Treadmill vs Elliptical

swest222
swest222 Posts: 455 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have heard of a few people in each camp ...
Some people state if you're more overweight the elliptical is easier on your joints ...

I have a crappy old treadmill at home and I hate it (I'd rather walk outside)

Any feedback on which you prefer and why?
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Replies

  • kyhall4
    kyhall4 Posts: 24 Member
    I prefer the elliptical!! I get really bored on the treadmill and find myself able to do the elliptical a ot longer.
  • realme56
    realme56 Posts: 1,093 Member
    Love my Elliptical but it was a big purchase. I prefer to walk outside as well. A poorly functioning treadmill (or elliptical) can adversely affect your joints.
    Don't forget dance as an alternative to either.
  • Silence88
    Silence88 Posts: 26
    I adore my elliptical.
  • joconnor09
    joconnor09 Posts: 124
    I don't have the greatest knees, so I definitely need something easy on my joints. But besides that, I feel like I can go a lot longer and harder on the elliptical than I can on the treadmill. I really (REALLY) can't run, so I think that's why the treadmill is so tough for me. But I think the elliptical is great!
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    I have an elliptical at home, that mostly sits.

    I like the treadmill better at the gym. I go with, the treadmill makes me better at running. The elliptical makes me better at doing elliptical.

    I mostly run outside on the road. That's way better than either if you ask me.
  • PJ_73
    PJ_73 Posts: 331 Member
    I try to use the elliptical every day at the gym but never the treadmill because I don't run due to an injury. I'd rather walk to and from the gym and then use anything but the treadmill! Unless I fancy a cheeky uphill walk.

    How about the rower, do you use that?
  • Jodi_83
    Jodi_83 Posts: 44 Member
    I prefer the elliptical - I stop on a treadmill when I find it's "too hard" whereas I don't on the elliptical (plus I'm not scared about falling off the end)
  • choochoobell
    choochoobell Posts: 147 Member
    I have really bad knees. I find the elliptical to be much easier on them.
  • amsohs85
    amsohs85 Posts: 166
    I have heard of a few people in each camp ...
    Some people state if you're more overweight the elliptical is easier on your joints ...

    I have a crappy old treadmill at home and I hate it (I'd rather walk outside)

    Any feedback on which you prefer and why?

    Personally the elliptical may be easier on the joints but i can't stay on it for long. Im 5'2" with short legs and the effort is killer!! Lol... I try to push myself but the muscles in my legs start hurting pretty quickly. I also dont like the treadmill...walking outside with a friend keeps me more focused and i seem to go farther. But the heat has made it hard to get out so the only option is the treadmill for right now.
  • wantstolooseweight
    wantstolooseweight Posts: 166 Member
    Personally I like the elliptical simply for the less impact feeling.... if i go running I prefer outside to a treadmill
  • catniss
    catniss Posts: 326 Member
    The elliptical is absolutely better for your joints, regardless of your weight--no actual impact--plus, it gets your upper body involved.
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    I'm just over 5' tall and over 200lbs right now. I can walk for an hour on the treadmill, but the elliptical doesn't feel like it fits me--I feel like my knees have to come up too high. I can do 30 minutes on the seated elliptical, but it still kicks my booty.
  • stefanieceleste0530
    stefanieceleste0530 Posts: 177 Member
    I love the elliptical because I burn way more calories for the same amount of exerted effort. However, I'm also doing C25K, so I am on the treadmill every other day for that.

    Hands down, though, I prefer being outside - just with the heat and humidity, it's easier for me to be in the gym or in my basement on the equipment. That being said, i'm headed out for a walk right now before it gets too bad out!!

    No matter what you do - you're moving - and that's what is important!
  • kimnsc
    kimnsc Posts: 560 Member
    Personally I like the elliptical simply for the less impact feeling.... if i go running I prefer outside to a treadmill

    Yup!
  • sevencallmemom
    sevencallmemom Posts: 505 Member
    I love my treadmill and have to make myself use the elliptical. Ran more than 7.5 miles on the treadmill yesterday but can't do more than 5 minutes at a time on the elliptical so far.

    Of course when I first got the treadmill I couldn't do much more than 5 minutes on it either...my body just hates doing new things I guess. LOL
  • hothodgie
    hothodgie Posts: 258 Member
    I have always preferred the elliptical to the treadmill. I have bad knees and a bad hip, so I can never do enough on the treadmill without hurting. The most I ever burned on the treadmill was about 150 calories before I had to stop. I can do a ton on the elliptical without an ounce of pain. However, my current gym doesn't have an elliptical. They have arc trainers and I LOVE it, even more than the elliptical. I find them similar though. Still very easy on the joints, but I can go much longer on the arc trainer and I burn a lot more calories than I did on the elliptical.
  • swest222
    swest222 Posts: 455 Member
    I try to use the elliptical every day at the gym but never the treadmill because I don't run due to an injury. I'd rather walk to and from the gym and then use anything but the treadmill! Unless I fancy a cheeky uphill walk.

    How about the rower, do you use that?

    I do have a professional grade rower at home, love it!

