Elliptical or Treadmill?

cscruggs1991
cscruggs1991 Posts: 5 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I'm looking to burn a bunch of calories every afternoon when I go to the gym. Currently I'm doing the elliptical for 30 minutes burning roughly 500 calories. I haven't tried the treadmill yet, not sure which one would be better. Any advice?
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Replies

  • kandell
    kandell Posts: 473 Member
    I prefer the elliptical because it's low-impact. You can burn just as hard as running on a treadmill, but your knees won't be paying the price in the long-run.
  • katharine1980
    katharine1980 Posts: 45 Member
    I prefer the elliptical because it's low-impact. You can burn just as hard as running on a treadmill, but your knees won't be paying the price in the long-run.

    I agree. Elliptical is better for your knees and back, and less weight bearing. You can burn just as much doing the elliptical, as you would the treadmill/
  • Apple31415
    Apple31415 Posts: 98 Member
    I do both, but i started out mainly treadmill. Went from walking to running on the thing and gradually increased my endurance. I found a whole new level of fitness when i switched to elliptical! I feel more in control of the effort i expend and actually go much harder on the elliptical. This all depends on your fitness goal, but mine is weightloss and i want to get the most "burn" for my time. I now use the treadmill if i'm pressed for time and i do interval training on that (2 minutes at just below my max followed by 2 minutes at a nice "jog" to recover and repeat the cycle for 30 minutes) but my go to is one hour "fat burn" program on the elliptical. I love it because i'm gassed at the end but feel strong throughout. I'm checking my fitness level against once a week road runs and i'm seeing steady improvement on those runs.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Better? Better for what? Just do whatever you enjoy and will stick to.

    PS - there is 0% chance that you burn 500 calories in 30 mins on the elliptical. I only mention this to warn you against possible overeating due to overestimated exercise calories.
  • Timelordlady85
    Timelordlady85 Posts: 797 Member
    I love my elliptical.
  • MrsHollingsworthThomas
    MrsHollingsworthThomas Posts: 164 Member
    I agree with the previous posts that I prefer the elliptical b/c it is low impact.
    I've also found that, for me, I get a better work out on the elliptical b/c I can push myself harder (I think BECAUSE it is low impact)
    If I use the treadmill, I would have to literally jog/run to burn the amount of calories I burn on elliptical; and I can't jog for 30 minutes straight, but I can go pretty hard on the elliptical for 30 minutes straight without 'hurting'.
  • Isabel_Fit93
    Isabel_Fit93 Posts: 50
    I find the elliptical is a lot easier, but the treadmill burns more calories. I guess that makes perfect sense though. The harder you work out, the more you're going to burn!
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    The barbell
  • JustSomeEm
    JustSomeEm Posts: 20,269 MFP Moderator
    I MUCH prefer the elliptical to the treadmill. Instead of using a treadmill, I usually head outside for a walk or run. I actively HATE using a treadmill and avoid it at all costs. But that's just personal preference. :)
  • cscruggs1991
    cscruggs1991 Posts: 5 Member
    Better? Better for what? Just do whatever you enjoy and will stick to.

    PS - there is 0% chance that you burn 500 calories in 30 mins on the elliptical. I only mention this to warn you against possible overeating due to overestimated exercise calories.


    I'm just going off what the elliptical is telling me I burn everytime. Not sure how accurate they are
  • Vicxie86
    Vicxie86 Posts: 181 Member
    I love my elliptical but i have never given the treadmill a chance because i just can't jog.

    I also want to say THERE IS NO WAY you are burning 500kcal in 30mins, beware of overeating! Buy a heart rate monitor for a more close accurate reading
  • dwoodmanjr
    dwoodmanjr Posts: 89 Member
    I do both, usually treadmill at lunch and elliptical for cardio after weight training. But my first choice is treadmill - my feet and arms tend to "fall asleep" on an elliptical (could mean I'm doing something wrong)

    I have burned over 500 cal on a treadmill in 30 mins (set the incline pretty high with a moderate speed), but haven't come close to that on an elliptical
  • MsMargie1116
    MsMargie1116 Posts: 323 Member
    I prefer the elliptical because it's low-impact. You can burn just as hard as running on a treadmill, but your knees won't be paying the price in the long-run.

