A Personal Trainer's Secret to Not Getting Tired on the Treadmill or Any Other Aerobic Workout

The main part of my personal workout strategy is based on being true to myself at the gym. I do not like obligations, so I go to the gym without a workout plan. Workout plans are good for some people, but I know myself, and gym plans don't work for me. I'm a spontaneous person and planning only makes me feel trapped like I have to do something no matter how I feel in the moment.

Although I'm a Personal Trainer, I'm not a masochist so I do not enjoy working out or running on the treadmill, but I do understand the huge impact that exercise, especially aerobic, has on the quality and longevity of health and life. Since I don't like plans or exercise, I simply do not mix the two at the gym.

Getting back to the gym for my first workout 6 months after my appendectomy, I walk in the gym and I decide I feel like running on the treadmill for an aerobic workout. I normally hate running on the treadmill. I mean, face it, a treadmill is really just a modified hamster wheel for humans, but at this moment I decided to make it my first stop. I jump on and set the pace at a 6 mph run.

I'm terribly bored, so I kick it up to 6.5 mph. Now, what I hate about the treadmill is the lack of stimulation. Running in place just doesn't do it for me, and then there's the awkward feeling of having to run the exact same speed as the treadmill. If you run too fast you ram into the bar, and if you run too slow you fall off. I'm a quarter of a mile in and 6.5 mph isn't doing it for me either, so I set the speed to something that can wake me up which is 8.5 mph. Now I'm running hard, you can hear the machine moving fast and my feet pounding on the surface.

I'm running hard on my first day back in action. People are looking over watching me run like a madman, but I stay focused. Most people back from six months of inactivity would be sweating and exhausted from running at this blazing pace, but not me. This isn't because I'm in great shape (because I'm not) but because I have a secret trick that I will share with you.

The limiting factor for aerobic activity is oxygen. In fact, the word "aerobic" is defined by Encarta Dictionary:English (North America) as both "needing oxygen" and " increasing respiration and heart rates" because the energy used for aerobic activity relies on oxygen for it to be produced. I take good-sized open mouth breaths from the beginning. This insures my body will have the oxygen it needs without ever having a deficit.

If you decide to try this out for yourself, just make sure your breaths aren't too big or else you may get dizzy. Don't force the issue and breath too fast. You want the rhythm to be controlled and comfortable, flowing smoothly like a machine. The breathing should be audible but not distracting to others. In fact, the person on the treadmill next to you shouldn't be alarmed from your breathing and if they look at you, you should not appear distressed. Your posture should be upright and in control. You will appear powerful and confident as the task will be easy.

Well, I may have had a winning strategy but there was one thing I didn't account for. All the heavy mouth breathing made my throat extremely dry. I didn't bring any water but I really wanted to finish out the mile so I pressed on. Three-fourths of a mile into my sprint my throat was dry and cracking. At this point breathing was painful. I had to hop off the treadmill and moisturize my aching throat. I jumped back on the treadmill and finished off my mile, then jumped off to hit the weights. My throat was still dry so I didn't do much more.

I did happen to get in a quick set of 15 pull-ups, threw in a weak set of bicep curls and shoulder raises, and then left. From this workout, I realized the value of a water bottle. I could have beaten myself up for the miscue that lead to a shortened workout but I managed to take away some positives. Hating the modified hamster wheel, I managed to get some intense treadmill work done. I didn't expect to get much lifting in since I was returning from a lengthy stint of inactivity so, despite my weakened condition, I managed not to deviate much from the original plan. I was only planning on lifting light weight to get my muscles comfortable with the range of motion of the exercise. I didn't exactly do that, but the pull ups were a nice wake-up call to all my major upper body muscles. I do regret that I didn't have a water bottle with me. I would have liked to have finished my mile without interruption. All things considered, this minor workout was a success.

Some things I want you to take away from this workout:

1.) I only did a few exercises at the gym but was still happy with my workout.

2.) Over stressing your body will not do you any favors on your first day at the gym.

3.) Breathing deeply in a steady rhythm is a technique that will allow you to last much longer during aerobic workouts.

4.) A water bottle is a mandatory tool for performing this technique.

Source: Personal Experience as a Fitness Trainer and Expert
Source: Exact definition of "aerobic" taken from Encarta Dictionary:English (North America)