elliptical training or jogging?
 

I want to lose weight, whats better for this,
jogging?

or an elliptical trainer?


id be able to jog for about 10 minutes at a time to start, i can do elliptical almost endlessly it seems.

thanks

An eleptical trainer is WAY better. You get the exact same workout as jogging if you do it right, but there's no impact on your joints and you also work out your arms and abs at the same time. Jogging is free, though, and that definitely counts for something.

I think alice gave away the secret to how she manages to look like a hottie. Yeah, screw jogging unless it's fairly "light". Even a stationary cycle is better (which is what I use) and they're probably cheaper than an elliptical trainer. "ELLIPTICAL" - man, that's tricky to spell at 2AM in the dark.

Not once did she say "have naturally huge tits and be an unsatisfied house wife willing to let bad people do horrible things to her body." So no, her secret is safe.

I swim everyday. after work I head straight to the pool and swim laps for a hour and 15 mins and go home to play some DDR. I am actually doing this to gain weight cuz food dosn't do it for me. I have gained 5 pounds of muscle weight, so that is good!

Well NOT ANYMORE! :O

Fuck Santa, I'd want another beardy weirdy - Deni - to come down the chimney. We'd talk long into the night about how materialism is destroying society and eat pies.

I've always said I'd make a great buddhist if I didn't like stuff so much. Secret of Mana > Enlightenment.

Buddha only doesn't want you to have stuff so have can have more for HIMSELF! Isn't it obvious?

I'm just like that too; if I try or actually run somewhere, I can last maybe 'bout a few minutes. If I'm on an elliptical machine, I can go for much longer.

Guess it's 'cause my knees hurt a lot when I jog (unless I "bounce" in my steps), and I'm not overweight (at least, I don't think I am...). Anyways, we have free gym access in our college, so my friend and I always use the elliptical training machine. I suppose it just depends on how much you're willing to spend on gym passes (or purchasing your own machine, though they're pretty big and expensive)

I don't see what folks complain about jogging or joint-aches for. I probably have more injuries than most folks, and it doesn't bother me. I've got a bum leg, to boot. If you get joint pains easily from jogging, then maybe you just aren't used to it. Do extensive stretching (10 minutes) prior to running. Run half an hour. Finish up with more stretching (10 minutes), then do abwork and what-have-you.

Typically, I stretch, run, stretch, do other exercises (bodyweight typically), then run and stretch again. It's a cardio & leg workout that does wonders.

But then again, I'm biased. I'm a big fan of old-fashioned workout techniques. I do solely bodyweight exercises now and don't rely on any machinery.

The main cause of joint pain while running would probably be due to running on cement or something very solid. If possible, stick to a cork-floored track. Run in very thin-soled shoes, as the best workout for your legs (and feet/ankle regions) is running almost barefoot. Ideal conditions would be running (while barefoot) on grassy terrain, as the ground isn't too hard and your ligaments have to adjust differently with each step. However, most grassy places nowadays aren't safe to run barefoot in >>;

I eagerly await the day one of Alice's sons becomes a member of this forum.

But as far as the exercise is concerned, I'd do elliptical. You can watch TV or read. I find just listening to music and jogging so mundane.

Personally for cardio though, I prefer jump rope.

You want to lose weight? Clean up your diet. Cardio means jack shit if your diet sucks. But you don't want to hear that. So do interval sprints up a hill. Twenty minutes per session, alternating between sprinting and jogging every minute and a half.

I think it depends on what makes you more productive at exercising, whatever you find more enjoyable, you'll do more of more often and that's what really counts in the end.

I do both jogging and elliptical, just because I like how jogging makes me work out harder while the ellipitcal makes me work out longer. But that's just me.

I enjoy jogging more than anything else, especially when listening to music. I like the feeling that I am moving about.

Some of my friends ask me why I don't use the machinery for running, etc., its just mainly because I want purpose with my exercise.... even if in means running in large ovals. ;)

But I guess for overall workout and satisfaction, jogging may not be the best.

The joint pain doesn't happen while you're working out, and generally people your age won't be bothered by it. When you get my age, though, you will not want to do anything high-impact like that.

I can't really force myself to do jogging or any kind of elliptical training because if I don't find it fun I'm not going to enjoy it.

