Treadmill vs Elliptical

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Replies

  • swest222
    swest222 Posts: 455 Member
    If I could afford an arc trainer I would get one, but I cant.
    Maybe I should just join a gym ... but at home is much more convenient ...
  • kwin91
    kwin91 Posts: 128
    I agree with the guy who said get outside. I go running outside as much as I can. If I can't run that day (maybe an off day) I walk outside. You get to see things instead of being inside, which to me would be BORING!
  • RhonndaJ
    RhonndaJ Posts: 1,615 Member
    Speaking from a weight perspective, I prefer an elliptical to a treadmill.

    While I can do much longer walks on the treadmill even when pushing myself with inclines and speed, I find I feel I get a much better workout with the treadmill because it's working both arms and legs. And when I say better I mean heart rate and sweat and how I feel in general.

    My husband, who has joint issues, also prefers the elliptical as it's far less painful for him than the treadmill.

    I honestly think that it is a personal choice depending upon weight, goals and just personal comfort.
  • jennaworksout
    jennaworksout Posts: 1,739 Member
    TREADMILL.... on highest incline and speedwalking, burns calories wasy faster than eliptical or running on treadmill, hands down best cardio workout . if your shins can handle it, I am lucky enought to never have sore shins.
  • wftiger
    wftiger Posts: 1,283 Member
    Elliptical by far. I don't feel the treadmill gives enough of a workout. I can't run because of my knees and walking just doesn't cut it for getting the heart rate up and feeling like I am accomplishing anything. Plus I get so bored even with the iPod/iPad entertaining me. If I want to walk I will do it outside where at least I can watch traffic, birds, etc. I have a short attention span and the shiney demands my attention. I can't stand having to do 60 - 90 or more minutes to burn the calories I can in 40 or less on the elliptical.

    I do about 40 minutes on the elliptical at 20 resistance. The resistance helps build up the leg muscles and the cardio gets my heart rate up where I want it. I will only do the treadmill if all the ellipticals and the AMT are all taken. When my gym membership runs out I am definitely buying an elliptical for home.
  • Michelleypoo82
    Michelleypoo82 Posts: 156
    NEITHER! :tongue: I have a Treadclimber at home, which combines a treadmill, stairstepper, and elliptical in one. Bowflex makes them, but I got a great deal on a used older model on Craigslist. I hate running, but I can do the Treadclimber for an hour and burn over 500 calories. Look into it! :flowerforyou:
  • kellymccrea1
    kellymccrea1 Posts: 50 Member
    TREADMILL.... on highest incline and speedwalking, burns calories wasy faster than eliptical or running on treadmill, hands down best cardio workout . if your shins can handle it, I am lucky enought to never have sore shins.

    How high is the steepest incline on the treadmill you're using and how fast do you go?
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    I actually prefer the bike, then treadmill, elliptical a distant last. Bike will burn the most calories of the 3, and both the bike and treadmill can train your body for actual real world activities, the elliptical is useless in that regard. And if I'm exercising, I'd much rather do an exercise that can improve my real life performance.
  • Feed_the_Bears
    Feed_the_Bears Posts: 275 Member
    As fitness becomes a bigger part of your life, you'll begin to develop a need for variety. Variety helps eliviate boredome and keeps challenging your body to see results. So I encorporate a variety of cardio exercises before my strength work outs. In the end, the type of excersize you stick too is the type that you enjoy.

    That said, my work outs are elipital heavy since I can watch TV, it's easy on my knees, it uses some uppper body strength, and I can vary the incline etc at will. At the same time, my hill sprint and jump rope work outs are my favourite because interval training is shown to be best at fat loss.

    Figure out what you enjoy and do it! :)
  • waldenlev
    waldenlev Posts: 102 Member
    Variety is the spice of life! I've got the NordicTrack CX1600 at home and I love it, but it's not cheap. Still, I also use the treadmill and bike at the gym. I'm not one for running outdoors (yet) but I'll get there. The change in routine helps, so don't limit yourself. But to your original question, I found the ellipitical easiest on the joints.
  • jennaworksout
    jennaworksout Posts: 1,739 Member
    TREADMILL.... on highest incline and speedwalking, burns calories wasy faster than eliptical or running on treadmill, hands down best cardio workout . if your shins can handle it, I am lucky enought to never have sore shins.

    How high is the steepest incline on the treadmill you're using and how fast do you go?


    the one at my gym goes to 30 and i speed walk at 3.9 mph , heart rate def gets up, I go as long as I can ( about 2 minutes) , then drop to incline of 9 and walk at 1.8 for about a minute to get my heart rate back down, then I go back up, getting you heart rate up and down like that is a kick *kitten* workout :) and sweat!!!!!

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