Cross trainer vs indoor rowing machine
Discussion
Hi all,
Just some advice please. Part of my 1 hour workout(lunch times)been working out on the cross trainer at the gym for the last few months.
In between other activities will do around 2 x 15 minutes at quite a high level and tempo. If I am targeting weight loss, would I be better off using the rowing machine instead? Maybe it is a little more intense?
I feel that the cross trainer is beneficial, however what something that provides a bigger impact for the 30 mins I have. Can't really get on with the treadmill, before anyone asks..
Thanks all... G
Just some advice please. Part of my 1 hour workout(lunch times)been working out on the cross trainer at the gym for the last few months.
In between other activities will do around 2 x 15 minutes at quite a high level and tempo. If I am targeting weight loss, would I be better off using the rowing machine instead? Maybe it is a little more intense?
I feel that the cross trainer is beneficial, however what something that provides a bigger impact for the 30 mins I have. Can't really get on with the treadmill, before anyone asks..
Thanks all... G
Depends what you are doing the cardio for?
For fat loss I prefer low carb coupled with SSCV on the cross trainer, as it's easily sustainable and gentle on the joints
For fitness and conditioning I prefer HIIT on the rower (1 min on, 1 min off - or longer programs where you increase the intervals incrementally - 1 min on, 1 min off, 2 min on, 2 min off etc upto 4 mins on / off, then back down each to 1 min on 1 min off. (if that makes any sense...)
These are just my personal preferences, what are your goals?
For fat loss I prefer low carb coupled with SSCV on the cross trainer, as it's easily sustainable and gentle on the joints
For fitness and conditioning I prefer HIIT on the rower (1 min on, 1 min off - or longer programs where you increase the intervals incrementally - 1 min on, 1 min off, 2 min on, 2 min off etc upto 4 mins on / off, then back down each to 1 min on 1 min off. (if that makes any sense...)
These are just my personal preferences, what are your goals?
Remember the "Afterburn effect" that is to say, it's more importen to choose a workout based on the amount you burn in the 48 hours after the exercise than what you burn for the period you actually do the exercise.
I find rowing much better because as well as the cardio element you work your back and your arms.
I find rowing much better because as well as the cardio element you work your back and your arms.
DSharp said:
Depends what you are doing the cardio for?
For fat loss I prefer low carb coupled with SSCV on the cross trainer, as it's easily sustainable and gentle on the joints
For fitness and conditioning I prefer HIIT on the rower (1 min on, 1 min off - or longer programs where you increase the intervals incrementally - 1 min on, 1 min off, 2 min on, 2 min off etc upto 4 mins on / off, then back down each to 1 min on 1 min off. (if that makes any sense...)
These are just my personal preferences, what are your goals?
Personal goals are firstly weight loss - Was 17 stone, I have lost around 1.5 stone in the last 3 months and prefer to take the gradual approach, rather than unsustainable massive loss reduction. I am around 6ft, pretty stocky build, want to get to around 14 stone and then tone myself to look half decent. One main issue, like many other men, is the belly fat!For fat loss I prefer low carb coupled with SSCV on the cross trainer, as it's easily sustainable and gentle on the joints
For fitness and conditioning I prefer HIIT on the rower (1 min on, 1 min off - or longer programs where you increase the intervals incrementally - 1 min on, 1 min off, 2 min on, 2 min off etc upto 4 mins on / off, then back down each to 1 min on 1 min off. (if that makes any sense...)
These are just my personal preferences, what are your goals?
I am doing at least 1 hour every other day at the gym, longer at the weekends, as well as riding at the weekends. Any help is greatly appreciated...
Gio G said:
Personal goals are firstly weight loss - Was 17 stone, I have lost around 1.5 stone in the last 3 months and prefer to take the gradual approach, rather than unsustainable massive loss reduction. I am around 6ft, pretty stocky build, want to get to around 14 stone and then tone myself to look half decent. One main issue, like many other men, is the belly fat!
I am doing at least 1 hour every other day at the gym, longer at the weekends, as well as riding at the weekends. Any help is greatly appreciated...
Lol pretty much identical story to myself last year!!! I am doing at least 1 hour every other day at the gym, longer at the weekends, as well as riding at the weekends. Any help is greatly appreciated...
For me, if you are lowish carbs then 60 minutes SSCV on the cross trainer every other day is great (that's what I did), if you are doing it with normal carbs but low fat, then either really, ideally a bit of both. HIIT is better for cardio capacity, but I like the low-carb, cross trainer route. If you are doing weight training on alternatie days you could do a little bit of carb-cycling. So low-carb of cross trainer days, and medium-low carbs on weight training days.
If you're doing lifestyle changes then HIIT is more fun and works well when you go back to a 'normal' diet.