    ^^^This!!!^^^
  • asdowe13
    asdowe13 Posts: 1,951 Member
    Better? Better for what? Just do whatever you enjoy and will stick to.

    PS - there is 0% chance that you burn 500 calories in 30 mins on the elliptical. I only mention this to warn you against possible overeating due to overestimated exercise calories.


    I'm just going off what the elliptical is telling me I burn everytime. Not sure how accurate they are
    Not very accurate. Probably 15% plus too high

    ETA : A heart rate monitor with a chest strap will give a more accurate reading.
  • JnK619
    JnK619 Posts: 320
    I do a combo for 30min. sometimes I'll start with 10-15 on elliptical then switch to finish 15-20 on treadmill or some similar combo
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Better? Better for what? Just do whatever you enjoy and will stick to.

    PS - there is 0% chance that you burn 500 calories in 30 mins on the elliptical. I only mention this to warn you against possible overeating due to overestimated exercise calories.


    I'm just going off what the elliptical is telling me I burn everytime. Not sure how accurate they are

    highly inaccurate.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Better? Better for what? Just do whatever you enjoy and will stick to.

    PS - there is 0% chance that you burn 500 calories in 30 mins on the elliptical. I only mention this to warn you against possible overeating due to overestimated exercise calories.


    I'm just going off what the elliptical is telling me I burn everytime. Not sure how accurate they are

    Machines (and MFP) use estimates. Calorie burn depends upon height, weight, age, gender, exertion level & more. If you plug a bunch of data into the machine the estimate gets a little better. Heart rate monitors (with a chest strap) are better for cardio because they compare your resting heart rate against your heart rate while working out. That number is the estimation for exertion level. Even a HRM is an estimate.
  • bornofthorns
    bornofthorns Posts: 143 Member
    I am an elliptical fan, and save running for outdoors.

    My main point is to make sure that you are entering all of the information (age/weight) correctly on the treadmill to get your burn. I think mine does pretty well. I am around 240 lbs and when I do 15-20 min (including cool down) of "Fat Burn" program, I am at right around 260-280. However, I guess if you were really going after it and the absolute highest resistance, you may get close, but 500 does seem a bit high.
  • MsMargie1116
    MsMargie1116 Posts: 323 Member
    I love my elliptical but i have never given the treadmill a chance because i just can't jog.

    I also want to say THERE IS NO WAY you are burning 500kcal in 30mins, beware of overeating! Buy a heart rate monitor for a more close accurate reading

    I think the amount of calories burned really depends on the intensity, your weight, the resistance, and how fast you're moving. I agree though, a good heart rate monitor would help... :)
  • jamiesadler
    jamiesadler Posts: 634 Member
    The elliptical is better for your core if you don't use the handles. If you do then it gives your arms a work out as well. I always go with the elliptical.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    If you run and use an incline on the treadmill, you can get a similar burn.

    Personally, I prefer the elliptical if I MUST exercise indoors.
  • BootCampC
    BootCampC Posts: 689 Member
    500 cal in 30 min? what level ? 20? running treadmill will burn more calories , unless you are really up in the levels of the elliptical where you are what I like to say running in mud
  • PinkyFett
    PinkyFett Posts: 842 Member
    I personally have always liked treadmill better.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I prefer the elliptical because it's low-impact. You can burn just as hard as running on a treadmill, but your knees won't be paying the price in the long-run.

    I agree. Elliptical is better for your knees and back, and less weight bearing. You can burn just as much doing the elliptical, as you would the treadmill/

    I disagree, unless the elliptical is designed for someone with your exact stride length in mind. The problem with elliptical is you have to adjust to it's plain of movement, with the treadmill you don't have to. For some the range/stride length can cause issues if it is not a "normal" movement for you. It is lower impact than treadmill, but I think the unnatural movement is worse for most than the treadmill.

