Treadmill vs elliptical machine

[wifi4lyfe]

I'm sorry but 30min on treadmill leaves me feeling dead but 30min on elliptical and I dont feel like I got THAT great of a workout. Running at level 6 on treadmil /= moderate intensity going pretty quick on elliptical

maybe it's just me....

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew

Which is better to burn off calories/loose weight.

The squat rack and your kitchen.

:thumbsup:

 

[KoolDrew]

The point still remains that diet is much more responsible for weight gain/loss than exercise.

Yup. :thumbsup:

Cardio is great for overall health and I recommend everybody do some form of cardio. However, if your goal is weight loss the main thing to concentrate on is diet. Another very important aspect which often times people forget when it comes to weight loss is weight training. By at least doing some resistance training you are forcing your body to try to at least keep the muscle you have, and burn fat instead. This is what you want as muscle is the good guy and helps with your metabolism. However, without resistance training your body will likely want to get rid of the muscle first in a calorie defect as muscle actually uses energy to stay there. You lose muscle, energy used goes down. So your body does it to compensate for less energy. That's why resistance training is so important, diet and cardio alone will make you lose weight, but a lot of it will be muscle, which in the end means a slower metabolism. This is why so many people go on diets and lose so much weight but then gain it right back, sometimes ending up even heavier than they were before.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew

The point still remains that diet is much more responsible for weight gain/loss than exercise.

Yup. :thumbsup:

Cardio is great for overall health and I recommend everybody do some form of cardio. However, if your goal is weight loss the main thing to concentrate on is diet. Another very important aspect which often times people forget when it comes to weight loss is weight training. By at least doing some resistance training you are forcing your body to try to at least keep the muscle you have, and burn fat instead. This is what you want as muscle is the good guy and helps with your metabolism. However, without resistance training your body will likely want to get rid of the muscle first in a calorie defect as muscle actually uses energy to stay there. You lose muscle, energy used goes down. So your body does it to compensate for less energy. That's why resistance training is so important, diet and cardio alone will make you lose weight, but a lot of it will be muscle, which in the end means a slower metabolism. This is why so many people go on diets and lose so much weight but then gain it right back, sometimes ending up even heavier than they were before.

But when you lift, you build muscles. Muscles inherently weigh more than fat. I'm not saying don't do weight training, but don't expect to lose that much weight from solely weight training. It's a combo of cardio and diet and weight training that will really get you going. Metabolism can be changed slightly through exercise, but for the most part it's pretty much just how we are--it will vary from individual to individual.

 

[KoolDrew]

But when you lift, you build muscles.

It takes a calorie surplus to add any kind of weight, including muscle weight. During a calorie defecit you will not put on muscle. The only exception to this are fat people who are in their "newbie phase" when it comes to training. A lean person or somebody has a bit of experience lifting will NOT gain muscle and lose fat at the same time.

Also, you say it like it's a bad thing. Muscle is the good guy, you want muscle. It raises your metabolism, which just makes fat loss easier.

... but don't expect to lose that much weight from solely weight training.

Like I said, diet is the key factor. Diet will lose the weight. Weight training will allow you to keep the muscle you have and maybe build some more, thus raising your metabolism, or at least keeping it from going down due to loss of muscle. Cardio is for heart health and a *slight* calorie defecit in addition to a good diet. Cardio should not be thought of as the main way to lose weight, like so many people do. If anything, it should be used for what I just mentioned and allowing a bit of flexibility in your diet. Cardio plus diet alone would eat through muscle quickly, thus lowering your metabolism, making it harder to keep the weight off. Not only that, but overtime cardio just burns less and less as your body gets used to it.

The whole idea that if you want to get huge, you lift, and if you want to lose weight, you run needs to stop. No matter what your physique goals are, you would benefit greatly from weight training.

 

[purbeast0]

Definitely a treadmill.

I mean just go run on a treadmill for 20 minutes. Then another day do the eliptical machine for 20 minutes. WHich one felt harder to do?

Chances are it was the treadmill, and when stuff is harder to do, it's typically better for you.

Also if your knees hurt from a treadmill, put it on an incline. I never ever run on a flat treadmill.

ALso the calorie counters on machines are worthless, they are not accurate at all.

 

[glenn beck]

Best overall treadmill Landice L7T w/ ortho --- feels like running on air

Best Elliptical LifeFitness X9i

 

[imported_Imp]

I really want to buy a treadmill, but don't know where to put it and am kinda 'poor' (read: cheap) right now. Got a new bike last month, been taking it out every Saturday for an hour lately. Problem is, though it's great fun, the hour of riding barely tires me compared to running about 200m around the block, by which time I am ready to die. I'm trying to work on my cardio since I get tired going up 1 flight of stairs. Go for treadmill if you want "results".

