Elliptical or Bicycle for better weight loss

[2canSAM]

OK I am fat, very fat and am ready to whip my butt in shape. I have been walking for the past couple of weeks but have been experiencing lower back pain after about 20 minutes. I have tried to add more walking into my daily routine by parking farther away from my office, walking a little bit (1.5 - 2.0 miles) after lunch, stuff like that but do not get any intense workouts in. I am looking at grabbing a machine to help me workout at home but need to know what will provide the best workout. I plan to do my cardio on this 5-6 days a week and weight training 3-4 days per week. Budget for the machine is very low, only about $100.00 right now. I know I will be dealing with the lowend of the equipment but will move up as my need require it. Here are two of the machines I came across. Again don't attack my budget just help me get the best one right now.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog....do?product_id=4087947

http://www.walmart.com/catalog....do?product_id=1597237

 

[mrkun]

If you're really overweight, I would go with the bike. Also, the most important thing is your diet; the exercise is just complimentary to that.

 

[2canSAM]

Originally posted by: mrkun
If you're really overweight, I would go with the bike. Also, the most important thing is your diet; the exercise is just complimentary to that.

True, that part has already changed. 1920 calories, all broken down, to what I really need. Eating 5-6 times per day. Really trying to get away from all the processed food, and making better snack and meal decisions. Really sickening to see some of the crap I have put in my body over the years. I have had to really increase my water intake too. Thats been the hardest thing for me. I would go days without water, but drank alot of soda's. Now I am always sipping on a water bottle, but still have one 8oz caffeine free, diet soda a day.

 

[tomywishbone]

Q: Elliptical or Bicycle for better weight loss... which is best?

A: Whichever one you like the most. If you like it, you'll do it.

 

[Epic Fail]

Hope you find a good weight to exercise.

 

[SludgeFactory]

Try before you buy. Buy the stuff from some place where it can be returned easily.

I have no personal experience with it, but my snap judgement of that $85 Gazelle is that it looks like a cheap, flimsy, uncomfortable POS. With cheap bikes, (I'm assuming you're a guy) look out for poor seats that numb your junk after 20 minutes of riding -- that's nerve compression, and if you push it far enough you might be rolling the dice on your future functionality down there. Hence my reasoning for being able to return the thing.

Personally I like old NordicTrack's, they're durable and easy on your joints. I was told the quality of the newer models isn't what it used to be since the company was bought out, but I don't know for sure. Get it used from some sucker who sat it in the corner and hung clothes on it. You can get them cheap on Ebay, or even better maybe you can luck onto one at a garage sale.

That goes for any fitness equipment, there are tons of deals to be had on used stuff.

 

[DaveSimmons]

A real, $500+ elliptical is a better workout than an exercise bike. That $80 thing looks like it will collapse as soon as you step into its clutches.

I like my Lifecycle exercise bike, but it's a refurb gym model that cost about $500. I'd want to look at and test-ride that wal-mart bike before buying it. The specs do say it supports 300 lbs.

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: 2canSAM

Originally posted by: mrkun
If you're really overweight, I would go with the bike. Also, the most important thing is your diet; the exercise is just complimentary to that.

True, that part has already changed. 1920 calories, all broken down, to what I really need. Eating 5-6 times per day. Really trying to get away from all the processed food, and making better snack and meal decisions. Really sickening to see some of the crap I have put in my body over the years. I have had to really increase my water intake too. Thats been the hardest thing for me. I would go days without water, but drank alot of soda's. Now I am always sipping on a water bottle, but still have one 8oz caffeine free, diet soda a day.

Awesome, you're well on your way.

 

[UnixFreak]

Congrats. I've lost 65lbs since may by doing exactly what you're doing.


Keep the calories low
eat multiple times a day
dont eat before bed time
excersize 3-4 days a week
water, water, water, and more water.

I often buy a case of aquafina water for around $6, and put them in my fridge, then remind myself to go pound one really quick. 16oz of water 6-7 times a day is pretty good for ya.


Good work man, and good luck!

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: UnixFreak
Congrats. I've lost 65lbs since may by doing exactly what you're doing.


Keep the calories low
eat multiple times a day
dont eat before bed time
excersize 3-4 days a week
water, water, water, and more water.

I often buy a case of aquafina water for around $6, and put them in my fridge, then remind myself to go pound one really quick. 16oz of water 6-7 times a day is pretty good for ya.


Good work man, and good luck!

Actually you should eat before bed to keep your metabolism going.

 

[huberm]

seriously, you should consider running/jogging. You can start off with walk/run cycles, which is what I did. Jogging burns a huge amount of calories, and once your body gets used to running, you start getting addicted to the hobby.

