Running vs elliptical - how do I convince hubby both are cardio?
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smashley_mashley
Posts: 589 Member
For the past year I worked out in my work gym by myself. I am a big fan of an elliptical because it doesn't bother my knee like running on a track does. I average about 100 calories per 10 minutes and I am able to pace myself so I don't feel like I'm going to keel over after 45 minutes.
A new city gym opened this past Dec. and hubby and I are going together - he enjoys running the track.
When I run on the track with him (i'm a noob on the track b/c I hate running), I can get 2 laps in followed by a walking lap - I can manage about 20 minutes of this before my insides feel like they are on fire. I am not able to sweat the way I do on the elliptical but rather my face turns bright red. I am just not conditioned to track running like I am to the elliptical.
my hubby says that ellipticals are not cardio and I say they are b/c it gets your HR up. Am I wrong? if not, how else can I explain it to him?
A new city gym opened this past Dec. and hubby and I are going together - he enjoys running the track.
When I run on the track with him (i'm a noob on the track b/c I hate running), I can get 2 laps in followed by a walking lap - I can manage about 20 minutes of this before my insides feel like they are on fire. I am not able to sweat the way I do on the elliptical but rather my face turns bright red. I am just not conditioned to track running like I am to the elliptical.
my hubby says that ellipticals are not cardio and I say they are b/c it gets your HR up. Am I wrong? if not, how else can I explain it to him?
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Replies
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Yes, that is cardio.
As for convincing your husband, I say be like Elsa and let it go. It's not a conversation worth having or a fight worth fighting. Keep doing the elliptical and let him run and you can both be happy.0 -
Get him to do some HIIT on the elliptical. 20 seconds high speed, 20 seconds easy for 5-10 minutes. You decide and stand there and keep him accountable. After he's done that, ask him again :P0
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What's his reasoning for thinking elliptical is not a form cardio? Cardio is any form of aerobic exercise..which the elliptical would definitely be since you're doing it for an extended period of time.0
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Shrug. They're both cardio. But there's not a lot of crossover. Great that you're both doing something you like - roll with it.0
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savvyfantastic wrote: »Get him to do some HIIT on the elliptical. 20 seconds high speed, 20 seconds easy for 5-10 minutes. You decide and stand there and keep him accountable. After he's done that, ask him again :P
I second this. Of course elliptical training is cardio. I hope your husband is either good looking or wealthy....cause he's somewhat lacking in the intelligence department. Just kidding...kind of.
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you may be kidding, but you nailed it in one.0
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smashley_mashley wrote: »my hubby says that ellipticals are not cardio and I say they are b/c it gets your HR up. Am I wrong? if not, how else can I explain it to him?
It is cardio but it is about half as efficient at burning calories as running. And you're experiencing this with your observation that you can do about 45 minutes on the elliptical but only 20 running. It's not just a "conditioning" thing - the elliptical is just physically easier than running.
PS Cut your elliptical burn estimate in half, it is vastly over-estimated.
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smashley_mashley wrote: »my hubby says that ellipticals are not cardio and I say they are b/c it gets your HR up.
So in the context of the statement, are you trying to encourage him to use the elliptical, or is he trying to encourage you to run instead of the elliptical?
If he doesn't want to use the elliptical then the point is he gets the session he wants from the track.
If he's trying to encourage you to run, then he may be observing that you'll get more calorie expenditure from sustained running. Regardless, if you have a real knee issue that proper running form doesn't resolve then you don't want to exacerbate it.
They're both CV, they're just different and have different effects.
fwiw your calorie expenditure on an elliptical isn't as high as you think, I'd say it's more realistic to drop that to about 60% or less.
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smashley_mashley wrote: »my hubby says that ellipticals are not cardio and I say they are b/c it gets your HR up. Am I wrong? if not, how else can I explain it to him?
It is cardio but it is about half as efficient at burning calories as running. And you're experiencing this with your observation that you can do about 45 minutes on the elliptical but only 20 running. It's not just a "conditioning" thing - the elliptical is just physically easier than running.
