Walking vs elliptical

I think it depends a little on your physical state, too. The ellioptical is certainly lower-impact than walking, but walking tends to be more interesting. Plus, as whmscll pointed out, the terrain can provide an extra push. I think I burn more calories on the elliptical, but I enjoy walking a lot more.

anmhep62 wrote: »

Does anyone know if using an elliptical is better than walking on a treadmill or in my neighborhood? I live in PA and have hills and such to walk on. I'm also trying to start to lose weight and am struggling with exercise.

Better in what sense, they are different activities.

If you are after losing weight then cardio becomes a straightforward calculation based on the intensity and duration of your workout, whih is modified by how mucch you weigh. The following will make your burn higher, longer duration, higher intensity, weighing more.

If you are strugling with exercise then do the one you enjoy, becayse you cna stick that out for longer. Walking outside in the good weather would get my vote. As you build up endurance then you cna consider increasing your intensity. If you didnt mind giving up the ouside walk then you have the potential to burn more on the elipyical, but it depends on you being able to cope with the increased intensity.

Fitness will come, so just try gradual progression and be patiently persistent.

Personally, I find I burn more on the elliptical and will go longer because I watch Netflix while I workout or sometimes I read. I get bored walking, even with music. Audiobooks help, but only when I find one where the voice doesn't annoy me. On the elliptical I keep the incline high and the pace moderate. I also like that I can keep a fan on me or even air conditioning (if I've bothered to install it in the window, which I haven't yet this year).

But as people have said, whichever you like doing more is probably "better" for you because you're more likely to keep doing it. Sometimes I only convince myself to workout by restricting my Netflix watching to only when I'm on the elliptical. Some people will tell you that reading or watching TV while doing cardio makes it less effective, but I disagree. Any cardio is better than no cardio, which would happen much more often for me without something to occupy my mind while I move my body.

Walking is good. The tread mill can be hard on the joints (depending on age, weight, fitness level). Our doctor recommended the elliptical to my husband because it will be good for his endorphins (the feel good exercise hormones).