Best cardio/weight loss machines at the gym
jamestaggart81
Posts: 1 Member
Hello all,
I have just started going to the gym (for the first time ever) and I have no idea what machines I should be using to lose my unwanted love handles.
I have been starting with a 20min run, then a 20min row and then a 20min cycle.
Is it good to mix them up, or stay on one for longer periods?
Any help for a gym newbie would be great!
I have just started going to the gym (for the first time ever) and I have no idea what machines I should be using to lose my unwanted love handles.
I have been starting with a 20min run, then a 20min row and then a 20min cycle.
Is it good to mix them up, or stay on one for longer periods?
Any help for a gym newbie would be great!
0
Replies
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There are no machines or exercise that will reduce fat in specific spots.
If you want to lose weight, eat less calories than what you burn. This means either eating less and not moving at all, or also upping exercise to increase what you burn.
Exercise is for fitness and health. If you have goals related to endurance and cardio capacity, you need to focus on cardio. If you have goals related to building muscle or increasing strength, you need some sort of resistance training, dependign on what exactly you want to do. For overall health, ideally you need a combination of both.
Plus, what you like and find sustainable matters, so start from there. To be honest, for me, the basic problem with your routine that I could never get past, is that I would personally find it incredibly boring to commit to it even for one week, but this is where personal preferences come into the picture.0 -
The best one is the one you enjoy using. You are far more likely to be consistent with your workouts if you enjoy them.
Weight loss is a result of calorie deficit; exercise can help get you there but is more for health.0 -
Ofc auddii is correct in that its the one you will use consistently.
There is also the point that the amount of calories you burn will depend on the intensity and duration of your exercise. Whilst what you consume is your port of first call for weight loss and you need to sort that out first then doing consistent exercise will help with that deficit, depending on how much you burn. The exercise and fitness can contribute by giving you greater endurance amd raising your metabolism temporarily. Some people it makes hungrier others it doesnt affect. Its easier not to consume than it is to exercise the equivalent, but if you do a lot of exerccise then you cna burn a useful amount of calories. Music is a boon.
If you cna manage your routine then its fine for variety. You should also do some resistance training, maybe on alternate days because it is complementary and has different benefits.0 -
Yea what they said, getting a good heart rate monitor worked for me. I choose a polar because it links up to most gym equipment so I can do a cardio work out and not have to hold the handles. Here are the guidelines that I use. I'm up to 240 to 300 mins a week of vigorous cardio.
http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html0 -
These guys are making it way to difficult, jump on the machine you enjoy the most, for me it is the cross trainer, set it to the levels that allow you to get an intense workout in, whatever that is for YOU, then go for it girl! If you enjoy switching up, then do it. You will loose weight much faster by the longer and harder your cardio workouts are! I gibe about 45 min to my cross trainer, while on it I switch it up I use weights, I change my resistance to work different muscles, ect. Then I gibe about 30 min to weight training, while you don't burn as many calories, you can do some more work on focused areas like your love handles, toning those areas and making them look good! Jump on aachine, rock your workouts, eat healthy and you'll see lbs drop and you'll be happy!0
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do whatever you like... its all cake baby! just sweat and thats the good one for you.... i like the stepper and the elliptical...0
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superflyrun wrote: »These guys are making it way to difficult, jump on the machine you enjoy the most, for me it is the cross trainer, set it to the levels that allow you to get an intense workout in, whatever that is for YOU, then go for it girl! If you enjoy switching up, then do it. You will loose weight much faster by the longer and harder your cardio workouts are! I gibe about 45 min to my cross trainer, while on it I switch it up I use weights, I change my resistance to work different muscles, ect. Then I gibe about 30 min to weight training, while you don't burn as many calories, you can do some more work on focused areas like your love handles, toning those areas and making them look good! Jump on aachine, rock your workouts, eat healthy and you'll see lbs drop and you'll be happy!
And that was simpler?
