If you’re looking to burn calories quickly, a treadmill can be a great option. In just 30 minutes, you can potentially burn hundreds of calories, depending on your weight and intensity level.
At a moderate pace of 3 mph, a 125-pound person will burn approximately 150 calories in 30 minutes on a treadmill. If you increase your speed to 4 mph, that same person can expect to burn close to 200 calories in the same amount of time. And if you really want to up the ante, some treadmills even have programs that allow you to reach speeds of 6 or 7 mph for a true calorie-blasting workout.
Of course, the number of calories you’ll ultimately burn also depends on how much you weigh. Heavier individuals will naturally burn more calories than smaller people because their bodies require more energy to move. So, if you weigh 175 pounds and walk at 3 mph for 30 minutes, you can expect toburn around 225 calories—50 more than someone who weighs 125 pounds walking at the same pace for the same amount of time.
No matter how many calories you’re looking to burn, though, remember that safety should always come first when using any type of exercise equipment. Be sure to warm up before hopping on the treadmill and start out slowly before increasing your speed or incline. And most importantly, listen to your body—if something doesn’t feel right, stop immediately and consult a doctor before resuming any type of physical activity.