Elliptical Machines or Treadmills

There has been a pretty large debate in the fitness world since Elliptical Machines were introduced in the mid to late 1990's as to whether the treadmill or the elliptical provide better results. The most recent studies and feedback from both users and trainers around the country is that the cardio benefits are similar and most of the so-called experts leave it at that.

If we reach a little further into the evaluation we can see that while the benefits may be similar to the cardiovascular system the benefits to your joints and muscle definition are not.

Maintenance

Any time you research a machine to put in your home gym you need to know what it will take to maintain it. Treadmills have a really powerful motor located in the hub at the front of the machine. There are bearing and gears designed to pull the treadmill pad and still be strong enough to work against your body weight.

It can take several maintenance calls per year to keep the machine running the way it is designed if you are using it every day. If you use it every other day maintenance is required less. In any case you may want to consider buying the service plan. Mechanically the elliptical trainer has a single welded frame which allows it to achieve a higher level of lateral stability.

Ellipticals on the other hand have less parts that absorb direct impact so it is not likely you will have to replace something like the running belt. You will need to make sure it receives regular oil changes and that the bearings are properly tightened. Additionally the elliptical machine uses magnats to provide resistance so very few parts are actually causing friction.

In reality neither a treadmill nor an elliptical machine can be considered portable or easily moved. But the treadmill requires more space because of the larger running pad. Additionally they require a sound board to absorb most of the additional noise. If you live in an apartment this can be a problem.

With the natural motion of the elliptical being more up and down and the motion of the treadmill user being relatively lateral you may need to consider a room with a higher ceiling to comfortably use the elliptical. You need to set aside or budget a space within the home or room you plan to use it, and then make sure you get a machine that can fit inside that space.

If the environment is important to you, then plant some trees. If energy consumption is something you try to control because you like your money, then you may be surprised to learn that the elliptical requires much less energy than a used treadmill.

The reasoning here is pretty simple, the treadmill has a giant motor that is used to provide the running surface and must power through when it is struck by the feet of the user. The elliptical on the other hand uses magnets to provide the resistance and additionally your feet or what propel the motion.

If you are concerned at all about the amount of noise the equipment will cause than consider the motor and the constant sound of the treads on the pad both hitting your feet and rolling through the machine.  because the magnets are used with the elliptical workout and brakes are applied to slow it down it means less friction than a treadmill.

An elliptical machine workout is perfect if you want to workout your entire body. If you are ready to kick your existing workout up a notch add an elliptical machine to tone and work your entire body.

An elliptical machine workout is great for any level of exerciser from beginner to more advanced. Elliptical machines are widely used in gyms across the country and they are available for home use as well.

They come in any price range to make them more obtainable to all different budgets. The great benefit of elliptical machine workouts is they can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and increase your overall health in just 30 minutes a day.

There is a difference between elliptical exercises and the exercises that you do on a treadmill. On an elliptical machine, you are working with a pair of handles and pedals. There is little impact, so this machine is ideal for those who are overweight. Treadmills are more for walking, jogging and running.

So which machine provides a better workout?

The elliptical provides a good workout for the heart because you are moving your entire body at the same time. Each action requires you to move all the major muscle groups on your limbs. In addition, the twisting action also helps to firm up the mid section of the body.

As for the treadmill, it provides a very good simulation for running. If you are concerned about running speed, a treadmill would be a much better option. You can track your distance run, your speed, as well as your heart rate. That makes it easy to track your own progress.

Elliptical machine. Treadmill. There's no reason why you cannot have the best of both worlds. The low-impact advantage of the elliptical. The free range and speed of the treadmill. Both of these machines give you the cardio workout that you need. Both of these machines can help you in your quest for a better and fitter you.

You can benefit from using both machines in your workout. One day you can use the treadmill to finish your workout. The other day you can use the elliptical. The elliptical machines claim to fame is its low-impact design. The best time to use this low-impact advantage would probably be in the beginning of your new lifestyle change. 

As you can see, both machines serve different purposes. Most gyms have both the elliptical machines and treadmills. Some users prefer to workout on the elliptical, while others prefer the treadmill.

If you own a home gym, it's hard to imagine having both the elliptical and the treadmill at home. Two machines may just take up too much space! Fortunately, hybrid machines are being released in the marketplace right now. These machines combine the elliptical and the treadmill together into one single machine.

Now, there is no need to compare between the two machines. You can own both together at the same time!