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superflyrun wrote: »These guys are making it way to difficult, jump on the machine you enjoy the most, for me it is the cross trainer, set it to the levels that allow you to get an intense workout in, whatever that is for YOU, then go for it girl! If you enjoy switching up, then do it. You will loose weight much faster by the longer and harder your cardio workouts are! I gibe about 45 min to my cross trainer, while on it I switch it up I use weights, I change my resistance to work different muscles, ect. Then I gibe about 30 min to weight training, while you don't burn as many calories, you can do some more work on focused areas like your love handles, toning those areas and making them look good! Jump on aachine, rock your workouts, eat healthy and you'll see lbs drop and you'll be happy!
And that was simpler?
Stating the same thing we said but in a longer paragraph is much simpler. Duh.0 -
superflyrun wrote: »These guys are making it way to difficult, jump on the machine you enjoy the most, for me it is the cross trainer, set it to the levels that allow you to get an intense workout in, whatever that is for YOU, then go for it girl! If you enjoy switching up, then do it. You will loose weight much faster by the longer and harder your cardio workouts are! I gibe about 45 min to my cross trainer, while on it I switch it up I use weights, I change my resistance to work different muscles, ect. Then I gibe about 30 min to weight training, while you don't burn as many calories, you can do some more work on focused areas like your love handles, toning those areas and making them look good! Jump on aachine, rock your workouts, eat healthy and you'll see lbs drop and you'll be happy!
How many different ways can I say that this is all wrong?
Exercise doesn't make you lose weight.
You cannot spot tone and lose fat in specific locations.
Just for starters.0 -
You can't spot reduce, so you need to go for overall fat reduction. Which is accomplished with a calorie deficit. So the bottom line is: whichever machine you like using the best, as type of exercise burns calories and helps contribute to your calorie deficit.0
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You will burn a decent number of calories doing all three exercises you describe and if all you want to do is lose a few pounds it probably doesn't matter which of these you choose. If what you really want is to look leaner, though, not just weigh less, a lot of people on MFP will tell you to consider incorporating strength training from the get go. I prefer running and other cardio to strength training, but I'm forcing myself to do it for this very reason.
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jamestaggart81 wrote: »Hello all,
I have just started going to the gym (for the first time ever) and I have no idea what machines I should be using to lose my unwanted love handles.
I have been starting with a 20min run, then a 20min row and then a 20min cycle.
Is it good to mix them up, or stay on one for longer periods?
Any help for a gym newbie would be great!
A good work out is one you enjoy doing.
Unfortunately there is no way to spot reduce fat. Your body chooses where you will lose it. Being in a calorie deficit will help you lose the weight.
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I think rowing's the real burner of all of them. But you should do all three to mix it up and avoid repetitive strain.0
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chivalryder wrote: »superflyrun wrote: »These guys are making it way to difficult, jump on the machine you enjoy the most, for me it is the cross trainer, set it to the levels that allow you to get an intense workout in, whatever that is for YOU, then go for it girl! If you enjoy switching up, then do it. You will loose weight much faster by the longer and harder your cardio workouts are! I gibe about 45 min to my cross trainer, while on it I switch it up I use weights, I change my resistance to work different muscles, ect. Then I gibe about 30 min to weight training, while you don't burn as many calories, you can do some more work on focused areas like your love handles, toning those areas and making them look good! Jump on aachine, rock your workouts, eat healthy and you'll see lbs drop and you'll be happy!
How many different ways can I say that this is all wrong?
Exercise doesn't make you lose weight.
You cannot spot tone and lose fat in specific locations.
Just for starters.
It isn't wrong for some people. Cardio can help regulate appetite in some people and it does give a margin of error for food. And increasing resistance does call on muscle work.0 -
chivalryder wrote: »superflyrun wrote: »These guys are making it way to difficult, jump on the machine you enjoy the most, for me it is the cross trainer, set it to the levels that allow you to get an intense workout in, whatever that is for YOU, then go for it girl! If you enjoy switching up, then do it. You will loose weight much faster by the longer and harder your cardio workouts are! I gibe about 45 min to my cross trainer, while on it I switch it up I use weights, I change my resistance to work different muscles, ect. Then I gibe about 30 min to weight training, while you don't burn as many calories, you can do some more work on focused areas like your love handles, toning those areas and making them look good! Jump on aachine, rock your workouts, eat healthy and you'll see lbs drop and you'll be happy!