All just IME / IMO
Well done on the weight loss and kkep up the good work!
nagsheadwarrior said:
I dont think 21mins is that bad o.p id be happy around 2mins per 500 over longer distances off a 10 setting.
Don't set it on 10! You really want the setting to be around about 4/6, as this mimics the feel of a boat (there is a way of checking the actual drag factor of the machine, but as I no longer use the concept 2s I can't remember how to do it! However each machine is different, dependent on how recently it has been serviced/how much dust there is in it, etc!). The strain on the lower back is increased hugely by increasing the drag in that way, for no real cardiovascular benefit.
Gio G said:
To answer my own question, the rowing machine... did 5,000 meters on a high setting and was shattered. Took me a pathetic 21 minutes to achieve.. Must try harder!
That's a pretty good time - don't beat yourself up, in fact you should be pretty proud of it.Try mixing it up a bit - do a long row (5k+) one day then do short intervals (maybe 10 x 500m with a 2 min rest in between) the next day and follow it up with something like 4 x 2000m with a 5 min rest.
Have a look here for workout ideas:
http://thepeteplan.wordpress.com/5k-training/
If you follow the 12 week plan outlined in the site above you'll be a lot fitter and lighter at the end of it. (providing you're not silly with your diet of course).
Personally I feel the rower is far better than the X-trainer for fitness gains and weight loss.
Victor McDade said:
Gio G said:
To answer my own question, the rowing machine... did 5,000 meters on a high setting and was shattered. Took me a pathetic 21 minutes to achieve.. Must try harder!
That's a pretty good time - don't beat yourself up, in fact you should be pretty proud of it.Try mixing it up a bit - do a long row (5k+) one day then do short intervals (maybe 10 x 500m with a 2 min rest in between) the next day and follow it up with something like 4 x 2000m with a 5 min rest.
Have a look here for workout ideas:
http://thepeteplan.wordpress.com/5k-training/
If you follow the 12 week plan outlined in the site above you'll be a lot fitter and lighter at the end of it. (providing you're not silly with your diet of course).
Personally I feel the rower is far better than the X-trainer for fitness gains and weight loss.
nadger said:
nagsheadwarrior said:
I dont think 21mins is that bad o.p id be happy around 2mins per 500 over longer distances off a 10 setting.
Don't set it on 10! You really want the setting to be around about 4/6, as this mimics the feel of a boat (there is a way of checking the actual drag factor of the machine, but as I no longer use the concept 2s I can't remember how to do it! However each machine is different, dependent on how recently it has been serviced/how much dust there is in it, etc!). The strain on the lower back is increased hugely by increasing the drag in that way, for no real cardiovascular benefit.
Recently joined a new gym and always spend plenty of time on the ergs there. And am always irritated that the staff, when taking people around the various kit, dial the C2 up to 10. Utter stupidity; they don't tell people to get on the cross trainer to dial it up to the top resistance.
But as for which is best, cross trainer or erg - personal preference is for the erg, the effort required to get the same workout on a cross trainer is mildly insane.
clonmult said:
nadger said:
nagsheadwarrior said:
I dont think 21mins is that bad o.p id be happy around 2mins per 500 over longer distances off a 10 setting.
Don't set it on 10! You really want the setting to be around about 4/6, as this mimics the feel of a boat (there is a way of checking the actual drag factor of the machine, but as I no longer use the concept 2s I can't remember how to do it! However each machine is different, dependent on how recently it has been serviced/how much dust there is in it, etc!). The strain on the lower back is increased hugely by increasing the drag in that way, for no real cardiovascular benefit.
Recently joined a new gym and always spend plenty of time on the ergs there. And am always irritated that the staff, when taking people around the various kit, dial the C2 up to 10. Utter stupidity; they don't tell people to get on the cross trainer to dial it up to the top resistance.
But as for which is best, cross trainer or erg - personal preference is for the erg, the effort required to get the same workout on a cross trainer is mildly insane.
clonmult said:
I have a colleague who puts in a 5k almost every day with the drag dialled all the way up. He's regularly putting in 19 minutes.
Recently joined a new gym and always spend plenty of time on the ergs there. And am always irritated that the staff, when taking people around the various kit, dial the C2 up to 10. Utter stupidity; they don't tell people to get on the cross trainer to dial it up to the top resistance.
But as for which is best, cross trainer or erg - personal preference is for the erg, the effort required to get the same workout on a cross trainer is mildly insane.
The problem is that many Gyms tend to ignore the rower when it comes to maintenance (in my experience anyway) so even with the damper set to level 10 the drag isn't that high.Recently joined a new gym and always spend plenty of time on the ergs there. And am always irritated that the staff, when taking people around the various kit, dial the C2 up to 10. Utter stupidity; they don't tell people to get on the cross trainer to dial it up to the top resistance.
But as for which is best, cross trainer or erg - personal preference is for the erg, the effort required to get the same workout on a cross trainer is mildly insane.
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