4 Ways a Treadmill Can Improve Your Fitness Level

A treadmill is one of the simplest ways to improve your fitness level at home. It builds muscle, burns calories and helps you lose weight, whatever your starting point. Treadmills offer something for everyone regardless of your current fitness or physical condition. If you want to get in shape but don't know where to start, here are four ways your treadmill can help, ready to slot into any workout routine.

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1. Treadmills build muscle in your legs

A treadmill is one of the best ways to exercise your legs and build muscle, while increasing or maintaining your cardiovascular fitness at the same time. You'll often burn more calories than with other forms of cardio because running engages your whole body, arms and legs included, especially when you vary the speed.

To build leg muscle from treadmill running, aim to run at least three times a week, consistently. Add some resistance training into your routine and you'll supercharge those muscle-building leg exercises even further.

2. Treadmill workouts are personalised to your needs

One of the biggest benefits of a treadmill is how completely you can tailor it to suit your personal requirements.

If you're just starting out, you can run at a speed that feels comfortable and hold it there without accidentally going too slow or too fast, and change it on the fly when you need to take a breather.

If you've had a previous injury or live with a chronic condition, a treadmill helps you manage it without overdoing things. With shin splints, for example, you can keep the speed and incline at a level that doesn't put undue strain on your shins.

Some machines are designed around exactly that. The V-fit Fit-Start treadmill stops at 8km/h and runs a shock-absorbing deck, which suits older users and anyone easing back after a layoff better than a machine that will happily throw you along at 16.

In short, you can fine-tune every setting to suit your body while still getting the full benefits that regular treadmill use brings.

3. Burn calories and stay consistent, rain or shine

Another major benefit is that you never have to worry about the weather. The biggest reason people lapse on their fitness goals is a lack of consistency, and that's so often driven by external factors like the weather.

It's easy to go for a run on a warm, sunny morning. But when it's cold, dark and raining, your energy drains and your routine can be derailed completely.

With a treadmill, you keep all the benefits of running without checking the forecast. Better still, you'll find it far easier to stay consistent for the long haul, turning your running into a habit and finally breaking that on-and-off cycle.

4. Get fit while you watch TV or read a book

A treadmill also lets you get in shape while doing other things. Running outdoors, your only real companion is music. That's great, but it can get repetitive, especially on a busy day when you feel you can't spare an hour to head outside.

That's where home treadmills come in. A home treadmill gives you the freedom to fit your run in at the right moment, without planning your day around it. There are hundreds available online, from around £100 to several thousand, including some genuinely excellent budget treadmills that come close to professional gym machines.

They come in different variations, too. Most have handlebars, but you can also get models without them, which work well in front of a desk so you can keep working while you exercise.

If you want to build muscle, burn calories and lose weight, or simply improve your fitness without carving out extra time for other workouts, consider making a treadmill part of your daily routine. The sessions adapt to whatever fitness level or physical condition you're in, and they're convenient enough to fit around watching TV or even a lunch break at home.