PopSugar

How Bob Harper Almost Made Alison Sweeney Cry

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:30:36 -0700

If you've ever wondered what it might be like to train with The Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper, check out this clip of Alison Sweeney's appearance on the Bonnie Hunt Show. Sweeney, host of The Biggest Loser and soap opera actress, says Harper pushed her farther than she's ever gone before - almost to the point of tears!

Do you push yourself when working out? When's the last time you've done sprints in your cardio routine?

Pros and Cons of the Treadmill

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:00:36 -0700

If you enjoy walking or running, sometimes exercising outside just isn't an option, so the treadmill is your saving grace. It's one of the most common pieces of gym equipment used, so check out some of its benefits and disadvantages.

Pros	Cons
Rain, sleet, snow, blazing sun, and pitch black can't keep you from using the treadmill, so no matter what the weather or time of day, you can always get in a workout. The terrain is always free of rocks, trash, dog poo, and ice, so you don't have to worry about where you're stepping. You can count on it being smooth and safe, which can help you avoid injury.	If you don't belong to a gym, treadmills aren't cheap and you'll end up spending between $1,500 and $4,000 for a good one. Treadmills require power, so they're not exactly the greenest type of exercise. Running outdoors only burns calories, not electricity.

To see the rest of the pros and cons, read more.

Pros

Cons

The surface of a treadmill is more forgiving than pounding concrete or asphalt, so it's easier on your joints.
It's a safe way to burn calories if you're afraid to exercise outside in your neighborhood.
You can work out using an incline, which burns more calories and effectively tones your legs and booty.
Newer treadmills have a variety of programs so you can do several interval workouts that replicate outdoor terrain even though you're inside.
Since you can control the speed and duration of your workout, you can customize the intensity to meet the needs of your fitness goals. It's great if you're doing speedwork and need to run at a specific pace for a certain distance, but it's also great if you need to do an easy run for muscle recovery the day after a hard run. Just set the speed and hop on, and it'll prevent you from running too fast.
The readout keeps track of your workout data including time, speed, distance, and calories burned, so you can monitor your progress.
You can watch TV or read while on the treadmill, which is especially great for passing the time on long runs or walks.

The moving belt propels your legs, so you're not working as hard as you would running the same speed outside, which translates to fewer calories burned.
If you're training for a race, you'll be missing out on training in extreme temps, wind resistance, blaring sun, precipitation, and on an uneven surface.
The treadmill belt may be too narrow or short for your body, so you'll compensate by running with a shorter stride and not swinging your arms as freely.
The monotony of the treadmill can be so boring that you exercise for less time.
If you're not paying attention, you could misstep, fall, and get propelled backward.
The readout on the machine may not be as accurate as other devices, like specialty heart rate monitors and the Nike+ Sportband.

Which Do You Prefer: Treadmill or Elliptical?

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:47:42 -0700

As the weather changes and the days shorten, I do a bit more cardio inside on a machine. Sometimes I prefer the treadmill if I want to work on my speed, and sometimes I want to use the elliptical to give my knees a break and work my upper body more. What about you?

Treadmill Trivia

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:00:03 -0700

If you love working out on a treadmill, take this quiz to see how well you know your machine.

Take the quiz

Can't Run? Celeb Trainer Suggests the Treadmill Climb

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:00:05 -0700

Running isn't for everyone. While it makes me feel amazing, it's not so easy on the joints, which prevents some people from enjoying this form of cardio. If an injury has you searching for an alternative that provides similar physical benefits to running, celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak has a wonderfully grueling substitute.

Pasternak has trained celebrities like Alicia Keys, Eva Mendes, and Halle Berry, and recently he's been whipping The Fast and the Furious actress Jordana Brewster into fantastic shape. Women's Health interviewed Jordana and got the scoop about her workouts, learning that she likes having a routine "because everything else . . . is so unpredictable." She shared her routine with WH and said,

I do cardio six days a week, with weight resistance in between. I also work with [celebrity trainer] Harley Pasternak three times a week. I used to run, but can't anymore because [it hurts my knees]. But what's just as effective? Putting the treadmill at an incline of 12- that's steep!-and climbing for 30 to 40 minutes.

Sounds like a workout that would definitely work up a sweat. Here's an uphill treadmill hike workout for you to try. Has an injury prevented you from running?

NYC Installing Treadmills in Subways

FitSugar — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:30:00 -0700

New York City is steadily becoming a healthier place to live for many reasons. Smoking was banned in most indoor work places and restaurants in 2003. Fast food chains and local restaurants ditched trans fat last year. They also have fruit and vegetable stands in both wealthy and low-income areas so folks can buy a healthy snack on the street instead of a hot dog. In 2007, eateries were also required to list calorie counts on their menu boards. To prevent the spread of HIV and other STIs, New York also gives away free condoms in public bathrooms. So it's no surprise that this hip city is doing more to keep its New Yorkers healthy by installing treadmills in subway stations. All that waiting around for the L Train can be time spent burning calories. It's a brilliant idea, really. To hear more about when you should start seeing them, read more.

