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Ellipticall Vs.. Treadmill??

francena84
francena84 Posts: 99
edited October 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Alright So I use the Elliptical at the gym at my apartment complex, the treadmill and the 2 bike machines dont work... So all I have to use is the Elliptical on resistance level of 5 , im not even tired, i barley break a sweat ( prob cause i prop the door open and the cool air comes in) I feel like I can go for hours on that thing.. Now whenever I use the treadmill i get so out of breath and i sweat alot same goes for when i jog outside.. So my question is which is a better workout??

Replies

  • barbiex3
    barbiex3 Posts: 1,036 Member
    is this a serious question?
  • francena84
    francena84 Posts: 99
    unfortunately yes... haha I know i feel so dumb asking this question
  • SunshineAndLove
    SunshineAndLove Posts: 194 Member
    Bump
  • vanessaclarkgbr
    vanessaclarkgbr Posts: 731 Member
    Big up for going so long on the trainer without dying! :-)
  • TinaS88
    TinaS88 Posts: 817 Member
    No question is a dumb question. You would think the elliptical would be better, but are you using it correctly? You don't have to go all crazy on it for it to work properly.
  • lindsyrox
    lindsyrox Posts: 257 Member
    I completely agree! and if i do turn up the resistance on the elliptical to where it burns the only place i feel it is in my thighs and i do NOT need to be building bigger thigh muslces and even then i'm not breathing hard. I have both a treadmill and elliptical and home and I alwasy go for the treadmill or running outside first, then if i feel like mixing things up i'll jump on the elliptical.

    i think its funny too that the ellipticals computer says i burn about 1/3 more calories even though i'm not sweating or out of breath, its magical i guess...
  • ak_in_ak
    ak_in_ak Posts: 657 Member
    the best way to tell would be to check your heart rate, the higher the better. Try pushing harder and going faster on the elliptical or going backwards. I like the treadmill alot, but I find the outdoors to be even better.
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    the resistance onthe ellipticall only goes to 5? Usally they go higher....
  • summertime_girl
    summertime_girl Posts: 3,945 Member
    In my experience, the treadmill is the better workout. I use a BodyBugg to track burned calories, and I burn far more running than I do when I use the elliptical. However, both the machines and this site claim the elliptical burns way more calories. It definitely does not for me.
  • brittg7
    brittg7 Posts: 146 Member
    i always think running is more of a workout i am a runner...but if you up the dumb reistant and speed on the elliptical it can be a freaking workout...seriously think about it...if 5 is too easy go harder...if running is hard push through it...if its easy your not working hard enough...
  • sarahsmom1
    sarahsmom1 Posts: 1,501 Member
    Just off the top of my head I say treadmill (sweat=calories) at least for me it does I sweat just thinking about exercise
  • jackieb79
    jackieb79 Posts: 58
    I would think any activity that makes you sweat and breathe hard is a better work out for you than one that does not.
  • kikislove2
    kikislove2 Posts: 71 Member
    From what I've always heard, the eliptical burns more calories than the treadmill does. So you would need to check and see what the machine tells ya on that. The only time I get a good calorie burn on the treadmill is when I put it on incline. So compare your results from the readings on the machine and that will let you know which is better. Good luck.
  • JWoodbury125
    JWoodbury125 Posts: 1 Member
    Set the resistance to 12 and on an incline (if applicable) to 10. You'll definitely break a sweat. My cool down period is at a resistance of 5.
  • francena84
    francena84 Posts: 99
    the resistance onthe ellipticall only goes to 5? Usally they go higher....


    Yes it goes higher 5 is what i have been using lately, 6 just slows me down
  • txmike64
    txmike64 Posts: 57 Member
    This one is not actually a stupid question, and is asked all over the Internet.

    The Elliptical is better for most, because of the relative lack of impact on joints. You control how fast you move on it, or if you can set an incline.

