Over the years, there has been an endless debate about which cardio trainer is best for losing weight – a treadmill or exercise bike. The truth is that both simulators are good. It all depends on your personal preferences and the needs of your body. Let’s look at both simulators: how they work, what are their pros and cons.
Treadmill
A treadmill is an effective simulator for the practice of running, walking, running uphill and other types of similar physical activity. The ability to change the speed of the running belt and the tilt of the platform makes the simulator an effective tool for weight loss. Modern treadmills are equipped with a large touch console with various fashionable functions, like a virtual mode. Factors that affect calorie consumption when exercising on a treadmill are your weight, duration of your workout, speed and incline.
Treadmill Benefits
Versatility. You can run, walk and sprint uphill on a treadmill. In order to conduct an effective workout, just select one of the predefined programs.
The naturalness of the movements. Modern treadmills allow you to practice natural human movements, such as walking, running and sprinting.
The effectiveness of the training. It takes a lot of effort to move the body at high speed, which ultimately leads to high calorie expenditure. Pre-installed programs are specifically designed to increase calorie consumption, which ultimately leads to weight loss.
Security. Most modern treadmills have an automatic shutdown feature.
The fight against routine. Modern treadmills feature a large-screen console where you can watch your favorite movies or TV shows during your workout. You can also connect your gadget to the console using the Bluetooth technology and listen to your favorite music while burning calories.
Treadmill disadvantages
The load on the joints. A significant drawback of the treadmill is the shock load on the joints (including the knees) and the spine. Some treadmills have a shock absorption system, but even they cannot completely eliminate the shock load.
Security Considerations. High-intensity training, including high-speed running and uphill running, is often not as safe as it might seem at first glance, especially if you are a beginner.
Violation of posture. Some studies have shown that an individuals natural posture changes while running on a treadmill due to uneven muscle loading.
Exercise bike
Exercise bikes compared to treadmills appeared not so long ago, but their popularity only grows over the years. Exercise bikes are not very different from ordinary bicycles, and most people like that they can place such a simulator at home, since it does not take up much space. Factors that affect calorie consumption when exercising on a stationary bike are your weight, duration of your workout, cadence and resistance level.
The benefits of an exercise bike
Lack of shock loading. The exercise bike allows you to train without stress on the spine. In addition, a properly installed exercise bike supports your body in such a way that your knees and ankles are also not stressed. In the event that the user has problems with the back, it is recommended to switch to training on a recumbent exercise bike, which will provide the back with the necessary support.
The effectiveness of the training. If the user cannot run on the treadmill for more than 10 minutes, then he will be able to pedal the exercise bike for 20 minutes or more and be able to spend more calories per workout.
The fight against routine. High-end exercise bikes feature a large-screen console where you can watch your favorite movies or TV shows during your workout. You can also connect your gadget to the console using the Bluetooth technology and listen to your favorite music while burning calories.
The disadvantages of an exercise bike
Low versatility. Unlike treadmills, which have the function of changing the speed of the treadmill and tilting the platform, the only function that exercise bikes have is changing the level of resistance of the pedals.
Uneven load. The exercise bike allows you to load only the muscles of the legs, and not the whole body. Some people find it boring to exercise on an exercise bike, because they do not move any other part of the body except their legs.
Handles. Having to lean forward to grasp the handles while exercising on a stationary bike can overload your back.
Calorie Consumption Comparison
Various studies have shown that on average, calorie consumption anadrol preis while running on a treadmill for an hour ranges from 705 to 886 kcal. The average calorie consumption when training on an exercise bike for an hour is about 550 kcal. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the treadmill has an advantage over the exercise bike. However, on average, tracks cost more. You can buy an exercise bike, and for the money you save, you can take all kinds of accessories: weights, elastic bands, stops for push-ups, etc
Conclusion
Both the treadmill and the exercise bike are well suited for weight loss if you exercise regularly and enjoy training with cardiovascular equipment. In general, walking or jogging burns more calories and uses more muscle than pedaling an exercise bike, which only loads the leg muscles. An exercise bike, as a rule, is cheaper than a treadmill and takes up less space. Ultimately, if your goal is to get rid of excess fat, you can use any equipment that you like.