Love your fat *kitten*? Stop running on the treadmill!

Thing is, running outside is superior in every way to a treadmill. If you have to use a treadmill because you can't get someone to watch your kids, that's fair enough. But it is a compromise on the quality of the run in every way. That's my opinion, of course. But it's an opinion that has experience behind it.

Other opinions are available, of course!

I'm Sooo happy I moved away from the treadmill

WOW.

So you people are suggesting that despite the weather, I strap my 20 month old into our jogging stroller and run around in the freezing cold rain/snow/sleet/wind?? Are you slow? That's borderline child abuse. There's a reason treadmills exist. Get off your damn high horses already.

You can use a stroller if you like. I would personally use a back pack or something of that nature to add weight and get my heart rate up. Also it will cause hypertrophy in the legs and glutes which is never a bad thing.

Hi, thanks for all this great info! It's nice to run into people who know what they're talking about around here.

Just to clarify, running pace determines running results, right? A slower pace results in strength gains, a moderate pace results in hypertrophy, and a fast pace results in endurance benefits, correct? It would be nice to add that to the note about hypertrophy in legs and glutes, because not everyone has that goal. :flowerforyou:

You can use a stroller if you like. I would personally use a back pack or something of that nature to add weight and get my heart rate up. Also it will cause hypertrophy in the legs and glutes which is never a bad thing.

Have you done this? You know the child's head bounces up and down, up and down with every step when you run. (Much less so when walking, which is what these packs are designed for) Also, even with the best ergonomic backpack the weight is not distributed evenly in a way that is good for a long run.

I used to carry my kids everywhere in different devices and at a walk it's great, but even then as the kids get heavier it's easy to get weird stress injuries from the weight on the wrong spots, especially on your back. I think my youngest did something to my thoracic vertebrae that will never be quite right again.

This is the warning from the American Chiropractic Association on running with children in backpacks:

Never run or jog while carrying a baby in any backpack-style carrier, front-side carrier or baby sling. A baby's body is not adjusted to the cyclic pattern that is a part of running and jogging. This motion can do damage to the baby's neck, spine and/or brain.

http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=64

There are parents on this thread with real life experience raising children and maintaining an exercise program. It's not a terrible idea to give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe they know what they are talking about.

I can't comment on kids because I don't have any yet, but I have done both treadmill and outdoor running, and I think both have their pros and cons. The treadmill was great for me for learning pace control and allowing me to be distracted so I stopped mentally blocking myself. Once I gained those skills I was able to move outside where I could get the benefits of hills and turns and all that. But just because I run outside doesn't mean I hate the treadmill now. Some days I want scenery and a nice breeze, and some days I want TV and AC while running. I'm still getting a workout either way, so what's it matter? I wouldn't be a runner without the skills I learned on a treadmill, and I wouldn't have continued running if it wasn't for outdoor training for races. It doesn't have to be one or the other. Also, I'll willingly admit that unless it's a race day, I don't run in bad weather because I don't like being cold and wet, so I go to the gym those days. Not everyone likes being out in the elements. No reason to flame them for that. It's all personal preference, and everyone is different. There's nothing wrong with that.

As a side note, if you're like me, you do get the benefits of turns on a treadmill because I'm not the best at running in a straight line. I frequently veer off to the side of the tread and have to bank back to center before I fall lol.

The quote feature isn't that hard to figure out people.

I'm guessing the guy above me isn't a parent. Cause no mom on earth wants to take little kids when she's running. Why would she (we?). You do understand that kids aren't little soldiers that so what they're suppose to, right? They run all over. They stop when the see a bottle cap. They whine. They have to pee. So rofl @ bringing the kids along for a run. Silly silly boy.

Having said that, the 10 year old is probably getting close enough to the age where s/he can watch the 6 year old while mom takes 30-60 ,minutes to herself.

The bottom line is to each his own. Why does anyone want a fat *kitten* anyway? I like my muscular, badonkadonk thankyouverymuch,

Me? Yea, I'm a parent. Or did you not bother reading my post? Part of being a parent is pushing your kids. I realize the vast majority of western civilization has forgotten this, but it's good to remember once in a while. And yes, my 3 year old can run 2 miles now. The first mile is easy and I pretty much tickle her so she keeps running for the second mile. Then she goes in my kiddo backpack and my wife and I hike for several miles. When my knee is feeling okay, I take my 7 year old running with me. She mostly does intervals these days, but she runs. She's done 5 km with me a few times. Back when she was younger, and I was doing longer distances, she'd do 15 km on her scooter.

If you love yourself at all it's best to avoid the treadmill altogether and take a run outside.

Not to hijack the thread, but... um... what? I don't think we can or should infer that only the self-loathing run on treadmills. Would you actually look at someone on a treadmill and think, "That person obviously doesn't love him-/herself at all"? Sure, it's great to get fresh air. 100% agree. But running outside isn't always a good option for a number of reasons (weather, safety, etc.).

If I'm not mistaken, the discussion is about how to get the best workout/body with a treadmill routine. Running on a treadmill. Not 'whether to run on a treadmill or outside.'

I respectfully disagree.

People running on treadmills are clearly there for some sort of punishment and the only guess I can possibly venture as to why somewhat might do that is that they clearly don't love or respect themselves enough to go for a nice run outside.

All you have to do is strrap your shoes on and go outside. Chances are you already did that to get to your treadmill in the first place.

