Treadmill vs. Elliptical

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Replies

  • YoungDoc2B
    YoungDoc2B Posts: 1,593 Member
    They're both boring as all get out, but I feel like I get a better workout on the Treadmill. However,I try to get outdoors and run whenever I can
  • mrclark09
    mrclark09 Posts: 10 Member
    I have a treadmill and I love it. I always run before my strength training. If I don't feel like running, I will walk at 4mph, incline of 6-8, with 5lb weights in my hands. Adding weight has definitely helped with burning more calories.
  • deckerp
    deckerp Posts: 4,453 Member
    My vote is for elliptical. This is due to having a bad knee for me. I'm sure it has other benefits, but that was the deciding factor for me.

    You should try several before you decide though. They all feel a bit different and some feel very un-natural.
  • strawberrytoast
    strawberrytoast Posts: 711 Member
    treadmill...it usually weighs more...

    which was intended as a joke to say "neither" with a meathead vibe to it....which no one would get and would be just a stupid reply...

    so instead, scoff at me making fun of myself and lack of a witty sense of humor.

    I need therapy...fml.

    This made me laugh. A whole wee conversation with yourself that you realised maybe wasnt such a good idea but continued and explained :wink:

    On topic never used an elliptical :( this saddens me
  • Cindy393
    Cindy393 Posts: 268 Member
    wow, I love all these responses! It's good to see all the benefits everyone is getting from either machine. And I love the post about burning over 900 cals in 60 minutes on the elliptical. It'll be awhile before I see anything like that, but I'm determined. Loving the feedback!
  • Asprina
    Asprina Posts: 5
    My vote is for elliptical. This is due to having a bad knee for me. I'm sure it has other benefits, but that was the deciding factor for me.

    You should try several before you decide though. They all feel a bit different and some feel very un-natural.


    I agree with you there!! I found that out this summer. I am used to mine and how it works then when I went to my mom's this summer and was using hers, it was a completely different feel to it . It took me a week to get used to how it felt compared to mine. Came back after 2 months and had to readjust to using mine once again. My resistance, which might be because it is getting old, is alot harder going from one lvl to the next almost like it may have to be oiled or something.
  • sin485
    sin485 Posts: 125 Member

    I'm just wondering for fat-burning purposes, and of course toning. I have both machines at home, and can usually burn around 500 cal in 60 minutes on my treadmill. We just got the elliptical. I was just wondering which people preferred, and why.
    [/quote]

    You should be able to burn more calories per hour on the elliptical machine as you can use upper body muscles as well. I managed 903 calories in an hour this week on an elliptical machine.
    Ideally use both, mix it up. I have damaged knees and back so often can't use a treadmill.
    [/quote]

    you use ur upper body when you run also. but treadmill cross trainer is easier and sometimes considered better because of the lower impact
  • KC4800
    KC4800 Posts: 140 Member
    Here's the only thing I don't think anyone has touched on, yet. With a motorized treadmill, you don't need to worry about your cadence. You set the speed that you need, and you have to keep up. With an elliptical,you can set the resistance, but if you aren't listening to music, your cadence will drop, and you'll lose your intensity without even realizing it. Do you listen to music when you workout? If not, I'd say: go with the treadmill.
  • ashleyoh33
    ashleyoh33 Posts: 85 Member
    I use both every time I workout. I like the elliptical because I can go hard for an extended amount of time, but I like the treadmill for interval training, and I use it with the incline up all the way quite often. I would never choose just one, and I usually burn the same amount of calories as long as I have the treadmill settings to something appropriate.

