amalgam-an alloy of mercury with another metal (usually silver) used by dentists to fill cavities in teeth; except for iron and platinum all metals dissolve in mercury and chemists refer to the resulting mercury mixtures as amalgams.
Stepper Calories Burned. Using a mini stepper is comparable to walking, given that with the machine, you're essentially walking on the spot. The chief difference is that you can adjust the stepper to increase its resistance, which helps you burn calories at a faster rate than walking. A 175-pound person who uses a stepper for 90 minutes will burn 834 calories, which makes this type of workout slightly more beneficial than walking. References (4)
On the climber, you have to adjust the speed setting on the control panel to slow it. For an added fitness benefit, you can climb the stairs sideways when using the climber, but not when using the stepper. Fit Sugar: Steppin' Out - Pros and Cons of the Stair Climber.