Elliptical vs Treadmills: Which One Burns More Calories?
Oct 23rd, 2008 by Torri Tompson
Unfortunately home exercise equipment is never cheap, which means it is really important to invest in the right machine. For effective weight loss, you need to find out which piece of equipment is best at helping to burn up those excess calories.
The two market leaders in terms of number of sales are treadmills and ellipticals, and many people will argue about which piece of equipment is the best. Naturally since you are the person who will be using the machine, you have to come to your own personal decision about which you like best, but there is a definite answer to the argument about which one burns the most calories.
Both treadmills and ellipticals can help you to burn the same amount of calories, the major factor to bear in mind is how you actually use the machine while you are exercising! Running on a treadmill can deliver the exact same results as a workout on an elliptical, and vice versa.
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.
Running on a treadmill, at approximately 7 mph, would burn 783 calories if you were 150 pounds, and you ran for an hour. Using an elliptical trainer, you would burn 774 calories. But if you only walk on a treadmill at 3 mph, you would only burned 297 calories. That’s a big difference!
It’s important to remember though that this is not a straight forward formula, the number of calories you can burn using an elliptical trainer vary greatly depending on how you approach your exercise routine. Some people go for a full force approach, which others decide to take a more moderate workout.
You really need to ask yourself which machine you would prefer. Remember, you will only do you exercise if you are motivated and excited, if you find it boring to use a treadmill, you are not likely to keep up to your workout regime. Equally, if an elliptical does not inspire you, then you are better off with a treadmill.
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 are someone who has experienced problems with the knees or ankle joints, or perhaps you just want to enjoy an exercise routine with a lower impact on your body, then an elliptical trainer is the machine for you. Elliptical trainers are also an excellent choice for the older person, as they are much gentler to the body while still making sure you burn calories. Perhaps if you have the space and can afford, you could even invest in both machines, allowing you to add an element of variety to your workouts.
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