Treadmill vs Elliptical Trainers: Which One For The Best Workout?
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.
Some people may not be able to run on a treadmill. It has a greater impact on your body, including your joints. An elliptical gives you a lower impact workout, yet still allows you to burn the same amount of calories as a high impact workout on a treadmill.
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!
The number of calories your body burns on an elliptical really does all depend on how you use the machine and the approach you take to your workout. Some people prefer to exercise in a moderate, gentle way, whereas others charge in an give themselves a very intense workout.
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 you simply love walking, jogging, or running, then you want to invest in a treadmill. It’s much better than walking on the surface of the street. But if burning calories is your main concern, you’ll need to make sure that you increase the speed and up the incline.
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 - an elliptical and a treadmill. This lets you mix up your workouts and avoid burnout completely.