Treadmill Vs. Elliptical

[hl0m4n]

i thought my cardio was decent for avg guy, about 3-4 mile treadmill on speed 7-8 then me and a friend decided to take a cycle class today and holy shit i couldn't even keep up with the rest of the class . i got winded mad fast but hell it was a pretty fun class, good music and the instructor was very motiviating, and plus the eye candy in the class were .

i think imma keep doing the cycle out of class but what is better to get cardio up treadmill or elliptical? i never been on the eliptical before just though traditional running was best.

i know there are fitness gurus in here, help much appreciated. thanks .

[nightkhan]

treadmill for sure. ellipticals can't even compete when it comes to working out your legs and lungs. people do it because they're lazy and think they're working out, but any instructor will tell you that it's shit.

however, if you have joint problems, or you're fat like those people on the biggest loser, ellipticals is a good machine just to start with, but treadmills and bikes are still the best.

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by nightkhan

treadmill for sure. ellipticals can't even compete when it comes to working out your legs and lungs. people do it because they're lazy and think they're working out, but any instructor will tell you that it's shit.

however, if you have joint problems, or you're fat like those people on the biggest loser, ellipticals is a good machine just to start with, but treadmills and bikes are still the best.

I don't agree with that. I get a better workout from the elliptical then I do a treadmill, and I am not fat. I weigh 170lbs and am 5'11". Part of the problem with most people and elliptical is that they use their arms to support some of their weight.

Try the elliptical with no hands and support your full weight. I use the cross-training routine and alternate between level 10 on lower body lift days and level 11 on upper body lift days.

I will concede that spinning bikes are a better workout then the elliptical but not the treadmill.

[L8Apex]

Row row row your boat... 100x better than a treadmill, bike ellip etc.
http://www.concept2.com/us/default.asp

[335R1]

elyptical is good for setting your strides and easy on your knees.

[Scorpion]

I prefer the treadmill as well.

Originally Posted by L8Apex

Row row row your boat... 100x better than a treadmill, bike ellip etc.
http://www.concept2.com/us/default.asp

Got a bigger pic of your ava?

[L8Apex]

Originally Posted by Scorpion

Got a bigger pic of your ava?

check my garage pics!

[nightkhan]

Originally Posted by L8Apex

Row row row your boat... 100x better than a treadmill, bike ellip etc.
http://www.concept2.com/us/default.asp

ah yes...ergs FTW. Those for sure trumps all. Those would kill us back in the crew days, they work legs, glutes, back, arms, your entire body, and gives you a hell of an aerobic workout.

as far as ellipticals, i used to think those would give me a hell of a workout back in the days. i never used my arms to make it easier, and would do intervals alternating with max resistance i could go, and i thought that was pretty tough...until....

i started doing interval training on the treadmills. can't compare. do 30 min intervals on the treadmill, 3% incline, alternating between a minute of 7 mph, and a minute of 10 mph....i'd be out of breath. but on the ellipticals, i'd just be like...what next? people have their preference though, i get a better workout from treadmills.

for me, ergs > bikes/treadmill > ellipticals

actually, if you want a more fun cardio workout...do p90x plyo or insanity cardio exercises....now those kill!!

[Scorpion]

Originally Posted by L8Apex

check my garage pics!

Amazing, you got a really nice car collection as well. Nice choice of color.

[nightkhan]

Originally Posted by L8Apex

check my garage pics!

damn! my brother had the e36 M3 which is what i learned driving stick on. man....i loved that car! such a beauty.

[GreenPlease]

I'm not a big fan of elipticals. I've never found one with a proper stride. They all seem to "bounce." IMO, spinning bike is where it's at. Treadmill is great if you have the knees for it.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by nightkhan

treadmill for sure. ellipticals can't even compete when it comes to working out your legs and lungs. people do it because they're lazy and think they're working out, but any instructor will tell you that it's shit.

however, if you have joint problems, or you're fat like those people on the biggest loser, ellipticals is a good machine just to start with, but treadmills and bikes are still the best.

ahaha you sound like an elitist douche. you're basically making it sound like ellipticals won't do anything for you. i've lost about ~50lbs in a little less than two years time, all while building muscle and cardio endurance.

they work you out damn well if you do high level intervals.

[Labrada_Exoticz]

Originally Posted by Nikkahtropolis

ahaha you sound like an elitist douche. you're basically making it sound like ellipticals won't do anything for you. i've lost about ~50lbs in a little less than two years time, all while building muscle and cardio endurance.

they work you out damn well if you do high level intervals.

+1... I lost 30 LBS in a couple months off of doing the elliptical every day for an hour and dieting.

[J-9]

Treadmill > elliptical. Bigger range of motion.

I use both, plus stationary bike to run sprint sessions to build lung capacity.

However, none of these can substitute for real running outside.

[boymonkey]

I prefer treadmill because the way the elliptical rotates doesn't feel natural for my knees and feet. I do treadmill for endurance and fat loss. For a more effective cardio workout I play full court basketball.

[kabalm18]

Originally Posted by J-9

Treadmill > elliptical. Bigger range of motion.

I use both, plus stationary bike to run sprint sessions to build lung capacity.

However, none of these can substitute for real running outside.

This. Go outside and run some sprints.

[Spec 1]

I have to do ellipticals because I have a bad knee and anything over 1 mile on the treadmill and I'll be suffering later... I'd probably do the treadmill or a real run otherwise, but I put up the resistance (10+) and do 2-3 cross training peaks of elevation, run about 2 miles after my weight lifting....

Ellipticals work great, for me perfectly due to the joints, but I'd do the treadmill if I could.

[Cosmop]

I want to workout with this girl