PS Cut your elliptical burn estimate in half, it is vastly over-estimated.
Which takes more effort and burns most calories depends on the running speed and the resistance set on the elliptical.
600 cals/hour is perfectly attainable by someone with a good fitness level.
And yes OP they are both cardio, as are cycling (my #1 choice for injured knees), rowing, steppers etc. etc.0 -
Its cardio!0
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I do elliptical all thw time and average about 70 calories per 10 minutes and thats what I like about it. And when I get off I don't feel like im sliding and going to pass out like I do when I get off the treadmill. Just let him do his hing and you do yours. Maybe hes just old fashioned or made up his mind about it. I love the machines I use. Ive used them for years with great results . I will eventually start stair climbin machine. Maybe ask him to try that.0
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No point in argue ....its cardio0
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savvyfantastic wrote: »Get him to do some HIIT on the elliptical. 20 seconds high speed, 20 seconds easy for 5-10 minutes. You decide and stand there and keep him accountable. After he's done that, ask him again :P
Can HIIT training really be done on an elliptical? I mean real, get your calorie burn for 4 hours after your done, HIIT training? This is a real question by the way. I just thought that the elliptical can't really be done at true high intensity to get the right after burn effect.
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awesomejdad wrote: »savvyfantastic wrote: »Get him to do some HIIT on the elliptical. 20 seconds high speed, 20 seconds easy for 5-10 minutes. You decide and stand there and keep him accountable. After he's done that, ask him again :P
Can HIIT training really be done on an elliptical? I mean real, get your calorie burn for 4 hours after your done, HIIT training? This is a real question by the way. I just thought that the elliptical can't really be done at true high intensity to get the right after burn effect.
Yes you can do HIIT on an elliptical, alternating maximal effort bursts and recovery periods.
Don't get carried away but the thoughts of afterburn (EPOC) from HIIT though - the effect is tiny. A small percentage of a very short duration exercise isn't worth even considering IMHO.0 -
awesomejdad wrote: »savvyfantastic wrote: »Get him to do some HIIT on the elliptical. 20 seconds high speed, 20 seconds easy for 5-10 minutes. You decide and stand there and keep him accountable. After he's done that, ask him again :P
Can HIIT training really be done on an elliptical? I mean real, get your calorie burn for 4 hours after your done, HIIT training? This is a real question by the way. I just thought that the elliptical can't really be done at true high intensity to get the right after burn effect.
Yes you can do HIIT on an elliptical, alternating maximal effort bursts and recovery periods.
Don't get carried away but the thoughts of afterburn (EPOC) from HIIT though - the effect is tiny. A small percentage of a very short duration exercise isn't worth even considering IMHO.
Thank you, however what does IMHO stand for?
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awesomejdad wrote: »awesomejdad wrote: »savvyfantastic wrote: »Get him to do some HIIT on the elliptical. 20 seconds high speed, 20 seconds easy for 5-10 minutes. You decide and stand there and keep him accountable. After he's done that, ask him again :P
Can HIIT training really be done on an elliptical? I mean real, get your calorie burn for 4 hours after your done, HIIT training? This is a real question by the way. I just thought that the elliptical can't really be done at true high intensity to get the right after burn effect.
Yes you can do HIIT on an elliptical, alternating maximal effort bursts and recovery periods.
Don't get carried away but the thoughts of afterburn (EPOC) from HIIT though - the effect is tiny. A small percentage of a very short duration exercise isn't worth even considering IMHO.
Thank you, however what does IMHO stand for?
In My Humble Opinion or In My Honest Opinion.
FYI - Lyle McDonald did an interesting piece on the EPOC effects of steady state cardio and HIIT and off the top of my head I recall the figures given were 7% and 14% respectively.
