Best Cardio Machines For Fat Loss

Discover what are the best cardio machines for fat loss.

There are so many cardio machines to choose from when you are looking to lose weight: treadmill, stair climber, elliptical bikes, rowing machines. If you are looking to buy one, the choice seems even harder as you probably only get to use one for the foreseeable future – unless you’re building a full home gym, then you should be fine.

Either way, the question remains: what are the best cardio machines for fat loss? Max Posternak decided to share his wisdom on the matter.

Max Posternak is the founder of Gravity Transformation, a website focused on giving tips and training guidance for people looking to improve their fitness and lose weight. His YouTube channel has over 4 million subscribers.

Check out what he had to say about the best cardio machines for fat loss. He posed

Best Cardio Machines For Fat Loss

Sadly, there are not many studies that compared different cardio machines on the effects of fat loss, partially because cardio is not the only thing that affects fat loss.

One thing that is certain is that if you get your heart rate high for a long period of time during the workout, you will burn more calories per minute. One study that compared heart rate and total calories burned in 6 different cardio machines was published in the Journal of America Medical Association.

The machines they looked at were: an air dyne bike, cross-country skiing simulator, cycling bike, rowing machine, stair stepper and a treadmill.

Participants rated their perceived exertion, ensuring comparable intensity across machines. The results showed that treadmills produced the highest heart rates and energy expenditure, followed closely by stair climbers. Rowing machines and skiing simulators were tied for third, with cycling bikes and the Airdyne bike trailing behind.

When compared directly to cycling, the treadmill required 40 per cent more energy expenditure at the same intensity level.

Although the study says the treadmill is ranked one of the best cardio machines for fat loss, it is a personal choice in the end. Max Posternak poses 5 questions you should make yourself to discover what are the best cardio machines for fat loss for you.

Which Cardio Machine Do You Enjoy Most? Enjoyment is crucial for consistency. If you dislike the treadmill, you’re unlikely to use it regularly. Choose a machine or activity you enjoy, such as cycling, swimming, boxing, or hiking, to ensure you stick with your cardio routine.

Does the Machine Require You to Stand and Engage Multiple Muscle Groups? Machines that require standing, like treadmills and stair climbers, generally burn more calories than those that allow sitting, like bikes. Additionally, machines engaging multiple joints and muscle groups, such as rowing machines, can also enhance calorie burn.

Do You Want to Burn Fat and Build Muscle? If weight training isn’t part of your routine, consider a cardio machine that also stimulates muscle growth. The stair climber, inclined treadmill, and high-intensity rowing or cycling can help build lower body strength while burning fat.

Is the Machine Suitable for Your Joints? Joint health is important. Choose lower-impact machines like cycling and rowing if you have joint issues, to avoid injuries and ensure long-term consistency in your workouts.

Which Machine Allows You to Exercise at Higher Intensities? Higher intensity workouts burn more calories. Identify which cardio workouts you can perform at high intensity without feeling discouraged. For example, some may prefer high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on a treadmill, while others might sustain higher intensities with boxing or cycling.

First and foremost, the cardio machine that you enjoy the most is likely going to be your best cardio machine for fat loss because it will be easier for you to stick to it. If you thoroughly enjoy cycling and running, then the machine that typically has you standing up (the treadmill in this case) will burn more calories as it uses more muscles at the same time.

Incorporating weight training into your workout, even if you are looking to only lose fat, is crucial because it will help you keep that unwanted fat away from your body.

If you have issues with your joints, you want to choose low-impact cardio machines such as cycling and rowing (if you have lower body joint issues).

Although that was a lot of information, in a nutshell, those are the best cardio machines for fat loss. Although the treadmill is the one that burns the most calories, if you cannot stick to it, chances are that is not the best option for you.

If you want to hear Max Posternak’s full arguments on the best cardio machines for fat loss, check out his video below.