Elliptical vs. jogging vs. other cardio - JP Fitness Forums

biffmeplease · 03-09-2008, 02:26 PM

Hey guys. I'm fairly new to the whole working out thing. I've been working out at the gym for about a month and a half and have finally started to notice results. Unfortunately, I've been slacking a bit on cardio and diet.

My cardio was walking on the treadmill on a high incline for about half an hour. I don't know if it helped much. Recently I started doing the elliptical machine. While it's extremely tough and I can only do it for 15 minutes or so right now, I feel so good after it. I feel like I'm really doing something.

I would love to start jogging, but until I fix my posture (my primary reason for going to the gym), it's not really an option right now. It causes way too much pain. Is the elliptical machine a great way to get cardio in?

What other machines at the gym are best for cardio, in your opinion? The treadmill just doesn't do too much for me.

JoshDunn · 03-09-2008, 03:42 PM

You can use any cardio equipment that you have access too. Bikes, rowers, treadmill, ellipical, stepper. However some are better than others. Incline walking is a good one so don't rule that out completely.

Have you looked into interval training? It results in 9x more fat loss than regular cardio.

Phaedrus49er · 03-10-2008, 08:43 AM

I think general opinion around here of elliptical machines is not too good. However, it depends on where you're starting from as far as your exercise history. If you're fairly new, it's a starting point, but you'll progress quickly out of it if you even use it in the first place. Perhaps some training history, diet, physical stats, and goals would help others offer some more constructive advice.

Paradigm · 03-10-2008, 09:52 AM

I'm not quite sure why an elliptical machine wouldn't be considered good, unless it's because most people that I see on it tend to be the same kind of people who keep the intensity low enough to talk on a cell phone or read a magazine :-) Then again, as I've never done the elliptical, I'm not sure how hard it is to get to a sprint intensity; is it the kind of machine where you can only get it going so fast, so you have to increase resistance instead?

Phaedrus49er · 03-10-2008, 01:49 PM

Ellipticals basically use momentum like a flywheel, so after a certain (early) point, you aren't doing much--if any--work to keep the thing going IIRC.

JohnT · 03-10-2008, 02:14 PM

I here the above about ellipticals only on this site..... go to any other site and ellipticals are liked.
Sure it is easy to go slow on an elliptical just as it is on a treadmill or bike.
Crank up the intensity on an elliptical and you can barely get it going!
While on mine today, while on high resistance, I stopped. It took less than one turn for the machine to stop.

Maybe it's a macho thing like not being seen on them and using the Swiss ball???

Paradigm · 03-10-2008, 02:20 PM

Ok, so it sounds like the resistance needs to be adjusted to get it to work. Assuming that's the case and that it doesn't keep feeding your momentum into the workout when properly adjusted, I'd think this would be a perfectly good way to get cardio in, especially if you have any sort of condition where you need low-impact exercises. Maybe I'll suck it up and try the elliptical just since I've never done it, and we all know that always doing what you're used to doing is bad.

littlerunner · 03-10-2008, 02:30 PM

running is the best form of cardio for me.. and the hardest.

biffmeplease · 03-11-2008, 08:41 PM

I've only been working out seriously (meaning at least 5 days a week) for a little over a month. A lot of my workout involves working on my abs and upper back muscles to fix my posture. Of course, I do want to lose about 40 pounds. I've pretty much only been doing the treadmill on an incline for this month and a half.

So I'm guessing the elliptical is a decent place for someone who doesn't do much cardio to start? I have every intention of jogging soon. I just have to do a bit more for my back before I feel confident jogging.

Thanks for the replies!

RobLL · 03-11-2008, 10:16 PM

Running is my favorite, but I have used an eliptical and done real HIIT, crank that resistance up!

rem1956 · 03-12-2008, 06:43 AM

I favor the cardio bike as a first choice.

gobbla · 03-12-2008, 07:32 AM

It doesn't matter. Do "something you like" and progress "in some way" now and then.

gregl515 · 03-12-2008, 11:17 AM

Like Tony said.