You win the ignorant post of the day award my friend.

First obvious response, when its winter, I would argue the truly self loathing run outside. For right now in the spring, How about, I want to watch the NBA playoffs tonight, but I also want get in cardiovascular activity. Win/ Win. If i can get TNT on my google glasses one day then I will run outside. Win/Win/Win

And really honestly, it shouldn't matter whether someone prefers a treadmill or outside--- as long as they're doing cardio in a way that they enjoy and keeps them coming back for more, they can exercise while running from the invisible monsters in their heads for all I care.

I kind of ran out of steam reading this thread on page 3. So sorry if this has already been addressed.

The author of that xojane article lives in New York City. You can tell from her Twitter account.

Climate has nothing to do with New York City being an unpleasant place to run outside. In Manhattan, there are three places that somewhat approach pleasant runs: the West Side Hwy/Hudson Park path, Central Park, and certain parts of the East River pier. For most people, getting to those parks requires either taking the subway or covering 15 blocks through traffic and hitting a red light every time. If you want to deal with that on your run, more power to you. You win the "tough outside runner" awards. Me, I'll walk a block to my gym and hop on the treadmill. Just like the xojane gal.

I also want to comment on the evidence that has been marshaled so far in support of the claim that treadmills make butts flat. We have a snapshot of a Yahoo questions page (seriously?), a snapshot couple of comments from who knows where, and a trainer's opinion. Do these sound like credible sources to anyone?

Until I see an, ahem, controlled study that shows the amount of fat and muscle mass to be different on outside and treadmill runners, I am not prepared to accept this on faith.

The quote feature isn't that hard to figure out people.

I'm guessing the guy above me isn't a parent. Cause no mom on earth wants to take little kids when she's running. Why would she (we?). You do understand that kids aren't little soldiers that so what they're suppose to, right? They run all over. They stop when the see a bottle cap. They whine. They have to pee. So rofl @ bringing the kids along for a run. Silly silly boy.

Having said that, the 10 year old is probably getting close enough to the age where s/he can watch the 6 year old while mom takes 30-60 ,minutes to herself.

The bottom line is to each his own. Why does anyone want a fat *kitten* anyway? I like my muscular, badonkadonk thankyouverymuch,

Well, I must be crazy because I've been taking my kids on runs since they were just a few months old. My now 11 year old either runs with me or rides his bike and he keeps my pace up. My 3 yr old rides her bike or we use the jogging stroller.

Some of my best memories as a kid ( as young as 5) are runs with my mom on an early weekend summer morning. I was in races at that age, and since I didn't have much competition, often won my age group! I still run today, and even though I am overweight right now, am so thankful my mom took me running. The fact that I learned from an early age to enjoy exercise has been extremely helpful on my weightloss journey. Stop selling your kids short!
Edit: Also, I don't prefer treadmills, but you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes, inclines's a good idea.

You're full of it. Either your kids are scared to death to disappoint daddy, or you just happened to be blessed with the world's most compliant kids. I''m sure you're getting a real good run at the speed and distance of a 3 year old. *rolls eyes* FWIW I workout with my 13 year old, and it's never as intense when you have to stop to correct form ... etc. If someone prefers to workout without kids, it's really none of your business.

:sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad:
skinny thighs and no *kitten* or bulky thigh and *kitten*?
decisions!
treadmill and lots of squats, donkey kicks and bridges me thinks!

OMG!

I kind of ran out of steam reading this thread on page 3. So sorry if this has already been addressed.

The author of that xojane article lives in New York City. You can tell from her Twitter account.

Climate has nothing to do with New York City being an unpleasant place to run outside. In Manhattan, there are three places that somewhat approach pleasant runs: the West Side Hwy/Hudson Park path, Central Park, and certain parts of the East River pier. For most people, getting to those parks requires either taking the subway or covering 15 blocks through traffic and hitting a red light every time. If you want to deal with that on your run, more power to you. You win the "tough outside runner" awards. Me, I'll walk a block to my gym and hop on the treadmill. Just like the xojane gal.

I also want to comment on the evidence that has been marshaled so far in support of the claim that treadmills make butts flat. We have a snapshot of a Yahoo questions page (seriously?), a snapshot couple of comments from who knows where, and a trainer's opinion. Do these sound like credible sources to anyone?

Until I see an, ahem, controlled study that shows the amount of fat and muscle mass to be different on outside and treadmill runners, I am not prepared to accept this on faith.

YOU! STOP WITH THAT LOGIC AND START TALKING ABOUT DRAGGING YOUR CHILDREN FOR A RUN IN ANTARCTICA!

You're full of it. Either your kids are scared to death to disappoint daddy, or you just happened to be blessed with the world's most compliant kids. I''m sure you're getting a real good run at the speed and distance of a 3 year old. *rolls eyes* FWIW I workout with my 13 year old, and it's never as intense when you have to stop to correct form ... etc. If someone prefers to workout without kids, it's really none of your business.

If you don't want to involve your kids, fine. Just don't make excuses, or challenge the veracity of my statements because you can't keep up.

ps I see reading isn't one of your strong suits. You quoted me saying I work out with my 13 year old. Maybe you shouldn't multitask there bub. Your 3 year old might get lost along those long stretches of highway over which you and the Brady Bunch run.

OK now I'm really laughing. Have a good night Alice.