Losing weight should be easy, in theory. But anyone who’s ever tried could tell you it’s easier said than done. There is no universal truth to losing weight, but when you break it down to a science it basically amounts to this: burn more calories than you consume. Simple, right? Once again, in theory. 

What is a calorie?

We could get very scientific about how a calorie is measured, but for the sake of simplicity a calorie is a unit of energy. It comes from the food we eat. Our bodies are constantly burning calories to keep us alive and moving, this is called our Basal Metabolic Rate. But, when we eat more calories than we need our body converts the excess energy into fat stores. So when we want to lose weight, what we’re really trying to do is find a way to increase our metabolic rate.

How do you burn calories?

This is where exercise comes in. To lose weight, we need to start burning more calories than we’re consuming. Everything from going for a hike, to standing up at your desk and doing ten squats contributes to increasing your metabolic rate. Some activities are more efficient at burning those calories, especially high intensity aerobic exercises. Running has long been a tried and tested staple exercise for shedding unwanted weight, that’s why you’ll find a treadmill in just about every gym. Treadmills let you experience the efficient calorie burning power of the run on a comfortable, even surface, shielded from the elements, at any time of day whether it be in a gym, or in the comfort of your own home.

How many calories can I burn on a treadmill?

Treadmills are super easy to use and just by stepping on and walking you’re already working toward increasing your metabolic rate and shedding those kilos. Another bonus, if you have a treadmill in your home - you can workout whenever you want! So how many calories are you burning when you use a treadmill? That’s a complicated mathematical equation that takes into account a number of factors including your weight and the intensity of the workout. Luckily, many home gym treadmills come equipped with an enormous variety of features that take out the guesswork and let you run through a broad range of intensities. The FR30 Floatride Treadmill for instance is capable of speeds up to 20km/h, taking you from a slow walk to a near flat out sprint. The SL8.0 Treadmill has access to 18 levels of incline. You might not know it, but walking and running on a steeper incline actually burns more calories than on a flat surface. If you’re still eager to see some numbers, here’s a very loose range: in a minute you could burn around 7 calories with a light walk on a flat surface or upwards of 45 calories sprinting up a steep incline. 

What’s the best way to burn calories on a treadmill?

These numbers tell us that an intense sprint up an incline will rapidly increase your metabolic rate, as well as your heart rate, compared to a light walk, but how long can you sustain that intensity? The most efficient way for you to burn calories while you run is to cycle through intervals of differing intensities. The brilliant thing is this isn’t even something you need to think about while you run. Many in-home treadmills offer preset workouts that take you through these varying levels of intensity at the touch of a button, like the A6.0 Treadmill which offers 36 unique preset workouts. These workouts are fully automated and might have you sprinting through a slight incline one minute, then slowing down to a jog up a much steeper incline the next.

Just before you run off…

Going for a run outside is a great place to start your weight loss journey, but a treadmill controls undesirable variables like weather and hard, uneven surfaces. Using a treadmill in the gym or having one conveniently in the comfort of your own home is a lot like having access to a personal trainer while you run. Preset workouts, designed by professionals, direct you through intense and satisfying runs, proven to maximise the rate at which you burn calories.