Elliptical vs. Treadmill burn more calories??? - Exercise & Fitness Message Board

sohogirl · 01-06-2003, 03:43 PM

Hello, I love using the elliptical machine because I can do very intense workouts without tiring out! I do about 4 sessions a week, 2 sessions for 30-45 mins and 2 for 60 mins. When I do these sessions, the heart monitors show that I am burning approx. 835-860 cals per hour. Now, when I get on a treadmill at about 5.5, I only burn about half that! I am wondering which is a more efficient CALORIE burning machine? I am going to be purchasing a gym quality treadmill or elliptical in a couple of weeks because I am a student and have only about an hour to spare each day. I want the best calorie burner because I want to continue my weight loss, and I have always heard that treadmills are the best. However, isn't it best to go with a machine that I enjoy working out on such as the elliptical? I've been working out on only the elliptical machine (and the bike) at the gym for over a year and lost 15 lbs the first 3 months! Should I continue this routine? I know it's best to switch around your routine, but I am not a fitness finatic. I use my nordic track gym and free weights about 3 times a week for toning and that's about it! Any advice would be great! Also, I notice that all the people who run on treadmills have great legs! Can I get legs like this exercising on an elliptical?

Thanks in advance for any advice, and sorry for the length! -Amanda

Merrida · 01-07-2003, 02:55 AM

FYI: The readouts you get are VERY, VERY wrong. An ATHLETE would barely burn that many calories in an hour.

Most people burn about 2-3 calories per minute depending on workout intensity. If you have a lot of muscle you may burn around 250-300 calories an hour but that's REEEAAALLY pushing it as it is.

How many calories you burn is based on your metabolism, not your heart rate, or age, or weight. Those machines provide very false information if you're trying to determine caloric expenditure.

chitrick · 01-07-2003, 05:21 PM

Merrida...wouldn't you agree though, that regardless of the accuracy (or lack) of those readouts, a person can still use them as a guage. In other words...if the same person were to use the treadmill for 45 minutes from resting, and the ecliptic machine for 45 minutes from resting...and got the same basic readings on both machines...they should be able to conclude that they are getting the same benefit from each machine? I'm just talking heart rate reading, not calories burned. I agree that that reading is meaningless. So if Sohogirl did that; and still discovers that her heartrate is higher on the treadmill, then she is likely burning more calories on the treadmill. But if her heartrate were about the same either way, then she is probably burning about the same number of calories on either machine. Right?

Merrida · 01-09-2003, 08:08 AM

That is a good point, and even though she would not get a number to tell her how *many* calories she was burning, she could make a comparison based on heart rate.

The only variable is that in some situations, the heart rate goes up because of breathing heavy, not because of the efficient rhythmic muscle movement. Example: I've seen people do "speed" walking and "speed" eliptical, and it's making their heart rate go up because they're running on momentum, not on muscle power. The muscles burn the calories. Think of it in this regard: If breathing heavy and increased heart rate were all that were needed to burn calories, then panic attacks and hyperventilating would make you skinny. Both produce elevated pulse and respiration, but neither provide large rhythmic muscle movement.

This is where something that is weight bearing (like the treadmill) can actually cause you to burn more calories than a non-weight bearing exercise (such as the eliptical).

You do bring up a good point, however, that she can certainly use the heart rate reading as a gauge. My favorite method, though, is just "rating of perceived exhertion." If you take the time to get in touch with your body and how it "feels" while you're exercising, (rather than zoning out or trying to just get through it)... you can move your body and just feel what one gives you the better workout.

chitrick · 01-10-2003, 06:05 AM

Thanks Merrida...Now here's another questions for you.
Do you feel that sweat can be used as a guage, in some instances? Let's say we go back to the same two machines...using both for 45 minutes, starting from a resting heart rate. And assume that diet stays constant (ie...same sodium, fluids etc...). The room temperature and humidity level stays the same. But now say that on one machine you sweat like a dog. On the other, you only sweat moderately. Can this be used as an indication of calorie/fat burning levels? And to play it safe, let's give you a day inbetween those two workouts, to be sure we've replenished the lost fluids from the previous activity.

[This message has been edited by chitrick (edited 01-10-2003).]