Why do some people choose to walk on treadmills at the gym?

[MagpiePi]

I will start off by saying, I am not trying to be goady or suggest that people are wrong, I am just curious.

When I go to the gym there are always people who walk on the treadmills and I wonder why they don't walk outside instead. They are often young (it is in an area with a lot of student flats) with no obvious mobility issues, they are not using cars as they are walking too and from the gym. It is daytime, the weather is fine - not raining, not too hot or cold, the gym is not in a dodgy area or surrounded by roads clogged with traffic and pollution. They are not setting the treadmill to an incline or walking at a sustained brisk pace, but are generally ambling along on the flat.

The only reason I can think of is that it means they can watch videos or scroll on their phones without worrying about walking in dog shit or having to look up to cross roads or avoid other people but still get their step count up.

Am I missing something?

I do it because you can have a steady walk, without watching for dog shit, without navigating other people, jay-walkers, cyclists, dogs on stupid long leads, crossing roads/avoiding traffic, etc.

I warm up and cool down with a stint on the treadmill but sometimes I will just amble along if I need to get my step count in for the day. It’s easy, I can walk fairly briskly without having to watch the floor in front of me for cracks/dodgy paving slabs/ tree roots/holes or ridges!

I do it for cool down. Like 5/10 min.

I cannot walk outside. I have lethal allergies. Also, it could be a neighbourhood safety issue. Please give people grace and go about your business.

I’m not the only one with that reason here. It’s not dog bashing at all. That’s just your take on it.

I do it because I have a visual impairment that makes navigating pavements tricky at times. Walking on a treadmill is safer, and I'm too fat and unfit to run - but at least it's some form of gentle exercise for me.

I copied your OP because I want you to read my reply.

I USED to run on treadmills, until age determined I should not, because my joints couldn't take the high impact. I'm 68 now and walk briskly- treadmill means I can see exactly how fast I'm going and I can control the incline, giving me an excellent cardio workout.

But here's a question: what business is it of yours? People can easily run outdoors. Guess why I stopped running outdoors and moved on to treadmills (hint: it was about safety, which apply as easily to women walking as it does running)?

www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/beginners/a70415095/incline-walking-fat-loss/

Why do people use exercise bikes instead of cycling outside?
Or use a rowing machine instead of actually going out rowing?
Or a climbing machine instead of going climbing?

Sure, just going walking is a lot easier than finding an appropriate place to row or climb, but it’s a way of replicating an activity but being able to be more in control of variables.
Your walk isn’t going to be affected by the rain coming on.
You can walk in cool, comfortable clothing without worrying that the jacket you put on in case it rains will make you too warm if the sun comes out.
You dont have to wait for traffic lights to change, or get out of the way of dogs or children or bloody electric scooters.
The treadmill also keeps you walking at a certain pace or incline that you can control.
And yes, you can watch videos or listen to music/podcasts/ audiobooks without having to worry about what’s around you.

Maybe very unfit and making a start on getting fitter and they will progress to running? Why does none do anything at the gym and why does it matter?

I incline walk after lifting weights. 30 minutes, good for fat burning, amazing for cardio health. I can get my heart rate in the best zone for my end goals

Also i LOVE walking outdoors and do often. For different reasons, different goals

I only do weights at the gym. I walk outside and do hills.

I prefer getting my walking steps or my runs on the treadmill as I have balance and coordination problems and tend to fall or risk an injury at every pothole / pavement step.

Student flat? We're over 60!

I walk or run on the treadmill because I like listening to very loud music with my headphones on. I can’t do this outside in case I get run over or attacked. I like the security of the gym. I do also walk outside, but usually to get somewhere!!

I walk to warm up and cool down. I also run on it.

I run in the gym rather than outside because it's part of an overall workout and if I try to do different things in different places, my natural laziness will re-assert itself and I'll do less of at least some of them!

Social anxiety of walking outside. Walking outside can be dangerous. You have to stop when walking outside to cross roads, etc. Being in the gym is very motivating for some people who otherwise wouldn't bother if it wasn't for social pressure. May just be warming up. May have no idea what they're doing but they're still trying.

Why does it bother you?

What bothers me is this one woman that I see in the gym every single time I'm there, and every single time she is wearing a coat. A full on, weatherproof coat. It annoys me so much and I wish it didn't. Probably social anxiety but how does it not just make it worse? Because now everyone is just staring at her. Was 28 degrees last time I went and she was wearing it. You know, I've never been distracted by men or women in tight teenie weenie clothing in the gym, but this woman in her coat distracts me every time.

Thats really weird. Is she very overweight or maybe have loose skin or something? I have weight loss lose skin so I just wear long sleeves and long leggings.

It is so weird. She is around 50+ I'd say, grey hair. Overweight but not like, by a shocking amount. She seems otherwise confident in what she does, respect to her. I just don't get the coat.

Take off the coat.

Air con.
Constant incline.
Straight onto weights.
To use the showers there.

Breaking in new shoes? I do 95% of my walking in the nearby forest but can’t face the thought of having to walk home miles with a blister. I try to use new shoes a bunch of times somewhere I can stop the minute it hurts

Well this. Why don’t runners run outside?

Less likely to be flattened by a Deliveroo rider.

I don't live in a dodgy area, but I get catcalled. Ashling Murphy wasn't running in a dodgy area, but Jozef Puska still murdered her.

Knowing that that male harassment and violence are risks makes me not want to walk and run outside. A treadmill in a supervised gym takes away much of those risks.

This is the second thread I’ve seen about this

I’m having a lot of issues missing long walks because of the weather and also because of safety issues walking around… another poster said this, but I’m tired of just wandering around the same places

So will I not look like a total weirdo if I just join the gym to walk slowly on the treadmill? I might do it actually. I prefer outdoors, but when it’s late or dark, it is much easier to do the 3 miles indoors. I haven’t been to the gym for years. I don’t really like them because they’re so intimidating now. (not when I was properly fit.)