Elliptical Trainer vs treadmill
- Thread starter Katyrigg
- Start date
My own personal choice would be to get a elliptical trainer. They are less harsh on the joints (i get bad ankles) and it is easy to go out of your front door and go for a run, which I would rather do and find it is far better than going on a treadmill.
There is no science behind this opinion though, just as I said my personal choice.
There is no science behind this opinion though, just as I said my personal choice.
I use both at the gym, but I burn more calories with the eliptical.
I'd recommend giving each a whirl somewhere before you buy.
You can go to your local gym and usually pay under $10 for a "day" and test em out to see which one you like better.
I'd recommend giving each a whirl somewhere before you buy.
You can go to your local gym and usually pay under $10 for a "day" and test em out to see which one you like better.
I think the answer is "both"!! I know this is not a possibility for anyone who lives in a house (as oppose to a gym or celeb style mansion).
I'd go for the ellipitcal trainer as it has more programmes, you can do interval training with or without resistance and it also has the ability to workout the arms (there is a technique to that it doesn't do it naturally for everyone).
I'd then say go out running also to suppliment this and also to give your body something different to do.
One thing I found just by visiting gyms (my memberships up and I need a new gym) is to try the machines first if you can. I spent a week on an elliptical trainer which was so rubbish I couldn't get any sort of speed. It made my legs move in almost straight planes backwards-forwards but not up and down (or not enough at any rate). The last gym I went to had machines which could move in circular movements rather then just along a straight plane. Thing is without having tried them first I'd have never known!
Make sure you know exactly what your spending your money on, those things don't come cheap!
I'd go for the ellipitcal trainer as it has more programmes, you can do interval training with or without resistance and it also has the ability to workout the arms (there is a technique to that it doesn't do it naturally for everyone).
I'd then say go out running also to suppliment this and also to give your body something different to do.
One thing I found just by visiting gyms (my memberships up and I need a new gym) is to try the machines first if you can. I spent a week on an elliptical trainer which was so rubbish I couldn't get any sort of speed. It made my legs move in almost straight planes backwards-forwards but not up and down (or not enough at any rate). The last gym I went to had machines which could move in circular movements rather then just along a straight plane. Thing is without having tried them first I'd have never known!
Make sure you know exactly what your spending your money on, those things don't come cheap!
The best one is the one that you will use. Treadmills are often preferred by those who like to run. Those people may like to run because of the effort involved. Ellipticals are often preferred by those who don't want to work so hard. For losing 50 lbs, sounds like many wouldn't stick with an elliptical.
When it comes to which is the most efficient for fat loss, it's the treadmill. There's more mechanical work involved then there is with an elliptical (in fact, I'd put the elliptical at the bottom of the list of "machines" that are best for fat loss behind your treadmill, bike, and stair climber). Don't need to spend that long on the treadmill though to see results. Google "Interval Training" and you'll get some quick short routines that are much more efficient than slow steady cardio. Also, don't forget about your strength training. That's one of the best fat loss mechanisms out there.
Michael
Michael
This is a debate that i have been questioning for some time.
I am looking to lose weight and burn fat. I tend to favor the elipticall over the treadmill.
The treadmill is very hard on the knees and joints, i tend to have soreness halfway through and get discouraged.
I tend to burn way more calories on the elliptical also.
I am looking to lose weight and burn fat. I tend to favor the elipticall over the treadmill.
The treadmill is very hard on the knees and joints, i tend to have soreness halfway through and get discouraged.
I tend to burn way more calories on the elliptical also.
I have a slightly different view
on my cardio days I run 5 miles or one hour whichever comes last.
usaully closer to 6 miles.
I run n three minute intervals. I run for 3 minutes at 6-7 mph depending how I feel and then I walk for 1 minutes at 2.5-3mph then run for 3 walk for 1, and so on until an hour goes by or i reach 5 miles whichever is last. So if I hit 5 miles and it is 50 minutes I keep going. And i feel fine and I have knee issues sometimes from jumping out of planes in the ARMY.
but I feel very awkard when I do 2 miles on the elliptical the way if you lose your rythm for a second it jolts your knees up into your body. And that hurts.
I also feel I burn way more calories on the treadmill. usually according to the machines in excess of 700 calories. but in 2 miles on the elliptical I burn less then a 100
Not sure if this helps any of you but it works great for me and during that 1 minute of walking my heart rate is still raised and i am still sweating so still burning calories.
after the elliptical I do 2 miles on the bike which I kind of feel is worthless I don't feel like I am working at all. and according to the machine I burn maybe 30-40 calories.
Good luck and hope this helps.
on my cardio days I run 5 miles or one hour whichever comes last.
usaully closer to 6 miles.
I run n three minute intervals. I run for 3 minutes at 6-7 mph depending how I feel and then I walk for 1 minutes at 2.5-3mph then run for 3 walk for 1, and so on until an hour goes by or i reach 5 miles whichever is last. So if I hit 5 miles and it is 50 minutes I keep going. And i feel fine and I have knee issues sometimes from jumping out of planes in the ARMY.
but I feel very awkard when I do 2 miles on the elliptical the way if you lose your rythm for a second it jolts your knees up into your body. And that hurts.