How many different ways can I say that this is all wrong?
Exercise doesn't make you lose weight.
You cannot spot tone and lose fat in specific locations.
Just for starters.
It isn't wrong for some people. Cardio can help regulate appetite in some people and it does give a margin of error for food. And increasing resistance does call on muscle work.
I think you're both right. It isn't necessary, but it can help a lot of people. I do tons of cardio because I like to eat lots of food (and time in the gym before dinner is time I'm not at home in the kitchen snacking).0 -
superflyrun wrote: »These guys are making it way to difficult, jump on the machine you enjoy the most, for me it is the cross trainer, set it to the levels that allow you to get an intense workout in, whatever that is for YOU, then go for it girl! If you enjoy switching up, then do it. You will loose weight much faster by the longer and harder your cardio workouts are! I gibe about 45 min to my cross trainer, while on it I switch it up I use weights, I change my resistance to work different muscles, ect. Then I gibe about 30 min to weight training, while you don't burn as many calories, you can do some more work on focused areas like your love handles, toning those areas and making them look good! Jump on aachine, rock your workouts, eat healthy and you'll see lbs drop and you'll be happy!
And that was simpler?
Stating the same thing we said but in a longer paragraph is much simpler. Duh.
Not quite the same - that poster is also talking about spot-reduction.
So, just a big fat "NO" on that one. Big fat "YES" to the previous others.0 -
Your favorite. Mixing up might increase your total burn, though, by cutting muscle fatigue.jamestaggart81 wrote: »Hello all,
I have just started going to the gym (for the first time ever) and I have no idea what machines I should be using to lose my unwanted love handles.
I have been starting with a 20min run, then a 20min row and then a 20min cycle.
Is it good to mix them up, or stay on one for longer periods?
Any help for a gym newbie would be great!
0 -
Exercise is for fitness and health. It helps to create a calorie deficit, but weight loss depends on CICO. Exercise will help to condition, retain lbm, improve fitness, etc. based on the type of training you do, but without a calorie deficit, fat loss isn't going to improve much. Ask any NFL lineman.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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what machine you use is pretty much irrelevant to losing weight. personally, I look at fitness for the sake of fitness...but if all you're interested in is burning calories than know that calorie burn is a bi-product of moving mass a certain distance and the intensity at which that is done...it really has nothing to do with what machine you choose to do that with.
Just my $.02 but establishing some fitness goals that are independent of burning calories or losing weight or whatever will open up a whole new world to you...acknowledging fitness for the sake of fitness will open up a whole other world.0 -
chivalryder wrote: »superflyrun wrote: »These guys are making it way to difficult, jump on the machine you enjoy the most, for me it is the cross trainer, set it to the levels that allow you to get an intense workout in, whatever that is for YOU, then go for it girl! If you enjoy switching up, then do it. You will loose weight much faster by the longer and harder your cardio workouts are! I gibe about 45 min to my cross trainer, while on it I switch it up I use weights, I change my resistance to work different muscles, ect. Then I gibe about 30 min to weight training, while you don't burn as many calories, you can do some more work on focused areas like your love handles, toning those areas and making them look good! Jump on aachine, rock your workouts, eat healthy and you'll see lbs drop and you'll be happy!
How many different ways can I say that this is all wrong?
Exercise doesn't make you lose weight.
You cannot spot tone and lose fat in specific locations.
Just for starters.
It isn't wrong for some people. Cardio can help regulate appetite in some people and it does give a margin of error for food. And increasing resistance does call on muscle work.
Where did she say anything about regulating appetite, allowing a margin of error for food and anything about muscle work?0 -
If you are talking about one machine being better than another (for calorie burns) then its really more dependant on the user rather than the machine. Im also ignoring the truism of use the one you like etc.
In terms of the cardio then the rower will also give you a full body workout, but if you dont put the effort in, then you could burn more calories using any of the other machines. I see many people just going through the motions and spending more time surfing the net or just wandering around so an hours exercise isnt really an hours actual exercise more an hour they just happened to be in the gym.
