FitSugar

A Little More on the Treadmill vs. Running Outside Debate

FitSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 05:30:00 PDT

We all have personal preferences: dark chocolate over milk, red wine over white, running outside over running on a treadmill. Wait! I like both hitting the pavement in my sneakers and chalking up miles on a treadmill. And it looks like variety is a good thing when it comes to where you choose to run. You shouldn't really place yourself too strongly in either camp.

Running outside definitely has its benefits, like boosting your mood and making you feel more invigorated than running indoors. You also burn about five percent more calories when running outside. Which makes sense since you have to contend with the elements (like wind – oh how I hate running into a headwind!), and you don't have the assistance of the treadmill belt pulling your legs back for you. Studies have also shown that when running on treadmills, we tend to go a bit slower than we would on a track.

To see the benefits of running on a treadmill just

On the other hand, or should I say foot since we are talking about running, treadmills reduce the incidence of overuse injuries by up to 50 percent. Running stresses the legs, particularly the lower leg. Think shin splints and you will know what I mean. By preventing and decreasing overuse injuries, the treadmill can help keep you running for longer and possibly farther (even though you are not really moving forward).

Once again the take home message is to mix it up. Treadmills, with their steady pace, work like a metronome on tempo runs. You set your pace a little past your comfort zone and the constant motion of the belt keeps you moving. Running outside is invigorating and a great way to see the world.

So where do you fall in this debate? And have I convinced you to try running on the other side? Tell me in the comments section below.

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Common Treadmill Woe: How to Avoid a Stiff Neck While Running

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:13:23 PDT

Many people prefer hitting the treadmill to running outdoors, but if you're not careful, along with that toned tush you might end up with a stiff neck, resulting in a nagging headache. Follow these tips the next time you hop on the treadmill to prevent this common running woe.

Keep Your Gaze Forward
One gym perk is its televisions, which allow you to catch up on the news or your favorite TV show. It becomes a problem, however, if your gym mounts its TVs on the wall instead of using individual screens on each machine - if you're looking up and to the right for 30 minutes straight, it's no secret why your neck hurts! Avoid cranking your head upward or all the way to one side by choosing a treadmill directly in front of the TV you're watching. Or better yet, bring in your iPad and place it on the magazine rack of your machine to keep your head directly over your spine. The same goes for chatting with your running buddy on the treadmill next to you - keep the conversation going while looking straight ahead.

Keep reading for more tips on preventing neck pain on the treadmill.

Burn Calories and Fight Belly Fat: 45-Minute Treadmill Workout

Susi May — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:46:25 PDT

Intervals are the antidote to boring treadmill workouts. Playing around with speed and timing rest periods keeps both the mind and body busy. Interval training is also one of the best ways to beat belly bulge. We've created a fun interval workout to help you get ready for the beach. After torching serious calories in 45 minutes, you'll be ready to lounge poolside.

Keep reading to check our latest treadmill workout.

Treadmill Tips, Workouts, and Tricks For All Fitness Levels

FitSugar — Mon, 23 May 2011 03:52:35 PDT

If you're stuck indoors, treadmills are an excellent way to get in some cardio time - minus wet weather or pollen counts. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced treadmill user, here is everything you need to know to get the most out of this favorite cardio machine.

Treadmill Workout Routines: These four different treadmill workouts: beginner, intermediate intervals, running hills, and sprint intervals, can be downloaded to accompany you to the gym!
How to Burn More Calories: From competing against friends to increasing the speed, here are some ways to make that treadmill work extra hard for you!
The Forty Minute Walking/Running Workout: Perfect for beginners, this workout helps your body ease into it while also adjusting to the physical demands of running.
Increase the Incline Like Jennifer Aniston: Cranking the incline helps you burn more calories than if you keep the machine set to a zero grade. You can also use the incline button to take yourself for a hilly hike with this walking workout.

Keep reading for more tips.

Tina Fey Shares Memories of Her Skinny and Chubby Years

Susi May — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:56:14 PDT

Happy Birthday to our fave funny lady! Tina Fey turns 42 today. We've been fans of the actress, writer, and comedienne since her early days on Saturday Night Live. Like many of us, Tina's weight has fluctuated over the course of her career, and to mark her birthday, we're sharing some of her funny quotes from juice cleanses to body image.

Before making the leap from writers room to on-camera talent, Tina followed the pragmatic Weight Watchers program to drop pounds. But that doesn't mean she hasn't dabbled in more extreme techniques to lose weight. She explained to Jimmy Fallon, "I don't really believe in those [cleanses] - your body's not like a purse. You're not supposed to turn it inside out and shake it. But I was like, 'Oh, I don't care. I just need to jump-start this.' So I tried it." After an allergic reaction caused her lips to swell, she abandoned a juice cleanse. Go figure.

These days, Tina works out with trainer when she can fit a session into her hectic schedule, and if she can't, she takes a walk. She's even become a fan of yoga and the superfood kale.