 

[Mutilator]

Personally, I'd consider a rowing machine as well... not just the treadmill & elliptical.

 

[glenn beck]

Originally posted by: Mutilator
Personally, I'd consider a rowing machine as well... not just the treadmill & elliptical.

best rower is the Water Rower

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: jman19

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
As for the cardio itself, do whatever you are comfortable with. It's more important that you are actually doing it, than getting all nit picky about which is best. If running on the treadmill hurts your joints, don't do it. I highly recommend switching cardio up though. Don't just do steady state cardio constantly. Throw some intervals in there, some hill repeats, etc.

Also, to clarify on my post above, losing weight is mostly about diet. The amount of calories you lose doing cardio is pretty slim and even if you eat a tiny bit over your maintenance calories you're still going to steadily gain weight, regardless of how much cardio you're doing. Also, if you don't already do some form of resistance training, you should.

Great post.

The "better" machine is the one that you'll use longer, and more frequently. For me it's an elliptical because of the low impact. And the Precor that the OP mentioned at Costco is certainly one of the best ones out there for the money. They pioneered the elliptical market and still are the best brand out there IMHO.

And your point about food is great one too - 30 minutes on a treadmill or elliptical can be erased with a Snickers bar or cup of ice cream.

You're still better off doing cardio and eating that Snickers than doing nothing.

Duh?

The point still remains that diet is much more responsible for weight gain/loss than exercise.

When did I say otherwise ?

Just thought I'd mention that cardio is better than no cardio even if it isn't creating a calorie deficit. No need to be so defensive.

 

[Itchrelief]

Originally posted by: senseamp
Elliptical, unless you are already in good running shape. Much less impact on the joints, much less jiggling around, so it's much easier to motivate yourself to use it, especially if you are overweight. I lost 50 lbs on elliptical, went from 275 to 225. At 275lbs, running would have been too much impact and fuss, and I would have quit it long before. Now I just bike to work.

I concur. Plus, when on the treadmill or out jogging somewhere, it can be sometimes difficult to transition smoothly from a fast walk to a slow jog.

If you're good at powerwalking or are naturally a good runner this doesn't apply to you, but I found that my fastest walk would not get my heart pumping hard enough, but my slowest comfortable jog was still too strenuous (any slower and I felt I was just doing a weird version of hopskotch). When you're just starting out, this can be a problem.

The elliptical and stationary bike, although they seem to be less of a workout in terms of getting my heart and lungs completely exhausted, allow me to smoothly dial in whatever exertion level I feel I can handle.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: jman19

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
As for the cardio itself, do whatever you are comfortable with. It's more important that you are actually doing it, than getting all nit picky about which is best. If running on the treadmill hurts your joints, don't do it. I highly recommend switching cardio up though. Don't just do steady state cardio constantly. Throw some intervals in there, some hill repeats, etc.

Also, to clarify on my post above, losing weight is mostly about diet. The amount of calories you lose doing cardio is pretty slim and even if you eat a tiny bit over your maintenance calories you're still going to steadily gain weight, regardless of how much cardio you're doing. Also, if you don't already do some form of resistance training, you should.

Great post.

The "better" machine is the one that you'll use longer, and more frequently. For me it's an elliptical because of the low impact. And the Precor that the OP mentioned at Costco is certainly one of the best ones out there for the money. They pioneered the elliptical market and still are the best brand out there IMHO.

And your point about food is great one too - 30 minutes on a treadmill or elliptical can be erased with a Snickers bar or cup of ice cream.

You're still better off doing cardio and eating that Snickers than doing nothing.

Duh?

The point still remains that diet is much more responsible for weight gain/loss than exercise.

Perhaps for those that don't have metabolism/hormone issues or disorders. But for many that do, exercise is not only important in burning calories but increasing the metobolic rate overall.

 

[Miramonti]

I have both and appreciate the treadmill the most because of its preset programs (and customizable programs). Reason is that you basically have no choice to work as hard as is required to complete the programs, as opposed the the elliptical trainer, which allows a person to fudge the effort because it is based on the person's initiative to work hard.

 

[hans007]

i tend to like the elliptical better just because it is lower impact on your knees.

plus the treadmill i think is a pretty stupid machine. why not just go running? i always feel like the treadmill is dragging me along whereas with an elliptical at least you set the pace so you dont get that feeling.

 

[49erinnc]

Ironically, despite the treadmill wearing me out more, it can't get my HR up and sustain it like the elliptical does. I use both though just to break up the monotony but probably prefer the treadmill the most. I do intervals on the "Hill" program which gives me a really good workout.

