How to spice up your relache with the treadmill

February 11, 2016 Ashley 0 Comments

“The treadmill is so boring…”

(Ironically, if this were an actual machine, I’d try it at least once.)

Many a time have I heard this. (Mostly from myself.) As someone accustomed to outdoorsy cardio, it takes a lot to get me excited about doing my fat melting on a machine. A good playlist could do it. Sometimes, it could be a brawny wad of eye candy on the appliance beside me. But, mostly, it’s tough to try and trump running in mud amongst trees. More and more, I’m hearing this from my buddies too. Nature workouts make for a nice wifey. However, when she’s being a bit of a shrew (example: when Princess Elsa visited us via two feet’a snow), sometime’s I’ve gotta resort back to my beeping conveyor belt side chick til homegirl’s icey mood blows over. It’s not ideal. And, seeing as our atmospheric soothsayers have seen even more snow in their climatic crystal balls for next week, I’m already dreading the treadmill anew. And I’m already also thinking of ways to make my confined workout more exciting. Lucky for me (just in the chilly nick of time), I came across interesting ways to transform your treading into a full body fitness venture:

What it is, is a self-customized routine that incorporates all of your different muscle groups (versus the select ones you’d work with regular running). Aside from the forward motion, you can do a ton’a other stuff by slowing the speed a bit and switching posiche, refining the incline, doing moving strengthening maneuvers, or even using parts of the treadmill you wouldn’t normally give a second thought.

For example, there’s this lunge trudge:

The hand ambulating (handbulating?) plank:

The creepy mountain climber, as demo’d by Malibu Barbie:

And the high-knee that looks all “Weee!” but is tougher than Chuck Norris nuts:

Or, how about some innovation?

Just ’cause you’re sweating inside a life sized hotbox doesn’t mean you can’t think outside the box.

For example, here’s one I like to call “prozzy dodging the cops”:

Okay, maybe that’s not one I exactly suggest trying.

However, getting into a groove when in a running rut is.

Remember this guy?

You don’t even hafta have Bruno Mars moves to get your gym jive on:

(Look at those twirls.)

Or even just put those parts of the machine you never give a second thought to, to use:

Minus the pump run in video vixen duds, these are all excellent ways to work on strength training betwixt your sprint-ervals and get your upper bod involved. (Not to mention reignite the dwindling flame you once passionately shared with the gym.) But if all else fails, everything I’ve listed sounds terribly tedious, and your sole aim’s to simply survive another snowfall sans snacking yourself fat… then, fear not. Because, the last but not least options may be a bit more your “speed”:

(Foolproof. Even if you quit wanting wine and start to whine, bikini clad hottie on the right remains an inspo.)

Anyway, best of luck making the dreadmill exciting for winter’s grand finale, fellow trotters!