    That and also don't use the elliptical for an estimate of cals burned, they all pretty much overestimate. If you want to compare cals burned vs. treadmill use an HRM.

    Another benefit to the treadmill is that it is directly transferable to the real world, walking, jogging, running, you will never use the elliptical motion in real life, and as such may increase endurance a bit, but will not translate nearly as well to the real world as the treadmill will.
  • cscruggs1991
    cscruggs1991 Posts: 5 Member
    I prefer the elliptical because it's low-impact. You can burn just as hard as running on a treadmill, but your knees won't be paying the price in the long-run.

    I agree. Elliptical is better for your knees and back, and less weight bearing. You can burn just as much doing the elliptical, as you would the treadmill/

    I disagree, unless the elliptical is designed for someone with your exact stride length in mind. The problem with elliptical is you have to adjust to it's plain of movement, with the treadmill you don't have to. For some the range/stride length can cause issues if it is not a "normal" movement for you. It is lower impact than treadmill, but I think the unnatural movement is worse for most than the treadmill.

    That and also don't use the elliptical for an estimate of cals burned, they all pretty much overestimate. If you want to compare cals burned vs. treadmill use an HRM.

    Another benefit to the treadmill is that it is directly transferable to the real world, walking, jogging, running, you will never use the elliptical motion in real life, and as such may increase endurance a bit, but will not translate nearly as well to the real world as the treadmill will.

    Anyone recommend any good heart rate monitors?
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Anything by Polar or Garmin, the higher the number on Polar the more accurate. i.e the FT40 is more accurate than the F7, but only the F4 and up count calories at all.
  • bornofthorns
    bornofthorns Posts: 143 Member
    I prefer the elliptical because it's low-impact. You can burn just as hard as running on a treadmill, but your knees won't be paying the price in the long-run.

    I agree. Elliptical is better for your knees and back, and less weight bearing. You can burn just as much doing the elliptical, as you would the treadmill/

    I disagree, unless the elliptical is designed for someone with your exact stride length in mind. The problem with elliptical is you have to adjust to it's plain of movement, with the treadmill you don't have to. For some the range/stride length can cause issues if it is not a "normal" movement for you. It is lower impact than treadmill, but I think the unnatural movement is worse for most than the treadmill.

    That and also don't use the elliptical for an estimate of cals burned, they all pretty much overestimate. If you want to compare cals burned vs. treadmill use an HRM.

    Another benefit to the treadmill is that it is directly transferable to the real world, walking, jogging, running, you will never use the elliptical motion in real life, and as such may increase endurance a bit, but will not translate nearly as well to the real world as the treadmill will.

    Not really disagreeing, but adding that I tend to go to the "open-stride elliptical" I have found that this allows much more for your normal stride and allows you to sort of switch between small stride, high step and long strides. As for how it actually works in real life, I have found, when using more in terms of high steps, it does help me a bit on form for inclined runs in the real world.
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    You can burn more calories on the treadmill. That said, you may want to use an online calculator or heart rate monitor to calculate the range of calories you may be burning. I just played around with several online calculators- to burn 500 calories you would have to be at the highest exercise level ("Vigorous" vs "Moderate" or "Low") for 30 minutes. Also, you would have to weight 350 lbs. If you weigh 350 lbs and were "Vigorous" for 30 mins, then yes, you burned that much.
  • 4daluvof_candice
    4daluvof_candice Posts: 483 Member
    Better? Better for what? Just do whatever you enjoy and will stick to.

    PS - there is 0% chance that you burn 500 calories in 30 mins on the elliptical. I only mention this to warn you against possible overeating due to overestimated exercise calories.


    I'm just going off what the elliptical is telling me I burn everytime. Not sure how accurate they are

    the most Ive burned in 30 min (using a HRM) is 328 calories
  • scraver2003
    scraver2003 Posts: 526 Member
    When I first started exercising, I used the elliptical. At some point I switched to the treadmill. Now, I mostly run outside. But I would use a treadmill before an elliptical, just because it translates to "real life" better. I run 5k's with friends, chase after my son, etc. If not the treadmill, I would do a spin class.

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