How Much Time Should You Spend on a Treadmill?

Learning how much time you should spend on the treadmill

Average Healthy Adults

The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of moderately intense physical activity at least five days a week. Moderately intense activity is described as enough to make you break a sweat, however, you can still easily carry on a conversation.

If you do not have a lot of spare time, the same goal can be accomplished by doing 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week. So depending on how much effort you exert while on the treadmill will help you figure out how long you should spend on it.

Adults trying to lose weight

Adults that are trying to lose weight should take into consideration that the same time spent on treadmills by average healthy adults may not be sufficient for them to meet their weight loss goal. The American Heart Association states that in order to lose weight or maintain weight loss, 60 to 90 minutes of physical activity may be necessary, three to five days a week.

Bottom Line

Know your goals and learn your body. If you are a healthy adult who does not struggle with weight gain, three to five days a week of 20 to 30-minute treadmill sessions should be sufficient. However, if you are trying to lose weight or keep off weight that you already lost, you may need to spend more time on the treadmill. According to the American Heart Association, when it comes to exercise, more is always better.

References

• American College of Sports Medicine - Physical Activity Guidelines