Treadmill vs. Elliptical For The New Year

Are you thinking of purchasing a piece of cardio equipment?  Or are you trying to decide how to best get your cardio workout at your gym?

I am often asked “what is the best cardio workout—running or walking on a treadmill or using an elliptical?” 

If you are going to a gym or looking to purchase one piece to give you a great cardio workout, you are probably looking at two machines: the elliptical vs treadmill. There are a lot of myths about these two machines, but the truth is they can both give you a great workout if used correctly. 

As in all cases, the machine that works the best is the one that you LIKE the best. If you enjoy it, you’ll be more apt to stay consistent. That is what matters the most. 

Let’s look at some of the pros and cons to each.

Elliptical workouts tend to be low impact, which is easy on the joints. That is a big plus.  Ellipticals can also provide a full-body workout, engaging the arms and legs simultaneously.  You can adjust the resistance on an elliptical and sometimes the incline giving you a way to easily switch the intensity of your workout.

However, if you are looking for something to strengthen your bones, an elliptical is not your best choice.  My sister recently asked me why her doctor told her that exercise on an elliptical was not the best for her needs.  She has osteoporosis.   Because the foot never comes off the pedals, the elliptical is not weight bearing.  It is easier on joints but doesn’t provide the resistance to build up bone.

Treadmills, on the other hand are weight bearing and are ideal for those who want to work on their running form and get a great cardio workout. If you are a walker, treadmills can also give you a great low impact workout.  

Almost all treadmills allow you to increase the incline, providing you with the opportunity to really work your legs as you work your heart and strengthen your bones.

If you’re looking to lose weight, both the treadmill and the elliptical can help you burn fat and shed pounds if you’re working hard enough. 

There are a variety of already designed workouts for both the elliptical and the treadmill.  Each piece of equipment also has a variety of options on the display and you can create your own workout playing with the resistance levels and timing.

I welcome any of your questions on how you can create the best workout of the equipment of your choice.