Elliptical vs. Treadmill...Which do you recommend?

Monroe121
Monroe121 Posts: 358 Member
edited September 23 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi,

I want to lose and tone.. Which do you prefer to get great results; a TREADMILL or an ELLIPTICAL Machine?

Add me as a friend :)

Replies

  • BriannaSkye
    BriannaSkye Posts: 135
    I get better resukts with the elliptical
  • Ddavis1967
    Ddavis1967 Posts: 34 Member
    I prefer the elliptical for low impact! I also like it that the one at the gym will let you go "backwards" and that works a different muscle group. Good luck! :bigsmile:
  • Shadowknight297
    Shadowknight297 Posts: 2
    Sprints outside and/or up some bleachers.

    If stuck inside for the winter, do intervals (interchanging sprint speed with brick walk speed...generally a speed above 6 with a speed around 4) on the treadmill with an incline.
  • silveryflutterby
    silveryflutterby Posts: 335
    I bought a Treadmill, but i really wish I would have gotten an Elliptical instead! I haven't been able to use my treadmill for a few weeks because I injured my leg and it's too high impact. The elliptical is much lower impact and you can go at a much higher intensity without the strain on your joints. If I had it to do over, I would definitely go with the elliptical. I get a higher calorie burn on it too! And I personally find the elliptical slightly less boring than the treadmill. Happy choosing! :)
  • prencesskl
    prencesskl Posts: 123
    I've always heard the elliptical is better for you. It uses more muscles as you work out your upperbody as well, but it also is less impact. And the heavier you are the less impact you need on your knees
  • Sunfreeflower
    Sunfreeflower Posts: 10 Member
    Elliptical is the best choice for me! The treadmill scares me (I have fallen off it before)! In addition, like somebody said the elliptcal is better on the knee joints and if I remember you burn more calories on it compared to the treadmill. :)
  • chunk3y_m0nk3y
    chunk3y_m0nk3y Posts: 45
    I have an elliptical and i use it when i have the energy!!..lol..i prefer the elliptical cuz it is low impact and i think its a little harder to do..my elliptical u can go backwards and it hits different muscles and makes it a lot harder..im lucky if i can get in 30 min on it without feeling like jello!!..lol..i just started useing it again..i lack the energy and the enthusiasm to keep useing it for months at a time so maybe with this site i will be more interested in getting on it more often..but any way i hope i helped answer ur question..take care and good luck..u CAN do it!!
  • kellalynn
    kellalynn Posts: 9
    Definitely treadmill. The reason being, the treadmill stimulates everyday motions (walking, running, jogging, etc) and the elliptical really only makes you toned to the elliptical. I have heard countless trainers recommend this as well. You want to do natural motions that you would use in everyday life. For me, running or walking on an incline burns the most calories and I have seen the most results.
  • Skinnykat11
    Skinnykat11 Posts: 2
    I like them both, but I think I get a better calorie burn on the treadmill.
  • mandypizzle
    mandypizzle Posts: 633 Member
    I think it is personal preference. I definitely prefer the treadmill! I think the elliptical is great but I have had far better results from running in the past than using the elliptical!
  • cwsmom2002
    cwsmom2002 Posts: 4
    I'm not sure about the impact to your joints or which one is better for your body but I do know you burn more calories in less time on an elliptical vs. a treadmill
  • elfie9863
    elfie9863 Posts: 337
    I just put my treadmill on Craig's List. After treading along in the gym for a while I jumped the row over to the Elliptical's. Wow..what a difference. Much more workout and although it seems easier, at first, burns more calories. At any rate, now hooked on it. I NEVER used my treadmill at home. Just too unmotivated by myself.
  • CobraBubbles
    CobraBubbles Posts: 60
    Ellipticals are low imact which is great.
    I'm a fan of uphill sprinting/walking so, I like the fact that you can set a treadmill on an incline.

    Using either will definitely bring you results, but I feel like a treadmill is more versatile.
  • AggieCass09
    AggieCass09 Posts: 1,867 Member
    the treadmill with a 5 or higher incline burns more calories than the elliptical :-) but really, anything is better than nothing so mix it up so you dont get burnt out.
  • SayRah
    SayRah Posts: 104
    Elliptical.

    Personally, I hate treadmills....I hate how my knees hurt so much after running on them, even with shoes with good support.
    Ellipticals are much easier to use, plus you use your upper body more as well!
  • akj05
    akj05 Posts: 2
    I couldn't agree more! After I use the treadmill, i can feel I'm sore in muscles that I use so often - to walk, go up stairs, anything! I can get sore from the elliptical, but I don't feel like i got as good a workout. Also.. I find myself more likely to break a sweat on the treadmill. That's gotta be a good thing!
  • Proudmumofboys
    Proudmumofboys Posts: 73
    I like Both..

