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The comprehensive women know that a guaranty of getting slim and tonus is aerobic physical exercises. We wonder: which one of the most popular cardio machines is better to use to build a perfect body shape. And that’s what we have managed to find out.
Why a treadmill and elliptical trainer? The experts state by a solid vote that these two machines train the body to the best advantage, conduce to the weight loss, and improve the cardiovascular system. The workouts are more effective, and are available for people of any body mass, physical aptitude and health. A possibility to vary the load from light to more intensive one allows selecting the most optimal workout mode. And training on these machines at home is the fastest and the most comfortable way to keep a good shape.
And now, a matter of choice emerges full blown… Every of these training machines has its own advantages. Let’s consider it in more details.
Treadmill
Treadmill Advantages
This machine is universally applicable, and all members of the family can select a load being within their depth. A user is offered many modes of the speed and inclination: from the brisk walking to running upwards, from moderate to sprint race. Running as well as walking is a natural movement. We make our body work without affecting the natural harmony, and this way, the muscles including the cardiac one are toned up.
It may seem simple, but running is a very effective workout. The more the body mass of a runner is, the more efforts should be made to go forward, and the more calories are burned. A run improves the skeletal muscles and allows keeping a good posture till extreme old age.
A treadmill is bigger than an elliptical trainer, but the treadmill may be folded. It means that the machine will not take much space. The treadmills have an onboard computer that controls your health and the loads. Many embedded programs can diversify the workout. The treadmill is perhaps the safest, tried-and-true. It has been existing for more than 100 years, and it has gained not only a popularity, but also has been studied and improved.
Treadmill Drawbacks
A run is still a load on the joints. Young and healthy people resist it well, if they warmed up before the workout. Otherwise, the load on the spine, thighs, knees and ankle joints may be too firm. Although the treadmills have cushioning, it may be not enough.
A possibility to have an acute exercise (running uphill) may play a cruel joke with a low trained person. It is possible to go over the top in chase of fast results in the body shaping, and then this training becomes unsafe.
If a size of the deck is not convenient for a user, this user can change a manner of walking and running reflexively, and so it leads to the muscle imbalance, fatigue, and problems with posture.
The treadmill takes much space in the unfolded position. Moreover, the machine needs a regular handling and maintenance. But if you don’t mind it, a treadmill is a perfect choice for you. You train the muscles of legs and back on the treadmill unlike the elliptical machine. A run is not easy. This activity is for people who do not have any issues with health. Of course, you are ready to do exercises for the weight loss. But sometimes, one is tempted to dream about a machine that would create a perfect body shape during minimal efforts…
Elliptical Trainer
Elliptical trainer advantages
We have just dreamt about a magical machine that would work for us. And here it is – an elliptical trainer! It has been proved that the workout on the elliptical trainer is taken easier for a human than it really is. You may seem that the workout has been light, but in fact, you have burned calories just like during running. A designer Larry D. Miller was inspired by watching the movement of legs of his daughter when she ran after his car. A highlight is the maximally effective expenditure of the strength during the movement coming naturally for a human.
Training on the elliptical trainer, the joints get the same firm load just like during running. Therefore, the elliptical trainer is a softer type of the workout that works for people with traumas, problems with back, and for women in a couple of months after labors (we have already mentioned how soon the physical exercises can be done after giving a birth).
The elliptical trainer is more compact in the unfolded position compared to the treadmill. Therefore, it is easy to find a corner in the house to put the machine and keep it ready. The workout may be started at any time (this is very important for women with babies because they are lack of time).
The elliptical trainer works noiselessly unlike the treadmill. And so, you can use it even at night or a day-time nap of a baby, and you will not wake your baby up. The elliptical trainer is provided with handles that give an opportunity to train the muscles of arms, back and chest simultaneously with legs. This way, we get a complex workout for the whole body, and not just lower part like on the treadmill.
A construction of the elliptical trainer is simple compared to the treadmill. And this influences on its cost, and the safety and an easy of operation. Many elliptical trainers have a function of the back span, and the treadmills do not have it. The reverse motion allows better training of the glutes.
