Elliptical or stair stepper?

[SP33Demon]

Heart rate 145-150bpm...check
Drenched after 30 min...check
Resting heart rate under 50...check


You must be right.

That's fine if you're doing it at the highest level on the machine and achieving HIIT, but compared to other machines/exercises in the gym (stair climber, rower, recumbent bike, farmer's walk) it's nothing in comparison vs their highest level. For example, the vaunted MAX-OT Cardio only requires 16 minutes on a recumbent bike. You're not getting that kind of efficiency out of an elliptical.

You're bragging about inefficient use of your time, congrats.

 

[highland145]

That's fine if you're doing it at the highest level on the machine and achieving HIIT, but compared to other machines/exercises in the gym (stair climber, rower, recumbent bike, farmer's walk) it's nothing in comparison vs their highest level. For example, the vaunted MAX-OT Cardio only requires 16 minutes on a recumbent bike. You're not getting that kind of efficiency out of an elliptical.

You're bragging about inefficient use of your time, congrats.

Again, you must be right.

 

[SP33Demon]

Again, you must be right.

Educate yourself and be able to accept criticism, it's the only way to get better.

http://ast-ss.com/information/?p=17

One primary exercise that’s perfectly suited for Max-OT Cardio is the Recumbent Bike. Here’s why; a Recumbent Bike requires no skill. It is safe and as intensity increases, safety and stability remains the same. Basically, you can go all out on a Recumbent Bike and not have to worry about balance, a misstep, or falling off. This is very important. A Recumbent Bike brings no compromise on your ability to generate maximum intensity.

If you think the hardest setting you can do on an elliptical vs recumbent bike has a higher energy output then I would have to disagree. Either way, over the course of a week, assuming cardio 4 times a week, you just lost 14X4 = 56 minutes of efficiency.

 

[purbeast0]

yeah the eliptical is definitely not as good of a workout as running on a treadmill or something that is harder. it's by far the "easiest" of the machines out there for cardio.

that said, doing it isn't bad at all. it's much better than just walking or sitting your ass on a couch watching tv. i don't know why sp33demon is acting like it is just as bad as doing nothing though.

but it's a tradeoff. there is a reason everyone doesn't simply do HIIT even full well knowing it's the most efficient way to lose fat - because it's hard as shit and makes you feel like crap for a while afterwards too.

there is a reason all this stuff is called "working" out and not "easy playing" out.

 

[z1ggy]

Educate yourself and be able to accept criticism, it's the only way to get better.

http://ast-ss.com/information/?p=17


If you think the hardest setting you can do on an elliptical vs recumbent bike has a higher energy output then I would have to disagree. Either way, over the course of a week, assuming cardio 4 times a week, you just lost 14X4 = 56 minutes of efficiency.

I tend to agree with this. MAX OT stresses efficiency. Quality over quantity. I can attest to the MAX OT program. I am now on my 12th week of it and I haven't had a single session last more than 30 mins. I have improved on every single lift and hit PRs on just about everything. Granted I started out with somewhat low weight because I hadn't lifted heavy since college (4 years ago), I gained super quick. For example, I stopped doing dumb single arm bicep curls for sets of 12, and went to bar curls, sets of 4-6. I only need to do 6-7 sets and I'm good.

I do the MAX OT cardio 1-2 times a week, too. I can't even last the 16mins before I am straight up wiped. I can't say that about the elliptical. Don't get me wrong, I think elliptical has it's place, but if you are purely looking for max efficient workouts, it's probably the best way to go.

 

[highland145]

yeah the eliptical is definitely not as good of a workout as running on a treadmill or something that is harder. it's by far the "easiest" of the machines out there for cardio.

that said, doing it isn't bad at all. it's much better than just walking or sitting your ass on a couch watching tv. i don't know why sp33demon is acting like it is just as bad as doing nothing though.

but it's a tradeoff. there is a reason everyone doesn't simply do HIIT even full well knowing it's the most efficient way to lose fat - because it's hard as shit and makes you feel like crap for a while afterwards too.

there is a reason all this stuff is called "working" out and not "easy playing" out.

He's created this argument with himself, elliptical vs recumbent, something I never said.

Hell, I must be a fatty.:'(

 

[highland145]

I do the MAX OT cardio 1-2 times a week, too. I can't even last the 16mins before I am straight up wiped. I can't say that about the elliptical. Don't get me wrong, I think elliptical has it's place, but if you are purely looking for max efficient workouts, it's probably the best way to go.

My guess is that when sp gets a few miles on him, he'll be glad to be able to do whatever type of cardio his body will allow.

