Calories Burned On Elliptical Vs. Treadmill

Metabolism is the process in which your body converts food into energy. The energy is used to maintain body processes such as breathing, pumping blood, digesting and regenerating cells. The energy is measured in calories. With increased activity, more energy is required and more calories are burned. Cardio training, including treadmills and elliptical trainers, require higher amounts of energy, resulting in an increased amount of calories. burned.

History

Treadmills date back to 1875. They were built to use with animals as a way to generate power. They were not built for humans until the 1950s for stress tests for medical evaluations. In the 1960s, they were made available for commercial use in health clubs and home settings. The first elliptical trainers were built in 1995. They were marketed as trainers that provided high intensity training with a reduced impact on your lower body joints, notes the website The History of.

Factors

The amount of calories burned with cardio activity is based on many factors based on the participant and the workout. Factors based on participants include bodyweight, muscle mass, resting metabolic rate and age. Higher amounts of bodyweight and muscle mass increase the amount of calories burned. Factors affecting calories burned in a workout include the speed of the activity and the amount of muscle groups exerting force during the workout. Faster speeds will require increased caloric amounts, as does working both the upper body and lower body.

Effects

Exercise intensity plays a crucial role in determining the amount of calories burned in a cardio workout. Treadmill workouts offer options such as walking, jogging and running. A 150 lb. individual, exercising for 30 minutes, will burn 95 to 175 calories walking, 240 calories jogging and 600 to 800 calories running. The same individual will burn about 390 calories working out for 30 minutes on an elliptical trainer, according to the Health Status website. For comparison, workouts on the elliptical trainer burn more calories than walking or jogging on a treadmill, but less calories than running between 10 to 12 miles per hour on a treadmill.

Benefits

Besides calories burned, there are additional benefits associated with cardio training on elliptical trainers and treadmills. Benefits include increased heart and lung capacity and decreased resting heart rates and blood pressure. Cardio training improves your overall ability to provide blood and oxygen to your body, at rest and during increased activity. When combined with proper nutrition, cardio training is an effective method for reducing excess body weight and body fat.

Considerations

First-time participants should consult a physician before starting an exercise program. Beginner-level participants should start with a reduced intensity training program, progressing to higher levels over time.