Each Friday, Bwog will be airing a new feature: . Ask Bwog about Columbia, college life, or anything else...we'll find you the expert and post the results. This week, one of our staffers wondered about the accuracy of the cardio machines up at Dodge. He looked to Stacy Toner, the aptly-named acting coordinator of the Personal Training Program at Columbia for some answers.

Bwog: According to the calorie counter on the cardio machines in the gym, the
elliptical trainer burns more calories per hour than just about any other exercise, treadmill and stair climber included. But when I use it, it feels like I'm using a lot less energy than when I run, and I'm certainly putting forth less effort. Am I really burning more calories, or is the machine lying to me? What gives?

Toner: There are a few explications for your fitness results on the elliptical.

1. Elliptical machines use the upper and lower body during the activity (if you are pushing and pulling the moving handle bars). Whereas, the treadmill, bike, stepper do not use any upper body resistance. Therefore, this may increase the amount of calories burned.

2. You may be feeling less effort on the elliptical due to the low impact movement and the smooth fixed gait pattern. It could also be that the muscles you are using on the elliptical are more fit (endurance and/or strength related) than the targeted muscles on the other machines.

Send us your questions! Email us at bwgossip@columbia.edu

In which we present another teaser from the October Fall Sports issue of The Blue and White, which you can see in full on Sunday.

Exercise Your Etiquette
By Amari Hammonds

Either Plato is the ultimate fitness motivator, or a huge number of Columbia students realized before CC that a sound body complements a sound mind. Anyone who's set foot in Dodge knows that, in terms of traffic, the fitness center often rivals Butler during finals season—with what seems like the entire student body fighting tooth and nail for a few prime bits of real estate. Such volume requires a high level of consideration for your fellow gym-goer, and a few useful guidelines can make for an improved experience for all.

Sharing Machines: How to Keep Pace

DO respect the "one 30-min reservation for one piece of equipment per day" rule for cardio equipment. Signup-sheet deception is always in poor taste. If you must cheat, please make some effort to conceal your misdeed—vary your handwriting, transpose your initials, etc.—unless you want the gym staff to hate you in your cowardly anonymity.

DON'T hover, even if only to establish that you are next in line for a piece of equipment. Even if the person ahead of you is working out beyond his or her scheduled time, hovering quickly becomes annoying, especially when accompanied by hateful stares. Much of Columbia might not have figured this out yet, but there are better ways to get your point across than passive aggression.

DO use the oversized digital clock that is visible from the top-level cardio machines to judge time, not your own watch or iPod clock. According to gym personnel, smaller clocks throughout the gym are actually more accurate, but no matter. If there's confusion, don't be afraid to ask employees to reset a clock to the main one; apparently they'll only do it if someone complains.

DON'T relax on a piece of equipment between weight-training reps. It's okay to rest, but remember that there is a fine line between resting and relaxing. Muscles need rest between sets for proper recovery; you do not need to squeeze in a paragraph of Saint Augustine before starting your next set.