 

[SP33Demon]

highland, don't feel bad but this kid just burned more calories in < 10 minutes of working out than you did in 30. This is what we do with the guys who want to lose weight at our private gym:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ieOBgyq88E

This poor SWAT team had to push it up a hill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZLcNjf2RJQ

In fact, anyone looking to buy any cardio machine should just save their money and get a prowler. Granted, it's not optimal in crappy weather but most people live near a parking lot/basketball court/tennis court. Load into the car, drive to lot/court, add desired weight to it, and destroy your legs and cardio in < 10 minutes of running. Melt fat. I can say that I honestly want to die after doing it for any prolonged amount of time. My calves were spasming in my sleep and waking me up in the middle of the night after the first couple weeks of doing it. Your legs will get huge as well.

 

[highland145]

Why would I feel bad? How old are you?

I have become a bit jealous over the last few years.

 

[highland145]

Why would I feel bad? How old are you?

I have become a bit jealous over the last few years.

This isn't some "gotcha" question. I'm curious.

 

[smackababy]

I think a lot of you are using an elliptical wrong. You aren't supposed to be doing it at an easy setting. If you're just gliding along (like most people in the gym), you're literally just pretending to work out. But, the same can be done with a stationary bike.

And, it is low impact because you keep your heels on the pedals the entire time, reducing stress on the tendons.


As far as cardio machines go, I'd get a rower before anything else and then followed by a stationary bike. I do hate stationary cardio though.

 

[gar655]

Another vote for a Concept 2. Probably one of the single best exercises you can do. Try some high intensity intervals on it- BRUTAL and efficient. Zero impact, nearly total body workout.

Much better than any elliptical or stair climber.

And they do come with electonics, quite sophisticated too.

 

[marvdmartian]

Never mind those sissy machines! :sneaky:

Get one of these!! :thumbsup:

 

[norseamd]

Get one of these

that was the machine in the brock lesnar training videos that i always wanted to try

how about weighted jump ropes

 

[SP33Demon]

This isn't some "gotcha" question. I'm curious.

Mid to late thirties, just entering the powerlifting prime age of 40.

 

[highland145]

Mid to late thirties, just entering the powerlifting prime age of 40.

Hope you get 30 more in. I like to see the results from people working out. Looks good and I appreciate the time/effort it takes to get what they have. I've been in a gym for 35+ years, fairly regularly. However, my body has told me to eff off. More so in the last 2 years so the "inefficient" elliptical is about the only cardio I can do. The RHR isn't the only indicator of cardiac health, it is a good indicator of efficiency. I must be doing something right, inefficient or not, so I'll take what I can get.

 

[Squeetard]

Heart rate 145-150bpm...check
Drenched after 30 min...check
Resting heart rate under 50...check


You must be right.

True that. So much fucking BS and misinformation on the internet.
I have done my cardio on an Elliptical for 15 years. I love them. Beat my knees to death skiing hard for 30 years. Elliptical does an upper body workout too.
When I am working out I do 15 minutes on hard for my warmup and 10 minutes on easy for my cooldown.
Yes they can be easier. I can do 2 hours on easy watching golf on sunday and still be breathing out my nose at the end. But crank up the resistance and I can kill myself in 10 minutes too.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Recumbent bike FTW!!

I know everyone has their personal preference, but I figured I'd chime in with mine since it's the Internet.

I prefer to do walking/jogging motions without machinery. I like a recumbent bike because it provides resistance training without the same impact you can even get with a elliptical (if going fast enough to get impact). It's better for your joints and uses slightly different muscles than running. I am able to mix jogging with pedaling without much rest in-between.

I'm also a big fan of rowing machines, but you must use proper technique to get anything out of it and few people use them properly. I never was impressed with stair steppers, but ellipticals are good too. I just prefer the bikes.

 

[gar655]

Never mind those sissy machines! :sneaky:

Get one of these!! :thumbsup:

Never knew they were still in business.

I had a knock off (Tunturi) back in the day. It was OK but not nearly as good as a C2 or similar rower.

 

[darkxshade]

First of all, any cardio is better than no cardio. That said, even as a outdoor runner by default which means I should be accustomed to running, I still find the treadmill to be one of the most difficult machines for cardio. The step mill is the other. This is because unlike all of the other passive machines at the local gym, these are active in that you put a setting in and you need to keep up. After about 30 mins at a high intensity, you start to feel the struggle to finish.

I did a stint with ellipticals during the colder months for a time but now I just throw on a heavy coat and try to walk 5 miles in under an hour. Otherwise it's the rower or treadmill for me when at the local gym.

However, if I were to buy a piece of equipment for a home gym, I would definitely go with a recumbent. The reason being that I want to be in the most comfortable state possible(sitting) while getting in a long and slow workout and being able to enjoy watching a movie, reading a book, etc. My 2nd choice would be a rower.

The stair stepper is the one of the few machines I've never tried so don't have an opinion on it.

 

[Zivic]

I did a stint with ellipticals during the colder months for a time but now I just throw on a heavy coat and try to walk 5 miles in under an hour.

5 miles in under an hour is more like a jog... I spend enough time actually walking on a mill to know 4.5 is about as fast as a person can "walk". 4.2-4.4 is a pretty quick walking speed