How to Burn More Calories on a Treadmill

Treadmills can provide you with a great cardio workout to do indoors. With time, you may notice that your body has hit a plateau, and you are no longer losing weight. This is owed partly to how you use your treadmill. When your body gets used to the same workout, it will stop working as hard, so it is important to switch your workout often.

• Increase the incline of your treadmill slowly until your body adjusts to each incline. You can set a treadmill to incline to any percent you choose based on your physical ability. Start slowly at a 5 percent incline, and gradually increase it to seven, 10 and more. The incline will work out your thigh, calf and rear muscles. This burns more calories.


• Workout in intervals with your treadmill to burn significantly more calories. This is a great way to get out of a weight loss plateau. For instance, do intervals of varied degrees of inclines, speeds or intensity. If you enjoy running, combine walking and slow and fast running on the treadmill during each workout.


• Increase your walking or running speed gradually as your body becomes more comfortable with your workout. If you have been walking at 3 mph for a few weeks, increase it to 3.1 mph and 3.2 after a few more workouts. By increasing the speed slowly, you are giving your body sufficient time to adjust while continuing to burn more calories.


• Avoid holding onto the handles of the treadmill unless you need to for balance. By grasping the handles, you are working your body with less intensity than if you used strength and endurance to walk and run without the additional help. Try to force yourself to release the handles for most of your workouts to burn more calories and improve your posture.