Also, I notice that most people don't use ellipticals correctly. You really shouldn't be lifting your heels or leaning forward but most people do one, if not both. If you keep your feet completely fat and move your center of gravity slightly back, you'll really improve your lower body workout.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: hans007

plus the treadmill i think is a pretty stupid machine. why not just go running? i always feel like the treadmill is dragging me along whereas with an elliptical at least you set the pace so you dont get that feeling.

I equate the treadmill vs. the elliptical trainer to downhill skiing vs. cross country. Both are excellent exercise (sure cc in this case is more.) But while cc requires significant initiative to accomplish, downhill simply requires initiative to get to the top of the mountain...at that point its almost impossible to NOT get excercise if you want to get home (unless you completely wimp out and take the lift down.)

Most people do not need to perfect or maximize their excercise routine, but simply need to accomplish it on a regular basis, and the treadmill imo makes it easier to do that (especially when using its programs that automatically adjust speed and incline.)

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: hans007
i tend to like the elliptical better just because it is lower impact on your knees.

plus the treadmill i think is a pretty stupid machine. why not just go running? i always feel like the treadmill is dragging me along whereas with an elliptical at least you set the pace so you dont get that feeling.

Because the treadmill is lower impact on your knees than running outside too? I hate the elliptical for the same reason you hate the treadmill. That and it's just boring...I can't get on it for more than 5 minutes before wanting to just quit.

 

[Red Dawn]

It's just a matter of preference, both do a good job.

 

[redgtxdi]

One thing I have noticed is that as you read review after review after review.........

Treadmills (or at least one that you can actually RUN on) cost well over $2K while descent ellipticals can definitely be had for under $1K......(possibly $500).


I thought for sure I was gonna go for the Ironman treadmill at Wal Mart since my local Costco's in treadmill limbo right now, but even though the $600 pricetag looks attractive, it's basically a $600 treadmill. Great frame, questionable buttons, 1.75CHP motor (no bueno for long-term running).

 

[JimmyEatWorld]

I go for the elliptical. After watching my dad stop working out because his knees are shot from running, I decided that it will be better to look funny on the elliptical, and still have my knees to work out on when I'm older. On the elliptical, I like to use the hill programs, particularly this one called "Kilimanjaro" where the resistance steadily rises, and then steadily falls.

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: hans007
i tend to like the elliptical better just because it is lower impact on your knees.

plus the treadmill i think is a pretty stupid machine. why not just go running? i always feel like the treadmill is dragging me along whereas with an elliptical at least you set the pace so you dont get that feeling.

Because the treadmill is lower impact on your knees than running outside too? I hate the elliptical for the same reason you hate the treadmill. That and it's just boring...I can't get on it for more than 5 minutes before wanting to just quit.

I guess for me, the reason i say the whole knee argument is that. running outside is a much better workout than an elliptical or a tread mill in a gym so it might be worth the knee strain. i guess i just dont like the tread mill in general because of the whole dragging thing and that its still tough on your knees.

 

[jtvang125]

Originally posted by: hans007

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: hans007
i tend to like the elliptical better just because it is lower impact on your knees.

plus the treadmill i think is a pretty stupid machine. why not just go running? i always feel like the treadmill is dragging me along whereas with an elliptical at least you set the pace so you dont get that feeling.

Because the treadmill is lower impact on your knees than running outside too? I hate the elliptical for the same reason you hate the treadmill. That and it's just boring...I can't get on it for more than 5 minutes before wanting to just quit.

I guess for me, the reason i say the whole knee argument is that. running outside is a much better workout than an elliptical or a tread mill in a gym so it might be worth the knee strain. i guess i just dont like the tread mill in general because of the whole dragging thing and that its still tough on your knees.

As for running outside or on a treadmill each as its advantages and disadvantages. There's more impact on your joints from running outside but gives a slightly better workout due to fighting wind resistance. On a treadmill there's no wind resistance to work against but the lower impact can help you run longer than running outside.

I just bought a treadmill and what I do is set it facing my computer monitor. I have a fairly large monitor (24" WS) so I can still see it from a good distance. I just put on a movie and start running and before I know it I've jogged/walked for about 2 hours.

 

[TheKub]

For those that feel "better" after X amount of time on a treadmill, there is a resistance setting on them (though the more $$$ it is the better the resistance)

On a light incline on a treadmill you are concentrating on your lower body and after 20 minuets I would assume that you would feel more because it was concentrated.

On an elliptical you have your entire body to do the work. So, on an equivalent resistance setting you wouldn?t get the same fatigue feeling which you may attribute to being "good".

Be it I prefer high resistance to quick movements so if I want to use the treadmill I jack it to the highest encline and powerwalk/jog. With the elliptical I have the resistance set high (usually with some kind of hill sim). Frankly, sprinting on either makes me feel unsafe.

 

[azazyel]

I like my elliptical as I've always had bad knees and weak ankles. Since using it they've actually gotten stronger.