It seems like whenever we’re deciding whether to buy a treadmill or exercise bike, we are realy just deciding between two sides of fitness philosophy. One side preserve joints while promoting steady endurance. The other side involve weight bearing and impact.
They both make you sweat and burn calories, but they impacts your body different than the other. In practice, most people decide based off which method of moving their bodies they can stick with for longer periods of time rather than which one is objectively “better”. Intensity isn’t as good as consistency and best piece of equipment is the one you’ll go to when you feel exhausted/busy/discouraged.
How To Choose Best Cardio For Weight Loss
The Importance of Consistency Over Intensity
A lot of folks begin with big plans for change. You know: Burning 1,000+ calories per workout. Spinning at max level resistance.
You pound the pavement until your legs screams. Real life swiftely intervenes. Motivation wanes.
The body’s response to whatever piece of equipment you’ve selected determine its ultimate fate. Do you get sucked back into exercise? Or do you continue to look for excuses to avoid it?
If it feel like torture, you’re not going to go. If it doesn’t feel awful when your day isn’t great, you’ll be much more likely to go. We want to create an exercise habit that lasts.
Treadmill Benefits and High-Impact Risks
Many people assume treadmills must be better for losing weight since they mimic a natural movement. You’re walking or running which works your biggest muscles such as quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. Since you’re moving your entire body weight against gravity, it typically requires less energy to maintain that effort compared to say, cycling at the same perceived exertion.
That is, you may burn more calories in less time. But there’s a catch: Treadmill workouts are high-impact. For individuals whose joints have already been through hell, or who is overweight, all that repetitive pounding on hard surfaces can take its toll; specifically, on their hips and knees.
Why Exercise Bikes Offer Sustainable Low-Impact Training
There’s a balance here between efficiency and physical cost. Exercise bikes is another highly efficient option. They are low impact so they are open to far broader demographic.
And you can does intervals at high intensity, without worrying about straining your joints like you might if you were out on the run. For long term weight loss programs, this sustainability is a major plus. Sure, it may be true that you won’t burn quite as many calories in any given minute on an exercise bike as you would when running but you’ll also be able to do it more often and for longer.
That’s why SoulCycle-style stationary bikes and even something like the Peloton Bike have become so popular. The music and community add rhythm and cadence to the ride and makes it easier to start, leading to more calories burn during the week. Because it’s less dreaded.
Cost and Space Considerations for Home Gyms
These are practical considerations. Besides physiology, there is other factors at play. Money is one.
Space is another. Treadmills are hefty pieces of machinery. (NordicTrack’s Commercial Series treadmills are good ones.) They takes up lots of space, not only on your floor but also mentally.
When the motor go out, they cost hundreds to fix. Unless you’re into exercise bikes, which tend to be cheaper upfront and more mobile… Ideal for renters who might have to relocate again…
And take up less space, whether it’s a recumbent or upright (such as the Schwinn IC4) bike. If space is tight or money is scarce, the bike win, hands down. If something is a pain in the butt, you won’t use it.
Choosing Based on Personal Physical Condition
And no habit will form. So in conclusion. Pick whichever works for you, based on your preference and physical condition.
Do you like riding a bike? Are your joints healthy? Do you like the idea of a nice breeze?
Great! Then use a treadmill! Is the thought of standing exhausting?
Do you carry extra weight? Does your knee hurts? In that case, the bike’s a better bet long-term.
Go with whatever your body tells you, starting with something you think you can sustain. Not something that sounds cool on paper. In the end, the machine that will help you shed pounds is the one that you’ll end up using every single day, in all kinds of weather and moods.
You should of picked your fighter, commit to it and let consistency be your weight loss driver.
