Cross Trainer v Treadmill

[Mojooo]

Title should be cross trainer v STAIR MASTER!!


I think my question boils down to - how much do we really need to push our hearts to the near limit?

I started going to the gym and I always finish off with cardio. As I have had knee operations I don't use the treadmill to reduce knee impact.

I started using the 'Stair Master' machine... my reasons were
- low impact
- I am not great at walking distances and its something I want to improve.
- when I go on holiday I might climb a tall building or site so its good practice for that - and that is the MAIN reason I do it.

I've been playing with levels 4 - 7and last time I did it got up to almost 2000 steps.

The machine is supposed to work glutes and calves which is good as the yare areas of weakness for me.

The only downside is that although I get fatigued, my heart rate doesn't get as high as it does on the cross trainer.

On the step machine, I could increase the steep but it would get to the point of feeling a bit unsafe (I don't hold the rails) as I just imagine I am walking up a tower block.....if you lose focus you could have a bad fall as there are only 2 steps to really stand on.

So the cross trainer is less physically demanding but I find it can get my heart rate a bit higher.

I've been mixing them up and will prob continue to do so....but my question is, should I be using the cross trainer more to get my heart pumping more? I WILL get fit with the Stair Master - its just a question of whether pumping the heart more often will expedite my fitness journey.

I am purely trying to burn the calories - building muscle is not the main goal and I do other weights as well.

From what I can see online, a cross trainer does burn a few more calories than a stair master. But the stair master feels like it will give me other real world benefits and as long as you get a sweat on the difference may be negligible?

I should add that after long periods of being overweight I am feeling very good having lost some bulk - its made a huge difference to my mood.

[InitialDave]

For cardio without joint impact, I feel the cross trainer/elliptical is better.

But a stair machine will do more for legs and glutes.

[Sheets Tabuer]

Surely if you want a HR workout the bike is the best option?

I have dodgy knees and the treadmill is fine, going up and down stairs is another matter.

[Mojooo]

Not sure a bike would get me to the same level without leg fatigue?

I'll try tonight

Rower is a killer but I find my form goes to crap when I get tired.

[Yahonza]

A rower will build muscle everywhere and give good cardio if you do quite a lot. Agree about form, do it slowly (18-20spm) and focus on form.
You'll see lots of people in the gym going quickly for 10 minutes with crap form. Probably better than nothing - unless your back gives in
A decent exercise bike will build cardio and leg muscles - again low intensity high volume.
The treadmill, if it is any good, will have gradients built into the programme. Not great for the joints though, especially if you have dodgy knees.
Not sure about cross-trainers, I use one of these to warm up in the gym and it gets the heart rate up pretty quickly.

How much do we really need to push our hearts to the near limit? You don't but when you are younger there is no harm it hitting the limiter.

Edited by Yahonza on Friday 19th September 18:03

[Jamescrs]

Sheets Tabuer said:

Surely if you want a HR workout the bike is the best option?

I have dodgy knees and the treadmill is fine, going up and down stairs is another matter.

I've tried a number of cardio machines in the gym and I find the Cross Trainer for me burns more calories and gets my heart rate faster than a bike does.

I'm not a fan of the stair master personally simply because I can't get comfortable on it, I think my feet are too big for the machine steps to be comfortable on it.

I use the tread mill occasionally if I can't get on a cross trainer but it's usually for a fast paced walk, if i'm running I prefer to be outside to on a treadmill