We know many of you who purchase your treadmills here at NordicTrackCoupons.com have most likely been running on treadmills for a while now and love it so much that you finally decided to break down and buy your very own. Yet we also know that for many of you that is not the case.
Some of you may be purchasing your first treadmill to get started on that path towards a healthier lifestyle. You either may not have access to a gym, don’t feel comfortable working out in public, or are making the smart investment of purchasing an exercise equipment to work out in the luxury of your home instead of paying an endless amount in a gym membership.
Well we want to start off by congratulating you in making that decision, which is the first step towards living a healthier lifestyle and ensuring you work out more.
You made that smart decision, you’ve purchased your NordicTrack treadmill, you receive your package, and now what? Many may not know what to do from here. Don’t worry we are here to help!
We want to make sure you are getting the most out of your treadmill purchase, and getting the most out of your workouts. This frustration or confusion may stop some of you from working out, which is the last thing we want. So here are some tips from Running.About.com, you can check out the full list here:
First things first, STRETCH. As we’ve talked about before, the importance of stretching is crucial to any workout regimen. Many beginners may forget about this step, or not stretch properly for the recommended amount of time. Make sure you are holding your stretches for at least 10 seconds to ensure you are getting a good stretch!
Warm up. Stretching is going to warm up your skeletal muscles, but don’t forget about the most important muscle of all, your heart. You are going to want to make sure you do a light 5 minute warm up walk or jog to get your heart pumping and ready for action.
Don’t Overdo It. If you are new you will want to make sure you do not overdo it. Start out slow and increase your speed, time and intensity over time; the last thing you want is to experience any fatigue. Give your body time to adjust to this newly placed physical demand. This includes making sure you do not set your incline too steep (more than 7%), your muscles are not used to this and it may lead to shin splints, Achilles tendon, or calf injuries. Running at an incline has many benefits, including increasing calorie burn, so you will want to add incline, just make sure to do so gradually. I would suggest starting out at only a 1 – 2% incline.
Maintain Good Posture. Not only will maintaining good posture ensure safety as to not make you fall flat on your face, but it also helps strengthen your core. This includes not holding on to the handrails or console, they are no there to ease your running, only to display features and the handrails for safety reasons. Also make sure not to lean forward, keep your body upright and arms moving, just like your typical running stance. About.com also suggests paying attention to your stride, “keep your stride quick and short to help minimize the impact transferred to your legs. Try to maintain a mid-foot strike to make sure you’re not heel striking and sending shock to your knees.”
With that in mind it may be hard not to, but make sure you Do Not Look Down. I know it might be hard to not do when you are focusing on your stride, yet if you are looking down at your feet you are most likely hunched over, which is not maintaining good posture just as we said to do, so your form will suffer. This could also lead to back and neck pain. Also try not looking at the console much either.
Just as it is important to warm up, also make sure you do not forget to Cool Down. You are increasing your heart rate, and just jumping off the treadmill when your heart rate is elevated such as this can be dangerous. Cooling down will prevent dizziness and any heart problems.
Do Not Forget to Hydrate! You are losing water when you sweat and this will cause dehydration, often leaving you with that dizzy feeling once again. Keep a bottle of water within reach to keep hydrated during your run, also make sure you are drinking lots after.
Last but not least, make sure to Have Fun with It! Many people start an exercise regimen and quickly get bored with it or instead look at it as a chore that has to be done, they quickly fall off the wagon once this happens. Instead make sure you make your treadmill run enjoyable! Watch television, pump up the jams, switch up workouts, make working out on your treadmill something to look forward to!
Try out these workouts to help get you started:
Treadmill Workout Plan for Beginners – by blogger at ProForm-Coupons
Beginner’s Running Interval Treadmill Workout – by blogger at IttyBitsOfBalance
Cardio Workout: Beginner Treadmill – by FitSugar
Written By: Jentry
