[BigNomore71]

Hello,

I totally detest exercise, therefore I've been playing around with the gym equipment with whatever enthusiasm I have!

The question I have is this - I've been working out at the Treadmill for a mere 25-min workout session for a moderate intensity (but which is high enough for me) that gets my heart rate upto 160 bpm. But the calories burned is about 156 Calories for the 25 min workout for my weight.

Whereas, the elliptical is something new to me, and thus I manage to workout at a speed of 3.2 - 3.4 miles/hr for about 20 min per session and it gets about 176 calories burnt for the 20 min but the heart rate is only 133 bpm max.

Given all the discussion about the necessity to workout at the target heart rate, which is about 60 - 80% of your maximum heart rate (or the so-called 'fat burning zone'), which workout mentioned above is better for me - the Treadmill or the Elliptical?

Please advice. Thanks.

[JayZeeJay]

Your heart rate will be a better indicator of your workout intensity/calories burned than the machine's estimation. Ellipticals have the worst average accuracy; they generally overestimate calorie burn a fair amount. Treadmills and stair mills (the moving staircase) tend to be most accurate if you don't lean on the handrails. Here's an article explaining:
http://www.shape.com/fitness/cardio/...e-counters-gym

If you measure an average heart rate during your activity, there are calculators online for calorie burn; if you measure or estimate your VO2 max too (see bottom of this article), they are even more accurate:
http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-ex...lculator.shtml

[BigNomore71]

Thank you for the links and the explanation, JayZeeJay!

Based on what I see at the shapesense link, it appears I get a better workout at the Treadmill, both from the POV of heart rate as well as calorie burn! No wonder I find it harder among the two (Ellipticals vs. Treadmill).

[Wannabehealthy]

When I went to cardiac rehab, the exercise physiologist told me that the Elliptical gives a better over-all work out. I have found that with my arthritic knee, the Elliptical is gentler. But if you have no physical difficulties, choose the one that works best for you. We are all different.

[BigNomore71]

Thanks for the info, Wannabehealthy!