Weight loss using Elliptical Trainers VS Treadmills

The best way to achieve your weight loss goals is to combine weight loss with exercise.  Physical exercise besides assisting your weight loss efforts also offers a number of benefits to your health. In summary these are:

1. Exercise can reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke

2. Exercise can help prevent hypertension

3. Exercise can help prevent osteoporosis

4. Exercise can help prevent diabetes in adults

5. Exercise can help prevent cancer

6. Exercise can help improve nervous disorders

7. Exercise can delay aging and its consequences

An easy way to exercise efficiently is by using an elliptical cross trainer or a treadmill. There has been a lot of controversy about which piece of fitness equipment is better, the elliptical cross trainer or the treadmill. Of course it is very difficult to say which is better because it depends on personal preference, but if we take the following feature comparisons into consideration it will help you make a final decision:

Cost – If you are on a tight budget then a cross trainer will generally be cheaper in comparison to a treadmill, this is because the manufacturing costs to build a cross trainer over a treadmill is cheaper. Treadmills have more complex electronics and parts, as a result they cost more to manufacture. But by all means don’t sacrifice money over quality; a low budget cross trainer or treadmill will cost you more in the long run.

Calories Burnt – This is probably the most controversial subject between a cross trainer and a treadmill, which one burns the most calories? The answer of course is not that simple because it depends on which type of cross trainer and treadmill you compare, for example lower budget cross trainers usually have a smaller stride length. The shorter the stride length the less your body actually moves therefore the less calories you burn. Secondly the belt length of the treadmill, smaller belt lengths mean you cannot reach a big stride which again means you will burn fewer calories. It appears from most test performed the calories burnt are about the same, some test seem to favour the cross trainer whilst other test favor the treadmill. My conclusion is that it’s down to personal preference.

Joint Impact – The joint impact on a cross trainer is much less then the impact created by running on a treadmill, however some treadmill models come with orthopaedic belts which actually help cushion the impact. Brands such as Life Fitness also use a cushioning absorption system on their running decks which helps soften the impact. If you suffer from joint injuries or want to burn calories without putting to much pressure on joints then I suggest a cross trainer.

Noise – The noise created by a treadmill will be louder compared to a cross trainer, the noise comes from the motor and the person running on it. A cross trainer is much quieter because you are not hitting a deck. If noise is an issue then a cross trainer wins hand over fist.

Summary

To summarize a treadmill will cost more due to higher manufacturing costs, the calories burnt between the machines is almost identical, the joint impact on a treadmill will be greater compared to a cross trainer and finally a cross trainer will be quieter compared to a treadmill. So there are the facts, you should analyse the above then make up your own mind as to which one you will be purchasing.