These Treadmill Mistakes May Be the Reason You're Not Losing Weight

Never miss a date with the treadmill, but not seeing results on the scale? These mistakes on the machine may be what’s hindering your weight loss.

Not pushing yourself: If your treadmill routine always involves catching up on the latest tabloid magazine or talking to your workout buddy, then it’s time to stop being distracted and focus on your workout instead. While a slow, steady-state cardio always should have a place in your routine, if you want to see results, you’ll need to start increasing your speed. The upside? You’ll spend less time at the gym and burn more calories in the process.

Tensing up: Running on a treadmill can be hard on your body, especially if you find yourself tensing up while on the belt. Remind yourself to relax while on the machine; while it may not be as natural as running outside, relaxing your form and trying not to crowd the front of the treadmill can help alleviate neck, shoulder, and lower back pain that can keep you from sticking to your routine. These proper treadmill running tips will help you find a comfortable form.

Not adjusting the incline: Not only can increasing the incline of your treadmill slightly help you avoid shin splints, but the pumping up the incline will also enable you to burn more calories and become a better runner in a shorter amount of time. Try a one percent incline the next time you go for a run; you won’t be able to feel the difference, but you’ll be happy to know that you’re doing your body good.

Same old, same old: Whether you always set your treadmill on 6.0 mph or you do the same interval workout every time, not varying your treadmill workout may be what’s causing you to plateau and not see any budges on the scale. Not sure how to change it up on the machine? We’ve got dozens of printable treadmill workouts for you to take with you the next time you hit the gym.

Treadmill loyalty: If the treadmill and the locker room are the only parts of your gym that you really see, then you’re missing out on some great calorie-burning potential. Break the habit: start or end your running session with strength training (this five-minute basic workout is a great place to start) in order to build those metabolism-boosting muscles.

Holding on: It may feel safer to hold on to the rails when you run on the treadmill, but try to let go if you can. Going hands free will help you burn more calories, since it’s harder (and since you’re working your upper body as well). If letting go of the rails feels unsafe, slow down your speed until you get a hang of your form, and remember to keep your abs engaged to help balance yourself.