Do you do your cardio on the treadmill or the elliptical mac

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ProTFitness
ProTFitness Posts: 1,379 Member
in Food and Nutrition
From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Thursday, January 27, 2011


Gray Matter
Do you do your cardio on the treadmill or the elliptical machine? How about trying a little of both? Does the thought scare you a bit? Most people like to stick to one machine for cardio, but I want you to change your mind-set. To reach your fitness goals, you have to let go of that all-or-nothing mentality. And let's face it — eventually, you'll need more than one cardio option. One day the weather may not be cooperative for your usual outdoor jog, or all the ellipticals will be in use, or the pool will be closed, or your bike will be in the repair shop. Be flexible.

To get you thinking big picture, let's take a look at all the options available in the always-popular walk-jog-run trio.

You can perform any of these activities on a treadmill or outdoors. The key is to mix it up and keep it challenging. To burn maximum calories, you have a few options: you can walk on an incline, walk fast, jog, or run, depending on what you're ready for at your current fitness level. Try performing intervals by running or jogging in quarter-mile bursts. You can also work different muscles in your legs by running backward every once in a while — obviously you can't do this everywhere. You might also try sports drills like running sideways, or karaokes, in which you run sideways by crossing your right foot first in front of your left foot and then behind your left foot; you then switch directions, crossing the left foot in front and then behind the right foot.

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  • Redkoala
    Redkoala Posts: 146
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    I do 20mins on both and a 5min cooldown on both, so my cardio is 50mins. Then i either do the bike for 20mins or 30mins of weights depending on what day im on.
  • ppiinnkkmmoonn
    ppiinnkkmmoonn Posts: 418
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    both are my fav machines but i have a treadmill at home i use that a bit more
  • kwardklinck
    kwardklinck Posts: 1,601
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    The Elliptical kills my knees. I stick to the treadmill.
  • jetlag
    jetlag Posts: 800 Member
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    Both.

    I can't run as I'm recovering from a slipped disc so I use the elliptical to really get my legs moving fast and I use the treadmill on a steep incline for strength building.
  • amymeenieminymo
    amymeenieminymo Posts: 2,394 Member
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    The treadmill since the elliptical is like my personal hell. I also use a stationary bike in the winter, and a real one in the nice weather. I loves me my bike :)
  • jessieinblue
    jessieinblue Posts: 287 Member
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    The Elliptical kills my knees. I stick to the treadmill.

    Interesting. I actually use the elliptical because it's lower impact and is better to my knees.

    But when the weather is beautiful, I don't touch either. I go out and take gorgeous long bike rides.

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