Considering which is better a treadmill or an exercise bike, you need to proceed from the goals of the training and your own state of health. If you need to quickly lose weight, intensively build muscle, the track will do. For a more gentle load, especially during the rehabilitation period, it is recommended to use an exercise bike. More details about the pros and cons of both devices are described in this material.
The content of the article
- What is best for weight loss
- What is best for an intense workout
- Pros and cons of an exercise bike
- Pros and cons of a treadmill
What is best for weight loss
Losing weight is one of the main goals of intense training. It implies active fat burning, i.e. increased calorie consumption. If in this sense we consider what is more effective - an exercise bike or a treadmill, it is better to dwell on the latter option.
In fact, running on a treadmill, like running on a hard surface, burns about 20% more calories in the same amount of time. The reason is that during a workout on an exercise bike, a person is sitting. The main load goes to the legs, and in the case of the track - in fact, to the whole body.
At the same time, you should not think that an exercise bike will help to remove fat only from the legs, hips or abdomen. In fact, fat is never burned only in a certain place. Thanks to intensive, regular exercises, it leaves gradually from all zones of deposits (but at different speeds). Therefore, if you figure out which exercise bike for the home is better, and do it right, the effect is guaranteed.
What is best for an intense workout
Another goal of the exercises is to pump up the muscles, give them the desired relief and bring them into tone. For this, training should be not only systematic, but also intense.
If you plan active activities, you should also consider a treadmill. In the case of running at a high speed of about 15-20 km / h, the load on the body is maximum. Moreover, it cannot be compared with the fastest pedaling, even if the disc between them is very heavy (20-25 kg).
It is important to understand that on both classic and modern exercise bikes, the number of leg rotations per minute is still less compared to the number of leg swings during a fast run.
Pros and cons of an exercise bike
Considering which is better to choose, you should also analyze the pros and cons of each device. If you explore the exercise bike, you can highlight the following advantages:
- gentle load on almost all joints (if you run too hard along the track, your knees and hip joints may suffer);
- imitation of cycling, especially in combination with music, video, helps to improve mood and get rid of the perception of training as an unpleasant procedure;
- classes are especially useful for the legs - they become more toned and attractive, which is especially useful for girls.
In connection with the last point, you can also wonder which is better - an ellipsoid or an exercise bike. We can say that an ellipsoid is a kind of treadmill on which a person makes smooth movements with his feet. As a result, the load goes to the whole body, so you can burn more calories. In this sense, such a device is better.
But it is worth considering that the exercise bike has some drawbacks. If there are diseases, back injuries, it is worth reducing the load. It is also desirable to use horizontal devices with a wide back.
Pros and cons of a treadmill
The treadmill also has its advantages:
- running and walking are physiologically natural loads for any person, they make almost all muscles work;
- less stress on the back, comfort during training;
- you can set any load, including walking (especially important for overweight people during rehabilitation);
- increases efficiency, improves sleep.
However, when studying what is more effective - an exercise bike or a treadmill, you need to take into account its disadvantages. They are associated with a fairly strong load on the joints. If there are injuries or too much weight, it is better to start with an exercise bike.
Thus, each device has its own advantages and disadvantages. In general, the track is better for losing weight, burning fat, and also increasing endurance. But for some people, for medical reasons, only an exercise bike is suitable. If you have any doubts about your health, you should consult your doctor.
