Treadmill help please

longhorngal · #1 05/02/10, 12:15 PM

I've been working out on the treadmill for about a month. I started out barely able to do 1500 steps at 2.0/mph. Now I'm doing 7,500 steps at 3.0 until the last 1500 steps which I up to 3.5mph.
I wouldn't say the 3.5mph exhausts me but I don't think I could do the entire 7500 steps that way.
This morning I got on and didn't notice for about 1000 steps that someone had set the incline for 2.5. I've just been using the smallest incline-1.5.
I just don't know what to work on now:
Should I try to get up to 10,000 steps at 3.0mph?
Should I try to gradually walk the 7,500 steps at increasing speed until I get to 3.5mph?
Or, should I concentrate more on staying where I am now but increasing the incline?
I just want to lose this weight! So far I've lost 7lbs, fluctuate a bit higher, but I figure I've lost the 7 for sure.
Still have 53 more to go!
Thanks for any advice!

ErinP · #2 05/02/10, 12:44 PM

Do you have a heart rate monitor?

To me, that has been the best thing EVER! lol You're supposed to aim to keep your HR in the 75-85% range to burn as many calories as possible (without passing out).
I LOVE using my HR monitor not only to make sure that my HR is indeed where i need it to be but because I like to watch the "calories burned" counter stack up.

I push myself to get 300 calories in a half hour, or 75 in 5 min. or whatever...
It's been the best thing. For me, steps (or miles) would be too arbitrary. I want to see the BURN.

longhorngal · #3 05/02/10, 01:09 PM

My problem with the heart rate thing is I'm on a beta blocker for blood pressure and that keeps my heart rate down. I'm going to schedule an appt. with my dr. and see about changing it.

It takes me an hour to burn 354 per the treadmill. It's a WHOLE lot better than what I was doing LOL. I don't think I'll be burning 300 in half an hour for at least another month.

There have been changes so I know I'm on my way I just don't want to plateau this early by not pushing myself enough.
I'm sweating when I'm done (and I don't sweat easily) and somewhat out of breath.

ErinP · #4 05/02/10, 01:29 PM

Personally, I would up the incline and SPEED as much as I could possibly stand.

If no HR monitor, there's the basic recommendation of the talk test: You should be able to communicate with someone next to you, but it should be in short, quick phrases because otherwise you have too MUCH wind.
(So far as 300 calories, if you only have another 53 pounds to lose, that's probably got a lot to do with it. I'm still heavy enough it takes more calories for me to just breath than it does you)

longhorngal · #5 05/03/10, 07:49 AM

I found this article and it looks pretty good to me. I did week 2 this morning and it was a pretty good workout to me. Went by pretty fast switching it up like that.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/19...kout-beginner/

Only 53lbs :-)? Sometimes I don't think it's ever going to come off!
Thanks for the help.