hello all,

i'm new here and was wondering...which is better for you. running or the elliptical machine? which one burns the most calories and develops the most muscles?

i always feel very sore after running, not nearly as much after i'm through with the elliptical machine, so i dont know if i'm working out as hard.

just curious if anyone knew :-) thanks!

Well it varies entirely based on intensity. But for the most part running would burn more calories than a machine would.

Hi,
Cardio vascular exercise does not typically develop muscles...not that it's impossible. Actually, a lot of people LOSE muscle from doing a lot of cardio. It does work the muscles and can give the muscles endurance.

Personally, I recommend doing whichever you enjoy most. Exercise should be enjoyable, so you will stick with it in the long run. On the other hand, often people will burn more calories runningoutside. Running outside tends to be less boring so people go further and go faster.

Sarah

Plus, you should consider what's best for your body. If you have "bad" knees an elliptical is probably the best considering it's more low impact.