Like the elliptical, the stationary bike is a low-impact, joint-friendly way to get your cardio in, Almonte says.

Totally fine if you just need a break from the world but not ideal if you want to notably improve your fitness or heart and lung health. The main reason Almonte doesn't personally use the elliptical for cardio, though, is exactly why so many exercisers love it: It's SO easy to zone out on. Since it doesn't translate to the real world, 'the elliptical isnРІР‚в„ўt ideal to use to train for any sort of specific event,' Almonte says.Р”Р‡or example, 'since the movement pattern isnРІР‚в„ўt the same, using the elliptical wonРІР‚в„ўt result in you being a better runner or drastically increase your ability to run or jog for long periods of time.' So if you're training for a 5k or want to work on your running skills, you're probably better off on the treadmill. (They reached these numbers by calculating the average burn for a 125-pound person, 155-pound person, and 185-pound person.) The Cons Of The EllipticalР”Р„s fun as the elliptical may be, it isn't exactly functional, meaning the fitness machine's movement pattern doesn't replicate anything you do IRL. The result of that total-body effort? You can burn between 270 and 400 calories on the elliptical in 30 minutes, according to Harvard Medical School's estimates. The muscles that feel the burn the most: your glutes, hamstrings, quads, triceps, and deltoids (top of your arms and shoulders). Plus, since it's low-impact (your feet never leave the pedals), it's easy on your joints, Almonte says.Р”Р„nd if you hold onto those moving handles and really pump your arms and engage your core as you glide your feet, the elliptical can truly be a full-body workout, she adds. The Pros Of The EllipticalР”В®xercising on the elliptical feels a bit like a remix between cross-country skiing and stair climbing, so if you dig that whole gliding-through-space vibe, it's a lot of fun. stationary bike when it comes to cardio training. Here's everything you need to know about an elliptical vs. That said, though, the elliptical and bike don't quite offer the same fitness benefits, so which you should select for your sweat really depends on your unique goals (and preferences!). 'Unlike on the treadmill, you arenРІР‚в„ўt keeping up with the machine, but the machine is adapting to your level of effort.' Of course, you can adjust the resistance on both the elliptical and stationary bike to level up the difficulty as you like. 'Both are great for cardio because you decide the speed and cadence,' says trainer Taylor Rae Almonte, CPT, founder of anti-racist wellness program ACTIV-ISM. I mean, you can cue up the latest ep of Grey's Anatomy and watch the time fly as the sweat drips on either, but are they created equal? Whether youРІР‚в„ўre trying to decide which cardio machine to head for at the gym or what to add to your home workout set-up, the elliptical and stationary bike are both popular options.

Spinning bike trainer