Keep Your Treadmill Workouts Interesting with These Tips

Growing bored with an exercise routine is one of the top reasons that many people slack, or quit, exercising. If you are growing bored walking on your treadmill, there are many things you can do to make treadmill workouts more interesting. Here are some ideas that can keep your treadmill workouts fun and interesting:

Movies, Music, TV and CDs. Are you a movie or TV buff? If so, treadmill workouts are an ideal time to feed the craving. Music lovers often find that walking to their favorite music makes workouts more enjoyable and productive. If you don’t have time to read, listening to audio books or motivational CDs during your treadmill workouts is a great way to get lost in thought while you are walking.

Pyramid Walking. A really cool mental challenge you can do during your treadmill workouts is pyramid walking. All you have to do is try to increase your pace by .1 mph every minute. Do this for 15 minutes. Then, try to decrease your pace by .1 mph every minute for the remaining 15 minutes of your treadmill workout.

Dancing Exercises. Many dancers find that walking backwards during their treadmill workouts not only makes them more fun, but it builds their strength and balance. Don’t attempt this unless you are confident in your coordination!

Count the Numbers. If you are a number junkie, count your steps every other minute. See how your steps change and increase as you move from one fitness level to another.

Circuit Training. Many people find that circuit training is a great addition to treadmill workouts. Start out by walking for five minutes. Then, step off your machine and do crunches, push ups, lunges or free weights for one minute. Then, get back on your treadmill and repeat until your workout is completed.

Stretching. Most everyone loves stretching. A very enjoyable thing to incorporate into treadmill workouts is stretching. Walk 10 minutes, get off your machine and do stretching exercises for five minutes. Repeat this until your workout time is over.

Walk and Climb. Place a stepper next to your treadmill and alternate between walking for five minutes and stepping for five minutes.

Chart Your Progress. Pick a place you have always wanted to visit and chart your mileage there after each workout. See how long it takes you to walk to Hawaii, China or the Bahamas.

Heart Rate Training. Heart rate training involves finding out your maximum heart rate and cycling in and out of different heart rate zones for two or three minute intervals. This type of treadmill workout shouldn’t last more than 20 or 30 minutes and you shouldn’t do it more than three times per week because it is intense.

These are just some ideas to make your treadmill workouts more fun and interesting. The possibilities of what you can do are endless. Try new things and see what works for you. Keeping boredom at bay will keep your fitness goals on track and make your treadmill workouts fly by.