Is the Treamill a fat burning and a cardio vascular excercise?
I was just wondering if the treadmill was a good form of fat burning and cardio exercise. Seems that some think the treadmill isn’t a enough and others feel that its a great form of exercise.
A treadmill can be a great fat burning piece of equipment, depending on how you use it.
Try high intensity interval training 2 or 3 times a week. You do this by going full bore on the treadmill for 20-40 seconds, then recovering at a more moderate pace for a minute or two. After a warm up period, 8 to 15 intervals will really boost your heart rate and metabolism. You can make this even more challenging by adding a grade, lengthening the intervals, or shortening the recovery periods.
Also, increasing the incline of a treadmill simulates walking or running uphill. You can burn twice as many calories this way as you would on a flat surface.
Finally, pushing the pace makes a huge difference as well. Although each machine displays a so-called “fat-burning zone,” you’re better off working beyond that limit. When it comes to fat reduction, total calories burned mean far more than slightly more efficient fat burning at lower levels.
As for me, I avoid the treadmill, choosing instead to hike and sprint up steep hills.