I've been playing Dance Dance Revolution/In The Groove over the last three years. Over that time frame I've lost over 45 pounds. I am 6'1 and the lowest weight I reached was about 200 pounds. Unfortunately I've gained at least 20pounds since moving away to work. I guess when your working 15 hour days and you have no idea when your going to have your next day off its hard to have any free time to yourself to exercise.

I can't wait to get home and start playing my dancing game at home and at the arcade. Most days I usually play for 2-3 hours per day and I tell you this much, by the end of it I'm in a very sweaty mess. I personally think its great way to workout and its kept my weight down and I also consider it fun which is definetely one of the reasons why I'm still into it.

I will say its not for everybody, I also like to go downhill skiing; I have to thank my gf for getting me into that, and she is also going to help me conquer my fear of water when I come home for the christmas holidays. So I wouldn't be surprised if I took up swimming as well.

If I had any free time, I would like to have the occassional game of basketball, table tennis, and when I was in university I always enjoyed playing ultimate frisbee with all the visual arts and theatre students. They always had a rivalry going on at the university I went to.

So basically, in terms of exercise, do whatever you feel like you'll enjoy. Don't do anything that makes it seem like a chore. As long as you enjoy it each and every day you'll feel more motivated to do it.

High impact? I thought we were talking about jogging? Not pulling up stumps with our teeth.

Also, your still young and vibrant, Alice.

Yeah, what *AkirA* said =I We're talking about jogging, not football. However, sprints will fuckin' kill you in later years (I don't do 'em until the last lap of my running, to bottom out my stamina). But hell, my 75 & 80 year old grandma and grandpa (respectively) jog a mile every day. Never heard them complain.

If some people can do it for over an hour on end without aches, then it ain't high-impact. It's moreso a matter of just not being used to it. Got joint aches while running? Do Hindu Squats and Pistons. Those'll get your ligaments and joints fine-tuned.

I consider elliptical training the more feminine thing to do, so GO FOR IT! Yeah, in my college gym, you only ever see girls using those machines. :/

That said, I'd prefer jogging/running over them, but I'd rather play sports, usually either soccer or basketball (or DDR! but I haven't done that for a while); work on reflex muscles. endurance, coordination, and all that jazz. :p

Why jog? Do you think you're burning more calories because you break a sweat and pant a little? Eat broccoli. Raw. Put down your Lays and slice some cucumbers. Drop the Dr. Pepper and have some water. Have a salad. Hold the dressing. Make a sandwich. Hold the mayo. Eat meats and beans. Lay off the nuts. They're a double edged blade. Now you're ready to not only take a jog, but also notice results and have more energy to waste. Hell. Who cares what you do. Ride a bike. Walk on the ceiling. Spin a web. Anything to show those folds a little light of day.

Alice is correct on all points. As well as in her later posts in this thread. Jogging and running is inherently good short-term, bad long-term. I know chiropractors and other "joint doctors" (as I like to call them) who kind of laugh and smile every time they see someone over the age of 30 running or jogging, and when I asked them why, invariably they would say "Well I feel bad for smiling about it, I just marvel at the stupidity of those people. And I'm also sort of smiling because if they keep it up, they're gonna be my patient in a few years." Just like girls who dance all their lives - invariably they develop hip and back problems. My three older sisters danced for years, and all have had problems.

Ellipticals reduce impact and therefore stress, ergo it goes easy on your joints but still works out the muscles in what is usually a more efficient manner.

Take a walk instead, for like a hour. Burns fat like nothing else. Walk swiftly but not jogging. And you work on your leg muscles at the same time, and you get some fresh air. we boxers do it to lose weight, trust me it works.

This is not really good advice (well, some of it is okay). There's nothing wrong with fat. The fact that people fear fat and eat a lot of carbs instead is the reason everyone's fat. An olive oil dressing is full of good fats, as are nuts. Sandwiches are generally bad ideas.

A good strategy is to try to limit your carb intake to breakfast and after workout, and save fat for later in the day. Get rid of starches and breads. Drop all sugary drinks. Eat protein at every meal; protein has a much greater thermic effect than carbs and fats (i.e. it boosts your metabolism). Eat OFTEN (six meals a day, roughly). These are basic things, but there are so many misconceptions out there.

Come on, cardio is catabolic, plain and simple. You're lucky if you don't lose muscle. This is why short sessions of interval sprints are great. Look at any endurance athlete's legs--they're absolutely pathetic.

