Treadmill vs. Elliptical: Cardio Calorie Burn

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Date: 08/30/2011
Category: Cardiovascular Exercise
Teaser: It is a common question among exercisers: Will I burn more calories on a treadmill or an elliptical trainer? While both machines are effective, Life Fitness explains that in the ongoing battle between treadmills and elliptical trainers, it all boils down to intensity and duration.

It is a common question among exercisers: Will I burn more calories on a treadmill or an elliptical cross-trainer? While both machines are effective, Life Fitness explains that in the ongoing battle between treadmills and elliptical cross-trainers, it all boils down to intensity and duration.

Intensity:

While many exercisers think of the treadmill as high-impact and the elliptical as low-impact, it’s important to understand that low impact doesn’t mean low intensity. Using the cross-trainer handlebars and increasing the resistance on an elliptical trainer can be equally as intense as a run on the treadmill.
You can determine your exact intensity levels by using a heart rate monitor or the built-in heart rate sensors located on the handlebars on either piece of equipment. 

Duration:

Many may think that the longer a workout lasts, the more calories burned. However, one hour of light exercise on either piece of equipment will likely burn fewer calories than a powerful 30-minute workout.
For the average exerciser, working harder for a shorter period of time will be the better option since people are often short on time. Interval training on either machine – high intensity running or striding, for shorts bursts of time – is likely to provide a higher calorie burn than a one-hour light workout.

Bottom Line

 When it comes to a treadmill or elliptical trainer allowing the most calorie burn, the cardio machine you like better will burn the most calories because you are much more likely to use it. If you exercise at an intensity that keeps your heart rate elevated, incorporate more intense cardio intervals into shorter duration workouts and keep your workouts regular, either machine will offer an excellent calorie burn. 

Fit Tips are provided by Life Fitness, the leader in designing and manufacturing high-quality exercise equipment for fitness facilities and homes worldwide. For more information on Fit Tips and other fitness advice and expertise visit www.lifefitness.com or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lifefitness or join our Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/lifefitness.