Unfortunately home exercise equipment is never cheap, which means it is really important to invest in the right machine. For effective weight loss, you need to find out which piece of equipment is best at helping to burn up those excess calories.

You'll hear arguments on both sides of the treadmill versus elliptical debate. Out of all exercise equipment, these two sell the most. Of course, you'll have to make a personal decision as to which piece of machinery you like best. But if it all boils down to which one burns more calories, then there's a definitive answer for you.

Both treadmills and ellipticals can help you to burn the same amount of calories, the major factor to bear in mind is how you actually use the machine while you are exercising! Running on a treadmill can deliver the exact same results as a workout on an elliptical, and vice versa.

Some people may not be able to run on a treadmill. It has a greater impact on your body, including your joints. An elliptical gives you a lower impact workout, yet still allows you to burn the same amount of calories as a high impact workout on a treadmill.

If you chose to run on a treadmill at around 7 mph for an hour, your body would use about 783 calories. Use an elliptical trainer, and you should expect to use up about 774 calories - so the numbers are more or less identical. However, if you only walked on the treadmill at 3 mph, your body would burn just 297 calories, which is a massive difference!

It's important to remember though that this is not a straight forward formula, the number of calories you can burn using an elliptical trainer vary greatly depending on how you approach your exercise routine. Some people go for a full force approach, which others decide to take a more moderate workout.

You really need to ask yourself which machine you would prefer. Remember, you will only do you exercise if you are motivated and excited, if you find it boring to use a treadmill, you are not likely to keep up to your workout regime. Equally, if an elliptical does not inspire you, then you are better off with a treadmill.

If you simply love walking, jogging, or running, then you want to invest in a treadmill. It's much better than walking on the surface of the street. But if burning calories is your main concern, you'll need to make sure that you increase the speed and up the incline.

If you've experienced pain in your knees or ankles, or simply want to enjoy a low impact routine, then you'll want to choose an elliptical instead. As you age, an elliptical trainer is much more forgiving on your body. Of course some exercise enthusiasts invest in both machines - an elliptical and a treadmill. This lets you mix up your workouts and avoid burnout completely.