Losing belly fat is easier said than done – unless you find a machine that’s built with toned abs in mind. Will it be a treadmill or an elliptical? You want the best equipment for the task… but which machine takes that title?
Want a workout that really gives you a kick in the abs? Treadmills and ellipticals are the two main machines that most people know can burn calories en masse. I don’t know about you, but my home gym doesn’t have room for both. If we’re looking for the one that gives us the best burn for our buck, we need to trust expert insights.
Home gym gurus like SOLE Fitness are always weighing up the benefits of treadmills and ellipticals, helping gym-goers choose the machine that meets their needs. Which do they think is the best bet for losing belly fat and chiseling washboard abs? The answer isn’t so simple...
The data is apparent enough. While treadmills come with a range of incline levels to target your ab muscles, ellipticals are built to offer a more well-rounded full-body workout - in other words, one that burns more calories in different areas.
It’s no surprise that many gym-goers and home fitness fanatics are looking to tone and sculpt those six-packs first and foremost - and for such goals alone, the experts at SOLE Fitness lean toward ellipticals.
“Scientific data shows that you can expect to burn on average 600 calories for 1 hour of exercising on a treadmill, while an elliptical burns around 700 calories in the same time frame. Therefore, if calorie burn is your primary goal, the elliptical may have a slight edge.”
But workouts aren't performed on paper. We’re not all working out with a stopwatch, a tape measure, and a set of scales, carefully weighing our calories before and after. After all, burning calories largely comes down to the intensity of our exercises.
So, if you’re someone who runs on treadmills at a higher speed than average, perhaps with an even steeper incline, you’ll see superior results in turn.
It also comes down to consistency. Do you prefer treadmills to ellipticals? It stands to reason, then, that you’ll work out more regularly and enthusiastically with the former - losing more calories as a result.
That said, treadmills are known to put a greater strain on your joints. This is precisely why experts point to ellipticals as a more comfortable long-term choice for those with certain physical limitations. If you’re prone to problems with your knees, you might find yourself using an elliptical more often - and that’s where you’ll see their calorie-burning benefits.
Needless to say, the technical and scientific considerations between treadmills and ellipticals should only partly inform your decision. Ultimately, you’ll burn more calories on the machine that you enjoy more, and therefore, the one you use more often. Keep that in mind as you get ready to tone that midsection!
Home fitness enthusiasts have all kinds of preferences and all kinds of experience levels. That’s why you need to look for machines that work for you - and your workout. Whether you’re thinking of a treadmill or an elliptical, you can easily find luxury options alongside more affordable and accessible varieties. The best part? Modern machines come with innovative fitness monitoring capabilities - so watching your weight has never been easier.
Still not sure which machine would look the best in your home gym? Ask experts like SOLE Fitness for help getting into shape… your way.