Im also ignoring the exercise is for health, cardio v weights v kitchen etc etc zzzzzz arguments.0 -
If you are talking about one machine being better than another (for calorie burns) then its really more dependant on the user rather than the machine. Im also ignoring the truism of use the one you like etc.
In terms of the cardio then the rower will also give you a full body workout, but if you dont put the effort in, then you could burn more calories using any of the other machines. I see many people just going through the motions and spending more time surfing the net or just wandering around so an hours exercise isnt really an hours actual exercise more an hour they just happened to be in the gym.
Im also ignoring the exercise is for health, cardio v weights v kitchen etc etc zzzzzz arguments.
Agree with all this. And after doing actual rowing, very few people use a rower correctly. If you do want to use a rower, search for videos online how to use it properly. The best videos refer to the rower by correct name (ergometer) and are coaches of racing teams or rowing clubs.0 -
chivalryder wrote: »chivalryder wrote: »superflyrun wrote: »These guys are making it way to difficult, jump on the machine you enjoy the most, for me it is the cross trainer, set it to the levels that allow you to get an intense workout in, whatever that is for YOU, then go for it girl! If you enjoy switching up, then do it. You will loose weight much faster by the longer and harder your cardio workouts are! I gibe about 45 min to my cross trainer, while on it I switch it up I use weights, I change my resistance to work different muscles, ect. Then I gibe about 30 min to weight training, while you don't burn as many calories, you can do some more work on focused areas like your love handles, toning those areas and making them look good! Jump on aachine, rock your workouts, eat healthy and you'll see lbs drop and you'll be happy!
How many different ways can I say that this is all wrong?
Exercise doesn't make you lose weight.
You cannot spot tone and lose fat in specific locations.
Just for starters.
It isn't wrong for some people. Cardio can help regulate appetite in some people and it does give a margin of error for food. And increasing resistance does call on muscle work.
Where did she say anything about regulating appetite, allowing a margin of error for food and anything about muscle work?
She didn't have to for any of that to be true0 -
IN general it's great for compliance for a lot of people. Not necessary, no, but really, really helpful. And it's good for other reasons too. No need to pi$$ on anyone who suggests cardio can help, come on0
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chivalryder wrote: »chivalryder wrote: »superflyrun wrote: »These guys are making it way to difficult, jump on the machine you enjoy the most, for me it is the cross trainer, set it to the levels that allow you to get an intense workout in, whatever that is for YOU, then go for it girl! If you enjoy switching up, then do it. You will loose weight much faster by the longer and harder your cardio workouts are! I gibe about 45 min to my cross trainer, while on it I switch it up I use weights, I change my resistance to work different muscles, ect. Then I gibe about 30 min to weight training, while you don't burn as many calories, you can do some more work on focused areas like your love handles, toning those areas and making them look good! Jump on aachine, rock your workouts, eat healthy and you'll see lbs drop and you'll be happy!
How many different ways can I say that this is all wrong?
Exercise doesn't make you lose weight.
You cannot spot tone and lose fat in specific locations.
Just for starters.
It isn't wrong for some people. Cardio can help regulate appetite in some people and it does give a margin of error for food. And increasing resistance does call on muscle work.
Where did she say anything about regulating appetite, allowing a margin of error for food and anything about muscle work?
She didn't have to for any of that to be true
You were defending what she wrote, but you didn't write anything relevant to what she or I wrote.
What was the point?0 -
IN general it's great for compliance for a lot of people. Not necessary, no, but really, really helpful. And it's good for other reasons too. No need to pi$$ on anyone who suggests cardio can help, come on
Who ever said that cardio doesn't help for numerous different health related things?
What was stated was that exercise doesn't make you "lose weight much faster" which, frankly, shouldn't really be anyones goal. That could be left for another discussion.
It was also stated that spot reduction doesn't happen.
