Treadmills and elliptical trainers are at the top of cardio equipment for losing weight and burning excess calories.
The only question is, which one is more effective for weight loss? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question; each has its pros and cons.
If you want to lose weight, which one should you choose? Which workout style is better: long, short, fat-burning or interval?
Let’s get figure out which is better; cross trainer vs treadmill in this in this article.
Decide on the specifics of the training.
Low load level
Upper body
Lower body
Muscle cortex
Variety of movement
Rowing machine
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Treadmill
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Bicycle simulator
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Recumbent
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Ellipsoid
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Stapper trainer
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Swimming
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When planning an individual training programme, both strength and cardio, be specific.
This means that the training should be aimed at practising the goals you have set.
The best machine for the runner to simulate the actual process of running would naturally be a treadmill.
This doesn’t mean that a runner can’t use an elliptical, because it can be a great cross-training option. But the treadmill will still be the main exercise machine.
On the other hand, for cross-country skiers, ellipticals are more suitable, as they provide full-body resistance and develop endurance, which is crucial when tackling distances in the snow.
Therefore, when choosing the type and designing a training programme, you should not forget its purpose.
Treadmill
Found in private gyms and most home fitness studios, this cardio machine has long been one of the most popular pieces of equipment to lose weight.
This is largely because exercising on it is similar to conventional running, which is most often present in almost all workout plans.
Treadmill for weight loss
The main problem with treadmill exercise, and running in general, is that it is not particularly effective for losing weight. Why? Firstly, only the leg muscles are engaged, apart from the core muscles.
And the number of calories consumed per workout is directly related to the number of muscles involved.
Which burns more fuel, the truck or the lawnmower?
The truck has a much larger engine and therefore requires more energy to do its job. It’s the same with muscle, the more muscle fibres working, the more calories burned as fuel.
The treadmill only works the lower body’s muscles, leaving out a large part of the musculature.
Muscles while running
Running on a treadmill puts enormous strain on your joints, which are several times their own weight. This is even though most modern tracks are made with a cushioning system.
This is why running can be quite risky for people with knee and joint problems or is even contraindicated.
As a rule, the stride becomes wider when running on the track. Improper technique can lead to future joint problems or worsen the situation if you already have them.
So, are treadmills effective for weight loss?
There can be. It all depends on you, on how the exerciser is used and on your individual needs.
Pros:
* A good trainer for runners: The elliptical is more suitable for cross-training, while the treadmill is designed specifically for runners.
* Provides a workout with exertion: You can control the degree of exertion by switching from running to walking and vice versa, helping you strengthen your bones and burn more calories.
* Variety: You can customise your workout by adjusting the treadmill’s speed and incline to diversify your workout.
* Increases endurance.
* Simple technique to use.
* The natural movement of a person’s feet.
Minuses:
* High load.
* The technique of the exercise is disturbed.
* Pretty boring: all you’ll find is a monotonous run or walk to nowhere, so you’ll need to keep yourself busy if you get bored.
* Risk of injury: The track is moving, so there is a risk of slipping and falling.
* Does not develop strength.
* It’s different from training outside: A moving treadmill makes running easier, and you don’t have to exert as much effort as with normal running. No wind resistance, no uneven ground, and no downhill slope make it a bit unrealistic compared to outside running.
* Cost: Get what you are prepared to pay for this exerciser. It must have a strong frame and a powerful motor. It will cost you around $1,500 to buy one. Inexpensive counterparts for home use are often not suitable for running.
Elliptical trainer
The distinctive feature of the elliptical is the unique movement reminiscent of cross-country skiing.
There is virtually no stress on the joints when you exercise on it, which is one of its main advantages over treadmills.
Also, the trainer has special handles, which are not only needed to keep your balance. They allow you to train your upper body with both pushing and pulling movements.
ellipsoid for weight loss
This means that elliptical trainers have a strength-training element that treadmills lack, which is quite important.
Remember what we said about what it takes to burn more calories and how important it is to engage your whole body?
