I have been using the treadmill an average of about 3 days a week for the past 3 months now...and I have had great results with it (treadmill along with changing my diet has helped me go from 180 pounds down to my goal weight of 152).

I went to the gym the other day, and the treadmills were all being used, so I got on the eliptical machine for the first time in my life. It seemed a lot easier, but I was just wondering how easier it was.

I was on it for 15 minutes, and hardly broke a sweat. I don't think I sweat as much on the eliptical as I would on the treadmill. Although it said I burned about 200 calories in 15 minutes, I doubt it. However, I did like the eliptical machine better, it was easier and more fun than running the treadmill.

Is treadmill better than eliptical? And how long would I have to do the eliptical to get the same results as about 30 minutes on the treadmill. I don't think I can go by what the "calories burned" on the machine says...because it just doesn't feel like I am burning that much.

I run and use the elliptical at the gym to mix up my cardio as well as to give my knees a rest. I actually sweat more on the elliptical than I do when I jog. You have to up the resistance to feel that burn. If you just do the elliptical on the first couple levels, you won't get much of a workout (I would compare it to walking). Hope this helps.

i agree. i have an elliptical and i sweat like crazy on it. i have mine on the hiking. it's also better for your knees

I love the treadmill...I sprained my ankle one time and tahts the only time i used the eliptical. I feel lazy on the eliptical for some reason. With the treadmill, i just keep on running till ive reach my goal.

someone pointed out to me that only girls use the elliptical, and i started noticing it, and now I just don't feel right doing it

someone pointed out to me that only girls use the elliptical, and i started noticing it, and now I just don't feel right doing it

i work out at Worlds and i see both guys and girls using eliptical...nothing wrong with using it. Its actually better if you use eliptical when your overweight than using treadmill because its easy on your knees and ankles.

someone pointed out to me that only girls use the elliptical, and i started noticing it, and now I just don't feel right doing it


I'd rather elliptical next to some pretty girls than run next to some sweaty beasts.

Anyways, if you do ellipticals with HIT or with high resistance, you can get a mega-workout. I prefer it to treadmills.

someone pointed out to me that only girls use the elliptical, and i started noticing it, and now I just don't feel right doing it

I'm not trying to be harsh, or obnoxious, but personal ego should not allowed to interfere with your training. This is the exact behaviour that makes people overdo their weight training, trying to push for higher and higher weights, instead of slowly building the meat to raise those weights. :db:

It shouldn't matter who uses the ellipticals, you're there for yourself and you actually know something that most of then guys there: proper cardio gives better muscles :)

I bought an elliptical after hurting my knee running on hard pavements. I love it (although mine is rubbish, I'm changing to a better model that I've tried).

I have used it for low intensity and HIIT and talk about sweating, it's compulsory shower after every workout.

It all depends on how fast you move your legs (and arms), and what resistance setting you use.

But it does not FEEL hard because it is so soft on the joints, even when the heart rate goes up. I can work up a sweat, spend plenty of time in my target HR zone, and yet the knees feel just fine afterwards, not stressed at all. That's not a sensation ususally experienced when running in "natural" conditions, so it can be perceived as less of an efficient workout. But I'm sure it is in fact super-efficient.


Vincent.

I love the eliptical because its a form of cardio that I can do the same day that I play basketball. Not rough on the knees, and I have burned 400 cal in 30min on the eliptical.

The Elliptical is my favorite! The one I use at the gym is an Elliptical crosstrainer. I like getting my arms into it. When I first started going to the gym I didnt know how to pace myself on it...but now I can go 45 minutes on it no problem. And i am sweating like mad, but i dont feel like i am going to die. Its also a nice challenge to go in the opposite direction half way threw.

i use Elliptical cuz i have bad knees

I posted a similiar question the other day. I, too, gave up the treadmill due to shin splints etc. so I started the elipptical. And in my case I find it extremely hard. I cant even do 10 minutes with no resistance and Im not even overweight. My heart feels like its going to explode and The bottom of my thighs just get so tight. What sucks is I cant even do it long enough to break in a good sweat, but im going to keep doing it until my legs get used to it.

As for your question whether the treadmill is better, I wondered the same and after thinking about it, if you break in a good sweat you'll be fine.

I used to use the elliptical exclusively and thought I was getting a pretty good work out...until I hopped on the treadmill and started jogging. Oh man, what a difference! I sweat so much more on the treadmill and I just FEEL like I'm working harder. So, even though the elliptical is more fun to me, I've been sticking with the treadmill for the past 2 months (and I've seen a marked improvement in my legs!)

ditto.. thats the way i feel too.

to me treadmill is kinda equivalent to free weights
and elliptical is kinda like cables. I guess its just the way you use it.

When I was at the gym the other day I gave an eliptical machine a try after running on a treadmil for about 35 minutes. Unless I'm setting it wrong, it felt like I was too tall for the machine or something (and I'm only 5'10"). It was like I could barely move my legs on the thing without falling off.