So, again, whats your point?0 -
chivalryder wrote: »IN general it's great for compliance for a lot of people. Not necessary, no, but really, really helpful. And it's good for other reasons too. No need to pi$$ on anyone who suggests cardio can help, come on
Who ever said that cardio doesn't help for numerous different health related things?
What was stated was that exercise doesn't make you "lose weight much faster" which, frankly, shouldn't really be anyones goal. That could be left for another discussion.
It was also stated that spot reduction doesn't happen.
So, again, whats your point?
My point is that it can help people lose weight faster, if it helps people stick to a larger deficit than they would otherwise. And it does contribute to that deficit. Some people need to have cardio in there to make any headway.0 -
chivalryder wrote: »chivalryder wrote: »chivalryder wrote: »superflyrun wrote: »These guys are making it way to difficult, jump on the machine you enjoy the most, for me it is the cross trainer, set it to the levels that allow you to get an intense workout in, whatever that is for YOU, then go for it girl! If you enjoy switching up, then do it. You will loose weight much faster by the longer and harder your cardio workouts are! I gibe about 45 min to my cross trainer, while on it I switch it up I use weights, I change my resistance to work different muscles, ect. Then I gibe about 30 min to weight training, while you don't burn as many calories, you can do some more work on focused areas like your love handles, toning those areas and making them look good! Jump on aachine, rock your workouts, eat healthy and you'll see lbs drop and you'll be happy!
How many different ways can I say that this is all wrong?
Exercise doesn't make you lose weight.
You cannot spot tone and lose fat in specific locations.
Just for starters.
It isn't wrong for some people. Cardio can help regulate appetite in some people and it does give a margin of error for food. And increasing resistance does call on muscle work.
Where did she say anything about regulating appetite, allowing a margin of error for food and anything about muscle work?
She didn't have to for any of that to be true
You were defending what she wrote, but you didn't write anything relevant to what she or I wrote.
What was the point?
What I wrote was absolutely relevant to those people who do benefit from cardio for weight loss. And that's about as much time as I'm giving to this discussion.0 -
Since the keys have pretty much been covered here (re: spot reducing, calorie deficit, do what you enjoy), I just want to make note of this.superflyrun wrote: »You will loose weight much faster by the longer and harder your cardio workouts are!
Please do not use that statement as a guideline. Your workouts do not need to be as long and hard as possible to see a benefit and your workouts do not need to (and should not) require that you push yourself to your max every time. It's important that you mix up your intensity throughout your exercise days to allow for muscle repair, to avoid a plateau, and avoid fatigue. If you're interested, do some research on cardio interval training. This is a great way to get a good calorie burn during and after your workout, in a shorter amount of time.
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chivalryder wrote: »IN general it's great for compliance for a lot of people. Not necessary, no, but really, really helpful. And it's good for other reasons too. No need to pi$$ on anyone who suggests cardio can help, come on
Who ever said that cardio doesn't help for numerous different health related things?
What was stated was that exercise doesn't make you "lose weight much faster" which, frankly, shouldn't really be anyones goal. That could be left for another discussion.
It was also stated that spot reduction doesn't happen.
So, again, whats your point?
My point is that it can help people lose weight faster, if it helps people stick to a larger deficit than they would otherwise. And it does contribute to that deficit. Some people need to have cardio in there to make any headway.
So you're suggesting that people lose weight faster than what is already recommended to them?
The entire point of the MFP system is that you've already developed a calorie defecit to lose the appropriate amount of weight. Any greater deficit you develop from exercise should be eaten back.
If you're using TDEE, then exercise does not create a greater deficit at all.
Exercise should be seen as a recreational activity - something you do for fun (because if it's not fun, you won't do it for long) or to develop your fitness and physical health.
However, if you wanted to make your original point that you can use it to lose weight faster, you should have said that in the first place, instead of bouncing around from irrelevant point to irrelevant point.
Cardio is a great thing and everyone should do it regardless of age, gender, physical capacity, or whatever. However, you should already be eating the appropriate amount to lose weight at a healthy rate and if you add in exercise, you should be fueling yourself appropriately for the exercise - not to lose weight.
Oh, and you still can't spot reduce.0
This discussion has been closed.
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