Elliptical trainers are great for this. But there’s something you must know and consider before starting.
The movement’s structure is not quite familiar to the foot, which is fixed and restricted in movement.
Also, people often lean slightly forward, creating extra tension in the lower back.
These factors can cause the hip flexor muscles to become overstretched, which can affect overall hip mobility. Sports professionals recommend doing recovery exercises (stretching and roller exercises) after every workout.
Pros:
* Includes an element of strength training.
* Burns slightly more calories because more muscles are working.
* Low strain during exercise. The feet never leave the pedals, so the bones, joints and muscles are not put under the same strain as when running. Without a doubt, this is a plus for those who already have problems with their lower limbs.
* Whole-body workout: Works the lower body as well as the upper body while on the trainer.
* Mimics the natural movement as when riding a bicycle.
* Working out is easier: This is because the slight strain on your muscles, joints and bones during an elliptical workout gives the impression that fewer calories are being burned, but this is not the case.
* Variety of modes: you can adjust and change the load and resistance and move backwards.
Minuses:
* Low exertion: For people with joint problems, this may even be a plus, but the ellipsoid will not be enough for a healthy person.
* Foot numbness: The feet are fixed and often lose sensation with prolonged exercise. To get rid of this, you need to move your feet occasionally, moving your toes to improve circulation.
* Burning legs: When you first use the ellipsoid, the quadriceps muscles in your thighs are engaged giving you the burning feeling for the next few days after a workout, which only goes away after a few workouts when your muscles get used to the exertion.
Several calories burned on the treadmill and ellipsoid.
Medical College of Wisconsin found that jogging for one hour on a treadmill burns about 705-866 calories, while on an ellipsoid it burns about 773. Based on these and other studies, the treadmill is the most acceptable exercise machine for burning calories, but it is negligible.
In a 12-week training programme with the same intensity, but on different machines, the same effect was observed.
Cross-trainer vs. Treadmill
ellipsoid or treadmill for weight loss
Knowing about this training equipment’s basics, which cardio equipment is best for weight loss: elliptical vs treadmill?
The truth is that they both have their merits if used properly.
Again, the main disadvantage of treadmills is that they do not provide enough resistance. But they can.
Some lanes are inclined to simulate uphill running, which makes it harder to run and helps you burn more calories.
Don’t forget what the trainer is for. If you need to work on your running, then definitely the track. And if you want to lose excess fat, the ellipsoid is the best way to do this, as it puts pressure on the most core muscle groups.
If your main goal is to lose the extra pounds and have no plans to win a marathon shortly, then elliptical trainers are the best cardio equipment for weight loss.
To increase your workout’s efficiency, simply work your arms and legs more intensively, increasing the load on your core muscle groups.
And if you just repeat the movements without exerting effort, then the muscles won’t work much.
Keep the load at a sufficiently high level. Try not to watch TV, read a magazine or talk on the phone during this time.
Because if you have the energy to do extraneous things during a workout, it’s not that intense.
How to do cardio exercises properly.
If you decide to go with cardio, you need to know everything about getting the most out of it.
Get rid of long, monotonous workouts of moderate intensity, and simply bump up the intensity.
Cardio for weight loss
Why isn’t regular training as effective?
It’s simple: they don’t create changes and spikes in your metabolism. On the contrary, they increase cortisol levels in the body, causing the body to use muscles for fuel and even store more fat in the belly.
HIIT workout burns more calories and helps avoid muscle breakdown.
HIIT is a combination of short, intense intervals with short breaks of active recovery.
The simplest HIIT might look like this
* Sprint – 30 seconds.
* Jogging or walking – 1 minute.
* Repetition.
Conclusion
Both treadmills and ellipticals have their advantages and disadvantages, but the latter tend to put less strain on the joints and burn more calories because they involve more muscles.
Regardless of which machine is right for you and which you eventually decide to buy, the most important thing is to remember to use a VIT to maximise the effect of burning extra calories.