Machine cardios Vs walking outside.

[RoaringMad Mac]

I want this up for discussion.

What do I feel the best is.....

Walking outside because plain and simple....it is free


Other benefits being outside give you better air IMO. I realize in some states it is not that way but outside air has so many advantages. Believe me I have been on both sides of the game. I feel so much better when I get through from walking outside. I know I am talking about walking, but for some of you it is jogging as well. I have to walk.

Let's discuss this. I want opinions on this.

[wsuguy28]

hmm.. personally I like machine cardio. Though sometimes it is nice to get outside and do cardio, I just like machines better. I don't know if it's the fact that I see roughly how many calories I'm burning, the fact that I can just visually see how fast I'm going or the fact that I'm in the privacy of my own home and more convient, but I just like machines.

[Troy1982]

I don't mind machine cardio so much but the treadmill I despise. I would much rather run outside because when I'm on the treadmill I just sit there and stare at it which makes it seem like it's taking me forever. I still run on the treadmill at least twice a week but yeah I hate it.

[kickboy]

I go for the great outdoors, like BigMac said the air quality thing is important to me. I live in a small town with side walks and it is a very safe and friendly place to run/walk. The clement is great for outdoor activities most of the year BUT the treadmill and stair climber save me from November to March. I just can’t get into going out on cold wet mornings, you know those rainy days of winter with a high temp of 34 and a low of 28 with light rain. I would much rather run inside.
I have read that you work a little harder when you actually run outside than you do on a treadmill, you have to create momentum where on the tread mill you lift yourself and the belt moves under you.
I am thankful to have both options.

[nj4mwc]

I think outside is the better option for the simple reason that if you are having an off day its a little easier to just get off the machine and give up, when your outside and you say to yourself that you wanna give up you still always have to get back.

[kickboy]

I think outside is the better option for the simple reason that if you are having an off day its a little easier to just get off the machine and give up, when your outside and you say to yourself that you wanna give up you still always have to get back.

Great point, I always run a loop so the only way to get home is to finish.

[M1A2_Abrams]

Well I actually read somewhere once that in order for the tread mill to be the same as running outside you must set the incline to 1.5% I myself enjoy running on the treadmill seems to be less stressful on my joints. But I agree with Mac being outside is better for you and you are able to breath much easier.

[bauer72]

I personally think that it is ones preference.You need to do whatever makes YOU feel good and to keep doing it every day!

[Jordan566]

I prefer machine cardio because I can keep track of my HR more accurately as well as duration of cardio which has to be precise in times of mild tweaking during dieting. Also, incline can be adjusted for higher or lower intensity, and where I live (st. louis) has terrible air quality as well as its cold as hell outside in the morning.

[naug44]

I prefer to walk and jog outside. Every morning I am up at 3:00 am and take the dog for a walk. It’s good for both of us. I like it because here in CT there is a lot of woods near my house with a lot of uneven terrain, which helps to change my heart rate on the challenging hills. I tried treadmills and stair climbers, but IMO they don’t compare to the good old outdoors

[onetiredkris]

If i could get a nice scenic route run with fresh air, forsure im going that path. But i live in downtown losangeles so thats not happening.... i used to run from bottom to top and back down the hollywood mountians....till they burned down... =[...
SO bottom line is im hitting machines most of the time. two reasons why :
1. i love being at the gym and the gym is closer than any decent place to run
2. keeping track of HR and distance.

ohh yeah naug44, i tip my hat to you sir. 3am?! your a trooper.