Treadmill

rstans

For losing weight, is walking on a treadmill as beneficial as walking the streets? I need to lose a lot of weight and I know walking is best but if it's lashing down outside I know I won't bother. But if I put on a dvd and do the time on a treadmill will I get the same benefits?
Thanks.

LowOdour

Walking is walking, regardless on how you do it imo. As long as your getting the exercise thats all that matters.
I use to prefer walking outdoors, but feel i push myself more on the mill. I do 25-30 min on the treadmill 5 nights a week. Within that time I try to jog/run a couple of minutes. Like you, ive alot of weight to lose. But 3 weeks ago, i was just about able to manage 3 minutes in total running...now i easily can do 6. Worst thing about the treadmill is that it can get boring staring at the one position. You dont have that issue when outside, plus you can get some fresh air

TommyKnocker

Hi There

I am no expert, just an injured runner who is now a gym bunny . However I have seen similar questions posed about running and the perceived wisdom was that when you walk out side, the ground does not move, so all forward motion is generated by yourself.

However a thread mill (except for the most basic models) are motorised, therefore the "ground" is moving, so you are nor excerting the same force to achieve forward motion.

It was therefore reccommended that you crank up the evelevation to level 2 or 3 to compensate for this.

Also I think you need to make sure that you are walking at a pace that gets you at least midly out of breath and increases your heart rate for a sustained period (maybe 20 to 30 minutes) to help with weight loss. I don't think that just casually strolling along engrossed in a DVD will help that much.

Also a major part of your success will be achieved in the kitchen. If you walk at a brisk pace for say 30 minutes and burn say 180 - 200 calories, but then sit down and eat a yorkie (or any other similar crap) then you will have just wasted the last 30 minutes and made no progress towards your target. So your diet will be just, if not more important as your exercise.

Finally if you are a member of a gym, or have access to weights, then add some resistance training into the mix as this will help a lot with your goals. If you have no access to weights, then try some bodyweight exercises instead.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Best Regards,

Michael

rstans

Thanks guys. Have the multi gym built and ready to go. Was thinking of doing two half hour sessions on mill per day ( have to build up to this as I've done nothing for last two years except eat ****e and drink pints) and do weights maybe 3 mornings just to tone up.
I'll let you know how I do.
Ray.