Monday, January 20, 2014

Which is better? Running on treadmill or running outside?

You might be wondering which option is better, whether to run on a treadmill or to run outside in nature. A number of things influence the number of calories burnt while running on a treadmill, like the speed, length of exercise or the incline used. Deciding which particular exercise is better for you depends on a few things, which include your personal goals regarding workout and fitness and also your preferences.

Some advantages of running on a treadmill:
- Weather conditions don't apply, be in excruciatingly hot, freezing cold or pouring, you can safely do your workout routine from the comfort of your home (or gym).
- You can easily adjust the speed of the treadmill according to your current physical condition.
- On the same note as the previous reason, you can also adjust the incline of the treadmill based on your goal and performance.
- You can easily combine variations of incline and speed to a specific workout program to burn calories more efficiently, as opposed to running on a flat track.
- You can watch television, listen to some cool music (not through your iphone and by some earbuds). I mean really hear, listen and feel music. This way, you can't get bored.
- If you own an above average treadmill, you can easily keep track of the mileage, time spend and calories burnt, so you don't have to do the math yourself.
- Fast workout routine. Saves the time to actually go out on your regular running track, then get back home again. Just do your routine, then hit the shower in a second.

Let's see some advantages of running outside on a track:
- If you run outside, you get fresh air and sunshine, which is very good for your health. It is recommended to spend at least 30 minutes outside in the sunlight. This way we can a good source of vitamin D.
- Weather can be an inconvenience, but you also run on a indoor track, like at a gym.
- Treadmills can be expensive, and so can be gym memberships. Running outside is free.
- You don't get bored by running in one place, running outside can be interesting.
- Some people work harder and burn more calories when they  run  on a track as opposed to  running  on a  treadmill  because they tend to hold on tight to the handlebars on the  treadmill , which causes you to work less hard and burn fewer calories.

Something else to keep in mind when deciding between  running  on a tread mill vs  running  on track is that it doesn't have to be just one or the other. Some people use a  treadmill  during bad weather and  run  outdoors on a track in nice weather.

The calories burned on tread mill will depend on a number of factors, including the speed of the  treadmill , which you can adjust, and the incline of the  treadmill , which you can also adjust. Obviously, the faster the speed and the greater the incline, the more calories you will burn. You can also increase the number of calories burned on  treadmill  by not leaning on the handlebars. If you need to touch the handlebars for balance, that's OK, but leaning on them causes you to work less hard and decreases the number of calories burned.

In conclusion, whichever your option is, at the end of the day you will have the same results. A good workout, staying fit and good health in the long run. If you don't have a treadmill yet, and you are considering getting one here is a top 5 of cheaper treadmills out there.

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