    I was thinking elliptical because I wanted a full body cardio (vs the exercise videos I've been doing) .... with this heat we are getting here outside is a killer and I only have the early mornings to go outside

    This way when my kids are in bed I can be doing something else in my basement.
    We have a bowflex as well but I have no idea what I'm doing on that, and it's not cardio ...
  • veggiesaurus15
    veggiesaurus15 Posts: 152 Member
    When I suffered a groin strain, I found the elliptical to be a great alternative that got my heart pumping.
  • MFPBrandy
    MFPBrandy Posts: 564 Member
    Depends on your goal. I do a lot of elliptical -- but I'm a single parent with a back injury. So having the elliptical gets me an easy way to get in some impact-free, babysitter-free activity at odd hours of the day. Dancing around the house is also good (and fun for the kiddo!), but not as easy to remember to maintain a steady level of effort (for me).
    I agree with a PP, though -- elliptical just trains you to get better at doing the elliptical. It's activity, but it's no way to train for a marathon. To the other PP who said ellipticals are of expensive; nohing's cheaper than going for a run outside, sure (unless you have to pay for a babysitter to do it), but if you forego the electronic bells & whistles and get a basic, manual-resistance elliptical, they might be a lot less than you think. I don't need the machine to tell me my heart rate and map out a "course" for me, so my $200 buy (including shipping) from Overstock works out very well. Lots of used options available at garage sales & Craig's List-type sites, too.
    If you're working around an injury, by all means, do what's best for your body! Maybe losing weight on the elliptical will actually ease up the joint pain and running outside will become an option.
  • swest222
    swest222 Posts: 455 Member
    Also, we have 2 pieces of professional grade equipment ... (rower and bowflex)
    (with a crappy treadmill) lol

    Any advise on a professional grade elliptical?
  • Hezzietiger1
    Hezzietiger1 Posts: 1,256 Member
    So my new favorite cardio equipment is neither, it's the arc trainer. It isn't nearly as boring as the treadmill and doesn't bother my knees/or causing cramping in my calves cuz I get that a lot and it seems to be a much more difficult resistance workout than the ellipitcal but about the same amount of impact. The Elliptical sort of pics up its own momentum and helps you workout, the arc trainer doesn't. Nothing makes me sweat more :)

    Hezz
  • threnners
    threnners Posts: 175 Member
    I prefer the elliptical because it's easier on my joints. Also, the one treadmill at the gym that I tried pissed me off because I would have burned more calories walking the track than walking on that thing. Besides, I enjoy the track more because of the air circulation, and the ellipticals are located under huge ceiling fans. The treadmills aren't.
  • emnk5308
    emnk5308 Posts: 736
    I've had both machines. =)

    Treadmill..this actually seems easier on joints to me.. at least in the beginning. I loved this, and what it did for my calves! BUT I got so bored and I would Much rather go for a walk outside! It is nice to have for a rainy day (that is why I found one! We where having really bad weather for weeks)

    ELLIPTICAL- =D This has always been my favorite machine! I love the movement.. Even after having used one before, when I got the one I have now.. it hurt my knees. =/ It took me about 3 days to be able to get going on it for 20 mins w/o stopping. It'll kick your *kitten* until you get used to it.. then its great. I really like how you move.. I've always seen better results with an elliptical. I use my elliptical every day.. unless I've got an odd schedule at work and don't have time.. =)
  • jamies76
    jamies76 Posts: 30 Member
    I'm walking on the treadmill at the gym a lot right now to build up my speed and stamina for walk/jog combo in upcoming races. I'm overcoming some health issues and am not interested in becoming a runner.

    I like to use the elliptical for HIIT. If I stay on longer than 20 minutes my feet start to go numb.
  • tlruffino
    tlruffino Posts: 28
    Elliptical. Burn more calories. I own both, but go to the gym and use it there. Do an hour on cardio days and burn about 600 calories. My thighs are usually achay from all the working out I've done but after 10 minutes they warm up and are fine for the rest of the ride3
  • JoeyTajzai
    JoeyTajzai Posts: 1,198 Member
    From my personal experience, if you wanna burn fat quicker do elliptical, if you wanna gain stamina use the treadmill.
  • FitBunnyEm
    FitBunnyEm Posts: 320
    treadmill for sure
  • MrsSexton2013
    MrsSexton2013 Posts: 98 Member
    I love love love the Arc at the gym.. it burns a ton more calories, and for whatever reason, it makes me sweat more, and makes me feel like I did something. I'm not sure what the actual difference is besides the arc doesnt have the arm movement (which I'm so uncoordinated it agitates me quick, lol) but it's a fabulous burn. Treadmill, I lose interest in quick.
  • stshelleyb
    stshelleyb Posts: 13
    Treadmill all the way, but not for running - for walking as fast as possible on the steepest incline. Burns as many calories as a jog, super tones butt and legs, and no stress injuries. Park the treadmill in front of the TV and 40 minutes are gone before you know it :smile:
  • swest222
    swest222 Posts: 455 Member
    From my personal experience, if you wanna burn fat quicker do elliptical, if you wanna gain stamina use the treadmill.

    this is what I want lol :)

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