Treadmill Techniques for a Top-Notch Workout

Last Sunday, I went over to my parents' house during the Super Bowl. I watched for a while, but my interest waned. (Sorry, I'm just not a football fan.) My son and dad kept their eyes glued on the screen, but my mom and I disappeared upstairs. While my mom worked on a craft, I hopped on her treadmill for a while.

I maintained good form. But, I was chatting with my mother the whole time, so it wasn't exactly a strenuous workout. Next time, I'm going to put a little more gusto into it. You can ramp up your workout with these treadmill techniques:

• Let go. When you've got your balance, let go of the rails. Let your arms swing naturally if you're walking and pump arms forward and back while running.
• Keep eyes level. Resist the urge to stare up at the gym's ceiling-hung TV. Keep your head and eyes level.
• Add an incline. A slight incline -- even as small as one percent -- can really increase the intensity.
• Try intervals. Vary speed and incline for a more advanced workout.