Everyone knows how important it is to watch our weight and stay in the best physical shape that we can. Being over weight can cause a myriad of health problems, many of them dangerous such as heart disease and diabetes. Along with a proper diet, exercise can go along way in preventing these health problems from occurring, so it’s important to adapt a routine that you will be able to do on a regular basis. The most popular piece of exercise machinery is the treadmill. Treadmills not only help a person to lose weight and get in shape, but they are also suitable for all fitness levels.
When we were children, we constantly stayed in motion, playing games such as tag, hide and seek and kickball. As we get older, our physical activity decreases. This is mainly due to sedentary jobs and responsibilities that we did not have when we were children. The recent statistics show a dismal account of the state of physical fitness for people in age categories above 11 years old. 50% percent of young people aged 12-21, admit to being physically inactive. High school students obtain most of their physical activity only in gym class. The statistics just get worse in the older age groups.
There are other pieces of exercise equipment available, such as stationary bikes and rowing machines. These have also been shown to be effective in weight loss. However, exercise bikes only work the lower body and rowing machines may be too strenuous for some people. Treadmills work well because they not only provide fat burning exercise; they are also easy on the joints when walked upon. Walking is an excellent low impact exercise that gets you in good physical condition. Treadmills don’t just work the legs, but can also flatten your tummy. If you swing your arms when using it or buy one with poles, you can tone your upper body as well.
Treadmills are great for senior citizens, because they help to increase the bone mass and muscles in the legs which helps to maintain balance. Walking is also great for pregnant women. Being pregnant limits the types of exercise that a woman can do, but walking is encouraged.
Walking has other great health benefits as well. Studies have shown that walking may help the immune system. Research done by the Harvard Medical School has shown that an individual who walks for at least 45 minutes, five days a week is 50% less likely to suffer from colds and flu. It can also reduce high blood pressure as well as improving overall cardiovascular fitness.
There are some tips you can use to maximize the effect of your treadmill workout. When walking, keep your shoulders relaxed and aimed directly in front of you and rotate your hips with the movement of your legs to get a more complete workout. To tone your arms, swing them in the same direction as your legs. Bend them at the elbows if you are walking quickly or running and allow your waist to move from side to side to help reduce your waistline.
