Question:
TREADMILL USERS ONLY

Hi, im wanting to know if anyone has got to goal or maintained there weight by using ONLY, STRICTLY a treadmill. If so, tell me how many minutes or hours your on the treadmill and the MPH, and your routine. I got on the treadmill for 1 hour today and i started at 2.5mph and the last 30 minutes i went to 3.5mph and i ran a little bit. It was a nice workout for the most part. Thank u all in advance for ur answers. 260/160 at goal/150 life long goal.    — sexysag37 (posted on March 13, 2004)

March 13, 2004
I have been walking the treadmill at my gym for 1 year. I started 5 months after RNY. It really speeded up my losing. I started off at 2.5 for 30 minutes. Now I do 4.0 for 3 miles. This takes about 45 minutes depending on how long I warm up and cool down. I don't lose anymore, but then I don't really watch what I eat like I should. I am satisfied to maintain but I know if I cut back on the carbs and chocolate I would start losing again.
   — Tawnda C.

March 13, 2004
I used my treadmill pretty much exclusively over the winter, but now that it's getting nicer I'm glad to have the option of doing other things. I'd rather run in the park than run on the treadmill. A few weeks ago I started riding a bike. I try to mix it up now just to make it easier on my knees if nothing else.
   — Jim F

March 13, 2004
Hi Rita, I have used a treadmill solely for my aerobic excercise. I am 6 pounds from my goal weight of 150. I also do 100-140 tummy crunches after my work out. I do 40-50 minutes alternating between 5.0 & 6.5 MPH on the treadmill, and I usually do 3.5 to 4 miles. I also do large inclines while I am working out (good for the butt), and I try to run the entire time. Sometimes, when I need to do a light work out I will walk at 4.0 MPH for the first 10 minutes and run the last at 5.0-5.5 depending on how I feel. I love running on my treadmill, and after the cold weather is gone I will still use it, but I hope I can get outside and do some running as well. The thing is when using your treadmill, is to vary your workout so that your body doesn't get used to the same workout, where it isn't beneficial to you any longer. I am 11 months out and still losing, slowly but surely! Good Luck to you, and God Bless! :) Erin Lap RNY 4.10.03 290/156/150
   — EHarding

March 13, 2004
Rita, exercise is exercise, as long as you get your heart rate up...Cardio on the bike is great! I did the treadmill everyday from 2 1/2 mos post-op till I was about 8 mos out. I did 45 min a day and rode about 20+ mi. I sometimes think, that is why I lost 100lbs in less than 7 mos, since then, I don't exercise the way I did and I think that may have something to do with why I only lost another 22lbs in the last year. Good Luck!
   — heathercross

March 13, 2004
The treadmill is my main form of exercise and has been since early post-op. I reached within a few pounds of my goal and am maintaining at 2+ years post-op. I try to get on the treadmill 3 or 4 times a week. My treadmill is in my family room in front of the tv, and I find it easiest to put on something I am interested in and then work out. I also found that I use different speeds and inclines when I use my treadmill at home as opposed to the treadmills at the gym. I work out at a gym a few times a month but mostly I work out at home. The speeds for me range from a warm up at 3.0 to a workout of 3.5 or 4.4 if running. I put the incline on 4.0-5.5 and walk at 3.1 or 3.2 for 10-15 minutes, run for 5-10 minutes, then lower the incline and increase the speed to 3.4 or 3.6 for 10 minutes or so...usually around a 35-40 minute workout. I also do ab exercises and some upper body weights but my only aerobic exercise/cardio is the treadmill. You should find a good workout speed for you-find your target heart rate and work to achieve that. Thats the key, getting that heart rate up there-the target heart rate takes into account your age, and is usually a range. If in good shape you can try for the upper limits of the target heart range, I usually try for a mid-range. The treadmill has a grip on it that tells you what your heart rate is. Depending on the length of your legs, what works for me at 5'3, may be way too slow for a long legged 5'8!
   — Cindy R.

March 14, 2004
The treadmill is all I did from month 2 to month 9 (I hit my goal by then). I walk 4.0 for 37.5 minutes. That's 2 1/2 miles. I did it 5 days a week. I didn't need ANY liposuction on my lower body and it really helped my outer thighs and butt look great.
   — Patty H.