Yes, you read that headline correctly. We know what you’re thinking: How in the world could recycled rubber tires processed through EcoGreen help with weight loss? Well, they (or rather, their byproduct crumb rubber) actually play a significant role in the fitness and weight-loss department. Surprised? Allow us to explain…
Recycling Tires Make You Break a Sweat on the Athletic Field
Crumb Rubber is the recycled material comes from old rubber tires and adds a variety of benefits to long hours spent practicing on the field. Crumb rubber adds a cushioning aspect to the ground, protecting aspiring athletes from a myriad of injuries.
If you are looking to improve your endurance and were practicing football on a dirt field, for example, a hard fall would result in far more bruising, cuts and scrapes than on a rubber-infused track field. Crumb rubber absorbs much of the shock, making recovery faster. Less recovery time means more time to practice and go for the goal: feeling the burn and losing weight.
Recycling Tires Will Help You Go From Couch Potato to First-Time 5k Runner
Crumb rubber surfaces are also far superior when it comes to less than ideal weather conditions for individuals looking to improve their jogging or running ability. Rainfall could create a muddy mess, making exercise frustrating and unproductive.
Running on a dirt track would leave footmarks and create an uneven, pockmarked track unsuitable for training and a sure-fire way to injure yourself. However, a crumb rubber field or track drains excess moisture and dry fast; they even reduce the possibility of dust or mud brought in by your more fit friends.
Recycling Tires Can Help with Your Upper Body Workouts
Crumb rubber is actually showcased all over the gym–take a look around the next time you head to your own gym.
If you want to start lifting weights, this fact will pump you up: Bumper plates, or just bumpers, are Olympic weightlifting plates that are made of thick, hard rubber (aka crumb rubber) so that a loaded bar can be safely dropped without risk of damaging the plates themselves, the lifting platform, or the floor (or your toes). The rubber provides adequate cushion so the floor doesn’t risk getting cracked.
Recycling Tires Help on the Treadmill and Elliptical
Crumb rubber is also used to create those thick rubber mats that rest beneath all heavy cardio equipment, like treadmills and elliptical machines. (Crumb rubber mats can be found beneath large weight sets, too.) These super sturdy mats absorb shock from the equipment, meaning your exercise routine isn’t disrupted by wobbling, tremors, or a slightly uneven gym-floor surface.
This translates to a safer workout area, one where you don’t have to worry about you or your equipment falling over due to instability.
So, while recycled tires alone won’t help you lose weight, they do contribute a great deal to your fitness experience. They make it easier to work out and prevent a lot of potential injuries in the process.