OT - I hate the treadmill!

Forget the instructor. If you need to hold the handle bars, hold them. You
can change the incline and/or speed as suits you. Don't worry about heart
rate. Just go according to how you feel. As you get better, you can go
faster etc and eventually take your hands off the bars, if you want to.

Luna wrote:
|| Yes, I said hate. The instructor tells me not to hold the handle
|| bars, that I'll get a better workout if I don't hold them, that they
|| supposedly monitor your heart rate but he said it's wildly
|| innacurate. So, I don't hold them, and I feel like I'm going to fall
|| off, even though I'm going slowly. Don't know how fast I should go,
|| because he says the heartrate monitor is innacurate. I get up to a
|| brisk walk, but I'm scared of going any faster because like I said,
|| I'm scared I'm going to fall off. I can run fine when I'm just
|| running around outside, but outside I don't have to worry about
|| keeping my feet on the track thingy. On the treadmill, I feel like
|| I have to move my legs exactly the same way, exactly the same speed,
|| with every stride, and it just doesn't feel right. I also don't
|| feel like I can step long enough, you know? Oh well. Guess I will
|| use the jogging track, even though the fitness instructor says it's
|| bad for your knees to go round and round. It's got long stretches,
|| then curves, like a rounded square. Maybe to spare my knees I will
|| just go backwards on alternating curves, heh.
||
|| --
|| Michelle Levin
|| http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick
||
|| I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3
|| flaws.

Luna said:

Yes, I said hate. The instructor tells me not to hold the handle bars,
that I'll get a better workout if I don't hold them, that they supposedly
monitor your heart rate but he said it's wildly innacurate. So, I don't
hold them, and I feel like I'm going to fall off, even though I'm going
slowly. Don't know how fast I should go, because he says the heartrate
monitor is innacurate. I get up to a brisk walk, but I'm scared of going
any faster because like I said, I'm scared I'm going to fall off. I can
run fine when I'm just running around outside, but outside I don't have to
worry about keeping my feet on the track thingy. On the treadmill, I feel
like I have to move my legs exactly the same way, exactly the same speed,
with every stride, and it just doesn't feel right. I also don't feel like
I can step long enough, you know? Oh well. Guess I will use the jogging
track, even though the fitness instructor says it's bad for your knees to
go round and round. It's got long stretches, then curves, like a rounded
square. Maybe to spare my knees I will just go backwards on alternating
curves, heh.

Go ahead hold on if you need to. If you really want to know your H/R
buy a heart monitor with a wireless chest strap. There's a ton of them
to choose from: Polar, CardioSport, Reebok, MIO™ SHAPE, Etc...
As I remember, the first one I ever got was like 40 bucks. Even the
cheap ones are fairly accurate.

http://www.polarusa.com/consumer/productfinder/productfinder.asp
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1&catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_010_003_001_000&product_id=63-1520
http://www.bodytronics.com/index.html?s=g&kw=heart+monitor

Luna said:

Yes, I said hate. The instructor tells me not to hold the handle bars,

Sounds like you're directing your frustration to the wrong thing....
ditch the instructor, keep the treadmill 😉

Why don't you use the elliptical trainer? Easy on the knees and you feet
don't come off.

Curt

"Luna" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Yes, I said hate. The instructor tells me not to hold the handle bars,
that I'll get a better workout if I don't hold them, that they supposedly
monitor your heart rate but he said it's wildly innacurate. So, I don't
hold them, and I feel like I'm going to fall off, even though I'm going
slowly. Don't know how fast I should go, because he says the heartrate
monitor is innacurate. I get up to a brisk walk, but I'm scared of going
any faster because like I said, I'm scared I'm going to fall off. I can
run fine when I'm just running around outside, but outside I don't have to
worry about keeping my feet on the track thingy. On the treadmill, I feel
like I have to move my legs exactly the same way, exactly the same speed,
with every stride, and it just doesn't feel right. I also don't feel like
I can step long enough, you know? Oh well. Guess I will use the jogging
track, even though the fitness instructor says it's bad for your knees to
go round and round. It's got long stretches, then curves, like a rounded
square. Maybe to spare my knees I will just go backwards on alternating
curves, heh.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

So do something else instead of the treadmill.

--
You take stupid to a new level. -- MFW

"Luna" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Yes, I said hate. The instructor tells me not to hold the handle bars,
that I'll get a better workout if I don't hold them, that they supposedly
monitor your heart rate but he said it's wildly innacurate. So, I don't
hold them, and I feel like I'm going to fall off, even though I'm going
slowly. Don't know how fast I should go, because he says the heartrate
monitor is innacurate. I get up to a brisk walk, but I'm scared of going
any faster because like I said, I'm scared I'm going to fall off. I can
run fine when I'm just running around outside, but outside I don't have to
worry about keeping my feet on the track thingy. On the treadmill, I feel
like I have to move my legs exactly the same way, exactly the same speed,
with every stride, and it just doesn't feel right. I also don't feel like
I can step long enough, you know? Oh well. Guess I will use the jogging
track, even though the fitness instructor says it's bad for your knees to
go round and round. It's got long stretches, then curves, like a rounded
square. Maybe to spare my knees I will just go backwards on alternating
curves, heh.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

curt wrote:
|| Why don't you use the elliptical trainer? Easy on the knees and you
|| feet don't come off.

