Treadmills are pretty awesome. They allow you to run without worrying about the weather, you don’t have to be afraid of stepping on any rocks, curbs or cracks in the sidewalk that may break your mother’s back. They’re also ridiculously easy to use, because walking and running is pretty fundamentally simple. If you’ve been spending hours and hours on the treadmill, it would be nice to know what benefits you’re receiving. Here are five of the great perks that running or walking on a treadmill will grant you.
1. Increased cardiovascular fitness
Treadmills are great at increasing your cardiovascular fitness. Any prolonged exertion will increase your endurance, but treadmills are great for this because of their simplicity of use. You’re not only strengthening your legs when running, but also your heart. In the long term, regular physical activity will strengthen the heart, increase circulation which can lower the chances of heart disease.
2. It increases bone strength
There is a lot about how impact cardio exercises like running on a treadmill can damage your bones and joints, but in actuality weight bearing exercises (like walking or running on a treadmill) can promote increases in bone density. The force exerted on the bones can actually play a role in preventing bone diseases such as osteoporosis.
3. Burns calories
Running on the treadmill is one of the quickest ways to burn calories. Not only does it burn calories now, but it also increases the metabolic rate which allows your body to burn more calories even when you’re not working out. Running has one of the highest rates for calories burned per minute so treadmill running is a great way to melt away the fat.
4. Multitasking
Intensity is absolutely vital to having a great working out getting the full benefits, so if you can keep up the intensity while multitasking then more power to you. Many treadmills come equipped with television sets or one can be added very easily. You can not only catch up on your favorite shows, but binge watching will actually help you more as you’ll spend longer working out!
5. It helps your mental and emotional health
Ever been confused by people saying that they feel great after a workout? Logically, shouldn’t they be extremely tired and upset? Well it turns out that exercise releases endorphin, or the chemicals in your brain that make you feel good.
So there you have it, these are just a small portion of the great benefits that running on a treadmill can get you. Not only will your body feel better, but your emotions too!