Ellipticals vs Treadmills: Which Machine Burns More Fat?
April 18, 2009 by Torii Tompson
Filed under Weight Loss
As I’m sure you have noticed, home gym equipment isn’t cheap. When you are looking to invest in something to help you lose weight it is important to know which piece of equipment is most effective at burning off calories.
The two best selling pieces of exercise equipment are treadmills and elliptical trainers, but which one is actually best at burning the most calories? There is certainly a lot of argument with many people liking both pieces of equipment. However when it comes down to which is best for you to buy, there really is only one definitive answer.
Both machines are able to help you burn the same out calories, depending on how you exercise with them. Working out on an elliptical can burn as many calories as running on a treadmill.
Many people find that running on a treadmill is too intense for their joints – it is true that a workout on a treadmill can have a very deep impact on your body. If you find that you cannot run on a treadmill, then a workout on an elliptical can be just as effective at burning calories, and will have a lesser impact on your joints and muscles.
It really does all boil down to how you use your exercise machine. For example, by running for an hour on a treadmill at about 7 mph your body would use up approximately 783 calories. Now if you were to use an elliptical trainer for about an hour, you should burn around 774 calories, so the figures are more or less the same. However, if you were to use the treadmill set at only 3 mph you would only burn 297 calories, which is a huge difference!
However, this isn’t a cut and dry formula. The number of calories you burn on an elliptical trainer can vary. Some people adopt a moderate approach to their workout on the elliptical, while others go at it full force.
To consider which exercise machine will give you the better workout and help you burn more calories, think about which one you will enjoy most. Which machine will motivate you to get up and move?
If for example you love to walk, jog or run, then a treadmill would be an obvious choice for you. Treadmills let you get all the benefits of walking, without having to leave your home, which means you can get your exercise even if the weather is bad outside. However, if you really want to lose weight and burn those calories then you will have to be sure to use your treadmill at a suitable speed and set the incline to give yourself a more intense workout.
If you’ve experienced pain in your knees or ankles, or simply want to enjoy a low impact routine, then you’ll want to choose an elliptical instead. As you age, an elliptical trainer is much more forgiving on your body. Of course some exercise enthusiasts invest in both machines — and elliptical and a treadmill. This lets you mix up your workouts and avoid burnout completely.
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