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Treadmills are great the first few months. They become catch alls after a while. I gave mine away. They take up room and I get better results at a gym.
We have one which we got on sale at Costco. My wife has rheumatoid arthritis and prefers walking on the treadmill to outside. She walks and catches up with TV shows she has DVRd.
Helps some people but not a great solution for people with bad knees.
Treadmills are good for increasing your stamina, if you keep challenging yourself by increasing speed, time or incline. An added bonus for seniors is that it can develop your glutes, which is a vital core component that helps with your balance.
As you get more confident using the treadmill, try taking your hands off the handles and swinging your arms as you walk. Even if you can only do it for short periods.
I would vote for the dog too. For me treadmills have always been heavy, expensive, clothes hangers. And they are hard to get rid of too. Outside is free and it's always there!
I used to have one before I started outdoor cycling seriously. The advantages are that they remove the excuses - weather, daylight, etc. I used to set a time each day, and have a TV program that I considered a guilty pleasure lined up - couldn't watch the trash tv show without "earning" it on the treadmill. As we age, it's better than cycling because it's a weight bearing exercise - better for bone density than cycling. (And I say this as someone who regularly rides at least 100 miles a week.)
I can have stiffness in my knees and the specialist told me not to use a treadmill but an elliptical instead. That is a tougher workout but kinder to the knees.
I agree with a previous poster who stated that exercise alone without a colorie reduction will not have the result you want although exercise brings other health benefits. IMO that's the hard part!
Good luck OP. You are on the right road to maintain health.
I am retired and out of shape.
I want to get more active and lose 15 pounds.
One thought is that if I had a treadmill at home it would be convenient to do short
walks in the morning and at night as I work up in time/speed/incline..
Has anyone found that a treadmill was a good
solution to encourage daily walking...
It seems it would be nice to walk in any weather, at any time of day and
in any clothes I have on...
I think it's a great idea!! I understand exactly what you're saying about any weather, any time of day, any clothes. If I get up and the mood strikes me to walk, I can hop on my treadmill in my PJs. I know that if I had to put on workout clothes and drive 30 minutes to the gym, I'd never do it.
I spent about $1000 for my treadmill, so not super expensive. I also jog around my house (circular floor plan), do Pilates to online videos, and do a lot of water aerobics in our pool. I work out at least an hour a day, which is the time I'd spend in my car if I went to a gym. You don't have to join a gym or get a dog to get a workout at home!
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yellowsnow
I would vote for the dog too. For me treadmills have always been heavy, expensive, clothes hangers. And they are hard to get rid of too. Outside is free and it's always there!
If you have one of these dog treadmills to get rid of, give me a call. I saw my first at the very famous "Pioneer Village" in Minden, NE. I Have found a few more in my adventures on my own perpetual Travel Treadmill.
Even living in a climate with 200+ days of drizzle, I found that my 'tiny' treadmill got little use. I sold it quickly during a cold January.
I would rather get wet (with my dog) and go roam around the forest (backyard) looking for Bigfoot. (He lives nearby).
Now swimming, could gain my interest. My recent stay in Australia made me desire to be able to swim as fast as your average Aussie Soccer Mom!!!. They are incredibly fast.
First since you want to lose weight, I will leave you give you the advice of one of our Doctors:
"You can not run away from a bad diet."
The best way to lose weight is to change how you eat. It is much easier to reduce the amount of food entering into the body then to burn it off.
Instead of buying something that you may not use you could try this first.
1. Stretch.
Here are some that I like:
Keeping your feet flat on the ground and your body straight, lean into a wall.
Extend your arm and lay it against the wall, then slowly roll your body away from the wall.
Touch your tows without bending your legs. Stand up and see how far you can go.
Sitting down, spread your legs apart and reach for your left foot then your right.
try doing the splits, holding your body up with your arms.
2. Warm up
Jump rope
Jumping jacks
squats
run in place
(You could do a combination of these all in rapid succession.)
3. Stay active.
Walk
Run
Swim
Ride a bike
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could gain my interest. My recent stay in Australia made me desire to be able to swim as fast as your average Aussie Soccer Mom!!!. They are incredibly fast.
