which exercise machines burn the most calories?

jim_n_virginia

I only have 45 minutes to run on a machine at the Y in the morning. What machine do you think burns the most calories the fastest??? I have been running on an elliptical machine which burns 500 calories for me at a med pace. I tried a machine where your legs swing back and forth it only burned 300 calories in 45 minutes.

There are probably 8 different machines at the YMCA where I go. Two different kinds of elliptical, one with arm movement and another without. stairsteppers, recumbent bike, stationary bike, treadmills etc.

Which one do you think it the most efficient and burns the most fat???

meshashesha2012

fat burning primarily takes place off machines whereas while you're exercising you're primarily burning glycogen . glycogen is an easier energy source to convert to fat.. so as long as you're eating less than your TDEE you're going to be burning fat.

to make sure you're burning the most fat while you're losing weight i'd day do a combo of cardio some days of the week and full body strength training with progressively challenging weights the other days of the week.

chocolatecroissant

In simple terms, machines where you support your own body weight, eg treadmill rather than bike. However it will also depend on how hard you work and what you do.

SoopraBint

i believe ellipticals and rowing machines are the best...

aalpass

My biggest cardio calorie burns have come from 30mins on an elliptical with an interval setting followed by 20minute HIIT on the treadmill (1min sprint, 1 min walk, 1 min sprint etc.)

WaterBunnie

Elliptical for me out of that lot because my heart rate gets a lot higher but really your body will benefit most from alternating what you use so that you are developing a larger range of muscles.

IronSmasher

The one I'M on.

Boom

tameko2

Long term? A barbell and plates.

But since you want the highest burn during that 45 minute period, rowing, if you're capable of rowing hard, but otherwise, whatever you can keep the highest heart rate on for the longest. Running on a treadmill will burn more than biking but biking is WAY easier when you're out of shape, or running may not even be possible yet. Etc.

jstandfield

Jacobs ladder burns the most followed by stairmaster. Then treadmill followed by elliptical.

melaniecheeks

If it was me, I'd chose a different machine each day rather than the same one all the time. That way you're using different muscles, and also your body isn't going to get used to just one type of movement.

One thing I like to do with a limited amount of gym time is an indoor triathlon - 10 mins rowing, 10 cycling, 10 running. Add in a few sets of ab exercises and that's 45 minutes well spent.

gjulie

I dont think it really matters a personal hrm will give you a better idea of what you are burning those machines way over estimate calorie burn if you work to the best of your intensity you will be burning what you can anyway no matter what it says!

neverstray

Weights

abrahamsitososa

You will get lot's of different opinions on this. But due to recent research and scientific discoveries I would say cardio.

katy_trail

plyo

jump squats and other plyometric are super fast at getting your heart rate up
and challenging your muscles

a 45 min plyo workout is killer for the legs
simply alternate strength moves like lunges holding db
then a plyo move like jump squats
strength like ...um I can't remember another example, but that's the basic idea

other plyo examples jumping side to side, box jumps, speed skaters and so on
obviously we can't do plyo everyday, and it's not for the beginer
but it is great for challenging the legs and fab for those days when you're short on time
even 5 mins of any plyo exercise is very hard.

if you're not ready for plyo, or on another leg day, regular squats also burn a huge number of calories
use a heavier weight

building up the muscle, then you'll burn 24/7

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Information/CalorieBurnChart.htm
squats burn .96/calories per min that's close to 1 calorie a min
which is almost the same as .95 cal/min of running an 8 min mile.
jumping rope is also very high .754 .80 or .89 depending how fast you are jumping.

i have looked for a calculator to say how many cal. burned during jump squats, but
that's closest I could find. I'm sure comparing exercises on the rest of the chart
is helpful too.

don't forget to alternate working on different body parts to give time to rest
your muscles grow and repair during rest

martinh78

If it was me, I'd chose a different machine each day rather than the same one all the time. That way you're using different muscles, and also your body isn't going to get used to just one type of movement.

One thing I like to do with a limited amount of gym time is an indoor triathlon - 10 mins rowing, 10 cycling, 10 running. Add in a few sets of ab exercises and that's 45 minutes well spent.

I used to do this as well, but I'd do distance rather than time.

The rower is the best whole body exercise, in that it uses the most muscles of any of the cardio machines/exercises. More muscles used=more calories burned.

