????? elliptical calories vs. treadmill calories

cosmonew

So to me the elliptial is easy. It has an incline and I usually do level 6,7, or 8 as well as a comparable resistance.
When I "run" I cannot possibly go faster than a 10:30 pace for to long.

The calorie burn when i imput my weight and age shows a similar result for treadmill and elliptical. HOWEVER I really feel the treadmill is harder for me. I work harder, sweat harder, want to quit more.... so I tend to choose the treadmill.

????? am I suffering needlessly, should I be using the easier elliptical or do you think I am right in thinking that the more difficult burn is more of a burn true reflection of calories... YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE

katiehrgovic

Op, just a bit of advice, try and keep in mind that the "Calories Burned" counter on most cardio machines are notoriously incorrect. Even with putting in your weight/height/age/sex whatever, it is not calibrated to your body. You can expect they burn roughly 10% less than you'd expect after inputting your stats (still, I'm pulling this 10% out of thin air :P). Just know, they are often vastly off, and you shouldn't pay much attention to them, other than to have a very general idea of how many calories you are burning.

Now, there is no difference in an "Elliptical calorie" vs. a "Treadmill calorie".

Elliptical machines can be easier on a person's knees which might make it seem like the easier cardio to perform. Do cardio that challenges you. Try HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). With HIIT, you're usually doing sprints mixed with a period of "rest". (google it, lots of info out there)

In conclusion, if you feel you are "suffering" whilst running, then simply DON'T DO IT. Do what you enjoy, maybe try the rowing machine, or even the stairmaster / stairmill if your gym has one. But make sure you keep in interesting and challenge yourself!

cosmonew

Thank you

StangMan12

I have a Recumbent stationary bike and a Treadmill, both have calorie counters. I was surprised at first that my numbers on the treadmill was around twice as much as the bike but it does make sense. Sitting on the bike, legs are the main working muscle group where the treadmill basically has to use every muscle group plus my full body weight adding more to the workout which and burns a lot more calories.

I agree though that it's hard to trust calorie counters but mine seem to be fairly accurate IMO. You might do some Google searching to find comparison calorie counts for your type of machine.

WakkoW

I saw a report a couple of months ago about the accuracy of machine calorie counts. If I remember correctly, most overestimate, but elliptical machines overestimated by up to 40%. Thread mills are better, but still overestimate by 10 or 12%.

I don't rely on the machine calorie counts too much. I always enter in a weight that is about 20 pounds less than I weigh though and use it as a rough guide. For the elliptical, I reduce my entered weight and take off a couple hundred calories.

blackermagic

Running burns the most calories of any exercise. Interval training is great as mentioned by poster above. I can't speak of the accuracy question, but just enter the amount of time you ran or elliptical'ed into MPF.

If its harder to run for you, then it probably is doing more for you. Some pain is good...but just don't get injured.

cosmonew

I keep choosing the treadmill because it is harder, and I can do it, so why not do it.... I really do think it is either more accurate in calorie count or burning more calories than the treadmill FOR ME! Perhaps its the way I do it, as I am holding onto the handles of the elliptical but will not hold on on the treadmill.
I started doing a routine today which includes intervals (sucked) and small hills (yesterday) nice change to the workout to keep the body quessing and allow me to get to my goal which is 10 minute mile for 6 miles.
I figure if it works, don't change it.... change it if it doesn't work.
Thank you for the varied ideas and insight to my question. All valid and good points.

Bluetoast

I had a simiar question. I may do 30 minutes on the eliptical on level 3 and it reports that I burned about 100 calories. But the tracker may say that I burned 250 or more. (can't recall exact number at the moment)

It seems to me that the MFP is vastly overestimating calories burned.

What do you think? What would you estimate with such a vast diveristy of estimate?

In a way, it doesn't matter b/c I never "use' the extra calories that I burn to eat more - but I may want to in the near future. ;-)

Thank you!!

rml_16

The elliptical feels easier because of the lack of impact vs. the treadmill. But you are running the entire time on the elliptical.

BlueBombers

Why don't you use BOTH, one day use the elliptical, one day use the treadmill? You really shouldn't be doing the same cardio every day, you should be switching it up to keep your body guessing.

cnf2013

If you really want an accurate calorie burn I'd suggest investing in a heart rate monitor. You can pick one up for pretty inexpensive. That will solve this full dilemma.

arabianhorselover

Studies have shown that a person burns more calories on a treadmill than they do on an elliptical.

Jewlz280

If you really want an accurate calorie burn I'd suggest investing in a heart rate monitor. You can pick one up for pretty inexpensive. That will solve this full dilemma.

Yup. This. If you really want to see what the difference is, the more accurate way to go would be to get an HRM. Even those could be off, but will be vastly more accurate than the machine counters themselves. Then you could try all different mixes of things to see what you like best and what your average burn is.

rml_16

Studies have shown that a person burns more calories on a treadmill than they do on an elliptical.

What studies?

And you cannot possibly make a blanket statement like that since intensity and speed play huge roles in calorie burn. Someone who goes faster at a higher intensity or incline on the treadmill of course will burn more than on an elliptical and vice versa. But if you're faster and more intense on the elliptical (which is less impact and therefore easier to do that on), you'll burn more on the elliptical.

kinmad4it

Both burn calories! One a it more than the other but is that the defining reason to choose one over the other?

Pick the one you like the most and can see yourself not getting bored and quitting.

As much as this is about exercise and getting fit, if it feels like a chore you're more likely to give up.

amymt10

Get a heart rate monitor. I use one and its amazing how different the calories burned are on my monitor vs the treadmill & ellipitical.
For me the elipitical is harder....i prefer the treadmill. But I do both anyways. I add in the stationary bike sometimes too.

