Here are the main differences between a treadmill versus cross trainer.
Treadmills and cross trainers are both uniquely suited and designed to torch calories, burn fat, and overall create a toned, desirable physique. However, which is the better option to use when you find yourself at the gym after work? Treadmills, as we know, can be used for various workouts and can be modified to fit a wide array of athletic capabilities. For a newcomer with not a lot of gym experience, walking may be the way to go to start off on the treadmill.
The treadmill is also a great exercise for running, incline training, and interval training. As one becomes more physically fit and their endurance rises, they can toy around with increasing the speed on the treadmill or raising in the incline, to burn the most calories possible.
Treadmills mainly work the lower body, especially the thighs and quads. This is only accelerated when you do any type of incline walking or running, especially at an incline of 9 or above. Daily work and time spent on the treadmill tends to give the appearance of a well-defined lower body. However, if you tend to run a lot on the treadmill, the abdominals are also worked, and may lead to well defined muscles in that region as well.
Other body parts such as the back and shoulders are worked during a typical treadmill workout, but at much lower levels than the others. If you are concerned about your arms and shoulders not getting enough attention during your treadmill workout, carrying handheld weights during your time on there is always an option.
Treadmills, while versatile and an effective way of getting in shape, can also be notoriously bad for your joints. To mitigate the damages caused, it is recommended to stretch out your legs and feet thoroughly before hopping on for your workout, and to wear shoes made specifically for working out and/or running. Well made shoes from reputable brands can make all the difference in the world when you are running on a hard treadmill, and can be the difference between obtaining shin splints from the treadmill or not. It is also important to rest your body and take time off from the treadmill if your muscles are feeling sore, as not to cause more damage.
Cross-trainers are a great option for people who do not like running, or who find treadmill exercises boring or repetitive. While cross-trainers are also a calorie-burning, extremely popular machine found at nearly all gyms, running is not involved, and they are also much easier on your joints than the treadmill. Cross-trainers also offer the advantage of being more of a full body, complete workout, whereas as I mentioned, treadmills are more geared towards working and defining the lower body muscles.
Cross-trainers also might be better for someone who has no prior gym experience, since they are designed to be very easy to use, and to make you feel like you are not exerting very much energy at all. On the treadmill, any time you increase the speed or incline, you are likely to feel it immediately. Whereas, on the cross-trainer, increasing the resistance or speed is much more subtle and easy to manage.
This may work to help newcomers feel less afraid to try new machines, and to overcome gym anxiety over not knowing how to workout properly. This could also encourage people to spend more time on the machine than they would on the treadmill, and in turn burn more calories, since they will not feel like they are in need of a break so quickly.
A disadvantage of cross-trainers is that on average, working out on treadmills does still burn more calories. When looking at sustainable, realistic weight loss, treadmills may just be the better option to really get the pounds off. Since treadmills have so many different variations in workouts; with different speeds, inclines, and intervals, there truly is a workout for everyone at any level of their workout journey.
Of course, both machines will yield results if used properly and paired with consistent use and a healthy diet, so it is not to say that one is infinitely better than the other. It is important to research both properly and try both out to know which you will enjoy more, and which will benefit you more in the long run.