Before settling into her healthy weight, Tina experienced both sides of the weight equation and shared her memories of these phases in her book, Bossypants. In two short, consecutive chapters, she explains the positive and negatives of the different times. Keep reading for a brief excerpt after the break.

Fit Tip: Relax on the Treadmill

Leta Shy — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:01:22 PDT

More so than running outside, I find myself tensing up when it comes to running on the treadmill. And when I look down the row of machines, I see the same thing - runners leaning forward, hunching their shoulders, or running too close to the top of the treadmill.

The same running form issues are common no matter if you're running inside or outside, but I've found that the pulling motion of the treadmill belt can cause me to crowd the front of the treadmill or lean forward if I'm not practicing body awareness. Not only that, but paying attention to the TV or watching the clock can also distract me from having a less-tense run.

The next time you're on a treadmill, remember to keep your shoulders relaxed and your body upright, not leaning forward and tense. Check where you are on the treadmill, too; sometimes you can end up right next to the hand bar when you have more room behind you to run. And pay attention to the rest of your running form; your arms should stay by your side while they move (not crossing your body), and your abs should be engaged. Read more tips on proper running form here.

Get Fit Challenge 5: A Reader's Treadmill Workout

Fit Community — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 02:00:50 PST

FitSugar reader eatingbirdfood shared her treadmill workout for the fifth challenge of our Get Fit For 2011 giveaway.

I really enjoy walking or running outdoors, but it's been way too cold here in VA for outdoor workouts so I've been a gym rat for the past few months. Here's one of my recent treadmill workouts. I like it because it switches from walking to running and also changes inclines, keeps your mind busy, and goes by faster than if you were doing the same pace for 40 minutes. Enjoy!

Share your latest workout (cardio, strength training, warm-up) in our Get Fit For 2011 challenge group to enter to win a $100 Nike gift card and a chance to win our grand prize - a four-day fitness boot camp in LA!

How Rihanna Got In Soldier-Worthy Shape For Battleship

Michele Foley — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:01:00 PDT

To get in shape to play Battleship's hard-hitting Petty Officer Cora Raikes, Rihanna geared up to work alongside the real-life Navy. From weapons training to boot camp, find out how the pop songstress got in shape for her big-screen debut.

Drop and give me 20: Forget what you think you know about bootcamp workouts. Rihanna's training was the real deal. She worked alongside Navy soldiers, performing drills that challenged her entire body. She describes the experience as "really intense with lots of yelling," and, of course, lots of push-ups. The goal was to get her in action-hero shape while also breaking her out of the "celebrity mindset." In order for Rihanna to really connect with her role, she needed to understand the mentality of a soldier. You can train just like Rihanna - minus all that yelling - by doing our 11 total-body bootcamp workouts.

A weighty affair: Wielding a big gun is no easy feat. Aside from a ton of weapons training, Rihanna needed serious upper-body strength to maneuver around with such a heavy arsenal. Her trainer's answer? Weighted sandbags. Working out while carrying added weight helped Rihanna prepare for running, jumping, and kicking her way across the screen with heavy artillery strapped to her chest. Feel like challenging yourself with military-style tactics? Get going on these CrossFit workouts that anyone can do, or wear a weighted vest the next time you hit the treadmill.

Get Ready For Your Summer Hike With These Exercises

Leta Shy — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:24:26 PDT

Memorial Day is approaching, and we've got warm weather on the brain, but it's not just about getting in shape for the beach. Hiking is a great cardio and muscle-building workout - and you can burn 180 calories in just 30 minutes. Hiking trails vary in difficulty, yet no matter where you go it's a common sight: once-enthusiastic hikers having to stop halfway through, too exhausted and out of shape to finish the trail.

When you're on the trails, don't quit before you want to - if you're looking forward to a hike this season, start with these exercises.

Endurance: Spend some time working on your endurance before a long hike, and it'll all be worth it once you reach the hilltop. Increase the incline the next time your walk, jog, or run on the treadmill, and spend some time on a slower-paced, longer run during the week. Read more on how to increase your endurance here.
Core: Carrying a backpack while making your way up an incline requires engaged, strong abs; strengthen your core with these seven ab workouts.
Lower body: Strong legs make for impressive ascents, so go ahead, do some more squats (and then some). Here's a list of our favorite lower leg exercises to strengthen your glutes, hamstrings, and quads.

What's Your Average Treadmill Speed?

Susi May — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:30:30 PST

It's nearing the end of a long Winter, and chances are high that you've been logging some indoor miles on the treadmill. Lately, I've been rocking a negative split run on the machine. This keeps me upping the speed of the treadmill as my workout moves along, but my average speed is 6.3 miles per hour. I know for some that this might feel like a snail's pace, but for others a wee bit fast - to each her own speed. When you're on the treadmill what's your average pace? Feel free to check this speed conversion chart if you need a little guidance.