When I'm on the elliptical, I always feel as if my feet are going to come
off. So I don't use it.

"Luna" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Yes, I said hate. The instructor tells me not to hold the handle bars,
that I'll get a better workout if I don't hold them, that they supposedly
monitor your heart rate but he said it's wildly innacurate. So, I don't
hold them, and I feel like I'm going to fall off, even though I'm going
slowly.

Instructors will usually give you good theoretical advice, but *you* are the
one who has to feel comfortable with the exercise, so go ahead and hold the
handles; I always do, for the same reason that you would like to. If the HR
readout is inaccurate get yourself one of the ones you wear. Walking the
treadmill is one of the most boring occupations I've come across, so you
need some diversions. I have an iPod, wonderful machine, and I keep control
of the speed and incline rather than pre-programming the treadmill so that I
have something else to think about and I also have some mindless magazine,
like Time, to look at.. There are TVs in the gym, but when I walk in the
early morning I've found that the ratio of [censored] to content is so high that
they are just an annoyance.

I will say the treadmill is a more controlled exercise- its harder than a
walk around the block. My hardest thing is trading in computer and sitting
time for the mill- I have to remind myself to make time-I have a whole work
out room in my basement.

so this thread is saying get on the tread!

--
Diane

"Anthony" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Luna" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Yes, I said hate. The instructor tells me not to hold the handle bars,
that I'll get a better workout if I don't hold them, that they supposedly
monitor your heart rate but he said it's wildly innacurate. So, I don't
hold them, and I feel like I'm going to fall off, even though I'm going
slowly.

Instructors will usually give you good theoretical advice, but *you* are
the one who has to feel comfortable with the exercise, so go ahead and
hold the handles; I always do, for the same reason that you would like to.
If the HR readout is inaccurate get yourself one of the ones you wear.
Walking the treadmill is one of the most boring occupations I've come
across, so you need some diversions. I have an iPod, wonderful machine,
and I keep control of the speed and incline rather than pre-programming
the treadmill so that I have something else to think about and I also have
some mindless magazine, like Time, to look at.. There are TVs in the gym,
but when I walk in the early morning I've found that the ratio of [censored] to
content is so high that they are just an annoyance.

<Snip of handle issue>

Quoted message said:

On the treadmill, I feel
like I have to move my legs exactly the same way, exactly the same speed,
with every stride, and it just doesn't feel right. I also don't feel like
I can step long enough, you know?

See if your gym has any of the treadmills that aren't motor driven. You
know, some of them go as fast as you walk because your feet move the belt.
If not, try using one of those variable speed programs that come in the
powered ones. And, I agree that you should use the handles as long as you
need to. Falling off isn't any good for your knees, either.

Luna said:

Yes, I said hate.

That's too bad. I get a lot of reading/work done there. And an hours worth
of music too. Look fwd to it every day.

Quoted message said:

The instructor tells me not to hold the handle bars,

Tell him/her to go away.

Quoted message said:

that I'll get a better workout if I don't hold them, that they supposedly
monitor your heart rate but he said it's wildly innacurate. So, I don't
hold them, and I feel like I'm going to fall off, even though I'm going
slowly.

You don't need instruction for a treadmill, you need to be left alone.

Quoted message said:

Oh well. Guess I will use the jogging
track, even though the fitness instructor says it's bad for your knees to
go round and round.

lol Where did you dig up this idiot?

Roger Zoul said:

Forget the instructor. If you need to hold the handle bars, hold them. You
can change the incline and/or speed as suits you. Don't worry about heart
rate. Just go according to how you feel. As you get better, you can go
faster etc and eventually take your hands off the bars, if you want to.

Good advice.

Roger Zoul said:

curt wrote:
|| Why don't you use the elliptical trainer? Easy on the knees and you
|| feet don't come off.

When I'm on the elliptical, I always feel as if my feet are going to come
off. So I don't use it.

Oh it makes your butt jiggle so cute, Roger.

Anthony wrote:
|| "Luna" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
|| news:[email hidden]...
||| Yes, I said hate. The instructor tells me not to hold the handle
||| bars, that I'll get a better workout if I don't hold them, that
||| they supposedly monitor your heart rate but he said it's wildly
||| innacurate. So, I don't hold them, and I feel like I'm going to
||| fall off, even though I'm going slowly.
||
|| Instructors will usually give you good theoretical advice, but *you*
|| are the one who has to feel comfortable with the exercise, so go
|| ahead and hold the handles; I always do, for the same reason that
|| you would like to. If the HR readout is inaccurate get yourself one
|| of the ones you wear. Walking the treadmill is one of the most
|| boring occupations I've come across, so you need some diversions. I
|| have an iPod, wonderful machine, and I keep control of the speed and
|| incline rather than pre-programming the treadmill so that I have
|| something else to think about and I also have some mindless
|| magazine, like Time, to look at.. There are TVs in the gym, but
|| when I walk in the early morning I've found that the ratio of [censored]
|| to content is so high that they are just an annoyance.

