skip to main content

The Kitchen Table

treadmill or elliptical?

18 years ago

I'm probably going to be getting a piece of exercise equipment, and I'm wondering which one to get. I have to keep in mind that I have a bad right shoulder, which has been surgically repaired, but still gives me some trouble. I don't know much about ellipticals. Which one should I get?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

czech_chick
18 years ago
I absolutely LOVE using the elliptical at my gym - no impact on your feet. I have no problems using it.
OklaMoni
18 years ago
and I prefer the treadmill at the gym.

I think you will get all personal "best opinions". And they will all differ.

Go to your nearest YMCA, or YWCA and ask for a day pass.

Wear your comfy shoes, and try out their machines.

You really don't need to do much more than 10 minutes on each, to see, which will have a bigger appeal to you.

I recently sold my elliptical machine.

Moni
Related Discussions
In need of a great workout!!
Q
Comments (6)
Coming into this thread very late (but better late than never). There is a great program on many PBS stations, and is also available in video format as well as a (paid) streaming online format: Classical Stretch. I love this workout for no-impact aerobics, stretching and strengthening of the entire body. Each workout is about 23 minutes long. In our area (San Diego) it runs at 5 am, but I just DVR the show and do the workout later. I've also purchased a couple of seasons, so that I can do those on weekends. I do this workout about 6 days a week, sometimes 7. Donna
...See More
exercise bike placement
Q
Comments (12)
I would recommend selecting a dedicated exercise "area" that is pleasant to be in. Of the options you mentioned, I like #2 for a few reasons. It puts the bike in a place you won't feel like you need to cover it. Having it near a window (or sliding glass doors in your case) gives the exercise place a positive pleasant feeling. I find myself much more motivated to exercise when I get natural light. I often get very warm while exercising and nothing is more pleasant than being able to open up a window (or a sliding glass door) and bring in a nice cross breeze. What I'm doing while exercising all depends on the exercise. But if I'm running on a treadmill or elliptical machine or on a bike, I enjoy watching TV. It helps distract me from the exercise and allows me to do an otherwise very unproductive thing (TV) while doing something productive. I love the idea of reading while exercising, but I tend to exercise too vigorously to be able to read (might fall off treadmill or bike or make myself very motion sick). If you hate to exercise, choose an activity that you truly do enjoy (maybe it's TV, or movies, or reading, or knitting, or talking on the phone) to help pass the time and make the activity more pleasant.
...See More
Gym Rant
Q
Comments (17)
That is very annoying... I am lucky enough to belong to a gym where that does not happen very often. I belong to an women's only gym called "Fit For Her". It has circuit training machines along with treadmills, elipitcal's. bicycles, stairstepper's, free weights, a rowing machine and many others. Each machine has it's own tv with headphones provided. It it very annoying for a person who is seriously using the circuit machines the proper way and trying to concentrate on breathing and counting. My gym also has two little private rooms with wonderful massage chairs and with various relaxing DVD's to listen to. There are also two lay down tanning beds and one stand up, free for members to use. A very nice sauna room, A seperate large room with all sorts of videos if you want to do a boot type or aerobic work outs, all sizes of the big exercise balls and mats. They also offer all sorts of bootcamp or aerobic type work out classes that are free for gym members. The dressing and bathroom area is always spotless. They have a really nice clean shower with Aveda hair care products provided. The dressing tables offer nice various items incase you forgot to bring something, like spray deodorant, body lotions, hair spray, pony tail holders, various great smelling body sprays from Bath and Body Works, cotton balls, etc. A never ending supply of clean and wonderfully smelling white towels. It is accessable 24 hours a day with a fob to get into the main building, the fob also works the elevator and door to get into the gym. They also have a really nice and clean playroom for the kiddo's with a tv and movies provided and monitors around the gym so you can monitor you child while you work out. I like to go about 1pm, I practically have the whole place to myself then, and some days I am the only one there about that time. I can honestly say there is not one single thing I do not like about my gym. I can highly recommend Fit For Her if you have one in your area... it sounds like I work there.. haha.. but really I don't...Debbie
...See More
Ideas for a basement design / layout?
Q
Comments (14)
"...So at this point, changing the beams to steel and reducing jack posts isn't possible. Not sure if this can be done when we hire a contractor at a later point. Can this be done after the fact? I would still like to see some layout thoughts if we had to work with what we have?..." Well, this is confusing. Why can't the changes be made before construction begins? That's the time it can be both most economical, and be based to facilitate whatever layout in the basement which works best for you. To make the changes to the jack posts after construction will be very expensive. Without knowing more, it seems to me you're faced with two scenarios: 1) Make the needed changes before construction begins; or 2) Forget about any reasonable and economical changes to the basement for human habitation purposes once construction begins and is complete. When complete, with jack posts every 7'-8" the basement is uninhabitable, other than for storage.
...See More
socks
18 years ago
I like the eliptical because you can really get your heart rate up, and it is easy on the knees. I don't like the up and down sensation, and it's hard to read. It's not that easy to read on a treadmill either, but easier than the eliptical. Watching TV might be ok.

Moni is right. Try both, and you'll know. You might try a bike too, both recumbent and upright.
western_pa_luann
18 years ago
"Which one should I get?"
Whichever one YOU will use.

I agree with those who said you have to try both and see which you like....
bulldinkie
18 years ago
I have both I think the eliptical is alot easier on the knees,although you already have 2 legs use them,walking is best,I walked amany years and miles before I fell down basement steps ruined both knees.Start out 1/2 mile after few weeks go 1 mile.and so on.
caflowerluver
18 years ago
There are lots of comparison articles on the subject. I just put in your title and pull up this article. But I agree with everyone else, you must try them out first to see what you like. DH bought me a very nice (not cheap) exercise bike but I never use it because I don't like it.
Clare
susan_on
Original Author
18 years ago
That was a very interesting article, Clare. Now I'm leaning towards an elliptical. But I'm going to try my daughter's out first.
paula_pa
18 years ago
One thing I'd look into is which will be easier to maintain? I thought about buying an elliptical but I worried that it might be more prone to repairs. Any gym I've ever belonged to, the treadmills seem to be the least likely piece of equipment to breakdown. They're easier to fix too.
naughtykitty
18 years ago
I prefer the eliptical, but I find that I get a much more intense workout on the treadmill. I agree with the suggestion of trying them both out and decide which you like better and which will encourage you to stick with it.

Related Stories

HOME GYMS 10 Elements of an Inspiring Home Gym

By Laura Gaskill

Give yourself an incentive to exercise regularly by creating a workout zone that will get you moving at home

HOME GYMS Meet Your Get-Fit Goals With a Dual-Use Gym

By AWH Construction

Carve out space in any room (yes, even the bathroom) for working out, and you can never say the gym is too long a haul

HOME GYMS Houzz Call: Show Us Your Home Gym or Exercise Space

By Stacy Briscoe

Whether you have a fully devoted room with all the dumbbells and whistles or a bedroom corner, we want to see how fitness fits in your house

Readers' Choice: The 10 Most Popular Home Gyms of 2012

By Vanessa Brunner

Houzzers happily went to court last year, as rooms for basketball — and for weight lifting, yoga and swimming — piqued their interest

MORE ROOMS Inspiring Spaces: A Place to Work Out

Help Make Your Resolution Stick With a Room or Corner Dedicated to Exercise

Sponsored

Industry Leading Kitchen & Bath Remodelers in Franklin County, Ohio

More Discussions

How to get dog feces stain out of carpet

1

Got my fruitcakes done!

25

Cheesecake Factory decor

57

Halloween Pets.

5

I'll show you mine/ysmy - Th 10/29/26

4