Exercise in any form is essential. Whether you go to the gym for a good workout session or prefer to buy exercise equipment to use at home, as long as you are exercising, you will reap the health benefits that come with it. These benefits include better sleep habits, improvements in your mood, weight loss, and muscle strength.
If you want to get fit and hunt for a great piece of workout equipment that will help you lose weight while toning and strengthening your muscles, an elliptical trainer or treadmill is the best option. But is one better than the other? Let’s look at elliptical trainers and treadmills to see which is the best piece of exercise equipment to keep you fit and healthy.
Benefits of an Elliptical Trainer or Treadmill
An elliptical trainer and treadmill have pretty much the same function. Still, some slight differences can significantly influence your overall weight loss and fitness levels that you might not be aware of.
Let’s take a quick gander at the benefits of using an elliptical trainer or treadmill.
Benefit #1: Full-body workout
Both an elliptical trainer and a treadmill give you a full-body workout that targets specific muscles and helps you with weight loss. Both are great alternatives to an outdoor run and are less intensive for your joints than running.
Benefit #2: Weight loss
One of the significant reasons we exercise is to lose weight. Using a treadmill or elliptical trainer is an excellent way to shed some pounds while toning your muscles and building bones.
Benefit #3: Overall health benefits
Exercise is brilliant for several reasons. Some health benefits of exercise include:
- Better sleep
- Improvement in mood and mental health
- Lower risk of heart disease and diabetes
- Increase in blood flow to vital organs
- An increase in energy levels
Elliptical Trainer Vs. Treadmill: The Ultimate Showdown
To compare elliptical trainers and treadmills and ultimately pick the best one, it is necessary to compare the pros and cons of each.
Firstly, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of elliptical trainers:
Elliptical trainers
Pros
- Great upper and lower body workout
- Low-impact form of cardio exercise
- No power source needed
- Less strain on joints than a run or using a treadmill
- Can adjust the resistance and intensity of a workout
Cons
- Fewer calories burned than when using a treadmill
- An elliptical trainer does not engage the abdominal muscles like running
- Less muscle and bone strength building than a treadmill
Now let’s look at the pros and cons of using a treadmill.
Treadmills
Pros
- One can adjust the speed and incline of a treadmill to match an outdoor run
- Running is a high-impact exercise that stimulates muscle and bone growth
- Improves overall fitness levels
- Can help with weight loss
Cons
- Requires a power source
- High risk of knee, ankle, and hip injuries because of the impact on joints
- Not a genuine replacement for an outdoor run on rugged terrain
Now that we have broken down the pros and cons of elliptical trainers and treadmills, we can look at the best option.
While elliptical trainers do not need a power source like their treadmill counterparts do, they are also not great for more intense workouts that build bone and muscle. Treadmills have far more uses and better fitness benefits and build both muscle and bone.
Both treadmills and elliptical trainers can adjust the resistance of your workout, which is essential as you can increase the intensity of your workout as your fitness level increases. In terms of impact on the joints, treadmills are known for their high impact, which can severely strain your ankles, knees, and hips, resulting in more injury.
It is hard to choose the best option between them, as they both have similar functions and benefits. But, the treadmill has the upper hand and builds muscle and bone while an elliptical trainer does not.
Elliptical Trainers Vs. Treadmills: How to Choose the best for your needs
Choosing a piece of workout equipment can be tricky and should be based on your overall fitness goals. It is important to remember that using an elliptical trainer or treadmill to help you lose weight is possible but is better when paired with a good diet or meal plan that can help you shed those pesky pounds.
What to consider when choosing exercise equipment for home use:
- Personal preference
- Available space in your home
- Weight loss and fitness goals
- Your current fitness level
- Budget
Exercise equipment can be pricey, and this is an essential factor to consider if you are looking to buy either an elliptical trainer or a treadmill at home. If you are serious about exercising and losing weight, a good quality piece of exercise equipment can be an investment.
Exercising correctly takes time and dedication. Consider your health, fitness, and weight loss needs, and put together an exercise routine that will help you target your problem areas. With various health benefits, doctors recommend exercise to keep fit and healthy. If you need some assistance with your current exercise regime, speak to your doctor about your concerns or hire a personal trainer that will help you tone your muscles and increase your strength.
Remember that successful weight loss or an increase in your fitness level and muscle mass is up to you, your levels of exercise, your diet, and what your goals are.
Conclusion
Both the treadmill and elliptical trainer are excellent pieces of exercise equipment that can help you keep fit and lose weight, and best of all, you can buy them from just about any sporting goods store to use at home for your convenience. Beat the rush at the gym and exercise in the comfort of your own home, away from prying eyes.
Both treadmills and elliptical trainers will help you reach your goals, but when compared, treadmills come out tops for their ability to build and strengthen bone and muscle. Regular exercise has many health benefits, so get exercising and feel great.
