View Full Version : Elliptical vs. Treadmill
LittleBlackKat
Nov 29, 2011, 09:17 PM
I'm 22, 5'4 and I weigh roughly 109 pounds. I am trying to get down to 95-100 max, and I was wondering, in terms of making my thighs more slim, should I be running/walking on the treadmill more? I do own an elliptical and have been working out for almost 7 months more so on the treadmill, but I do work out of the elliptical sometimes no more than 35-45 minutes tops.
I tried increasing it though to burn more calories but I noticed that for the last 2 weeks that I go on it 4-5 times a week for nearly an hour and 10-15 minutes, I have been gaining what looks like more muscle in my thighs and legs. I don't want muscle, my goal is to just look more slim, not muscular. Treadmill or elliptical?
Thanks
Eileen G
Dec 18, 2011, 07:48 AM
A treadmill burns more calories than an elliptical, but it helps if you put it at a 5% incline, to allow for the lack of wind that you'll have outside.
The thing about thighs is that you can't judge your own. It's like guys looking at their penis, they are looking down, so the angle is wrong. You look down at your thighs and they look short and fat, while other people look at them from further away and they look great. If you don't have lots of wobble and cellulite on your thighs, stop worrying.
Have you tried doing HIIT (high intensity interval training)? This involves going flat out on the treadmill or elliptical for a one or two minutes, then having a similar period of a slow recovery job, then going flat out again. Repeat for six to ten intervals, and you'll be shattered. And burn a load of calories.
Personally, I prefer doing HIIT on a bike or elliptical, since you go at 100%, and on a treadmill, that means you may lose control and fall off.
Fr_Chuck
Dec 18, 2011, 08:47 AM
And both of course add muscle. So thighs will only go down to a size related by the muscle tissue.
At such a low weight it may be they are not able to go much further down depending on the relationship of the weight.
Since standard weight even for the smallest frame is 110 or more. So you are looking at getting your weigh under recommended weights. ( and if your frame is not small since even 130 is a fine weight for your height)
LittleBlackKat
Jan 1, 2012, 08:34 PM
To be honest, in response to Eileen G, I actually do HIIT. But I seem to have hit a wall right now in weight loss. I checked my weight again and I am almost 107 now, but I really want to get down to 100. Some people have recommended squats and lunges, but I think that BUILDS more muscle in the thighs, depending on how much and how often you do too, I suppose. But I just want to burn off those extra 7-8 pounds, I didn't check the weight in almost 3 and a half months, and I was very upset because I work really hard, I work out in a balanced way, and I eat properly, so I was upset not to have my hard work paid off
Eileen G
Jan 9, 2012, 08:52 AM
Stop obsessing about the scale weight. If you like the way you look, that's what counts. Muscle is denser than fat, so replacing fat with muscle will result in the same weight on the scales, but make you look completely different.
There is nothing wrong with your weight, and nothing magical about weighing 100lb. If you like the way you look in a pair of jeans, so will everyone else. When did a guy last come up to you, ask you what you weighed, and say "Oh sorry, I only go out with girls who weigh less then 105lb"? No-one cares about the scales except you.
As for the wall factor, trying changing to a different form of exercise and see if that helps.