Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Do Elliptical Machines Handle The Job?

Elliptical Machines

One of the newest and most popular exercise machines on the market today is the elliptical machine. Elliptical machines offer a low impact, full-body healthy workout that can easily be varied from low to high intensity and is limited only by your preferences. Designed to boost cardiovascular intensity, an elliptical works both your lower and upper body through a wide range of features. Considering the steep cost for a good quality machine, let's see if the elliptical lives up to all the promotion?

An elliptical cross trainer is similar to a treadmill in its work on the leg muscles and the heart. An elliptical produces an intermediate range of leg motion between that of stationary bikes and treadmills. By varying the stride length on the elliptical trainer, you can target a larger variety of muscle groups. As your stride is lengthened, more calories are burned without any higher rate of noticeable exertion by the user. What that means for you is quick calorie burn and less time on the machine.

Despite providing a good weight-bearing workout, elliptical machines are very low impact. This means less stress on your joints during health fitness exercises because your feet never leave the pedals and therefore do not experience high impacts. You imitate the natural elliptical motion of walking and running with minimal impact on your body. The movement is fluid, and when you add your arms, gives you added stability as well as a great upper body workout.

Elliptical machines provide an excellent cardiovascular workout, a key part of overall health and fitness. Whether you want to lose weight, firm up your body, or a combination of both, incorporating cardiovascular exercise into your workout routine is crucial to your long-term success. Simply adjusting incline, speed and other factors, you can maximize cardio impact.

Anyone who has ever gone through the cycle of starting and stopping an exercise and fitness routine several times will tell you that one key to sticking with your routine is to find something that gives you maximum results in the shortest amount of time. Elliptical machines fit the bill perfectly. Most people live busy lives and do not have several hours per day to devote to total body exercise, so an elliptical machine lets them get in a healthy workout in a minimal amount of time.

Elliptical machines provide a safe, low-impact aerobic workout. If you're thinking about purchasing an elliptical trainer, or any piece of exercise equipment, be sure to do your research, take the machine for a test workout, and evaluate your alternatives. Look for machines that have a good solid frame, adequately sized foot platforms, upper body handles, and adjustable inclines and directions.

Let's face the facts...most people do not get the recommended daily exercise they need to stay healthy. Even those that are in their target weight area may not be exercising as they should. It may be that they are embarrassed to exercise in front of others. It might also be that they do not have the time. Even the weather can play havoc on an exercise regime such as walking. But there is a way to get the exercise that is needed. Treadmills are great ways to get in shape and stay healthy. Click here to find out more: Fitness Training also Female  Body and at Lifetime  Fitness

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