The Battle of the Elliptical vs. the Treadmill

The question always comes up: Which form of cardio is the best? The two forms of cardio that have people riled up the most are the elliptical and the treadmill. They are probably the two most common cardio machines you would find in any gym, and they are thought to be somewhat similar in the type of motion required.

Because everyone is different, what exercise works for each person is also different. So it is key to understand what is most important to you as you determine what works. Here are a few key differences between the elliptical and the treadmill to help you decide:

Calories burned

Well, I had to start with this one! When we talk about cardio, we are usually looking for what burns the most calories in the least time, and with the least effort! Ummm... you're seeing things. I did not say that last part. 

Okay, so how does the elliptical compare to the treadmill? Of course it depends on your weight and your speed. But on average, a 150 pound person usually burns about 600 to 700 calories on the treadmill if they run for about an hour. The elliptical is also about 600 to 700 calories an hour, unless you're pushing harder and putting in more effort one way or the other. 

Effort required

Which leads to the next point. How much effort is required to burn the same number of calories on the treadmill vs. the elliptical? It looks like the elliptical takes this one. Again, unless you are pushing harder, the elliptical usually requires less effort than the treadmill to go at the same speed. Why? With the treadmill, you are lifting and dropping your whole body and so it feels harder. With the elliptical, you are pushing and pulling rather than lifting and dropping.

Impact on your joints

If you lift and drop any object consistently, there is bound to be some damage. Your body operates in the same manner. Whenever you drop your legs as you run, you put a lot of impact on your knees and ankles. And so the surface on which you run is pretty important. Treadmills and race tracks were created with materials to minimize the impact on your joints. However, there is still some impact. The elliptical on the other hand does not involve lifting and dropping and so the impact to your joints is very minimal.

Flexibility of the exercise

If you were raised by humans, you probably know how to run. It is naturally built into our genes. Thus, perfecting your run, and introducing different types of training to your runs would be more natural than trying to figure out how to mix up your training on the elliptical. On the treadmill, you can do interval training (speeding up for a short interval, and slowing down for a short interval) to burn more calories, or do power exercises like side shuffles. The treadmill is a more flexible machine if you get bored easily.

Volume of muscles reached

Running is a great overall body workout. It is difficult to compare it to anything else. If you look at any runner, their leg muscles and core muscles are usually toned. However, with the elliptical (depending on the type of elliptical), because you are using your arms as well, you end up building both your upper and lower body muscles. Can someone say "Hello upper back"? Plus, the elliptical allows you to do reverse spins, or squat as you push, which means you'd be working different muscle groups that you wouldn't ordinarily reach in a forward upright motion.

Endorphin rush

Maybe this is just me, but when I finish time on the treadmill, I feel an amazing endorphin rush that I don't get from the elliptical. That is not to say I don't get an endorphin rush from the elliptical. I do, but it's not comparable. Could it be because I sweat more? Maybe. Or because it feels like more of an accomplishment? Maybe. It may be a different feeling for you.

Given all of that, I would still pick the treadmill over the elliptical. However, there are tremendous benefits of choosing the elliptical over the treadmill, especially if you are older, have been injured before, or if you are concerned about your joints.

Which would you choose?

Cheers Eights & Weights!

Photo credit: Treadmilltips.com, ThatsFit.com

 

That Heady Feeling

Frankly, I’ve never been one to understand why people take recreational drugs. The positive effects last but a minute. Gradually, you start to lose focus, crave more and more, and lose brain cells until you can’t function normally. What’s a healthy alternative? Exercise!

I know, I know, that sounded kind of bad. But let’s look at this objectively. Both exercise and recreational drugs have similar biochemical effects in your brain. Both stimulate the release of dopamine and can change the way the brain is wired. The brain has been proven to be the pleasure powerhouse of the whole body, and so anything that makes you feel good usually has something to do with your brain.

What is even freakier? In the 70s, when running started becoming this big phenomenon, scientists claimed that running and sex produced the same high as morphine, and so it was technically possible to be addicted to either one. Runners were known to experience a natural high, and some people had to keep pushing their bodies hard to experience an even greater high.

However, in recent times, scientists have dumped the theory that exercise is bad because it could be addictive. The positive benefits it brings to our bodies nullify any claims connecting the effects in our brains to hard drugs. This is not to say you don’t get a high from exercise, because you do. But you get a healthy high. What could be better?

It has been proven that people who exercise are generally happier and feel better about themselves. A lot of psychologists have started to dabble with exercise treatments for depression, drug addiction, and ADHD for this very reason.

In fact, researchers have said that when they tried exercise as a treatment for drug addiction, the addicts were found to be less likely to take drugs after they’ve exercised. Could it be because they are getting their high from exercise already? Or could it be that exercise is helping fight the withdrawal symptoms? I’m not sure what the answer is. But what was it that Elle Woods said in Legally Blonde? (Yes, I take very serious life advice from Legally Blonde) “Exercise releases endorphins. Endorphins make happier people. Happy people don’t just kill their husbands.” Endorphin is short for "endogenous morphine".

In my experience, exercise makes you even more tolerant, more sedate, and more in control. You’re more tolerant because you feel good, you’re more sedate because endorphins diminish the perception of pain, and you’re more in control because exercise makes you more aware of your body. If all that comes with feeling happier, I say bring it on!

Cheers Eights& Weights!

Photo credit: divavillage.com