    However an Elliptical which only goes to "5"....I'd wonder what kind of tension it gives, and how old it is. The gym quality machines give an excellent workout since I can no longer run due to previous injuries, until I get back down to my target weight. No two machines treadmill or otherwise are alike.
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    the resistance onthe ellipticall only goes to 5? Usally they go higher....


    Yes it goes higher 5 is what i have been using lately, 6 just slows me down


    if nothing else works in your complexs mini gym I would just set the resistance higher,i usally have mine set at 14
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    the resistance onthe ellipticall only goes to 5? Usally they go higher....


    Yes it goes higher 5 is what i have been using lately, 6 just slows me down

    You don't need to go super fast to get a good workout. If you are not increasing your heart rate enough to change your breath or your sweating levels, then it's not hard enough.

    If you stay at that particular level, then obviously you are getting a better workout running outside or on the treadmill.
  • francena84
    francena84 Posts: 99
    I wish I had the money to join a gym so i can use different machines till then elliptical it is.. But funny thing is that 2 weeks ago when i fist used it, i was sweating and getting tired 30 minutes in, maybe my body is just used to it.. I feel like i can take a nap while on the elliptical lol
  • DaniellePF
    DaniellePF Posts: 308 Member
    I always wonder which workout gives me the best results. I know that running on a non moving surface (outside) vs. runing on a treadmill is much better, due to the fact that you have to expel more energy and use more muscles to propel yourself forward. Maybe crank up the resistance on the elliptical and speed up the tempo--I know I get my butt kicked when I do that and I like the workout I am getting in my upper body as well. I hope this was a little helpful--I know its mostly opinion...
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,174 Member
    Alright So I use the Elliptical at the gym at my apartment complex, the treadmill and the 2 bike machines dont work... So all I have to use is the Elliptical on resistance level of 5 , im not even tired, i barley break a sweat ( prob cause i prop the door open and the cool air comes in) I feel like I can go for hours on that thing.. Now whenever I use the treadmill i get so out of breath and i sweat alot same goes for when i jog outside.. So my question is which is a better workout??
    Level 5? Try it at level 10 for the same duration then repost.
  • francena84
    francena84 Posts: 99
    This one is not actually a stupid question, and is asked all over the Internet.

    The Elliptical is better for most, because of the relative lack of impact on joints. You control how fast you move on it, or if you can set an incline.

    However an Elliptical which only goes to "5"....I'd wonder what kind of tension it gives, and how old it is. The gym quality machines give an excellent workout since I can no longer run due to previous injuries, until I get back down to my target weight. No two machines treadmill or otherwise are alike.


    5 is just what i have been useing the last 2 days, it goes way higher than that
  • arc918
    arc918 Posts: 2,037 Member
    your elliptical only goes to 5?

    ours goes to 11...
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    I wish I had the money to join a gym so i can use different machines till then elliptical it is.. But funny thing is that 2 weeks ago when i fist used it, i was sweating and getting tired 30 minutes in, maybe my body is just used to it.. I feel like i can take a nap while on the elliptical lol

    set the resistance higher,when I started i was only able to go on 5,now i set it to 14 just keep raising it when it gets to easy.
    Apartment exercise rooms are notorius for crappy machines I dont miss the one at my old apartments lol
  • francena84
    francena84 Posts: 99
    Alright So I use the Elliptical at the gym at my apartment complex, the treadmill and the 2 bike machines dont work... So all I have to use is the Elliptical on resistance level of 5 , im not even tired, i barley break a sweat ( prob cause i prop the door open and the cool air comes in) I feel like I can go for hours on that thing.. Now whenever I use the treadmill i get so out of breath and i sweat alot same goes for when i jog outside.. So my question is which is a better workout??
    Level 5? Try it at level 10 for the same duration then repost.


    I will do that tomorrow.. :)
  • francena84
    francena84 Posts: 99
    Thank you all for your input tomorrow im gonna use it on a higher level and see what happens.. Hell maybe ill just suck it up and go run outside...
This discussion has been closed.

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