Running v Cross Trainer

amyosullivan124
amyosullivan124 Posts: 15 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi,

Looking for some advice. Been on the fitness hype since January with 3 ish workouts a week. However, getting back on track now and definitely want to do 4 workouts a week.

I tend to do cross trainer and street running. At the minute, I do a mile run twice a week and 21 (increased by one minute a week) intense work out on the cross trainer twice a week.

Is it worth just sticking to the cross trainer 4 times a week as I have read that it is better on the body than street running. If I do this, would it be worth doing 2 x 21(increased by a minute a week) and perhaps 2 x 10 minute work outs to replace the running rather than a 20 min stint.

I don't want to build up muscle hence the shorter work outs, just want cardio for weight loss.

I am asking this because I don't know if my body will lose more weight if I complete different exercise or same effect if just the one. I also do squats/sit ups every day.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Replies

  • StArBeLLa87
    StArBeLLa87 Posts: 1,582 Member
    The elliptical works wonders and is less stress on your knees then running on a treadmill or on concrete! Been training on it for a month now and have lost inches all around!
  • SenseiCole
    SenseiCole Posts: 429 Member
    I did my 1st personal training session today the training was talking about put in some high intensity on the cross trainer/ bike/ running

    eg 5 min warm up, 30sec high intensity ( in what ever you are doing eg run fast for that 30 sec ) then 1 min normal pace then 30 sec intensity again and so on

    hope this helps
  • drop_it_like_a_squat
    drop_it_like_a_squat Posts: 377 Member
    I have problems with both my feet and knees, so I switched from running regularly to the elliptical whenever I do cardio/HIIT. Like Delovelybella said, it's much easier on your joints and everything and it burns quite a lot of calories, too.

    You gotta do what's more fun for you, tho.
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    I prefer running outside any day. I hated using treadmills or cross trainers. I would actually do WORSE on them. I felt it was for those who just can't handle running.... because let's face it....you are NOT running on those, you are in a straight line going nowhere & not getting the sunlight you need or the fresh air you need.


    Run outside....and don't give up at a mile. Do 6 instead, you will love yourself for it.
  • StArBeLLa87
    StArBeLLa87 Posts: 1,582 Member
    Oh but remember with the elliptical you must change up your routine and resistance or you will plateau! It's really a matter of what better suits you! I hate treadmills lol
  • amyosullivan124
    amyosullivan124 Posts: 15 Member
    Thank you all for your information. I think I should mix it up a bit - maybe 3 cross training sessions and 1 run.

    I would love to run 6 miles!! I struggle after a mile and I know its mentality but I still haven't found it although I am getting quicker. My body just doesn't seem to be able to keep running!

    I do work hard on the cross trainer - definitely come off sweating more than a run and push myself on the highest resistance.

    Plus the bonus with a cross trainer is that no-one can see my sweating my face off as it's at home!
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    Don't worry about the speed that comes later trust me, it's taken me months to get faster. You are not going to die going further. Took me about a month to go from never being able to run to running 6 miles a day. Your mind may give up, but your body wont. Don't listen to anything else except your own breathing out there.
  • Givemewings
    Givemewings Posts: 864 Member
    Running outside has changed my life! I know it sounds over the top but it's true. When I started running I couldn't run for a minute. Thanks to the C25K programme I caught the running bug and can now run for an hour or more. It takes time but is worth it in the end.
  • amyosullivan124
    amyosullivan124 Posts: 15 Member
    How long would you suggest I go for to build up? I presume you increased your distance over time. I just don't really know how to increase. How many runs do you do a week?
  • Givemewings
    Givemewings Posts: 864 Member
    If you can, two or three runs ( or run/walks) a week is good. If you have a mobile phone there are C25K apps, or look here http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k-plan.aspx for an idea of what you need to do. There are podcasts on this website too. Whatever you decide to do, hope it works for you!
  • Givemewings
    Givemewings Posts: 864 Member
    It took me just under a year to be able to run 10k.
  • amyosullivan124
    amyosullivan124 Posts: 15 Member
    Thank you I will take a look at that! I do actually crave going for a run so I'm heading in the right direction lol!
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    I did my 1st personal training session today the training was talking about put in some high intensity on the cross trainer/ bike/ running

    eg 5 min warm up, 30sec high intensity ( in what ever you are doing eg run fast for that 30 sec ) then 1 min normal pace then 30 sec intensity again and so on

    hope this helps

    In most states it is now illegal for personal trainers to prescribe anything other than a HIIT routine.
  • mikeyrp
    mikeyrp Posts: 1,616 Member
    Depends on your goals. If you want to be a fast runner - stick to the tread mill and get yourself some varied interval training sessions (speed and / or incline pyramids work best).

    If you just want to burn calories and build core strength - stick to the elliptical: its better for your joints.
  • maegmez
    maegmez Posts: 341 Member
    You will not build muscle by running or doing the cross trainer. You will burn fat, get toned strong legs, and condition your heart!

    I run 10k twice a week and may jump on the cross trainer if I want to burn more. I burn a bit more calories running outdoors than my cross trainer but not much, however, I love running outdoors.