I also feel I burn way more calories on the treadmill. usually according to the machines in excess of 700 calories. but in 2 miles on the elliptical I burn less then a 100
Not sure if this helps any of you but it works great for me and during that 1 minute of walking my heart rate is still raised and i am still sweating so still burning calories.
after the elliptical I do 2 miles on the bike which I kind of feel is worthless I don't feel like I am working at all. and according to the machine I burn maybe 30-40 calories.
Good luck and hope this helps.
but in 2 miles on the elliptical I burn less then a 100
Really??? I do 1.75 miles on the elliptical at level 6 for 18 min.. with bursts up to level 10 for 1min (5/warmup, 3/cooldown) for a total of 169 cals before doing weights. On cardio days, I burn 331 cals.. but i guess its all in the level that it is set and how hard you push yourself to feel the burn
Really??? I do 1.75 miles on the elliptical at level 6 for 18 min.. with bursts up to level 10 for 1min (5/warmup, 3/cooldown) for a total of 169 cals before doing weights. On cardio days, I burn 331 cals.. but i guess its all in the level that it is set and how hard you push yourself to feel the burn
i know bikes arent an option here but i'd like to put them up. They are so good. You can burn loads of calories, its none load bearing so no stress fractures and its great for aerobic and an-aerobic training. For example I was out of training for 2 years, got into bike training and rugby for last year and now im one of, if not the fittest in my year.
I do approximately 4 miles on the elliptical and it shows i burn over 700 calories.
Is anyone using the Elliptical that actually reads the heart rate by holding on to the swing arms?
I think that is more accurate.
Damn that's alot of cals! And yes having heart rate readings are good especially when attempting HIIT
Interesting debate. On a slightly different tangent... my thoughts
Cross country skiers have been shown to be the worlds fittest athletes in terms of VO2 max. If you think about it they use both their legs and arms and engage a much larger proportion of their body / muscle under resistance than runners or cyclists. The elliptical mimics this movement and when done properly (ie engaging legs AND arms fully and workout out at a decent intensity) will burn a high number of calories.
The treadmill is also a great exercise - however you do not use the same proportion of your muscle mass when performing this exercise, and the cycle is even lower.
However, at the end of the day it comes down to what type of workouts you do on each piece of equipment and what intensity / duration.
I would suggest that the best exercise is one that you enjoy and are more likely to stick to using on an ongoing basis.
thefitnessherald.com
Cross country skiers have been shown to be the worlds fittest athletes in terms of VO2 max. If you think about it they use both their legs and arms and engage a much larger proportion of their body / muscle under resistance than runners or cyclists. The elliptical mimics this movement and when done properly (ie engaging legs AND arms fully and workout out at a decent intensity) will burn a high number of calories.
The treadmill is also a great exercise - however you do not use the same proportion of your muscle mass when performing this exercise, and the cycle is even lower.
However, at the end of the day it comes down to what type of workouts you do on each piece of equipment and what intensity / duration.
I would suggest that the best exercise is one that you enjoy and are more likely to stick to using on an ongoing basis.
thefitnessherald.com
I agree with leanbody. Ellipticals are the worst. Contrary to what the machine says, they tend to burn very few calories, and do to the rotary motion build no muscle, and for most people are in fact very bad for the joints (forget the myth that impact is bad, it's in fact REQUIRED for healthy joints and bones!!!!)
For cardio, I love stairclimbers. Treadmills are extremely expensive if you want one that is actually usable and won't break down.
Or just do the REALLY correct thing and start a good resistance training program with some cheap dumbbells and get started on a fitness program that will actually do you some good long term.
For cardio, I love stairclimbers. Treadmills are extremely expensive if you want one that is actually usable and won't break down.
Or just do the REALLY correct thing and start a good resistance training program with some cheap dumbbells and get started on a fitness program that will actually do you some good long term.
Treadmill best to beat boredom
Although I agree that an eliptical is better on the joints, I would vote for a treadmill hands down. Why? A treadmill offers variety. With an eliptical you can get pretty bored. A treadmill "grows" with your fitness level. As you increase your fitness level you can increase pace, incline (if you're overall healthy) and programs. You can run and/or walk and track your progress, distance, speed, etc. and it can transfer to outside.
I find more of my clients have success with a treadmill vs. eliptical!
Although I agree that an eliptical is better on the joints, I would vote for a treadmill hands down. Why? A treadmill offers variety. With an eliptical you can get pretty bored. A treadmill "grows" with your fitness level. As you increase your fitness level you can increase pace, incline (if you're overall healthy) and programs. You can run and/or walk and track your progress, distance, speed, etc. and it can transfer to outside.
I find more of my clients have success with a treadmill vs. eliptical!