    I used to only do the elliptical, because I thought it worked out more then the treadmill did..

    but lately I have been doing at least 10-15 mins on the treadmill before I leave the gym. I like both though.
  • krissy_pooo
    krissy_pooo Posts: 111 Member
    I would say for me it depends on the day, if I have the energy I usually do both. When I just try to go on the elliptical, I find myself getting really bored after 15 mins, but if I use the treadmill I mix it up with walking, running and incline, and the time seems to go by so much faster and I sweat a lot! so I would suggest doing both! whatever you feel like that day :)
  • Beth720
    Beth720 Posts: 661 Member
    I've always heard the elliptical is better for you. It uses more muscles as you work out your upperbody as well, but it also is less impact. And the heavier you are the less impact you need on your knees

    Just make sure you get one with the moveable handles for an upper body workout. I've seen them with fixed rails, and then it's really doing nothing for your upper body. (You also have to USE the handles. LOL. I've seen people at the gym say they're doing it because it gives their upper body a workout too, but then they lean on the stationary rails. That doesn't cut it.)
  • beckyb77
    beckyb77 Posts: 24
    I echo kellalynn! The trainers at my gym have said a thousand times that I could burn and tone more walking on an incline on the treadmill. Of course the elliptical will take a lot of pressure off of your joints and is great if you have any joint troubles. I used to like the elliptical when I was at 248, at 170 I enjoy the treadmill more. If I had my choice of course I would choose to run outside, but I just can't stand the 19 degrees, too cold!!!
  • jvanderveen22
    jvanderveen22 Posts: 4
    Treadmill only works if you push the incline...otherwise your just making the motion..you need resistance to burn. If you use the elipticals find one that will give resistance or in the end all you did was make the motion, good effort and a good sweat prove its working. They both can do the job. get your joints strong and move up, don't stick to just one thing.we only make progress with change.
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    I do both, but prefer the treadmill. I always wanted to do treadmill more but it was a huge struggle for me when I first started working out. So I used the elliptical to built up stamina and start getting in better shape and have been transitioning over to the treadmill more and more. I feel like I get a much better overall workout from the treadmill and like how my body feels after the treadmill.

    I still use the elliptical, but not as much. Usually only if I feel like I need a lower impact workout that night (I have a bad knee, ankle and foot from previous injuries and breaks) and the treadmill might hurt too much to get through a workout. Or if someone is already on the treadmill. (I work out in my apartment fitness center, super nice equipment and convenient, but only one treadmill! O_o)

    I also mix it up with some stationary bike as well, just to keep myself from getting bored or in a rut with my workouts.

    Oh, and after months and months of the elliptical being just over 2/3 of my cardio time, my calf muscles got huge. Like, disproportionately huge. So there's part of me hoping that doing more jogging/running and less elliptical will tone them down to still being muscular, but slimmer.
  • STARG1RL
    STARG1RL Posts: 44 Member
    the treadmill with a 5 or higher incline burns more calories than the elliptical :-) but really, anything is better than nothing so mix it up so you dont get burnt out.

    I agree 100% & thanks again for the encouragement the other day that doing "13 minutes of running" when I wasn't feeling well was a good job :wink:

    Unfortunately, my husband doesn't like ellipticals, however, still enjoys running. In fact, he's getting back into his slump as I write this. :smile:

    We bought our treadmill two Black Friday's ago, & haven't looked back, even though we were told by several people that "You'll end up using it as a clothes rack..." We don't!!! My mom, however, doesn't like to run & she owns an elliptical, & yes, when I get on it, I'm worn out after only a couple of minutes. So, yes, an elliptical may burn more cals in a shorter period of time, but it wears me out, way too fast to make my time worth it. I'd rather get up to a few miles before I'm completely exhausted... That's just my thought.
  • BigBoneSista
    BigBoneSista Posts: 2,389 Member
    I was a huge fan of the Elliptical until I got over my fear of falling off a Treadmill. I have questionable knees at times but with the incline set between 3.0 & 7.0....I haven't felt a thing except my muscles burning at 7.0 :bigsmile:
  • mountainwoman98
    mountainwoman98 Posts: 182 Member
    I love the treadmill at an incline of 12 but have RA and when it flares up my knees can't take the impact so then I use my elliptical. Like a few others have said though, its good to mix it up.
  • kinsellae
    kinsellae Posts: 167 Member
    I have a treadmill and feel a lot of pain in my knee joints. I'm going to try to sell it to buy an elliptical.
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