Mm, Will has some good points here on weight. Carbs are the biggest problem when it comes to people getting fattened up. If you are going to eat carbs, make sure you've eaten them all before 12 noon, 2 PM at the very latest. As he said, limit it to breakfast and after workout. And eat often, because if you give your body what it needs and don't stuff it full of carbs that it doesn't know what to do with, it will have the fuel to burn off what you don't need.

But, that being said, cardio is good in a lot of ways - but not for muscle. It's cardio, it's not weight training. You want to increase your endurance and how far you can go on your next jog (or how much longer on ellipticals) that's fine, but don't expect to build a lot of muscle. You'll burn fat too, I'm sure, but most people seem to make the mistake of thinking that the harder their heart is pounding, the more fat they'll burn. Try going for a moderately fast but steady heart-rate while you work out. It keeps your blood flowing to where it needs to be but doesn't overwhelm your system.

Your approach is wonderful assuming that the dieter is ambitous enough to work out, but you may have missed a point. The plan is that this person is willing to jog for...10 minutes a day. There's a fair chance that they'll only jog 5 minutes, then turn around and jog halfway back and walk the last block or two. But let's just assume they do jog for 10 minutes. You have to start somewhere, right? Maybe they'll even gradually take up a routine that actually impacts their physique. In that case, certain fats can be considered good as well as certain eating habits. As of now, there is no contrast. You need to get fit to stay fit and you get fit by sweating, foremost. And there's a difference between being fit and not being fat. There's also a difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest.

I haven't used an elliptical machine much but I do jog everyday. In under half a year I've gone from 205 pounds to under 164 pounds. Ofcourse I also changed my diet and cut down on my calorie intake. But if you want to lose weight you always have to change your eating habits. Otherwise no matter what you do to work out there wont be any impact.

I haven't had any problems with my joints, legs, or feet unless I pushed my body too far too soon. Right now I jog 6 miles in about ~70 minutes a day. But when I first started out I walked 2 miles in an hour. Then 2 miles in 30 minutes. After that I pushed forward to speed walking 4 miles. Next was a light jog of 4 miles in ~30-40 minutes. I gradually increased my workout as my body adjusted and got use to it.

Not doing this and pushing your body to do something it isn't use to right off the bat is the wrong thing to do. I think that ultimately is what leads to alot of problems with things like jogging or running.

I'm not saying jogging is the better choice over other forms of aerobic exercises. But for me it's what worked best. Though, these kind of exercises alone wont do you any good. If you really want to get in shape you need to do Aerobic and Anaerobic exercising. Don't forget to include alot of stretching too.. They all complement each other nicely.

I don't think you really understand the concept of dietary fat versus body fat. They're completely different. Your body will turn any macronutrient into fat for storage if it's in excess. Fat as a macronutrient is healthy, essential, and anabolic. You don't get fat by eating fat; you get fat by eating too much, too infrequently, at the wrong time.

Also, everyone has a basal metabolic rate. A 200 lb. man will burn 2000 calories by sitting on his ass all day. Yes, someone who takes in and expends 6000 calories a day will look a lot better than someone who takes in and expends 3000 (this is where exercise comes into play), but that's beyond the scope of this discussion. The point is that your body burns fat in response to a caloric deficit.

This is what I'm talking about--there are so many misconceptions out there. Stop reading "Women's Health and Fitness".

And by being lazy?

that too, but I find elliptical, cause it's great on cold/rainy/snowy, and tornado struck days when you need to stay inside

I heard those elliptical machines are the latest thing, never tried it though. But if you can do it longer because its easier, what's the point? Personally I prefer running and jogging, I got used to it the hard way. I think that if you feel pain its because you're neglecting far too many other areas, such as your basic activity level and your nutrition. There's also a method of how to productively run/jog (how to land your feet, posture, etc) and with all these things commonly ignored by most people I can see why there's so much pain and so few old people still doing it. A decent pair of shoes doesn't hurt either.

As far as diet, last year I went from 262 to where I am (193) in about six months. In 1999 I went from 240 to 187, and I like to think I've learned enough to not gain that weight back ever again.

