Why should you stick to incline walking instead of running

I still remember my very first day at the gym like it was yesterday.
I felt so nervous and embarrassed as a newbie. It was a terrifying experience for me personally.
I honestly didn't have any clue how to start, what sort of workout should I be following, or how the hell can I use "this" or "that" machine over there. So I decided to go with the flow.
As soon as I walked through the door, I looked around the room and
I started to copy other people's moves. Yes, that strange girl in the back that was probably me! Haha
I certainly did not think that one day I will be sharing my tips and advice on what sort of cardio you should be following, but of course, at the end of the day, everything comes down to your individual preferences as well as fitness level.

I hardly use any other cardio machine in the gym than the treadmill.
It is like my best friend supporting through my sweaty times.
No jokes there. It has never let me down.
The greatest thing about this machine is that it offers several varieties of workouts, so it's literally for everyone.

The two basic cardio workouts that you can follow on the treadmill are running and uphill walking.
Uphill walking is going to help to work the glutes, quads and the hamstrings this way you can build a more defined lower body.
On the other hand, running it's ideal for doing interval training.
Again, this is entirely down to your personal preferences and goals.
If your goal is losing weight, then cardio is a must.
There are some pros and cons to both of these variations.
As I prefer uphill walking/ incline walking, I will give you all a clearer picture of why you should stick to this instead of running.

Calories
You might be thinking, how can I burn more calories by just walking than running?
Well, walking on a flat surface doesn't have an intensity which means it doesn't force your body to work with more effort.
Therefore you won't burn many calories.
However, hill/mountain programs on the treadmill simulate walking uphill.
This way, you can burn those extra calories than just walking on a flat surface.
If you walk on a high incline, you are pushing your body to work harder, and you will end up burning more calories.
Running has the same impact on your body same calorie-burning benefits that you get from walking uphill.
It's just all about the intensity.

Muscle
By setting your treadmill to high incline, you can also tone multiple lower body muscles.
It helps you to work glutes, quads, lower back and your hamstrings which I find one of the hardest muscle to work out on.
Walking on a high incline doesn't make you lose any muscles.
On the other hand, running does not provide any resistance at all, and you can also end up losing muscle.
If you are looking to build a curvier, more defined lower body start walking uphill.

Health
I tried both of these variations on the treadmill, but running wasn't my sort of cup of tea after the first couple of days my knees were hurting so bad that I wanted to quit the gym forever.
But I was really ambitious to reach my goal, so I started to wear one of those super ugly kneepad things which honestly worth the hassle because they helped.
One day when I left home, and I was on my way to the gym, I realised I left the kneepads at home.
So I stood on the treadmill without them.
Oh gosh, next day my knees were in more pain than ever, next time I was in the gym I skipped the cardio because I thought it's the treadmill did not even think it might be the workout I did.
As everyone else would, I started googling things and figure out what could be the issue. I read an article about running and why it isn't very good for you.

I figured okay let's give a try to the uphill walking. I was very sceptical because let's face it.
I have never seen anyone do lifechanging magic by walking or power walking.
But yet this was the time when I learnt that walking is the cardio that fits for me.
Less strain to my joints and another bonus is that it is a lower risk of injury.
Running can cause joint injury and inflammation.

Time
We all can agree that we all have a super busy schedule and barely can fit an hour into our everyday to workout.
As I explained above, it's harder to walk up hills than on the flat ground, and you will get a higher intensity workout, which means you don't have to work out for as long. Incline walking perfect if you have a busy schedule.

So there you have the main things to consider between uphill walking and running.
Make sure that you choose wisely when adding one of the above cardio to your workout plan.
Ensure to pick accordingly to your health and fitness needs.
Plus don't forget to have fun and enjoy every session so it will be easier for you to reach your goals.

What's your favourite workout routine?
What sort of cardio do you recommend for weight loss?