. Usually when I am on the treadmill walking between 3.5 and 4.0 with a slight incline my heart rate goes really high (yes I have a HRM) when I say high I mean like 170-190 for just walking! And usually for walking 2 miles I burn about 400 calories per the HRM. Today walking outside where there was changes in elevation and walking the same speed, I use Endomondo when walking outside so I know my distance and speed, my heart rate was between 120-150 with a calorie burn of 300. My question is, why would my heart rate be so much higher while on the treadmill? It makes no sense to me!

constant incline maybe verses up and down?

CricketClover

I really don't think that speed is the factor because my average was 3.7 today and when on the treadmill I am changing the speed constantly. If anything it is probably the incline. Most of the parking lot is flat but there were a couple of places that had a good slope. I was definitely getting in a decent workout though because I was sweating but that could of been because it was warm and muggy this morning with even a few spits of rains from time to time plus I was wearing a fleece. That was the first time I had walked like that around my complex and I got to see all the doggies go out for their morning walk this morning at least.

NOLAdy

It's possible that you were just able to breath better outdoors. And it's easier to distract your mind with the change of scenery.