I second that iPod recommendation...but if you can't afford one, get any MP3
player. They're great for making the dreadmill less dreadful.

diane said:

I will say the treadmill is a more controlled exercise- its harder than a
walk around the block. My hardest thing is trading in computer and sitting
time for the mill-

http://www.geocities.com/helmi79/software/software.html

Break-O-Mat (12 KB) reminds you in regular intervals to take a break. You
can set work and break durations, postpone a break for some minutes and
interrupt your breaks whenever you like (through a right click).
Break-O-Mat won't force you to take a break, but it at least encourages you
to do so.

diane wrote:
|| I will say the treadmill is a more controlled exercise- its harder
|| than a walk around the block. My hardest thing is trading in
|| computer and sitting time for the mill- I have to remind myself to
|| make time-I have a whole work out room in my basement.

Wow. Get off your butt, girl.

||
|| so this thread is saying get on the tread!
||

MU wrote:
|| On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 09:19:27 -0500, diane wrote:
||
||| I will say the treadmill is a more controlled exercise- its harder
||| than a walk around the block. My hardest thing is trading in
||| computer and sitting time for the mill-
||
|| http://www.geocities.com/helmi79/software/software.html
||
|| Break-O-Mat (12 KB) reminds you in regular intervals to take a
|| break. You can set work and break durations, postpone a break for
|| some minutes and interrupt your breaks whenever you like (through a
|| right click). Break-O-Mat won't force you to take a break, but it at
|| least encourages you to do so.

$1 to MU!

MU wrote:
|| On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 05:43:48 GMT, Luna wrote:
||
||| Yes, I said hate.
||
|| That's too bad. I get a lot of reading/work done there. And an hours
|| worth of music too. Look fwd to it every day.
||
||| The instructor tells me not to hold the handle bars,
||
|| Tell him/her to go away.
||
||| that I'll get a better workout if I don't hold them, that they
||| supposedly monitor your heart rate but he said it's wildly
||| innacurate. So, I don't hold them, and I feel like I'm going to
||| fall off, even though I'm going slowly.
||
|| You don't need instruction for a treadmill, you need to be left
|| alone.
||
||| Oh well. Guess I will use the jogging
||| track, even though the fitness instructor says it's bad for your
||| knees to go round and round.
||
|| lol Where did you dig up this idiot?

$1 to MU.

damn!

Dr. Bob Arnot: "The treadmill fundamentally alters the way you walk or run.
Scientists call this altering gait mechanics." "There is a quickened rate of
striding and a decrease in stride length. This requires more steps per mile
than running over ground. That means more heel strikes, more push-offs, and
more energy expended than when running over ground. Dr. William P. Oriend,
D.P.M. concludes, "This may benefit the cardiovascular system, but in anyone
with inherent mechanical flaws, the additional repetitious movement may be
harmful." "The conclusion is simple: if you develop back , knee, ankle, or
foot pain, discontinue use of the treadmill until you've seen your doctor!"

What does he recommend, then? The elliptical walker--but only if the brand
you're using doesn't cause pain in your joints. Mickey Levinson, P. T. "I
certainly use the elliptical cross-trainer very often. You're getting some
of the same muscle activity you'd be getting from running without the impact
load, which is a big deal."

I did say I was going to use the jogging track instead. If you have
difficulty with reading comprehension, you may want to look into some
classes at your local community college. ;o)

In article <[email hidden]>,

JC Der Koenig said:

So do something else instead of the treadmill.

--
You take stupid to a new level. -- MFW

"Luna" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Yes, I said hate. The instructor tells me not to hold the handle bars,
that I'll get a better workout if I don't hold them, that they supposedly
monitor your heart rate but he said it's wildly innacurate. So, I don't
hold them, and I feel like I'm going to fall off, even though I'm going
slowly. Don't know how fast I should go, because he says the heartrate
monitor is innacurate. I get up to a brisk walk, but I'm scared of going
any faster because like I said, I'm scared I'm going to fall off. I can
run fine when I'm just running around outside, but outside I don't have to
worry about keeping my feet on the track thingy. On the treadmill, I feel
like I have to move my legs exactly the same way, exactly the same speed,
with every stride, and it just doesn't feel right. I also don't feel like
I can step long enough, you know? Oh well. Guess I will use the jogging
track, even though the fitness instructor says it's bad for your knees to
go round and round. It's got long stretches, then curves, like a rounded
square. Maybe to spare my knees I will just go backwards on alternating
curves, heh.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.