    To the people who love the arc trainer: HOW/WHY? Am I using the machine wrong? It KILLS my hips, and I don't burn nearly as many calories as I do on the elliptical or treadmill even if I keep my speed consistently above 130.
  • Cindy393
    Cindy393 Posts: 268 Member
    I absolutely listen to music. I can't imagine 60 minutes on any machine without my ipod glued to my ears!
  • scrappy25
    scrappy25 Posts: 77 Member
    Elliptical is lower impact BUT for the women out there, you need impact to prevent osteoporosis- so walking, running, weights, etc. Elliptical, swimming , and biking will not help with osteoporosis although they have other great benefits. So mix it up, as others have said!
  • abnerner
    abnerner Posts: 452 Member
    I like the treadmill at an incline.
  • jroselive2012
    jroselive2012 Posts: 129
    I prefer the elliptical and arc to a treadmill. Like someone else said, there's less impact and you burn more. However, I do have my own cheap treadmill at home and am thankful for it when it's too gross to run outside and I'm too lazy to get dressed and go to the gym. :) Anything is better than nothing at all.
  • mrsyee313
    mrsyee313 Posts: 8 Member
    I use the cyber arc trainer at the gym, set to 100% resistance. I weigh. 127 and in 60 minutes it says I burn 850 calories. I always just assume its lying and I use the 550 Mfp gives me when I say elliptical for an hour. I do not have a heart rate monitor y et... Fr those of you who have them, how accurate do you find the arc trainer to be? I definitely get. A good work out but seems to be too good to be true

    Also, I use a treadmill to walk on an incline, only. I have run on them like six times in my life and fallen off twice, I. Don't consider those to be good odds...
  • djc315
    djc315 Posts: 585 Member
    I find it interesting that people say the elliptical is easier on your knees. I have a dislocating knee cap, the elliptical KILLS my knee. I can feel my knee cap getting stuck and then popping out. Bikes do the same. For that reason, I jog/walk. I'm working up to being able to run, my first goal is to just run a mile without stopping (jogged one today, 14 minutes, slow, but, it's something) And now I will work on that for a little bit then add distance. I don't really care about time.

    But for me personally, treadmill or running outdoors is better. I prefer to run outside.
  • deckerp
    deckerp Posts: 4,453 Member
    I find it interesting that people say the elliptical is easier on your knees. I have a dislocating knee cap, the elliptical KILLS my knee. I can feel my knee cap getting stuck and then popping out. Bikes do the same. For that reason, I jog/walk. I'm working up to being able to run, my first goal is to just run a mile without stopping (jogged one today, 14 minutes, slow, but, it's something) And now I will work on that for a little bit then add distance. I don't really care about time.

    But for me personally, treadmill or running outdoors is better. I prefer to run outside.
    I think it depends on the type of knee problem you have. I had a torn ACL and torn meniscus. The knee surgeon said there was lots of cartilage damage too. He recommend I not take up jogging.

    It's hard to evaluate what works well for a person before you buy. Maybe a gym would allow a short try out membership and you could audition treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, and other equipment. Then you could shop with some confidence.
  • Brittaura
    Brittaura Posts: 29 Member
    I prefer the elliptical b/c then I can work out my arms a little bit too, I find it more challenging especially when you switch it up every couple mins and go backwards or something. But I hate the treadmill b/c I feel like the sound of my feet hitting the platform sounds like a baby elephant on a rampage, so I'm biased lol!
  • camiann585
    camiann585 Posts: 30 Member
    Reason to use treadmill over elliptical: http://www.shape.com/fitness/cardio/how-inaccurate-are-calorie-counters-gym
  • Cindy393
    Cindy393 Posts: 268 Member
    Reason to use treadmill over elliptical: http://www.shape.com/fitness/cardio/how-inaccurate-are-calorie-counters-gym

    This is a great article--thanks for posting this!!
  • emmagreenie
    emmagreenie Posts: 11
    Camiann beat me to it! I was also going to mention that you definitely shouldn't base your decision for one or the other on the calories burned. Though the calories counters are usually off in some way on all machines, ellipticals are practically known for always overestimating your calories burned by a quite a bit! That being said, I like using both. I usually use the treadmill 3-4 times per week and the elliptical 1-2 times. I do feel like I get the better cardio workout on my treadmill though!

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