Let’s not beat about the bush, the treadmill isn’t the most exciting of the exercise machines at the gym. Simulating running outdoors without actually going anywhere and the absence of the beautiful scenery is why it is often called the dreadmill.
The treadmill isn’t the enemy though, as you can get a really good workout on just this one machine. One of the things that has really helped me in my endeavor to spice up my time on the treadmill is high intensity interval training or HIITs for short.
HIIT is a form of enhanced interval training that involves fast spurts of movement alternating with slower recovery periods i.e. running extremely fast for 2 minutes and then walking for 1 minute. One of the benefits of this form of training is that it generally requires shorter workout periods due to the intense nature of HIIT. They can range from 5 to 30 minute workouts at a time. These shorter but intense workouts improve stamina and capacity and all round athleticism.
HIIT is a fabulous way to maximise your workout when you are strapped for time- story of my life at the moment! There are different forms of intense interval training out there, including:
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Peter Coe regimen
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Tabata regimen
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Gibala regimen
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Timmons regimen
If you are new to working out then keep the intensity to a bear minimum. The great thing about these workouts is that they are easily adapted to different levels of fitness experience. As your fitness levels increase you can change you HIIT up by increasing the duration of the faster period and decrease the length of the recovery period.
My treadmill workouts are never boring anymore with HIIT. I like that I can challenge my body to go that little bit further. Also, the fact that I can get in a decent workout in half the time is brilliant. HIIT can be carried across most of the cardio machines at the gym too.
Do you love or hate the treadmill?
Ever tried a HIIT workout? How do you make the treadmill more interesting?
*post is in association with Best Gym Equipment, content and opinions are my own
I love using the treadmill! What I like to do is up the incline, and at a pretty fast speed turn and run ‘side on’ – it sounds odd but you do little jumps that really work your waist and outer leg. I switch over to do both sides. Admittedly I don’t do this in a gym, I might look a little strange! But it’s a great way of using the treadmill.
I think Tracy Anderson had a treadmill workout similar to that- lots of different movements on the treadmill 🙂
Love love love the treadmill ! I use it for 20 minute HIIT sessions 3 times a week. On the off days I just like to walk while watching tv, the time goes by quickly and youve got in some exercise but havent had to work up a major sweat either
Glad you enjoy the treadmill, HITT workouts definitely make it more interesting.
I hate the dreadmill but when I am training for a race I will use it once a week for speed workouts, it does definitely help as I push myself harder than I would out on the road.
Yeah I can always run faster on the treadmill than outdoors for some reason .
I hate the treadmill. I could probably only stay on there if I was doing an interval work out. But I will always prefer running outside – even in the rain, cold or wind!
I’m a wimp when it comes to the cold…treadmill for me! 🙂
I hate the treadmill, and although some people like it for speed work I can’t run as fast on a treadmill as I can on the road- some of that is due to the fact I am terrified of falling off, but also it makes me feel dizzy. I used one the other weekend when we were away, and a 5k was all I could put up with. I prefer the fresh air anyway. I always think when we have snow that I should get one/ join a gym, but in reality I would rather have a walk in the snow, and once the pavements are OK again just have gentle jogs outside.