When you are trying to lose weight, it’s important to move your body every day. Using an elliptical machine is a great option because it’s low impact and gets your heart rate up, which will burn calories. The elliptical is great as a standalone workout or as a supplement to a strength training program. 

You can find a row of elliptical trainers in almost every gym, so it is very easy to get started. The machines are simple to use, so you can get started today even if you’ve never been to a gym before. In this article, we are going to discuss how to successfully lose weight using the elliptical. 

How does the elliptical machine work to help lose weight? 

The elliptical is a full-body low-impact exercise machine that can help you lose weight and improve your cardiovascular health.

Elliptical machines are a piece of cardio equipment where you stand on two uneven pedals and pedal back and forth. You also have the option to hold onto the handles to add in some upper body work as well. 

You are responsible for making the elliptical move with your own strength, the machine doesn’t do it for you like a treadmill. Most ellipticals have an adjustable resistance feature that allows you to make the workout harder and therefore burn more calories. 

When you burn more calories on the elliptical than you take in, you will lose weight. 

How many calories can I burn in 30 minutes a day on the elliptical?

Depending on your body weight and the intensity of your elliptical workout, you can burn anywhere from 250-400 calories in 30 minutes on the elliptical. An elliptical workout is a great low-impact, total body workout that will help you meet your fitness goals. 

How much weight can I lose using an elliptical for 30 minutes a day?

You can lose about 1 pound per week when you are using the elliptical consistently for 30 minutes per day. Overall weight loss will depend on your diet and what, if any, other workouts you are doing throughout the course of the week. 

The best way to lose weight is to stay in a caloric deficit every day. What this means is that you must burn more calories through exercise and movement than you take in through the food you eat. If you maintain a consistent caloric deficit daily, over time you will lose weight. 

If you can commit to using the elliptical for 30 minutes per day and make sure that you eat fewer calories than you are burning, you will be on your way to reaching your fitness goals. 

Although weight loss of 1 pound per week can feel slow, this is the healthiest way to lose weight. If you lose weight slowly and steadily, you are more likely to keep the weight off long-term than you are if you lose it quickly or in an unsafe way. 

What are the benefits of an elliptical vs a treadmill?

If you’re wondering whether you should use an elliptical or a treadmill for your workout, there are some important things to consider. There are some clear benefits to the elliptical over the treadmill. Let’s talk about them. 

Low-Impact 

The huge benefit to using an elliptical as opposed to a treadmill is that the elliptical is low-impact. This is great if you have joint issues or are recovering from an injury because it allows you to use full mobility and still burn calories without hurting yourself.

Full-Body Workout

Elliptical machines have arm handles that you can use during your workout to create additional resistance and work your upper body at the same time. Although you can pump your arms while you walk or run on a treadmill, this doesn’t add as much resistance. 

Reverse Directions to Work Different Muscle Groups

Most ellipticals have the option to reverse the direction that you pedal during your workout. This change in pattern works a completely different set of muscles and changes your center of gravity, so it lets you change up your workout in a way that you can’t on a treadmill. 

Lower Risk of Injury

In addition to being a way to help you stay safe post-injury, the elliptical is also a great cardio machine to use if you want to avoid the risk of injury in the first place.

On a treadmill, even the slightest wrong can step can lead to injury. With your feet staying stationary on the pedals of an elliptical, your hips, knees, and ankles are more likely to stay in alignment during your workout. 

How should I eat to maximize my weight loss on the elliptical? 

The most important thing to remember with weight loss is that you must remain in a caloric deficit to lose weight. Even if you are working hard on the elliptical, if you overeat you will not lose weight. 

Although you should try to eat healthy, whole foods whenever possible, as long as you are burning more calories than you consume you will lose weight regardless of what you are eating.

Even if you have a hard time eating healthy because you are busy or hate cooking, just focus on your calorie intake. Consider recording your food in a daily food journal to get a better understanding of what you are eating and keep track of your calories. 

You can record your food in a notebook or use an app on your phone, whichever works best for you. Stay consistent with your caloric deficit and keep up with your elliptical workouts for optimal weight loss. 

You can also use our calories burned on an elliptical calculator to see how long you should workout on an elliptical to lose weight.