Upper body workout while on the treadmill?

Jd1360
Jd1360 Posts: 170 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So I like the treadmill for one very simple reason. I get on, I go for an hour and get off. I can't just stop like I can while doing crunches or whatever. My upper body is severely lacking working out cause of this and I've been wracking my brain to figure something out. I've had a thought, what if I simply add 5 - 10 minutes (starting) of arm workout WHILE on the treadmill. I can easily keep track on the time counter and with my established treadmill rhythm, I can easily keep it going.

I'm not opposed to adding small weights or resistance bands, but I have zero ideas what kind of arm workouts to do. My biceps are decent, but my triceps and er, under arm muscle? are what's lacking. Any ideas for this? I'd be very grateful!!

Replies

  • bigbrownbear123
    bigbrownbear123 Posts: 32
    Just to be clear, you're walking and not running on the treadmill right haha?
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    IMO you'd be better off increasing your intensity on the treadmill so that you only have to do it for 30 mins or so, and using the saved time for a separate workout. To safely do both at the same time you'd have to use so little speed and so little resistance that you'd be getting a bastardized version of both workouts.
  • LynC33
    LynC33 Posts: 196
    Are you on a treadmill at home or in a gym?? If at home I use hand weights and do tricep kickbacks while walking. Just stretch your arm back behind you a little and curl upwards with your palms facing inward towards your body. I was in the gym once and saw a guy on the treadmill and everyone was looking at him. He was on the treadmill and doing swimming motions with his arms like freestyle. Good on him for not being embarassed, but I was embarassed just watching him so I would keep things like that for when at home.
  • spartangirl79
    spartangirl79 Posts: 277 Member
    IMO you'd be better off increasing your intensity on the treadmill so that you only have to do it for 30 mins or so, and using the saved time for a separate workout. To safely do both at the same time you'd have to use so little speed and so little resistance that you'd be getting a bastardized version of both workouts.

    True. And there's not much you can do w/bands while you're on the TM because generally for most exercises, the bands are under your feet.

    From a safety perspective and also in terms of effectiveness and efficiency (your workout is actually not that efficient if you can do weights on the treadmill -- push it girl!) I agree with this ^^^^^^^
  • Jd1360
    Jd1360 Posts: 170 Member
    Just to be clear, you're walking and not running on the treadmill right haha?

    Oh! YES! Goodness yes!! Haha!!
  • Jd1360
    Jd1360 Posts: 170 Member
    Are you on a treadmill at home or in a gym?? If at home I use hand weights and do tricep kickbacks while walking. Just stretch your arm back behind you a little and curl upwards with your palms facing inward towards your body. I was in the gym once and saw a guy on the treadmill and everyone was looking at him. He was on the treadmill and doing swimming motions with his arms like freestyle. Good on him for not being embarassed, but I was embarassed just watching him so I would keep things like that for when at home.

    At home! Luckily!!! Hahah! Yeah I am not that brave...
  • Discoveri
    Discoveri Posts: 435 Member
    If you use bands, you can wrap them around the hand rail and do bicep curls. My gym has been out of power for the last few days and this is what I have done to stay on track.
  • Jd1360
    Jd1360 Posts: 170 Member
    Do you think small weights up and down along the back would be okay to work the back of arms?
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    They already invented this machine, it's called an elliptical.

    Either that, or as mentioned just cut down on the cardio time (increase resistance) and implement proper weight training if you want to work your arms. Doing these little weights while on a treadmill ain't gonna do much.
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
    IMO you'd be better off increasing your intensity on the treadmill so that you only have to do it for 30 mins or so, and using the saved time for a separate workout. To safely do both at the same time you'd have to use so little speed and so little resistance that you'd be getting a bastardized version of both workouts.

    I agree. It's not safe to be messing with little dumbbells on the treadmill and it's not doing your upper body any good. Bicep curls are damn near useless. Do some pushups when you get off. It doesn't take long and works your triceps, chest, shoulders, biceps, core muscles-- a whole bunch. Also do some back exercises, like rows. It only takes a few minutes.
  • spartangirl79
    spartangirl79 Posts: 277 Member
    IMO you'd be better off increasing your intensity on the treadmill so that you only have to do it for 30 mins or so, and using the saved time for a separate workout. To safely do both at the same time you'd have to use so little speed and so little resistance that you'd be getting a bastardized version of both workouts.

    I agree. It's not safe to be messing with little dumbbells on the treadmill and it's not doing your upper body any good. Bicep curls are damn near useless. Do some pushups when you get off. It doesn't take long and works your triceps, chest, shoulders, biceps, core muscles-- a whole bunch. Also do some back exercises, like rows. It only takes a few minutes.

    ^^^^^^^^ This, also
  • BoricuaNicoya81
    BoricuaNicoya81 Posts: 4
    Sorry for the very late reply, lol a year later.... I read that Walking with dumbbells is not a good idea even though it seems like a perfectly-efficient mix of cardio for calorie-burning and weight-lifting to tone your muscles.. You can read it here...

    http://healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/why-walking-with-hand-weights-is-a-no-no-1
  • ijblissjr
    ijblissjr Posts: 1
    (doing bands or dumbbells while on the treadmill?) NO WAY! TOTALLY POINTLESS do your research! Want to burn more calories? trying faster or more of an incline? The best idea I heard was doing high quality pushups at the end! Perfect Form!


    My number #1 disturbing sight in a gym is seeing some person doing punches while walking,.........#1 Flag for I have no clue what I am doing.....but man do I feelit! Open and close your hand as fast as you can for a minutes..........BIG burn BUT does nothing for you!!!!!!!!

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