5 Benefits of Incline Training
I had been looking for the perfect treadmill for a while when I came across the Nordic Track X11i incline trainer. I have the honor of being a Nordic Track ambassador and that means I’ll be trying out some of their products and sharing my thoughts with you!
I was sent the and it is AHHH-MAZZING! This is one of those must have fitness equipment pieces. The new X11i is an improvement of one of NordicTrack’s most advanced incline trainers. The X11i Incline Trainer has a 4.25 continuous horsepower motor and an impressive 40-percent incline capability, yes 40%!!!! NordicTrack is the only treadmill on the market that goes that high. And trust me, it’s high!! Just walking on it gives you such a good work out.
While I do love running on it (it literally takes you around the world, more on that later) the walking incline workout is amazing.
This is the incline at 40% and let me tell you walking on this type of incline is a challenging yet rewarding workout! Throughout the next few months I’ll be sharing even more awesome features about this machine. Today I want to focus on why I love the incline feature.
5 Benefits of Incline Training
1. You burn more calories.
When you add an incline to your walk you burn more calories. The other night I wanted to catch up on a TV show so I decided to walk. I put the my incline on 35% and burned well over 800 calories in one hour!
2. Reduce Strain on Your Knees
We all know walking is better for your knees than running. “A study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise finds that walking at just a 3-degree incline reduces shock to legs by about 25%.”
3. Great for Your Heart
Incline training can help increase your heart rate without requiring your whole body to speed up. For example, walking 3 miles per hour at a 12 percent incline results in a similar heart rate as running at 6 miles per hour on a flat surface, according to FreeMotion Fitness.
4. Build Muscle
Muscle development is a fifth benefit of incline workouts. When you walk without an incline, only about 20% of the muscle tissue in your legs is recruited. Incline training recruits more muscles throughout the lower body from the calves to the glutes. You’ll get the best strength training benefit if you use a treadmill at a 15% incline or greater. Try that 40% ;).
5. You FEEL the workout
This is probably just personal preference. (haha) But, I love feeling like a really worked out hard. After my incline workout I am always covered in sweat and feel like I really pushed myself.
So what are you waiting for? It’s time to give the incline a try!! I would recommend starting out slowly and over time increasing the incline to challenge yourself.
I am so excited to be a brand ambassador for NordicTrack and can’t wait to continue sharing my experience with this amazing brand over the next few months.
Disclosure: I received product for review. However, all opinions are my own. #SponsoredbyNordicTrack
