Treadmill 5-6 days a week?

crybaby2384 · July 2014

I have never really been a runner or daily walker. I need to lose 15-20 lbs. I recently started using the treadmill for the first time in my life. When I started I was doing it for a very limited amount of time like 10 mins at a time. I am now up to about 38 mins at 3.5 mph pace. I have been trying to increase my time by 1 minute everyday. Is it okay to do it 5-6 days in a row and should I keep trying to increase my time every time I use it? My goal is to tone up my body, lose my belly, and if possible grow a butt because mine is kind of small. I have also been doing yoga for about 20 mins about 5 days a week. A couple times a week I also use 10lb dumbbells for about 10 mins at a time.

thavoice · July 2014

I have never really been a runner or daily walker. I need to lose 15-20 lbs. I recently started using the treadmill for the first time in my life. When I started I was doing it for a very limited amount of time like 10 mins at a time. I am now up to about 38 mins at 3.5 mph pace. I have been trying to increase my time by 1 minute everyday. Is it okay to do it 5-6 days in a row and should I keep trying to increase my time every time I use it? My goal is to tone up my body, lose my belly, and if possible grow a butt because mine is kind of small. I have also been doing yoga for about 20 mins about 5 days a week. A couple times a week I also use 10lb dumbbells for about 10 mins at a time.

If you are just walking then it should be a problem to do it 5-6 days a week. Listen to your body, if it starts to really ache take an additional day off.

When you start to actually run I would do so every other day. Once you feel good doig that then you can run 2 days, off 1 day.

MarshallLuke · July 2014

Yes, you can do it as much as you want as long as your body feels good.
A rest day is important. So is staggering.
What is staggering you ask? Rather than just going at 3.5 six days a week you should do something like 3.3, 3.5, 3.7, rest day, 3.7, 3.5, 3.3, rest day, and repeat. Pump up or down the numbers until you have an easier day, a working day, and a hard day.
Also, get outside if you can. The dreadmill is all well and good for a while, but it eventually gets boring. Like really boring. Like "I can only watch the same darn channels you have on at the gym for so long!" boring. Outside is awesome. And there are a bunch of apps on the smartphone to ensure you are moving at your desired speed.

crybaby2384 · July 2014

I would love to be able to go outside instead of using the treadmill. I have a 2 1/2 year old, 6 year old and a 12 year old. I have tried going outside to walk/jog with all of them but they get tired too quick and don't want to go as fast as I go. So basically the treadmill is the only option I have at the moment. I have been watching Netflix while I do it so it isn't too incredibly boring.

4legsRbetterthan2 · July 2014

I would love to be able to go outside instead of using the treadmill. I have a 2 1/2 year old, 6 year old and a 12 year old. I have tried going outside to walk/jog with all of them but they get tired too quick and don't want to go as fast as I go. So basically the treadmill is the only option I have at the moment. I have been watching Netflix while I do it so it isn't too incredibly boring.

If you want to try outside again you can try putting the littler one in a stroller and get the older kids on bikes, thats what alot of moms do who want to run but have kids that are unable to keep up. Or go to a track at a local school and let them play on the field and use the track, then you can still keep an eye on them.

chauntellebrewer · July 2014

Try walking on an incline as well. This will help tone your legs and butt. I like to stagger my pace & incline throughout my workout. for example, I might start off with a really high incline and a 3.5 - 4.0 mph and after ten minutes reduce my incline and increase my spped or vice versa. It changes things up during the workout so I don't find myself getting bored. Good music is always helpful too. Good luck

MarshallLuke · July 2014

I would love to be able to go outside instead of using the treadmill. I have a 2 1/2 year old, 6 year old and a 12 year old. I have tried going outside to walk/jog with all of them but they get tired too quick and don't want to go as fast as I go. So basically the treadmill is the only option I have at the moment. I have been watching Netflix while I do it so it isn't too incredibly boring.

Yeah, Netflix is far better than the televisions at the gym, especially when the choices are MSNBC, Fox, CNN, or sports. Your choices are I'm feeling liberal, I'm feeling centerist, I'm feeling conservative, or I want to watch people in better shape than me get paid to exercise.

Also, I listened to the entire Harry Potter series while training for my marathon the first time. So listening to books is a good option.

CodeMonkey78 · July 2014

I'm with MarshallLuke on this. I hate the treadmill, but sometimes it is your only option. I also love to listen to Audiobooks when I run.

If you start consistently running on the treadmill, vary your workouts often. Don't always go for speed. My rule for running (to prevent injury and give my body time to recover) is to alternate harder days and easy days. One day I may jog slow (I'm usually always outside), the next I may do speed, then an easy run, next day hills, etc. Also as chauntellebre stated, If you are going to stay on the treadmill, adjust the incline to at least 1 to 2 degrees. Not only will this work different muscle groups but it will better simulate road conditions once you are able to get outside and run.

As 4legsRbettert said, another good alternative is track work. Most all HS tracks are fenced in, are free to use, don't mind you being there, and you can let the kids play in the field while you run around the track without having to worry about them running off into traffic, etc.

Good luck!

Good luck!

Treadmill 5-6 days a week?

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