Elliptial vs. Treadmill

xtinadaniellex3
xtinadaniellex3 Posts: 5 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I find that using the elliptial is somewhat easier for me (not that it's easy at all). I still sweat and i feel like i had a good workout. I usually do between 3-5 miles on the elliptial around 5 days a week. Is this less beneficial than using the treadmill though? I just dont like the treadmill much but i cant help but think that I'm cheating or something, even though i still feel like I'm working hard.

Replies

  • KBGAgent
    KBGAgent Posts: 165 Member
    I really like the elliptical. When I monitor my heart rate, I can control it better and keep it higher on the elliptical.
  • xsmilexforxmex
    xsmilexforxmex Posts: 1,216 Member
    I notice I tend to move faster on the elliptical than on the treadmill... but I think this is bc I used my arms as well and it's a different movement. I try to do both.. I actually prefer the treadmill bc it is harder to me and I like to feel challenged to reach my goal sometimes... but I think overall they're both beneficial.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    It depends what your goal is. The elliptical is great cardio exercise with low impact. If you want to be a runner then the treadmill is the better option but both are good and the best one is the one that you'll actually do!
  • jpwic
    jpwic Posts: 8 Member
    Hehe I know it's not one of the options, but I love the AMT (Adaptive Motion Trainer)! It's like doing both at once!
  • Ladyzumba
    Ladyzumba Posts: 217 Member
    I prefer the elliptical. I can WALK outside besides if your not running or walking uphill at a good
    pace on the treadmill you won't burn a lot of calories.
  • Want2BRunner
    Want2BRunner Posts: 44 Member
    I feel the same way!! I feel that after a few mile run on the treadmill I've gotten an excellent workout. (dripping sweat) With the elliptical and the Arc machine I don't feel the "Burn" as much but the calories burned are about the same. When I walk into the gym I find myself leaning towards the harder workout. If I don't then I come home and end up doing more cardio. UGH! I just don't know
  • littlewhittles
    littlewhittles Posts: 402 Member
    The elliptical is easier on your joints and such. That's what I use. I think running on the treadmill or outside probably does more for you, but it can be brutal on your knees.
  • xFitnessFlirt
    xFitnessFlirt Posts: 128
    I feel elliptical is a little easier too when the incline is higher and I go faster then I do and even burn more calories on it then I do on treadmill, But since I'm not dripping in sweat I don't feel like I did a good job when I actually burned more, elliptical sure is weird. But I try to do a little of both because sometimes I feel more satisfied with treadmill.
  • gbellsatx
    gbellsatx Posts: 37 Member
    You ust keep doing what make you get to the gym!! Maybe do some intervals from time to time to change things up but just keep going!!
  • Grace4DebraAnn
    Grace4DebraAnn Posts: 124 Member
    You most definitely get a better burn and workout on the treadmill. I use both so I use all my muscles, but I say by far the Treadmill is the best way to go. You want to add some resistance training to the mix too, not just cardio.
  • ExplorinLauren
    ExplorinLauren Posts: 991 Member
    I burn more calories doing the treadmill at 15 incline at a slower pace than I burn on the elliptical at a faster pace in the same amount of time. So I say the treadmill lol
  • Jennaissance
    Jennaissance Posts: 212
    I don't use machines anymore but when I did I'd do both. Why the heck not? The gym is boring and sometimes you need a change of scenery and I could never decide which was better anyway. This used to be my everyday gym workout and I'd burn about 500 calories:

    dynamic stretching
    5 minute treadmill warm up: walking fast, incline 1
    20-30 minute elliptical jam: at the hardest level you can, or range (intervals)
    10 minute mile on the treadmill with an incline of at least 1
    5 minute treadmill cool down: walking, reducing pace
    static stretching
  • Nachise
    Nachise Posts: 395 Member
    I do both. I generally use the elliptical to warm up before I do weights. I use the treadmill after doing weights to loosen up the legs, back, and arms. If the weather is rainy, sloppy, and/or cold, the gym is about the only option I have for exercise. There is a lake nearby that is 1 1/4 miles around, and when the weather is nice, I'm out there. I also have an elliptical at home.

    I used to think that I would be bored using equipment at the gym, but I use that time as a sort of meditation. The time flies.
  • Mighty_Rabite
    Mighty_Rabite Posts: 581 Member
    I like to mix them up, personally, but I definitely work more on the elliptical than the treadmill - too much running really sores out my ankles!

    If you are working hard enough, either one is plenty adequate, I would say.
  • postrockandcats
    postrockandcats Posts: 1,145 Member
    My knees bother me when I use the elliptical, so treadmill it is :)
  • JezzD1
    JezzD1 Posts: 431
    Elliptical all the way for me. Easier on the joints and a better way to monitor your heartrate, burns more calories and gives me an overall better workout!
  • Ayla70
    Ayla70 Posts: 284 Member
    Hehe I know it's not one of the options, but I love the AMT (Adaptive Motion Trainer)! It's like doing both at once!

    Oh no...I just googled it, and if it's the machine I'm thinking of at the gym I absolutely HATE it. I have zero co-ordination and I get muddled up within seconds on that thing hahaha. I last about 20 seconds and that's it.
  • sharibee66
    sharibee66 Posts: 4 Member
    I prefer the treadmill as the elliptical is hard on my knees also. I find the hill and mountain climbs are a good workout. I do still have a shot on the elliptical but 5 minutes is all I can manage.
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    I like the elliptical because it's easier on the joints. For some reason, my hips tend to hurt when I do the treadmill. Plus, it just seems like I can work much harder and burn a lot more calories on the elliptical without it being so hard on my body.
  • bachoat
    bachoat Posts: 24
    I LOVE AMT !!!!
  • nashai01
    nashai01 Posts: 536 Member
    Hehe I know it's not one of the options, but I love the AMT (Adaptive Motion Trainer)! It's like doing both at once!

    I have to agree, I normally do this for cardio and its tough but its a great work out
  • dare2love81
    dare2love81 Posts: 928 Member
    Both have their advantages, but if you're not training to run, then do whichever you don't get bored at. Or whichever one kicks out a higher calorie burn on your HRM.

    ETA: Just switch it up after awhile so the body doesn't get used to the same thing day in and day out.
  • bdradtke
    bdradtke Posts: 8 Member
    I use both just to switch it up from time to time. I generally burn 50% more calories running on the treadmill v. the elliptical per mile or 10 minutes of workout, but I get a good burn from both.
  • martintanz
    martintanz Posts: 280
    I do both, but treadmill feels harder to me. With elliptical, you can coast on a low resistance, so I try to pump up the resistance to compensate. When I started back at the gym in July, I generally kept resistance at a 5 or 6. Now, I push resistance to at least an 8, more often 9, and do intervals with resistance at 10 or 11.
  • freasabreze
    freasabreze Posts: 97 Member
    I have both and I love my treadmill. My elliptical seems hard to me. Maybe its just my machine. I prefer the treadmill.
  • karenragusa
    karenragusa Posts: 9
    hi i agree you definitely burn more calories quicker on the elliptical and you can keep your heartrate up.
  • xtinadaniellex3
    xtinadaniellex3 Posts: 5 Member
    Hehe I know it's not one of the options, but I love the AMT (Adaptive Motion Trainer)! It's like doing both at once!

    i JUST started getting really into this machine actually. when i posted this topic, i had never used one before. but my gym got new equipment and rearranged everything and one day when i went in i couldn't find the elliptical anymore lol. and i saw this so i tried it out and i actually like it. i usually do the interval setting between 10 and 5 (it moves it up and down for you every couple of minutes).
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    I like both of them...but my knees complain when I use the treadmill.

Categories