Alright, I have always made sure to get an elliptical at my school's gym, even if it meant getting up at 6am just to beat the rush (the ellipticals are ALWAYS all taken from 7am-close basically).

Why would I go through such drastic measures for an elliptical? Well other than how great it feels on my joints, according to its calorie counter, I burn practically 1.5-2x's as many calories on it than any other cardio equipment. In a 45 minute workout, averaging roughly 85 RPMS on level 5 (not that it means anything since they're all different), I burn, or so it says, around 730-750 calories per workout. When I did the stationary bike a few times, I was hardly burning 200 calories in 20 minutes, so in 45 minutes, I'd burn about 450 cals if I kept going. The stair master, if I recall was a little better, but not much, I think the few times I did it for like 20 mins, I burned 220 calories or so. And lastly, my treadmill at my house that I used the other weekend I burned like 550 calories in 45 mins.

I always say to myself, "Why spend the same time working my ass off to lose so many LESS calories?"

The Elliptical I use is no cheap POS either. It's a pretty expensive LifeFitness, and I use any of the 10 they have and get the same results. Is it possible to lose that many more calories in the same time or are the calorie counters probably VERY off?

Just wondering, because my options would be A LOT more open if I didn't feel I HAD to use the elliptical.

Thanks for any input!

I took an Exercise Physiology class in college and the professor said that the counters on ellipticals are way off. The calorie count is the result of an equation that I don't know off-hand, but I probably have in my notes somewhere. The equation is more perfected for treadmills and bikes than for the elliptical. Why it is still so high, and no one has perfected it? I don't know. Our teacher kept telling us that it would be a great research project for one of us to do someday.

What do you feel gives you a better workout? Elliptical? Treadmill? Bike? Stairmaster? It sounds like you're putting too much stock in the calorie counter which could be very deceptive. Do a round of cardio on each and hide the counter. Go by what you feel gave you the best workout

:tu:

What do you feel gives you a better workout? Elliptical? Treadmill? Bike? Stairmaster? It sounds like you're putting too much stock in the calorie counter which could be very deceptive. Do a round of cardio on each and hide the counter. Go by what you feel gave you the best workout

:tu:

i agree too. i never go by what the machines say. those machines use programmed formulas that don't really take individual variances into account, i.e metabolism, bf%. i just work my butt off and make sure i get a good sweat.