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By Simon Gould

Treadmills are the choice of 50 million Americans per year. For all the things that get in the way outside or the many advantages inside. Treadmill running is not going to go away soon. For it's convenience treadmill running is a preference to the exercise beginner. Here we look at why you should exercise on a treadmill.

1. Good for beginners

Beginners will often choose to run on the treadmill over outside because it's easier. If you want to stop somewhere in the middle of your run, you're not miles away from home or where you started. Maybe you can't run any further or you were just experimenting. Your starting position is right where you are to begin with.

With a treadmill you can exercise privately in your own home with no one judging you. You don't need to feel any embarrassment or awkwardness and you can go at your own speed. You can go for as long or short of a workout as you like. You have total freedom with a treadmill.

2. Physical benefits

They're great for losing weight. One of the most common reasons for buying a treadmill in be first place is the desire to get slimmer. A treadmill will help you do just that. Burning calories and fat is the fantastic side effect of exercise and it can be done in the home. I lost over 30 pounds using mine.

Exercise is recommended all over the world for its benefits to our health. It helps us live longer, have less disease and can keep us mobile as we age. A sedentary lifestyle is one of the biggest risk factors in the mortality rate of the western world. A treadmill can change all that.

The World Health Organization recommends we do 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week. That sounds like a lot, but having a treadmill in the home makes it far easier to accomplish. I know I feel mentally great from the regular use of my treadmill and I get all the physical benefits too.

3. No traffic or bad weather

There's nothing worse than stopping and starting outside when you need to cross the street. You get used to it but you'd rather not do it in the first place. The weather is always good on a treadmill. There's no ice and cold where you wear too much for your run and regret it. You know the temperature where your treadmill is and can deal with it.

Although a treadmill isn't without risks, it's far safer than running outside, especially if you live and exercise in the middle of town. There are no accidents with other people or traffic. There is no stopping and starting as you cross the street. Once you get a treadmill, you never go back to running outside.

4. Entertainment

If you're running outside all by yourself it can get boring. You might have some good music but that's it. Inside you can watch your favorite TV shows. There's nothing that takes your mind off the run you're doing than an engrossing TV show you enjoy. You can look forward to setting it up all for your run.

There are treadmills that now offer streaming classes. These are instructors who guide you through your workout with you on a screen. It can be very motivating and enjoyable with someone willing you on and doing the same workout as you. They've become very popular and you can take these classes at any time. There is usually a monthly fee for them however (around $40).

5. Softer surface and longer lasting shoes

While the treadmill is still high impact it's a softer surface than outside so your joints are protected to some extent. It's easier to run or walk on. You find your running shoes last longer if you do your runs on a treadmill. Yes, you need proper running shoes, even for a treadmill whether you walk or run.

I find if I exercise outside my joints start to hurt. This is different when I'm on my treadmill. I can feel that it's easier on my legs. I enjoy my exercise routines and thanks to my treadmill, I can do them for longer. All treadmills have their own technologies they've developed to make the deck softer. They all work in a similar way.

6. You can run with people slower or quicker than you

Maybe you have an experienced runner as a friend you want to run or walk with. On a treadmill they don't have to keep slowing down and waiting for you to catch up. You can run at your own pace and still have a conversation as you go. In a health club or gym with many treadmills you can have a whole group of you running at your own pace.

Not many people realize this benefit. If you and your partner join a health club, you can both exercise on a treadmill next to each other. I've had conversations with people who turn out to be expert runners while I'm jogging at my own pace. This could only happen on a treadmill. If you have one in the home, you can interact with family members.

7. You can use the incline

Maybe the way you exercise at the moment is power walking and there's no better place to do that than on a treadmill. Where it really excels is the incline. You can really work those glutes on your backside by climbing up an incline. With a treadmill you can specify how big the incline is and how long it lasts. No where in nature can you do that.

Inclines are great for weight loss. You can make your walk harder and burn more calories. Nowhere in nature can you choose what gradient and how long you can exercise up a hill for. I often see heavier people power walk on a treadmill when I used to go to a gym. They were clearly getting a good workout that benefited them greatly.

Final thoughts

Those are just a few quick reasons why you should exercise on a treadmill. Ignore the people who say you should run outside, if you prefer the treadmill like we do then just do it. There is a kind of looking down on treadmill runners by those who run outside. We're trying to change the perception and with your help we can succeed. So keep enjoying your treadmill run like I do.

Thinking of buying a treadmill? Here's my favorite, I always recommend it when asked*