Have a look at HIIT as well, intervals may be your best bet for getting the most out of your cardio time. The rower isn't the best for this though, the treadmill, bke or elliptical would be suitable.

cleotherio

Rowing machine, if you do it right. I have a rowing background. It's really frustrating to see people doing it completely wrong at the gym. A lot of trainers don't know either.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=correct+rowing+technique+concept+2&oq=correct+rowing+technique+concept+2&gs_l=youtube.3...9377.11030.0.11316.8.8.0.0.0.0.55.354.8.8.0...0.0...1ac.1.d1CRj_ZRtFA

AnahitaCanDoIt

Weights

this!

Beautifulbridgittlee7

Versa climber, Jacob's Ladder, rowing machine, stationery/spinning bike, treadmill, elliptical, arc trainer, etc

cosmichvoyager

definitely do different things so you don't get bored.

lessofme43

i believe ellipticals and rowing machines are the best...

yup

nilbogger

The machine where you can work the hardest.

Lib_B

I do HIIT on the bike and elliptical. Also, don't base your calorie burn on what the machines say or what MFP has listed as burn. Invest in an HRM. The machines at the gym regularly give me about 100-150 more than I actually burn. And MFP - I'll do an hour of intervals on the bike. I'll burn 500 calories according to my HRM. According to MFP, it is 800 calories. And according to the bike at the gym it was around 700. HIIT is probably the most effective couple with heavy lifting - you burn fewer calories while lifting, but you burn more overall as you build muscle - if you are lifting heavy. if you are lifting pink weights, if you aren't sore, you aren't lifting heavy.

Serah87

Heavy weight lifting. That is all.

Lib_B

Oh, and warrior ropes. Great way to mix it up!

martinel2099

I like the elliptical's that have heart rate sensor's attached. I'm 28 years old and 248 lbs and I generally shoot for a target heart rate of 151, which can burn about 400 calories every 30-35 minutes. I like the elliptical with cardio programs because they adjust the difficulty to increase my heart rate then adjust to keep me there. Keeps my workout honest and ensures I'm maximizing my workout.

bcattoes

There are probably 8 different machines at the YMCA where I go. Two different kinds of elliptical, one with arm movement and another without. stairsteppers, recumbent bike, stationary bike, treadmills etc.

A lot is going to depend on your intesity, but if intesity is equal, of those I'd guess that either the eliptical with arms or the stairstepper would burn the most. If they have one of those cross country skiing machines, that would likely burn more.

Azdak

If it was me, I'd chose a different machine each day rather than the same one all the time. That way you're using different muscles, and also your body isn't going to get used to just one type of movement.

One thing I like to do with a limited amount of gym time is an indoor triathlon - 10 mins rowing, 10 cycling, 10 running. Add in a few sets of ab exercises and that's 45 minutes well spent.

I used to do this as well, but I'd do distance rather than time.

The rower is the best whole body exercise, in that it uses the most muscles of any of the cardio machines/exercises. More muscles used=more calories burned.

Have a look at HIIT as well, intervals may be your best bet for getting the most out of your cardio time. The rower isn't the best for this though, the treadmill, bke or elliptical would be suitable.

Increased oxygen uptake=increased calorie burn, regardless of how many muscles are used. An activity that "uses more muscles" does not have any inherent advantage for calorie burning. Someone working at 10 METs on a bike, for example, will burn the same calories as someone working at 10 METs on a rower.

Azdak

There are probably 8 different machines at the YMCA where I go. Two different kinds of elliptical, one with arm movement and another without. stairsteppers, recumbent bike, stationary bike, treadmills etc.

A lot is going to depend on your intesity, but if intesity is equal, of those I'd guess that either the eliptical with arms or the stairstepper would burn the most. If they have one of those cross country skiing machines, that would likely burn more.

If intensity is equal, then calorie burn must be equal as well.

MeanderingMammal

Which one do you think it the most efficient and burns the most fat???

OK, fat and calories are different things. Calorie deficit is more about what you eat than how much training you do, although training gives you more flexibility around what you eat.

To answer the question in your headline, I find that proper running burns the most calories, although that doesn't involve a machine. Rowing works more of the body and subject to the session can get pretty close in terms of calorie expenditure.

In terms of biasing your training towards fat loss, that means you need to do training that optimises retention of lean mass; weight bearing CV and/ or resistance training. So running, rowing and cycling as your CV and some resistance training. Personally I run a lot and do some resistance training, I've reduced my bodyfat percentage by over a third in a year of doing that. That said, I find lifting incredibly dull, so tend not to do much of that.

RECowgill

It will depend on your effort, you can't get on a treadmill and read a book or watch tv. Mind muscle connection, think about what you're doing and what you're going to do next.

But the answer is the barbell. :glasses:

IronSmasher

The medical waste furnace at a weight loss surgerly hospital.