But as HIIT is short duration and steady state is typically longer duration there's not much to choose between the two.0 -
awesomejdad wrote: »awesomejdad wrote: »savvyfantastic wrote: »Get him to do some HIIT on the elliptical. 20 seconds high speed, 20 seconds easy for 5-10 minutes. You decide and stand there and keep him accountable. After he's done that, ask him again :P
Can HIIT training really be done on an elliptical? I mean real, get your calorie burn for 4 hours after your done, HIIT training? This is a real question by the way. I just thought that the elliptical can't really be done at true high intensity to get the right after burn effect.
Yes you can do HIIT on an elliptical, alternating maximal effort bursts and recovery periods.
Don't get carried away but the thoughts of afterburn (EPOC) from HIIT though - the effect is tiny. A small percentage of a very short duration exercise isn't worth even considering IMHO.
Thank you, however what does IMHO stand for?
In My Humble Opinion or In My Honest Opinion.
FYI - Lyle McDonald did an interesting piece on the EPOC effects of steady state cardio and HIIT and off the top of my head I recall the figures given were 7% and 14% respectively.
But as HIIT is short duration and steady state is typically longer duration there's not much to choose between the two.
I just want to burn as many calories as I can without having to spend a lot of time doing cardio. The only home equipment I have, for cardio, is an elliptical. I guess I will have to try it with HIIT. I like to keep the resistance really high (like 15-19 out of 20 on my machine) and I just never can go fast enough to feel like I am sprinting or something. I am not really sure how to do it on the elliptical but I guess I will go for 30 seconds high and 1 minute steady and see how that goes. Thanks for answering.
And to the OP. Yes the elliptical is cardio!
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Due to knee problems, I can't run, so I get my cardio workouts via elliptical ... 30 minutes of interval training, 2-3 times a week. If he doesn't believe it is cardio, it's his problem. Just go do it!
PS - Before anyone says "2x a week isn't enough", I also do an 8 mile hike (4 mph) each week, along with 3x days of lifting.0 -
You're wise to protect your knee. The elliptical is great low-impact cardio for burning calories if you can't or won't run.0
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awesomejdad wrote: »awesomejdad wrote: »awesomejdad wrote: »savvyfantastic wrote: »Get him to do some HIIT on the elliptical. 20 seconds high speed, 20 seconds easy for 5-10 minutes. You decide and stand there and keep him accountable. After he's done that, ask him again :P
Can HIIT training really be done on an elliptical? I mean real, get your calorie burn for 4 hours after your done, HIIT training? This is a real question by the way. I just thought that the elliptical can't really be done at true high intensity to get the right after burn effect.
Yes you can do HIIT on an elliptical, alternating maximal effort bursts and recovery periods.
Don't get carried away but the thoughts of afterburn (EPOC) from HIIT though - the effect is tiny. A small percentage of a very short duration exercise isn't worth even considering IMHO.
Thank you, however what does IMHO stand for?
In My Humble Opinion or In My Honest Opinion.
FYI - Lyle McDonald did an interesting piece on the EPOC effects of steady state cardio and HIIT and off the top of my head I recall the figures given were 7% and 14% respectively.
But as HIIT is short duration and steady state is typically longer duration there's not much to choose between the two.
I just want to burn as many calories as I can without having to spend a lot of time doing cardio. The only home equipment I have, for cardio, is an elliptical. I guess I will have to try it with HIIT. I like to keep the resistance really high (like 15-19 out of 20 on my machine) and I just never can go fast enough to feel like I am sprinting or something. I am not really sure how to do it on the elliptical but I guess I will go for 30 seconds high and 1 minute steady and see how that goes. Thanks for answering.
And to the OP. Yes the elliptical is cardio!
If your goal is maximum burn in shortest time don't do HIIT - keep it at the highest intensity you can sustain for the duration you choose. For me that's averaging about 85% of max heart rate for an hour.
A lot of the calorie counts people throw around for HIIT are hopelessly inflated as people don't understand HRMs can't effectively estimate calorie burns for HIIT.0
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