    If you are burning out at a mile, slow down and try for another half mile. Keep pushing yourself to go faster and longer over a period of time comfortable for you. I run alone and I also run with my baby. Out of the blue one day I found myself running faster. Got a GPS hrm and I'm up to 6.1 mph!!!! Seems unreal to me. I know that is slow but fast for me.

    If you have good running shoes and no health conditions, run....get a fantastic lay list of music and just get lost in it.
  • amyosullivan124
    amyosullivan124 Posts: 15 Member
    No I have no intention of becoming a runner or running races etc, want to do cardio purely for weight loss.. Going to try the Couch to 9K plan!
  • maegmez
    maegmez Posts: 341 Member
    I run strictly for weight loss as well and have no intentions of racing just as you. However, the more you run, the more you condition your heart....that means you have to work harder to get your heart rate up.
    My example....

    41 years of age, 5ft 4 3/4 in tall and weigh 167 at the moment. I started back in December, jogged a very short distance and then walked, more like huffed and puffed. I did this several times a week, hard work, but I noticed I could jog a bit further each week, not much, just a bit. During the runs, my heart rate would get up to 162ish. My resting heart rate was about 54. I had been doing load of other cardio before Dec so don't know what my resting rate would have been at the beginning of my journey. Sometime in Feb, I jogged at about 4.7mph and found I could jog 5k and be ok. That would get my hr up to about 150ish. About 6 weeks in, I noticed that my hr would only go up to 134! I kept at this for a while because I didn't feel ready to push myself. The thing is, I was upset because my heart rate wasn't going up, I wasn't burning the calories.

    Then as I posted before, I just noticed one day I felt like I was running faster, I now get my heart rate up to 155ish and higher and now I'm burning more calories. My resting heart rate is now 46!

    What I'm getting at is cardio conditions your heart and if you want to run just to lose weight, you will have to push yourself longer and harder to get the same benefits from when you first started. If you stay at a mile or just stay at jogging at 4.5 mph, you will burn less and less calories.
  • shortchange1
    shortchange1 Posts: 146 Member
    In most states it is now illegal for personal trainers to prescribe anything other than a HIIT routine.

    I'm not sure where this came from. I've been a certified personal trainer for 14 years (NASM/ACE) and this is a bogus comment. Unless you can point to something credible to back up this statement, I stand by mine.
  • jturnerx
    jturnerx Posts: 325 Member
    In most states it is now illegal for personal trainers to prescribe anything other than a HIIT routine.

    I'm not sure where this came from. I've been a certified personal trainer for 14 years (NASM/ACE) and this is a bogus comment. Unless you can point to something credible to back up this statement, I stand by mine.

    I believe Azdak is citing Merriam-Webster which is a pretty credible source. Please go to the section labelled as "I" and look up "irony".
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    In most states it is now illegal for personal trainers to prescribe anything other than a HIIT routine.

    I'm not sure where this came from. I've been a certified personal trainer for 14 years (NASM/ACE) and this is a bogus comment. Unless you can point to something credible to back up this statement, I stand by mine.

    I believe Azdak is citing Merriam-Webster which is a pretty credible source. Please go to the section labelled as "I" and look up "irony".

    Sarcasm would work, too, along with lampooning, spoof, parody, chain-yanking, etc.
  • shortchange1
    shortchange1 Posts: 146 Member
    In most states it is now illegal for personal trainers to prescribe anything other than a HIIT routine.

    I'm not sure where this came from. I've been a certified personal trainer for 14 years (NASM/ACE) and this is a bogus comment. Unless you can point to something credible to back up this statement, I stand by mine.

    I believe Azdak is citing Merriam-Webster which is a pretty credible source. Please go to the section labelled as "I" and look up "irony".

    Sarcasm would work, too, along with lampooning, spoof, parody, chain-yanking, etc.

    Ah...apparently I had my "irony" sensor muted that day. I've turned it up and this won't happen agan.:blushing:
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    Took me about a month to go from never being able to run to running 6 miles a day.

    You went from not running, to running 42 miles a week? Is that what you are saying? Or are you saying that you went from not running to being able to do a 6 mile run in a day?

    If it's the former, then you are either gifted, fortunate or both because making that kind of leap usually will cause injury. If it's the latter, then it's a different story.

    To the OP, try a program like Couch to 5K to get started on a running program if running is something that you enjoy and want to pursue further.

    http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    C25k changed my life. I remember before I started it and asked for advice about doing it on a treadmill and doing it outdoors and the elite runners all said do it outdoors...to this day i have never ran on a treadmill and I thank those guys for forging this early habit in me.

    An elliptical trainer is an awesome way to workout without adding excessive stress on the joints. I should use it more as a supplement to my running.

    It's only because I absolutely hate being indoors that i struggle to keep my focus whilst working on an elliptical trainer, but once I figured out how to download the awesome " ESPN 30 for 30" series onto my iphone, i can manage 45 minutes on an elliptical without going too psychotic.

    Do use the elliptical trainer alongside your running. it's full of win.

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