Whatever cardio you decide on, don't go past 30 minutes for the love of God. I think 15-20 is best, but optimally (like Will said) interval training is best. You bust your ass for 30 seconds, do some light walking or whatever for one minute or a minute and a half, and repeat another five times. Short, intense, and it works wonders for your body and metabolism. Look at the difference between the body of a long distance runner and a sprinter. And you can do interval training without even having to necessarily run. Whatever you do though, don't become a mindless automation huffing and puffing away for over a half hour... Even if that helped you lose weight, what good does it do you performance wise? I've seen great long distance joggers get out of breath by just running up a flight of steps. Absolutely no explosiveness, it seems all they've trained to do is be able to withstand being out of breath for long periods of time. In the real world what does that help beyond some heart benefits?

As far as dieting, don't be stupid and keep it simple. I like to eat first thing in the morning for a good 300 calories, then repeat with four or five more meals throughout the day with 2.5-3 hours between each. This way you wont overload your body with food itll have to store as fat, you increase your metabolism by constantly making it work, and the best part is you can actually eat more throughout the day and still lose weight if you just like to eat. Personally I avoid horrible sources of fat (mayo, butter, greasy foods) and try to stick to fish oils, nuts (wtf are you talking about Leveless?), canola and olive oil, etc. Just avoid saturated fats and ESPECIALLY trans fats, get some decent omegas in, and try to get whole grain/fiber carbs in too and cut the sugar down to a minimum. Personally, I only drink water and green tea. At the very least start chugging some water.

If you want to complicate your life even more drink extremely cold water or take very cold showers. This'll increase your core temperature which will increase your metabolism. Slightly varying the calories you eat day to day helps to if you want to get anal about things, since you're results might plateau if your body gets used to the same exact calories everyday. Just like weightlifting.

This is my disorganized arrangement of what works for me. Of course I don't think I have to do every little thing here to get what I want, but every little bit helps.

There is a reason why jogging makes you tired faster than the elliptical. The elliptical is easier. Period. Your heart rate doesn't nearly rise and stay high as long as jogging does (in my opinion). My workout almost always consists of jogging unless my legs are sore. The elliptical are for people who cannot afford the joint problems of jogging, like 50 year olds. Even then I see 50 year olds jog regularly. Just don't jog on concrete or marble or something crazy. The point of cardio is making your heart healthier and stronger. And on top of that, it really helps making your body look better. With the elliptical you either have to use it for an hour to get the same impact as jogging for half and hour or work on it as hard as you would jogging - but good luck with that. Save time - jog.

If you want to jog, a treadmill is already cushioned with impact devices. And even then I recommend a treadmill more than the elliptical. Jogging requires a lot more equilibrium and doesn't concentrate on one area of the body like most cardio machines do when used regularly. If you're in your twenties, jog. You'll only get better.

Actually, Dee, an elliptical trainer brings your heart rate up longer and faster than jogging does. It burns more calories per minute and in terms of weight loss, it's much better. The only thing it won't do is train your muscles for long term endurance the way running will.

I find it hard to believe that, especially with my experience with cardio machines. I use the elliptical for a half hour and it won't burn nearly as many calories as the treadmill can (according to the respective calorie counts). In fact, if I convert it, it would be equivalent to walking perhaps 3-3.5 mph for that half hour, which is wasted effort. You would be better off setting an incline on the treadmill and walking the same speed. I would propose, if you're an elliptical user, high resistance and usage of the arms, which is something the treadmill cannot give you.

But alas, this is all my two cents; if the elliptical makes you get off your lazy ass then use it!

What, are you leaving the elliptical on an uber low setting or something? Crank up the resistance.

Makes sense that the setting would be too low on the elliptical. Because, if people can last longer on an elliptical than jogging, something's up. There's no way in fucking hell you can do something for a half hour that's easier than jogging (in terms of getting you tired) and lose more calories.

Good point though Dee. I sort of look at an elliptical versus jogging/running the same way I look at free weights versus machines and cables.

It really depends on the machine. I've used ones that are easy as hell and you get basically no workout whatsoever, but I've also used machines that have kicked my ass. Just turn up the resistance if you don't feel like you're getting smoked enough.

If you are just looking for a good cardio routine if you have someone to work out with you take up a few classes of kickboxing and once you learn how to properly throw some punches get focus mitts, some gloves, and a partner and spend 15 minutes throwing punches. It may not seem like much but it will do ALOT more for you then your other two options, is a bit more fun IMO, AND if you ever need to defend yourself at least you will be able to throw a mean punch (and kick if you decide to stick with the classes).