Bluetoast

Can anyone recommend heart monitors? I don't know where to start..... Thank you.

mreeves261

.... my goal which is 10 minute mile for 6 miles.

I don't know if you plan on running a race or anything like that. I would just like to say a 10 minute mile for 6 miles on the treadmill will likely not translate to the same speed/distance outside.

julie_emma1

I don't know the exact difference in calorie burn, but I do know that I spent months and months running on the elliptical machine and my weight plateaued around 135 pounds (from 155). I started running on the treadmill in the winter and outside on the sidewalk in the summer (for the same duration as I used to use the elliptical), and lost those last 10 lbs that I wanted to. So it seems like running on the treadmill is more effective for me at least

dpdsouza

Being someone who tends to quit easily , I would prefer doing something that makes me NOT want to quit over something that produces better results but may push me to quit.

I only exercise on my home elliptical. No time for the gym, nor for the treadmill. Hate the treadmill anyway so my point is only from my elliptical experience.

On a workday I usually do not do more than 30 min but I used to take it to 60 min on weekdays. Once I felt comfortable with a level I would go up to the next. went up to level 4 but never beyond that. I used to love the euphoria of having earned "bonus" calorie burn(My machine has a simple calculator that doesnt factor in body weight so for 30 min it shows 150 cal and for 60 min it shows ~330). Problem was that it would stress my body out and increase the aches or just add to my feeling of uneasiness. After two days of doing 60 min the stress would ensure that I avoided doing it on Monday, and then maybe Tuesday too.

So for the past two months I have stuck to two rules:
1) Never more than 30 min on any day
2) Never increase the level.

And I am happy to say that I have been able to stay on the wagon much better now than I used to before. The loss of 60 min on weekends is compensated by not missing on the weekdays.

rml_16

Can anyone recommend heart monitors? I don't know where to start..... Thank you.

Go with the Polar brand. Which one you get depends on what bells and whistles you want and how much you want to spend.

AdrianBry

you have to be honest with yourself. in your case the treadmill is kicking your butt more so I'd stick with that. I mostly never look at the estimated calorie outputs. If a workout is beating the hell out of you then it's your best bet to stick with that workout and NOT the one you can easily breeze thru NO MATTER what the calorie estimator is telling you

paulperryman

Mix it up either way, the body will get use to the same thing over and over again and make it harder to get the same results, as for registered burns, they can be exactly the same between Treadmill and Orbital, it's about how much you keep your heart rate in a certain zone for the same amount of time, it's irrelevant what machine or what activity you are doing. obviously some activities naturally increase the heart rate and movement of more body parts at one time = a higher burn.

Cross Trainer works more muscles at once then a treadmill unless you are jogging on the treadmill ofcourse. Something i noticed tho i was bopping along to the music (usually metal or Electronica) while i was on the treadmill and when i started doing drumming with my hand/arms my heart rate went up considerably compared to just holding the bar and walking faster or walking and swinging arms naturally.

for me to start with Elliptical which we call a Cross Trainer was burning exactly the same as the treadmill about 20cals a min i ignore the machines cause they don't go by weight, height and age which all determine your natural burn, our Ellipticals and Treadmills at my gym do ask for weight and using that it registers about 10% higher then my Polar reports so i ignore that, if i set it 1Kg lower then my actual weight it registers about right.

get a Polar FT60 or the like and get a real answer, sure it may still be inaccurate but it's alot more accurate then a machine that is guessing or possibly registering someone else in the vacinity which they will do especially in a compact area like an average gym with maybe dozens of the same machine in a small space.

as for me i burn 10 calories a minute on average over the course of a 60min gym sessions, more in the mornings. On the bike and cross trainer it's more like 15-20 but i find with those 2 it's alot easier to keep the heart rate up for alot longer, on the treadmill i can't get the same results i use to so i just use that as a cooldown plus my feet and shins ache walking too much.

rml_16

you have to be honest with yourself. in your case the treadmill is kicking your butt more so I'd stick with that. I mostly never look at the estimated calorie outputs. If a workout is beating the hell out of you then it's your best bet to stick with that workout and NOT the one you can easily breeze thru NO MATTER what the calorie estimator is telling you

You're ignoring the reason the elliptical seems easier. It isn't because it's a lesser workout (assuming she's pushing herself as hard as she can). It's because it's low impact.

Montarosa456

Can anyone recommend heart monitors? I don't know where to start..... Thank you.

Go with the Polar brand. Which one you get depends on what bells and whistles you want and how much you want to spend.

The Polar Brand seems very popular - I see many people using the FT40/60

Personally I use a fitness application to track my calories burnt and normally work on 100 calories for 10 minutes if I'm running a 10 minute or below mile - The treadmill ALWAYS gives me around 60 calories more burnt than other methods and I know by my heart rate/general fitness If I've worked 'hard'...I think it's hard to sometimes be honest with ourselves but if you hop off a machine and think 'I feel fine, I could just keep on goooooing' then don't rate it has a 'hard/intense' workout..

As mentioned the body does get used to the same thing so to shake up results try something different...Add a incline..Add some HIIT or longer slower training sessions.

But whatever you do..and regardless of the calories..ENJOY IT

hteejay

Heart Rate monitor great one is polar.. fitbit is okay.. but nike is not as bad but polar has giving me best readings and can get at Sports Authority....
As far as this question.. everyone is different. Alot of things depend, how fast you go a treadmil vs level output you use on elliptical. I can run 10 minute mile and burn in 30 mins 480 cals while elliptical in same 30 mins i can burn 678 cals.. Thats with heart rate monitor so its most accurate reading with no machine .. Granted i feel like i did more on treadmil, so again, it just depends on your body and what you feel is best for yourself!