 

[Megatomic]

For the ultimate calorie burn, do a strength training workout followed closely by a cardio workout. All the literature I've read over the past 2 years says that can up your calorie burn by 50% for several hours. By closely I mean within 20 to 30 minutes.

 

[2canSAM]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
For the ultimate calorie burn, do a strength training workout followed closely by a cardio workout. All the literature I've read over the past 2 years says that can up your calorie burn by 50% for several hours. By closely I mean within 20 to 30 minutes.

Sounds like what I am planning. More of a "circuit style" though. Strength for 10 Min, Cardio High Intensity (for me at least) for 10 min, back to strength, rinse and repeat for 1 to 1.5 hours a day. On the days I do not hit strength training I plan to up my cardio, I was thinking of
5-10 minutes high intensity followed by 2-3 minutes dropped intensity then back to blowing it out.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: 2canSAM

Originally posted by: Megatomic
For the ultimate calorie burn, do a strength training workout followed closely by a cardio workout. All the literature I've read over the past 2 years says that can up your calorie burn by 50% for several hours. By closely I mean within 20 to 30 minutes.

Sounds like what I am planning. More of a "circuit style" though. Strength for 10 Min, Cardio High Intensity (for me at least) for 10 min, back to strength, rinse and repeat for 1 to 1.5 hours a day. On the days I do not hit strength training I plan to up my cardio, I was thinking of
5-10 minutes high intensity followed by 2-3 minutes dropped intensity then back to blowing it out.

Well if you aren't in very good shape you should start slow at first before doing HIIT.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

save your money on a bike or elliptical and get a personal trainer.

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: huberm
seriously, you should consider running/jogging. You can start off with walk/run cycles, which is what I did. Jogging burns a huge amount of calories, and once your body gets used to running, you start getting addicted to the hobby.

If he's really overweight, it's going to be hard on his body. He should stick to the bike for the beginning of his weightloss and switch to running as he loses some weight.

 

[Kelemvor]

The most important thing is to burn calories. If the elliptical burns more calories per hour but you can't use it asa long, then it's a wash. The elliptical does get your arms moving which helps and also strengthens your legs more.

I normally would go to the Y and ride bike for 35 minutes. I'd burn around 350 calories or so after 12.5 miles. Then one time I switched to the elliptical for fun. Did the same amount of time, burnt a bit more calories, but the next day or tow, my thighs and calves were killing me. But a good kind of killing me from working them.

But the most important thing is what Tomy said up above... Get whichever one will get you to use it more often. If you decide you don't like it and then don't use it as much, it obviously isn't going to help you.

 

[Mr Pickles]

Originally posted by: Savij

Originally posted by: huberm
seriously, you should consider running/jogging. You can start off with walk/run cycles, which is what I did. Jogging burns a huge amount of calories, and once your body gets used to running, you start getting addicted to the hobby.

If he's really overweight, it's going to be hard on his body. He should stick to the bike for the beginning of his weightloss and switch to running as he loses some weight.

/thread

 

[OpenThirdEye]

Congrats on taking the first steps to losing weight! I've lost roughly 200lbs (over the course of about 3 years), so I know what you're going though.

I always found the elliptical to be a better workout rather than a stationary bike. I enjoyed getting the "full body" workout of an elliptical instead of just the "lower body" workout of the bike. Everybody's different and likes different things, so I say go with whichever one you'll enjoy more. If you hate using the equipment, you won't use it nearly as much. Just make sure that whatever you do is fairly low impact until you lose some weight so that you don't injure yourself - your knees especially.

If it's possible down the road, I'd advise looking into gyms around your area if you want to get serious about losing weight. Doing a little weight training will help you lose weight along the way (more muscle == greater resting metabolic rate == lose weight quicker...kinda).

Anyways, there's my $.02. If you have any other questions, I'm more than happy to help!

 

[johnjbruin]

DO NOT BUY a low end machine. You will seriously regret it.
The machine is going to suck - and you will just stop exercising.
Get a decent one - that you are not going to hate being on for an hour everyday.

 

[torpid]

Don't get a crap elliptical. They are worthless.

But a good elliptical IMO is much better than a bike. A bike is far less comfortable and not as good of a workout.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: UnixFreak
Congrats. I've lost 65lbs since may by doing exactly what you're doing.


Keep the calories low
eat multiple times a day
dont eat before bed time
excersize 3-4 days a week
water, water, water, and more water.

I often buy a case of aquafina water for around $6, and put them in my fridge, then remind myself to go pound one really quick. 16oz of water 6-7 times a day is pretty good for ya.


Good work man, and good luck!

aquafina might as well be battery acid. drink something with a higher pH.

 

[Pepsi90919]

what you need is a gym or YMCA membership

 

[mrkun]

http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1526539