confused, can someone shed light?

viclee1

ok so lately my knee has been a tad sore, so I've been using the elliptical at noon hour. It's great and I enjoy it, I generally do around 10 incline and 10 resistence for about 20 mins and burn 150-200calories. Yesterday my knee was feeling pretty good so I decided to try jogging/ power walking on the treadmill. Same amount of time, and only 140 calories!? I feel like I worked much harder on the treadmill and should have burned more?! Is it the meter is off, or is there another explanation? Thanks!

ludogx87

im rubbish on the cross trainer and really struggle to burnt he cals thou on the tradmill i can do interval training and sprints etc and find i can burn 350 cals in 30 mins where as i really struggle to hit even 200 on the cross trainer LOL xxx

RockChick1984

Its hard to say... do you use a heart rate monitor? are your stats inputed to the machine you use?... my treadmill states i use about 16 cals for 5 mins just walkin slow... where as my HRM will state i have burnt 52 ish... quite a jump... so dont always believe what the machine tells ya

rebecca_d35

I've heard ellipticals are notoriously overgenerous with calorie estimations. So maybe the treadmill is closer to the truth.

Or else your body is accustomed to the elliptical and not to running so it feels like much harder work. I remember when I started running it felt like the HARDEST exercise in the world. After 10 years of regular running, it feels totally natural. But put me on the elliptical (which I've never tried) and I'd probably end up in a tangle on the floor.

Cmh1211

if ur using the heart rate monitor attatched to the machine they are far from accurate. if u have a heart rate monitor with a chest strap then ur probably over working your body on the tredmill. everyone has a target heart rate in which ur suppose to stay in to achieve maximum calorie burn. in other words, if u do not have a HRM, try and get one ASAP. it is, along with good shoes, one of the most important tools to better understand ur body.


lol... rockchick and rebecca beat me to it....

viclee1

Thanks for the comments, I don't have a HRM. How much do they generally cost? I have just been using the grippy handles on the machines. On the elliptical I input my data, but couldnt' on the treadmill, it was an older version.

Cmh1211

price varies... i suggest buying a "good" one the first time around. my brand prefference is polar. they are sold in sports authority.