Arguments for Visiting the Gym Just for the Treadmill
Gyms are like playgrounds, full of all kinds of fun toys and cars to play with. Is it wrong, bad or embarrassing to go to the gym just to work out on one specific machine? Say, the humble treadmill? Good news: this is a completely normal way to use the gym.
You don’t have to use every part of the gym
Look, just because a gym offers cardio, strength training, classes, and a sauna in one building doesn’t mean you have to do all those things every time you visit. I told you that it’s good to walk just for the sauna (a great way to spend a rest day), and it’s just as good to walk just for the treadmill.
I promise you’re not the only one who comes here just for the treadmill. There are beginners who don’t dare go past the treadmill because they are still working up the courage to go to the gym. There are people who exercise on Monday and Wednesday but jog on Tuesday and Thursday. There are avid runners who need to send their child to the nursery to be able to run on a busy day. I guarantee there are dozens, if not hundreds of people visiting your gym just to do a little run and go home.
I’m one of them, actually. I go to a dedicated weightlifting gym, but after getting hooked on treadmilling , I joined a cheap commercial gym a few blocks from my house. It’s great to be able to run indoors without having to buy a treadmill and find a place to put it.
Think of it like renting a treadmill.
Don’t think of yourself as going to the gym and ignoring the good parts. Imagine paying monthly for a treadmill that easily disappears when you’re not using it.
Let’s say you get a $14.99 membership to your local Crunch or Planet Fitness. You can use it for jogging on the $9,949 Star Trac Treadmill . Or maybe it’s the $6,709 Life Fitness treadmill. If you wanted one of these suckers in your home, you’d have to pay the equivalent of about 500 months of gym membership fees. So, if you’re asking, “is it worth it?” the mathematical answer is yes. 15 bucks a month for someone else to take care of the maintenance and storage and you can still use it whenever you want? You’re definitely coming out ahead.
Even if you don’t use a treadmill on a regular basis, it’s still worth paying for the opportunity to run indoors when the heat and humidity are at killer levels, the air quality index is in orange, or it’s winter and your outdoor activity option involves running outside. icy sidewalks in the dark.
However: running (or walking) is not a full workout.
Perhaps your feelings of guilt about using a treadmill have to do with your exercise routine. Do you just run or walk? For the sake of your health, you should try to incorporate strength training somewhere into your daily routine. Cardio and strength are important for health, fitness and everyday life. But if you prefer to do strength work outside of the gym, that’s fine. The treadmill is always there when you need it.