Q&A with Megan Jendrick - Is Holding on to the Treadmill Cheating?
Written by Shoshana Pritzker Wednesday, 30 June 2010 18:46
Q
Hi Megan,
I have a treadmill question for you... I go to the gym and see a lot of people turn the incline way up. Other than being harder, do you see any advantages for this? Also... I see a lot of people grip the upper portion of the treadmill display while they're doing this. Is that cheating? I know you're a swimmer but I figure you probably do some treadmill every once in awhile, so wanted to ask! Best of luck to you!!
Maria
A
Hi Maria,
Thanks for writing - and no worries about the question. I have spent a fair amount of time on a treadmill!
Increasing the incline on the treadmill is a great workout, especially if you're like me and have issues with your knees that make it a problem to run. I'm able to get my heart rate up and get some cross-training in by simulating an uphill walk rather than having to jog; I love it. For someone who wants to not only improve their cardiovascular health but also strengthen their lower bodies, it can also help build muscle in the calves and butt far better than just walking on a flat plane.
Now, your question about holding onto the treadmill while walking on an incline. Here's my response: Don't do it! If you're going to hold on, you may as well just lower the incline instead because you're taking the benefits away of the angle. Think of it just like holding onto the handrail when you walk up a flight of stairs. It makes it easier. When you're just walking up a couple of floors at your office because the elevator out, it makes sense. But when you're at the gym, the goal is to actually make it difficult and exert yourself, right? You're absolutely correct it's a common sight, and somehow people seem to think they're getting an equal workout whether they hold on or not. But rest assured, the calorie count you see is definitely way off if you're grabbing the hand rails the whole time.
My suggestion is to start at a lower incline and get yourself used to it, and slowly increase until you can max it out the right way. Enjoy!
Megan
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