I think I'll stick to the treadmil.

when i used the crosstrainer, it felt odd, i kept getting shot up as i straightened out my leg. After a few sessions it didnt happen anymore, it just took getting used to, and using a rhythm to your movements.

The treadmill does appear to be harder and more of a workout to Eliptical in my experience. However, if you are overweight - the Eliptical is a far, far better way to go to save your knees and wear and tear on your body. I would have a goal to insert treadmill workouts in as you lose more weight and get closer to your goal.

In regards to people not sweating after 15 minutes - you're not doing it right. :)

Hi all. I am a new member coming out of lurking. I was reading these posts and just had to add my 2 cents. I find the treadmill to be sort of boring and not very challenging. I have been walking for fitness for a while and I have taken up the elliptical for a change. I find the elliptical to be challenging if you set the resistance and incline higher and just play around with it and to back and forth (getting heart rate up and down). I also listen to music and sort of pace myself according to the music. The other day I did 15 mins elliptical then, 25 mins treadmill just to mix it up. I don't know why I find the elliptical more challenging, but is is better on my knees (I have patellofemoral). I can get my heart rate up really good on the elliptical vs. the treadmill. I think it is just a matter of personal preference, but its wonderful that you do either! Just get up and move!

I used to use the elliptical exclusively and thought I was getting a pretty good work out...until I hopped on the treadmill and started jogging. Oh man, what a difference! I sweat so much more on the treadmill and I just FEEL like I'm working harder. So, even though the elliptical is more fun to me, I've been sticking with the treadmill for the past 2 months (and I've seen a marked improvement in my legs!)

same here..used it for a few months and got nowhere switched to treadmill and started seeing way better results

I find the elliptical to be challenging if you set the resistance and incline higher and just play around with it and to back and forth (getting heart rate up and down)

u can do that on treadmills..most have speed interval/sprint settings...thats what i do

and idk your gym but on nicer treadmills you can set inclines too

i do like the crosstrainer too, but the thing that bugs me is that i burn more calories on it then i do on ANY other machine, no matter what i do.. i was thinking about this very phenomenon today, and maybe soemone can give the answer :D

I too have used the elliptical since the day I tried it. I tried to jog the first day of workout and my knees hurt pretty bad afterwards trying to carry what used to be all 286lbs of me. I've seen great results so far keeping my RPM's above 73 for 45min. When I first started using the elliptical I was keeping my RPM's above 60 for 45min. :tucool:

Oh yeah. I definately agree. But if you have knees that just kill you, the treadmill hurts! I like the elliptical because it is much easier on my knees. Even with a knee brace on, when I am on the treadmill, I can't stay on very long. Ouchie!

Oh yeah. I definately agree. But if you have knees that just kill you, the treadmill hurts! I like the elliptical because it is much easier on my knees. Even with a knee brace on, when I am on the treadmill, I can't stay on very long. Ouchie!

I must say - I love the elliptical. First, I enjoy the variety of programs it offers, and the fact that if you want to (I don't) you can go reverse without looking pretty obvious.

My gym (XSport in Chicago, Bricktown) has the Precor 650 EFX commercial ellipticals. I wish I could afford one of these for my house but at their prices ($4,500) I don't think I'll be doing that anytime soon.

My cario workouts on these are intense. I go no less than 30 minutes, and often will go for 50 or 60. I typically use the cross training program, and then alter the program midstream to be more difficult. I find that sometimes reversing the 'peaks' and 'valleys' allows me to fake my body out if it's getting too used to the routine.

I usually keep about 130 steps per minute and burn an average of 19 calories per minute on this beast. Having techno and/or trance [my only recommendation for serious cardio] helps me keep the stepping in sync throughout the workout.

And yeah, my knees suck too. That's what 4.5 years in the Marines will do to anyone! :tu:

Doesnt anyone find it annoying doing HIIT on a treadmill? To increase the speed, then to decrease it manually drives me bonkers.

my gym has newer life fitness treads that have a "speed interval" setting

u set jog speed/run speed then just hit the button anytime u wanna change


btw, for all the people amazed at the # of calories ur burning on an elliptical machine u do realize that the number is way off right?

Hello all-

I like to run, but had some problems with knees and ankles in the past, so I don't do it very often. I've also used ellipiticals and treadmills, and have had good workouts on each.

An alternative to ellipticals and treadmills and running is a rowing ergometer (Concept 2). Non-impact, different muscles used, more upper body work. I actually own one now, and it's great. It's very effective as both a strength and cardio machine.

Pay attention to form - it doesn't hurt your back if you do it right.

I post this by way of giving an alternative, not to attack either treaddies or lippies. . . ergs are at least a good curveball for your body to work with once in a while.

bd

I don't pay attention to what the elliptical says when it comes to the calorie counting thing. I have a Polar Heart Rate monitor for that, and not sure even that thing is that accurate. Probably more so than what the elliptical says though. It's usually double what my heart monitor says. Bah!