Why don't Aerobics burn as much as the elliptical?

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  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,501 Member
    Jillian Michaels was in Toronto the other day, promoting her new workout for Goodlife Fitness. I listened to her being interviewed on a radio station while going in to work, and she said that the elliptical was a joke. She said that it was useless and you may as well do no exercise. I've never used one, so I have no clue. The guy interviewing her said he had just bought one, and she said to take it back as it was a huge waste of money.

    This is ludicrous.
  • AlysonG2
    AlysonG2 Posts: 713 Member
    Jillian Michaels was in Toronto the other day, promoting her new workout for Goodlife Fitness. I listened to her being interviewed on a radio station while going in to work, and she said that the elliptical was a joke. She said that it was useless and you may as well do no exercise. I've never used one, so I have no clue. The guy interviewing her said he had just bought one, and she said to take it back as it was a huge waste of money.

    I'm gonna have to disagree with this as I lost over 50 pounds a few years ago with just the elliptical + a very small calorie deficit. I do think the calorie burn that MFP gives is way too much, though.
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,994 Member
    In my experience both machines and MFP grossly overestimate elliptical workouts. My typical workout is 65 minutes on the elliptical, targetting a heart rate of 140-150. I need to sprint intermittently to keep my heart rate in the desired zone and use a resistance of 18 out of a maximum setting of 25.

    My HRM says I burn around 500 calories, the machine says around 750 and MFP says 926.

    The MFP number for walking seems reasonable. A dietician once told me that 300 calories an hour is a reasonable estimate, give or take a bit for speed and weight.
  • Chickaboo2014
    Chickaboo2014 Posts: 136 Member
    I agree that MFP overestimates elliptical calories. I aim for 1,000 calories on the elliptical at the gym. According to MFP, that takes me 61mins. According to the machine, it takes me about 80mins going at about level 14 resistance. I use the number I get from the machine and then tell MFP I have only done elliptical for 61mins.

    I hope this helps.

    You can change the value of calories burned that MFP suggests. Then you can log your true time spent exercising and have an accurate value for calories burned. Don't cheat yourself.
  • Chickaboo2014
    Chickaboo2014 Posts: 136 Member
    Jillian Michaels was in Toronto the other day, promoting her new workout for Goodlife Fitness. I listened to her being interviewed on a radio station while going in to work, and she said that the elliptical was a joke. She said that it was useless and you may as well do no exercise. I've never used one, so I have no clue. The guy interviewing her said he had just bought one, and she said to take it back as it was a huge waste of money.

    What a ridiculous bunch of crap!!!!!!!!!
    Jillian just wants to promote her way of exercising! I have a Nordic Track cx1000 elliptical and have had great success with losing weight and toning muscles. You have to use the machine correctly, do intervals and push hard to see results; but it works!
    She is clearly promoting her exercise equipment, videos, etc. <grumbling extremely loud>
  • shor0814
    shor0814 Posts: 559 Member
    Jillian Michaels was in Toronto the other day, promoting her new workout for Goodlife Fitness. I listened to her being interviewed on a radio station while going in to work, and she said that the elliptical was a joke. She said that it was useless and you may as well do no exercise. I've never used one, so I have no clue. The guy interviewing her said he had just bought one, and she said to take it back as it was a huge waste of money.

    From her website:
    The Skinny on Elliptical Machines

    When you're looking for a break from your usual treadmill routine, you might want to try an elliptical machine. They have some nice features: Most of them have a lot of variables built in, as well as movable handles you can use to work your upper body. Elliptical machines are especially good for people with knee problems, who find the workout to be a great cardio alternative to running because it's much easier on the joints.

    Some elliptical trainers have adjustable ramps, which allow you to target different leg muscles by varying the incline. If the ramp is inclined and you're pedaling forward, you're working the muscles on the backs of your legs: the hamstrings, glutes, and calves. If the ramp is at a lower incline and you pedal backward, you're training the muscles in front: the quads and dorsiflexors.

    The one thing that makes me wary about elliptical trainers is that it's fairly easy to phone in your workout — especially if you hold on to the static handles. The only handles you should be holding on to are the movable ones that get your arms and heart rate pumping. It's really important that you keep your intensity high. And don't trust the machine to tell you how many calories you're burning — those electronic readouts are not the most reliable. Instead, monitor your heart rate and keep it at 85 percent of its maximum (to calculate maximum heart rate, subtract your age from 220). Increase the resistance so that gravity isn't doing all the work for you. Remember, your time is precious and your workout is for you alone — don't cheat yourself!

    http://www.jillianmichaels.com/fit/lose-weight/using-elliptical-machines

    I agree with the last part about phoning in the workout. You have to increase the intensity/incline and really work the arms as well. Maybe that was the context?

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