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Treadmill a waste?

post #1 of 59
2/27/08 at 10:26pm
Thread Starter 
I've read that relatively soon after purchasing a treadmill, many users tire of it and either store it away or try to get rid of it. I wonder why. It's not as if walking/jogging is a particularly difficult activity.

If boredom is the problem, then use it when listening to music or put in near a tv. Most households spend upwards of 4 hours a day watching tv according to media reports. So while watching their favorite program they could be shedding pounds in the meantime.
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post #2 of 59
2/27/08 at 10:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by stevejobs View Post
I've read that relatively soon after purchasing a treadmill, many users tire of it and either store it away or try to get rid of it. I wonder why. It's not as if walking/jogging is a particularly difficult activity.

One that doesn't require expensive, space-consuming machinery.
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post #3 of 59
2/27/08 at 10:30pm
Don`t waste all that money on the hamster machine. Go outside to jog, walk, and enjoy what your neighborhood has to offer.
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post #4 of 59
2/27/08 at 10:40pm
Why a good treadmill is worthwhile (assuming you use it):

- you live in an area where the weather sucks certain parts of the year, making running outside less ideal
- you run often (or not) and running on asphalt has taken a toll on your knees and lower back
- you like being able to adjust incline levels for added challenge
- you need to get exercise while staying at home (to watch kids or whatever)

Of course I'll run outside to vary it a bit, but I prefer the treadmill. I find I can guage my progress much easier by having a clock and ability to adjust speed at the touch of my fingertips.
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post #5 of 59
2/27/08 at 10:56pm
I live in a condo that has full gym amenities. I actually prefer the elliptical machine to the treadmill b/c of knee issues ( Old skiing injury exacerbated by a nasty dirtbike crash). It's really flat around here so the gym machines provide that extra resistance that I can't easily access naturally. I absolutely love biking A1A near the beach though on the weekends. I can easily make a whole day of it.
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post #6 of 59
2/27/08 at 11:02pm
I have to be actually going some place when I run. Treadmills don't work for me.
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post #7 of 59
2/27/08 at 11:18pm
I bought a bike instead. It gets me outside, I can increase the resistance, and I can actually go places instead of staring at a wall.
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post #8 of 59
2/27/08 at 11:24pm
You don't have to stare at a wall:
http://www.treadmill-ratings-reviews...admills-tv.htm
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post #9 of 59
2/28/08 at 12:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by teddieriley View Post
Why a good treadmill is worthwhile (assuming you use it):

- you live in an area where the weather sucks certain parts of the year, making running outside less ideal
- you run often (or not) and running on asphalt has taken a toll on your knees and lower back
- you like being able to adjust incline levels for added challenge
- you need to get exercise while staying at home (to watch kids or whatever)

Of course I'll run outside to vary it a bit, but I prefer the treadmill. I find I can guage my progress much easier by having a clock and ability to adjust speed at the touch of my fingertips.

Yeah, I find it much easier to pace myself with a treadmill. I can actually force myself to exercise more vigorously with one. I also don't live in the safest town, so it's nice to know that I can run on the treadmill at any hour and not have to worry about being mugged by one of the bicycle gangs (I kid you not).
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post #10 of 59
2/28/08 at 12:35am
If you don't rely upon any one type of exercise and work to mix-it-up, you wont get bored. Most people need variety and if you only use a treadmill, it probably will end up in the garage with cobwebs. But if you vary your routine and use it occasionaly you will probably enjoy it and get years of use from it. But, also consider, walking, getting a bike, and joining a gym to round out your program and to keep you motivated. I have found a gym stocked with cute things also is a big motivator. I enjoy the scenery.
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post #11 of 59
2/28/08 at 12:43am
Treadmills just seem excessive as far as cardio needs. I mean if actually running is your thing, then go for it. But IMO there are decent if not better forms of cardio you can get for less money.
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post #12 of 59
2/28/08 at 1:16am
Obviously this doesn't apply to every treadmill on the market, but I heard that the words "Nordic Track", translated into English, means "dusty clothes rack".
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post #13 of 59
2/28/08 at 1:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by teddieriley View Post
Why a good treadmill is worthwhile (assuming you use it):

- you live in an area where the weather sucks certain parts of the year, making running outside less ideal
- you run often (or not) and running on asphalt has taken a toll on your knees and lower back
- you like being able to adjust incline levels for added challenge
- you need to get exercise while staying at home (to watch kids or whatever)

Of course I'll run outside to vary it a bit, but I prefer the treadmill. I find I can guage my progress much easier by having a clock and ability to adjust speed at the touch of my fingertips.

I think that's the beauty of the treadmill. You can increase speed slowly and you're forced to maintain that speed whereas if you run outside, you may tend to slow down here and there.

To call running on a treadmill not a particularly difficult activity is ridiculous. There's a lot you can do with it
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post #14 of 59
2/28/08 at 1:32am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dakota rube View Post
Obviously this doesn't apply to every treadmill on the market, but I heard that the words "Nordic Track", translated into English, means "dusty clothes rack".

Where do treadmills go to die? No wonder 1-800-got-junk is a prosperous business.
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post #15 of 59
2/28/08 at 10:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cldpsu View Post
I think that's the beauty of the treadmill. You can increase speed slowly and you're forced to maintain that speed whereas if you run outside, you may tend to slow down here and there.

To call running on a treadmill not a particularly difficult activity is ridiculous. There's a lot you can do with it

Well no matter what you do with it, its a vastly different exercise from actual running, in terms of what muscles are heavily used.
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