If you are looking to lose weight by increasing your calorie burn, a treadmill or an elliptical machine can help you achieve your goal. While on an elliptical machine, you move your feet in an elliptical pattern while simultaneously pumping your arms. Treadmills allow you to participate in a walking, jogging or running workout routine. The time and intensity of your workout will determine which machine helps you burn more calories.
Effects
You'll burn 335 calories in 30 minutes if you weigh 155 lbs. when using the elliptical machine at a moderate pace, according to Harvard Health Publications. You'll burn the same amount of calories on the treadmill by running at a pace of 5.2 mph for 30 minutes. Running at a pace of 5 mph burns approximately 298 calories in 30 minutes, and a brisk walking pace of 4.5 mph burns 186 calories in half an hour.
Expert Insight
According to a 1996 study from the "Journal of the American Medical Association," the treadmill is the ideal piece of cardio equipment for optimizing energy expenditure. Subjects rated perceived exertion levels while exercising at different intensity levels. The stationary bike, cross-trainer, rowing machine and stair-stepper were also evaluated during the study. If you are able to exercise for longer periods of time before fatigue sets in, you can burn more calories at each session.
Considerations
If you are looking to put less stress on the joints while still burning calories, you may want to consider an elliptical machine for your exercise routine. If you have previous knee or leg injuries or are new to exercise, you may want to choose an elliptical machine over a treadmill, according to the American Council on Exercise.
Potential
Instead of choosing one or the other for fat loss, you should work out on both the elliptical machine and treadmill as part of a cross-training routine. Benefits of a cross-training routine are that you are not likely to become bored during your workout and you also get to focus on different muscle groups as you exercise. A sample training routine would be 15 minutes on an exercise bike, 15 minutes on an elliptical machine and 15 minutes jogging on a treadmill.
References
- American Council on Exercise: What's the Best Piece of Cardio Equipment to Use?
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Energy Expenditure With Indoor Exercise Machines; Anne I. Zeni, et al.; 1996
- Harvard Health Publications: Calories Burned in 30 Minutes for People of Three Different Weights
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