Reliability of elliptical v. treadmill?
 

Hi all, I have a question.

Usually for workout days I alternate between using the treadmill and using different types of elliptical trainer for my 60 min. of cardio. I am really starting to distrust the calories burned readouts on the ellipticals.

For example, today I did 60 min. on the treadmill, alternating between 6 mph with no incline and 4 mph with a 7.5 incline every five minutes. At the end the calories burned was something like 700. It totally kicked my butt; when I was done, I was all hot and sweaty. But on days when I do an hour on the elliptical, usually with a medium-high resistance and incline if it has one, I'll net over 1,000 burned, and feel a lot less worked and sweaty.

So what gives? I do put in my weight at 5 lbs. less on both machines in order for it to be more accurate, as I have heard you should do this, but is the elliptical still lying to me? Or is engineered so you burn more and feel it less? I ask because if it does do the latter, I might be better off phasing out the treadmill entirely, to save my knees from potential harm on impact with the runner.

Any thoughts?

I don't trust any of the machine readouts either!

The best way to determine which machine burns the most calories is to compare your heart rate while you're on the treadmill with your heart rate on the elliptical. If they're comparable, you're burning about the same number of calories per hour, regardless of what the machine says. Your heart rate determines your calories burned.

You can do this with a heart rate monitor that you wear or one built into the machine. One you wear is a great choice because you can program it with your own personal statistics: age, gender, weight etc. I have a Polar one and love it because it syncs up with the displays on the machines in my gym.

I remember reading a study that found that the elliptical is perceived as not being as hard of a workout as it actually is -- people didn't think they were working as hard as they actually were. I'm an elliptical user myself and think it's awesome cardio!

I think you're really smart to think about the long-term effect of the treadmill on your knees. If you have knee issues, you could also add swimming and biking into your cardio program and still protect your knees. Mix them all up and have fun! (and don't forget music! :D )

I' have used both in the past the and Ihave found out that,the Elliptical machine you can get your heart rate up faster and keep it at a target heart rate longer!!!
tread mill's are great also, but to get a quick heart rate you have to put the incline very high up LIKE 7 WALKING AT 4.2 then you seem to hit your heart rate but you have to work at it.

and if your going to use your tread mill you should always have it at some what of a incilne to save you knee's Ive had Two Knee Surgery's.

well good luck Carideo is the way to go with weight loss.John