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

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

You, sir, do not live in Canada. It is not always possible to run outside.

I run (well, in spurts) on the treadmill at 2.5-3% incline as well as outside. I don't have a car so if I had to take a bus or train for 20 minutes to run somewhere safe (I don't, my neighbourhood has decent paths) yeah no, that wouldn't be happening on the regular :noway:

Running outside kicks my *kitten* more than the treadmill and while I enjoy it, I'm a ***** and when the elements aren't satisfactory, you will find me on the dreadmill, where there's no blowing wind giving me a splitting earache (I STILL haven't found a solution to this, headbands don't help and it hurts like hell)

I'm not crazy about running on wet/icy/snowy surfaces, even with ice cleats, because running on wet terrain is how I broke my leg years ago and it's the kind of life experience that sticks with you.

And there's my take which no one wanted

If you ever find a solution to the ear aches, let me know! It's my biggest issue when running outside, even in mild weather. I hate it! The only solution I've come up with is move to a less windy place, but I can't do that yet due to that whole college thing lol. I also agree with the issue of running on ice and snow. I live in a pretty rural area and the roads I use are not heavily traveled. Most of the traffic is tractors around here lol. They barely get plowed when we get snow and they just aren't safe. I've fallen numerous times just walking to class, so trying to run on that stuff is just asking for an injury, and your story makes me even more inclined to avoid it. I feel like if the options are severely injure myself or go get what some people apparently think is a less useful workout, I think I'll cut my losses and go to the gym. I'd rather work my muscles less one day than break something and not use them for weeks!

Back when I did non-treadmill running, I would wear a dorky fleece headband I got at a sports store--it just covers the ears so your head still has a chance to cool off, but it really helps with the cold ears thing.

I've fallen on my *kitten* on ice in a poorly plowed town. No solutions to that one, except to suggest Nordic skiing or snowshoeing instead. Those are endurance sports that are meant to be done in the winter on snow.

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.

Running on concrete and other hard surfaces is extremely damaging to joints over time.

So go to a park or other non-concrete based terrain in your vicinity.....

All I hear about treadmills is excuses. If people want to make excuses and get all butt-hurt about their precious treadmills, fine.

Real running outside engages more of the kinetic chain due to variable surface textures, turns, uneven surfaces, etc.

It also provides a mental toughness to run in driving rain, howling wind, snow, high summer heat that a treadmill in a climate controlled building cannot provide.

Unless you have a treadmill in your building, then you have to go somewhere to use it. This exposes you to the outside world and also provides the chance that someone will murder/mug/rape/run you over/sell you crack/etc.... at some point you have to deal with the world outside. Don't cower in fear behind your sofa!

See the whole thing with me and some of the posts in this thread is this: It's not about how fat someones *kitten* is. That's bf% and sensible diet and exercise will deal with that in short order. It's about mental attitude. You're afraid you'll fall over and break something. There's a serial killer lurking around the next corner. There's a whole gang of snakeheads ready to sell your organs. You might get cold and wet. Someone will have to mind your child for 20-30 minutes. Or, you might have to take little Jonny or Alice with you (Jesus, they may even get some fresh air!). And so on and so on, ad infinitum...... if you want to make your fears make you choose an inferior exercise, that's your lookout. But understand that fear drives you and perhaps you can get out from under it and that's my point.

Now, I've gotta get back to curling in the squat rack.......

I don't get it. Some of the outdoor runners make it sound like running on a treadmill is a character flaw. It's a choice and, for some people, it's the only viable choice. The choice to run on a treadmill doesn't mean someone is weak, afraid or self-loathing. Just like the choice to run outdoors doesn't mean you're tough, brave or self-confident.

This thread has finally helped me understand that my running on the treadmill is a sign of gross moral turpitude. If you are gonna run on the treadmill, why run at all? Just sit your *kitten* back on the couch. Right? Did I miss some logic along the way?

I brought the torches and pitchforks. Is it time to gather up all the treadmills and burn them yet?

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.

So go to a park or other non-concrete based terrain in your vicinity.....

All I hear about treadmills is excuses. If people want to make excuses and get all butt-hurt about their precious treadmills, fine.

Real running outside engages more of the kinetic chain due to variable surface textures, turns, uneven surfaces, etc.

It also provides a mental toughness to run in driving rain, howling wind, snow, high summer heat that a treadmill in a climate controlled building cannot provide.

Unless you have a treadmill in your building, then you have to go somewhere to use it. This exposes you to the outside world and also provides the chance that someone will murder/mug/rape/run you over/sell you crack/etc.... at some point you have to deal with the world outside. Don't cower in fear behind your sofa!

See the whole thing with me and some of the posts in this thread is this: It's not about how fat someones *kitten* is. That's bf% and sensible diet and exercise will deal with that in short order. It's about mental attitude. You're afraid you'll fall over and break something. There's a serial killer lurking around the next corner. There's a whole gang of snakeheads ready to sell your organs. You might get cold and wet. Someone will have to mind your child for 20-30 minutes. Or, you might have to take little Jonny or Alice with you (Jesus, they may even get some fresh air!). And so on and so on, ad infinitum...... if you want to make your fears make you choose an inferior exercise, that's your lookout. But understand that fear drives you and perhaps you can get out from under it and that's my point.

Now, I've gotta get back to curling in the squat rack.......

here ya go:



In case any treadmill hater needs some help getting down from their incredibly high horse