April Fools! Ha! It is a great idea though, isn't it? I guess if you want to exercise while waiting for the subway, you can always jog in place. Since it's New York City, people won't think you're crazy!

Source

Treadmill Tips: Stand Back and Check Your Stride

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0700

No matter the weather, many of you prefer to run on a treadmill. One of the great things about it is that the conditions, as long as you don't have to wait for a machine, are quite predictable. Unfortunately, running with the belt can shorten your stride. One way to prevent this unnatural shortening is to stand back from the console. Place yourself in the center of the belt. This way you can take longer, more natural strides. If you're too close to the front of the treadmill, you might end up swinging your arms too high to avoid hitting the control panel. This higher-arm swing not only wastes energy, but can also be a real pain in the neck.

Looking to freshen up your treadmill routine? Check out these printable treadmill workouts.

Source

Treadmill Tip: Focus on Your Hamstrings

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:00:00 -0800

The cold, wet, snowy Winter months can definitely make running on a treadmill much more appealing than the great outdoors. There are advantages to both running locations, but one disadvantage of using a treadmill is the belt. The backward motion of the belt assists you by pulling your feet back underneath your body, which means you are exerting less energy to move your feet and legs than when running outdoors on a surface that doesn't provide any momentum. However, you can work your legs more by imagining that you are pulling the belt back with your hamstrings. This idea helps me feel like I am digging in my foot and accessing the power of my hamstrings, which really work to push the body forward when running. The treadmill can get pretty boring, but with this little trick, you have something else to focus on besides watching the clock, and you're building hamstring strength. I call that a win-win situation.

Source

6 Ways to Beat Treadmill Boredom

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 06:40:01 -0800

Most of us covered in cold and snow are forced to move our runs inside. If you don't have access to an indoor track, then a treadmill is the next best thing. While I'm grateful that this machine allows me to keep up with my runs, the repetition of staying in one spot can be beyond boring. Here are some things to help make your treadmill time more enjoyable.

Entertain yourself with a book on tape. You can download one to your iPod or MP3 player and it will make 30 minutes just fly by.
Watch a movie. If you have a treadmill at home, watch rented movies from Netflix on your own TV. If not, you can buy a sturdy plastic rack that fits over the front of the machine. Then place your portable DVD player or laptop on it. Movies are a great way to pass the time if you're working on longer distances, because there are no boring commercials.

To see the other four ideas, read more.

Do interval training. Watching the clock so you can alternative between a few minutes of jogging and a few minutes of sprinting will definitely keep your mind and muscles busy. Here's a treadmill interval workout for you to try.
Have at least 10 playlists on your iPod so every time you hop on the treadmill, new tunes will inspire you to move. Or you can swap iPods with a fitness buddy.
Run next to a friend so you can chat and push each other to keep going.
Use the treadmill differently. If you're used to jogging, put the incline all the way up and walk instead. Or try walking backward, sideways, or walking lunges. Not only will it be more exciting, but you'll use different muscles, too.

Source

5 Treadmill Gripes - and 5 Solutions

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 05:30:22 -0800

I'll admit that I'm kind of annoyed that the colder weather has forced me to move my runs inside. I prefer jogging in the fresh air, and there are many reasons I hate the treadmill. I'm sure you can relate, so here are five easy ways to make your treadmill time more fun and enjoyable.

Gripe	Solution
It's way too boring.	Staying in one place can have its downfalls, so make it fun by listening to a book on tape, learning a language, watching a movie or TV show, perusing a magazine, or listening to a great running mix.
It's too loud.	You can't stop the noise, but you can prevent yourself from hearing it by getting a set of good noise-isolating headphones like these Ultimate Ears Metro F1.2 ($70). They'll block out all outside noise, including the annoying guy next to you trying to pick you up.

To see the rest read more.

Gripe	Solution
It's too repetitive on my body.	The great thing about treadmills is that you're in control of the speed and the incline. So mix it up to feel different effects on your body. If you don't want to futz with the buttons, many newer treadmills offer built-in interval workouts. Select a workout from the list and it'll make you feel more like you're running outside than just running on a hamster wheel.
I don't believe the readout.	When using your own treadmill or one at the gym, you get accurate readings of the time, distance, and how fast you're moving, since these are simple functions the machine can figure out by using the clock and the speed of the belt. When it comes to calories burned, if there's a place you can enter in your weight, then the calorie readout should also be fairly accurate. To be sure, you may want to get a heart rate monitor or the Nike+ Sports Kit.
There's no place for my water bottle or magazine.	If your treadmill doesn't have a rack or water bottle holder, you can buy these separately. A Cardio Caddy With Bottle Holder ($25) can keep track of your water, iPod, or remote control. You can also purchase the Up'n Over Rack ($25). It's made of clear plastic and fits over the treadmill display so you can read your book and also peek at how long you've been walking.

Source