Elliptical trainer drawbacks
The elliptical trainer is less fast-moving that the treadmill. A decreased load on the joints has its negative side. Yes, the joints get more load on the treadmill, and even though it brings a risk of the traumas, it still trains these joints and prevents a development of osteoporosis. The elliptical trainer does not give this prophylaxis.
A calorie expenditure: what is more effective?
Numerous research works show that one hour-workout on the treadmill burns approximately the same calorie values as the training with elliptical trainer – about 700. However, the treadmill gives more various modes. Increasing the speed and the inclination, 800 calories per hour, or even more may be burned due to the treadmill.
In any case, the elliptical trainer is a softer type of the workouts. Therefore if you have had traumas, or your fitness level is minimal, prefer this machine. If you feel the energy for the intensive workouts, select a treadmill.
Faster and more effectively?
Considering the efficiency, we can surely tell that a one-hour-run on the deck burns more calories, than the workout on the elliptical trainer. But if you work out on the elliptical trainer on a regular basis (for instance, two times per day), you will achieve a great result. Moreover, the excessive fat will be burned in 40 minutes of the training. So, your workout should last for at least 40 minutes, if your main goal is to lose the excessive body weight. And people who want to stay fit can divide the workout into 20 minutes – in the morning and in the evening. The morning workout will wake up your body. And you will have a deep and good sleep after the evening trainings. To ease a choice, a comparison is below:
| Specifications | Treadmill | Elliptical trainer |
|---|---|---|
| Sizes | Its folded position takes little space | A permanent space is required |
| Construction | More complicated | Easy to use |
| Running mode | Loud | Absolutely noiseless |
| Back span function | No | Yes |
| Workout | Back and legs | All muscle groups |
| Naturalness and free motions | Yes | Yes |
| Weight loss | Yes | Yes |
| Load | Spine and joints | Heart and blood vessels |
Models and Brands
Choosing a treadmill, consider that essential specifications (by the way, a cost of the machine depends on it as well):
- A length of the deck: the longer it is, the more convenient it will be.
- A motor power: the treadmills with more horse power develop a faster speed and serve longer;
- Acceptable weight of a user: the higher it is, the stronger it is. Even if there are no heavy people in your family, the treadmill meant for high body mass will serve for a longer period. And this characteristics is very important for heavy people.
We have asked the instructors of the capital fit-clubs and sellers of the sports equipment, and we have decided on the following models.
The optimal choice of a treadmill for the house is FitLogic Freewill D225 in the budget segment. Its horse power is 1,5, and the peak power is 2,5 metric horsepower. The treadmill has 15 modes, 12 of which are preselected, and a user can set 3. A deck thickness is 1,6 mm, and a hydraulic cylinder allows to easily fold and unfold the treadmill.
Buying the machine for home using, we want to invest into worth purchase that will serve for long to us and our family. Therefore, the experts call the following model as the best choice in the quality-price segment.
Spirit Esprit XT-285 treadmill has the motor 2,75 metric horsepower, and the peak is 4,25 metric horsepower. The hot buttons to control the speed and inclination, good double-braided deck and built-in audio stereo system with an ability to connect MP3 and iPod completely justify a cost of this treadmill.
Choosing the elliptical trainer, consider a pace, weight of the fly wheel, and acceptable weight of a user. The higher the rates of the main characteristics are, the more universal and long-life the machine will be.
With that in mind, we have distinguished FitLogic CT5816 with electronic control, pulse measuring sensor, and floor unevenness compensator among all home elliptical trainers in the budget segment.
If you want more, we recommend Sportop E850P elliptical trainer with a bright design and high-quality materials. It can regulate the pace, test the heart rate, keep the options of the workout or use 15 other modes. This elliptical trainer is also provided with the floor unevenness compensators.
We really hope that this article will help you to make a choice of a treadmill or elliptical trainer. In a perfect world, you should start the workout from the elliptical trainer and finish it on the treadmill interactively, of course, if you may afford two machines at the same time.