Walking on a treadmill is a fantastic way to incorporate regular exercise into your daily routine, improve cardiovascular health, and maintain a person’s overall well-being. One common question among many treadmill users, especially beginners is, how long should i walk on the treadmill? The answer to this question varies in different factors which include your fitness level, goals, and time availability.
Factors that Determine the Appropriate Duration of Treadmill Walking Sessions
Below are some of the factors that determine how long should a person walk on treadmills,
Fitness Level
The duration of your walking sessions should align with your current fitness level. If you are new to exercising or have not walked on a treadmill before, it is important to start slow and gradually increase the duration as time pass by. Beginners can begin with short walks that last for up to 10-15 minutes and slowly up the time for longer sessions.
Body
It is very important that you listen to your body and make adjustments as to what you feel is needed. If you are feeling fatigued or experiencing discomfort during your workout session, it is okay to take a break or even shorten your session. Over time, as your fitness level improves, you will more likely be able to walk for longer periods without feeling any discomfort.
Goals
Setting a specific goal that you want for yourself can also help determine the appropriate duration of your treadmill sessions. For example, if you want to walk for weight loss, you have to aim for sessions that last up to at least 45 minutes as this is the most effective time to burn more calories. And if you are looking to improve your cardiovascular health and endurance, even shorter sessions that last for up to 30 minutes are still proven to be effective.
Routine
Variety is one of the keys to keeping your treadmill workouts as enjoyable and sustainable as possible. Instead of only focusing on duration, you should also consider mixing things up with your walking routine with different intensity levels, incline settings, or even interval training. The last part, which is the interval training is done by alternating between periods of higher and lower intensity which could lead you to challenge yourself and still make the most of your sessions, even the short ones.
Schedule
Your daily schedule and the time available play a big role in determining the duration of your treadmill walking sessions. If you only have a limited time, you can focus on making the most of your available minutes by making your sessions harder like raising the speed or the incline to also challenge yourself. Even a short 10-minute walk or jog can provide health benefits, so you can at least take advantage of even a small amount of time in your day to fit in some treadmill activities.
Conclusion
The duration of your treadmill walking sessions should be based on your fitness level, goals, and individual preferences. As for beginners, they should start with shorter and easier sessions and gradually increase the duration and difficulty as their fitness level starts to improve. It is also very important to stick to your schedule without missing a single day to keep ensure that you meet your goals for your treadmill walking sessions.
