The Best Equipment For Weight Loss: A Treadmill Vs Elliptical Trainer Comparison
Thursday, August 20th, 2009In today’s fitness and weight loss world, people are always looking for the best machine to deliver them the best workout and help them reach their weight goals, so we will take a look at the top two best sellers and see what a comparison of the treadmill vs. elliptical trainer yields and which will come out as the more suitable machine for weight loss.
Treadmills are more popular than ellipticals, but the sales for ellipticals is rising quicker than ever before. So, which machine would you pick if you are trying to lose weight and get fit? Which machine will meet your demands in the best way?
Treadmills have been in existence for over 10 years and are still ranked the most popular among both old and new fitness enthusiasts. It is an exercise machine where one can work out without the need for extra or special skills. You can adjust the speed and incline controls to match your desired workout intensity. The more expensive models have heart rate monitors and MP3 docks to make your exercise session safer and more fun. There are also a number of built-in programs which you can use depending on the kind of workout you’d like to have. If you’re doing fitness routines at home, space is not a problem as treadmills can be folded down and kept away. Treadmill workouts impact the ankles, lower back and knees minimally. In the end, you have a great machine that works the lower body as intensely as you want it to.
While relatively a newbie as a fitness equipment, the elliptical trainer is now widely used in health clubs and gyms. It basically differs from the treadmill in that it provides a whole body workout as compared to the treadmill which focuses more on the lower body. With an elliptical treadmill, one can exercise the legs, the arms, and the whole body in general without having to endure much impact on certain body areas as compared to working out on a treadmill. Because of the low impact, people who have weakened backs, knees, and ankles prefer the elliptical over the treadmill.
What should be your basic considerations when comparing the treadmill vs elliptical trainers for weight loss? Perhaps one is whether you are getting the workout that you really need while effectively losing the extra pounds. It’s true that the elliptical offers a more complete body workout but when it comes to burning the calories, the treadmill can also be very effective on that because brisk walking, jogging, and running also lets you expend a lot of energy.
The conclusion therefore in this treadmill vs elliptical trainer comparison is that both can give you great workouts for losing weight. Now, deciding which of these equipments fit your physical limitations and needs is up to you. If you are more of a runner, the treadmill is the way to go. If you would rather have a low impact workout and tone your upper body, then go for the elliptical.