Is the Stair Climber Good for Weight Loss?
You may have asked, “Is the stair stepper good for weight loss?” The stair climber is a low-impact cardio workout machine that allows you to keep going, and going, and going until you have reached the highest height that you want to. We love this cardio machine because it is low-impact and will help you build strength in your leg muscles and core muscles. But, does strength training burn fat? Moreover, the stair climber is good for weight loss. We are going to step into that subject in this article. So, read on to find out more:
Is Weight Loss The Goal?
While we don’t believe weight loss should always be your number one goal when starting a health and wellness routine, it is one of the most common reasons for people to join the gym. Becoming more consistent with a fitness routine can help in more ways than that, though. Some non-scale victories include better sleep, better mood, more energy, and exercise has been shown to reduce anxiety, to name a few. So, first, think about if weight loss is really what you need from your fitness routine. Sometimes weight loss is simply a byproduct of something greater.
Calories as a Base Line
If weight loss is your goal, then the easiest way to calculate weight loss is to track calories in and calories out. This is not the perfect system because other factors come into play like genetics and hormones, and weight loss, unfortunately, is not so black and white. But, an excellent place to start is by writing down everything you eat, calculating your calories, and seeing where you are. You could be overeating, and you could be eating too little. It is about having a healthy and well-balanced diet to keep you fueled and full. Once you know that nutritional baseline, you can then adjust and work out accordingly. By working on a machine like a stair climber, you will burn calories and hopefully have fun while doing it.
The Stair Climber
When you toured the gym, you probably noticed the giant stair climbing machine in the cardio machine section that had people walking high above you. That is the stair climber. It is a tall revolving staircase that goes on and on for as long as you can. The step machine is fun and simple to use, but don’t let the simplicity fool you—it is difficult. If you decide to try out this machine for the first time, give yourself an attainable goal like 5 minutes, and work your way up from there!
Builds Muscle
Have you ever had to walk three or four flights of actual stairs due to an elevator being down? We have. And, it definitely makes you feel the burn. Since it takes strength in your glutes and hamstrings to push each leg up the real stairs, you are building leg muscles of the lower body. Many cardiovascular exercises, like using the elliptical, are not so efficient at muscle building, but building strength is key in weight loss. So when it comes to stair climber vs elliptical, the stair climbing machine is better. As we build muscle, our bodies are burning calories. This is because muscles take energy to build. So, as you rest after a strength-building workout, your body is working to recover and repair your muscle fibers using the calories you consumed as energy. In turn, you will continue burning calories long after your stair climber workout is through. The muscle-building capabilities of this machine are one of the several stair climber benefits that we love.
It’s Fun
Your success in your fitness goals and fitness routine is going to rely on a few things: a healthy diet and staying consistent. By finding a workout that is fun for you to complete, you will be more likely to remain consistent, keep your routines, and crush your goals. So, let’s say you’ve been running, but you dislike it and can only run for 5-10 minutes. But, you have grown to love the stair climber and can stay on for 30 minutes, or sometimes longer when you are feeling extra bold. Well, even though running burns more calories per minute, just the fact that you can stay longer, and—more importantly—enjoy stair climbing workout more, makes this workout more efficient. Conversely related to running, this workout is low impact, so you will be able to complete this exercise for a longer time with less impact on your body, which is a total win/win.
If you like your workout, you work out. So, try out the stair climber, and see if it is something you could consistently do. Remember, like other exercise machines, this one may be difficult at first. So, give yourself a few weeks of trying. What you don’t like on your first try might just become your favorite workout over time. We have a stair climber machine at all of our locations. Stop in, say hello, and if you need help, grab someone from the front desk! We would be happy to show you around!
Reviewed By:
Ani is the Vice President of Fitness at Chuze Fitness and oversees the group fitness and team training departments. She’s had a 25+ year career in club management, personal training, group exercise and instructor training. Ani lives with her husband and son in San Diego, CA and loves hot yoga, snowboarding and all things wellness.
Sources:
- Roland, James. “12 Benefits of Using a StairMaster.” Healthline. 13 June, 2019. https://www.healthline.com/health/exercise-fitness/stairmaster-benefits
- Vulcan, Nicole. “How Soon Will You See Weight Loss Results When Stair Climbing for Exercise?” Chron. 29 April, 2019. https://livehealthy.chron.com/soon-see-weight-loss-results-stair-climbing-exercise-7931.html
- Autuori-Dedic, Jenna. “5 Ways to Get a Crazy Good Stair-Climber Workout.” Shape. https://www.shape.com/fitness/tips/5-reasons-stair-climber-actually-worth-your-time
- Booe, Martine. “How to Lose Weight With a Stair Stepper.” Live Strong. https://www.livestrong.com/article/38189-lose-pounds-stair-stepper/