About The Elliptical Machine
The Elliptical Machine
In contemporary times, the elliptical machine has obviously become one of the most adopted fitness and wellness tools. It replaces some of the inconvenient methods of carrying out routine exercise, yet guaranteeing the best results. In fact, fitness experts have continued to mention the comparative convenience as one of the most pronounced benefits of using, or having the machine in your home. The elliptical is very significant for persons intending to start and stick to an exercise routine. It may be considered an effective option for busy people, who cannot always follow an outdoor fitness walk routine.
How Does the Elliptical Affect Users’ Wellness and Fitness Tendencies?
Before you're able to really understand the relevance and usefulness of the elliptical, it is important to understand how it works and how it affects the body.
Elliptical machines are designed to produce similar effects as the ones you get when running. In fact, the results are faster and may require somewhat lesser inputs than the unfacilitated running or walking practice. They have direct impact on the cardiovascular functions of the user, as well as a proven muscular build effect- on the glutes, hamstrings, and the core. Note that training workouts on the elliptical are an effective way of building your strength and endurance tendencies.
Furthermore, elliptical training is an efficient means of burning off calories, hence making it a good means of effecting your weight loss program. So, even if you can’t go for an early morning walk before work time, the elliptical machine helps bring the exercise to you.
Things to consider before settling down for a specific type of elliptical
There are different types of elliptical machines, each of which has their peculiar features and use advantages. These characteristics influence such things as the pricing and specific use relevance of any available model in the market. Hence, it is important to carefully decide what features you require in an elliptical before you finally settle for a buy.
Some of the things to readily consider before buying are the size of the machine in comparison with the body build of the intending users. You should also consider how much space you have for housing and storing the machine.
Asides these, it is vital to consider your level of intended workout activity. While some elliptical would work fine for low workout activities, they may not be effective for persons intending to implement high workout sessions or use the machine for heavy scale commercial activities.
Also, remember to implement safety precautions when using the machines.
Is the Elliptical Machine Good for You?
Elliptical machines provide you with a low impact, highly intensive workout that cannot be rivalled by other fitness equipment. They are perfectly safe to use because they do not harm your joints and bones and even those suffering from heart disease can get the workout they need on these machines.
When it comes to getting a good cardiovascular workout, elliptical machines provide you with the best possible workout. Pregnant women, people recovering from an accident or even those with arthritis will be able to get the exercise they need for a healthy heart and body. When you use an elliptical machine, you stand on foot pedals and the machine moves in an elliptical pattern, it closely simulates the natural movements of your feet and legs when you are walking or running and with models that have moveable arms, you target all the major muscle groups in your body.
Using the reverse motion available on most newer models, you get to target the same muscles in different ways. You can adjust the speed, incline to maximize your cardio fitness on an elliptical machine. It provides you with a better workout for your heart than weightlifting or other types of equipment.
Some machines have a heart rate monitor built in that gives you a readout of your pulse rate and with heart rate programs preset into the machine, you can enter your target heart rate and the machine will automatically adjust to the resistance level you need. The elliptical motion feels very natural and compliments the normal body movements, Therefore an elliptical exercise will require less exertion than other types of exercise, but works the cardio muscles and burns up more calories than treadmills and stair steppers.
The elliptical machines are not only safe, but they are fun to use. This means you will look forward to exercising and it will be an enjoyable part of your day.
Elliptical vs Treadmill
Two of the most commonly used pieces of exercise equipment are elliptical machines and treadmills. There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these machines and some people favor one over the other.
They both have impressive benefits in terms of giving you a cardiovascular workout and help you to burn the calories necessary for weight loss. Research shows that both of them are almost identical in terns of the psychological benefits, exertion and heart rate and oxygen retention. Most people prefer treadmills because you are walking or running naturally whereas some elliptical models force you into an unnatural stride that may be too short or too long for you.
However, if you are looking for exercise equipment that won't cause any damage to your joints and bones, the elliptical models do this better than treadmills. With treadmills your feet are still pounding on the track, whereas with an elliptical your feet never leave the footplates as you glide back and forth.
The biggest difference between a treadmill and an elliptical machine is that on an elliptical the handlebars move in synchronization with the foot pedals so that you move your upper body muscles as well as your lower body muscles. This allows you to workout all the major muscle groups in the body. The ellipticals that have reverse motion on them let you target the same muscle groups in different ways.
However, because a treadmill does require some pounding of the feet, it may provide more bone density benefits that an elliptical will with its low impact feature. Even when buying treadmills and ellipticals heavier user have to look for brands that can carry heavy loads. Also, some treadmills are more suited for walking than they are for running or jogging.
It takes less time to achieve the same results with toning and firming muscles and to burn the same amount of calories by working out on an elliptical machine that it does with a treadmill. Research also shows that people do not realize they are working hard on an elliptical because the perceived rate of exertion is less. You really have to look at different brands of both treadmills and ellipticals and if possible, try them out, before you make your decision.
Can I Lose Weight Using an Elliptical Machine?
The answer to this question is "yes" you can lose weight using an elliptical trainer, but you have to combine the exercise sessions with a weight loss program.
Using an elliptical machine and continuing to eat as you normally do will not result in any amount of weight loss. If you are overweight, the machine will help you get the daily exercise you need to burn off calories, but you also have to count the calories you consume in your food in order to keep track of the calories.
Remember, it takes 3500 calories to gain a pound and this is the amount you have to burn off in order to lose one pound. If you are on diet, using an elliptical machine will help to firm up the muscles and turn them into fat burning machines. Exercise also helps you to burn off the calories that your body no longer needs.
You have to drink plenty of water to get rid of the burned calories so that you will notice the weight loss. Even after you stop working out, muscles continue to burn off calories because your body's metabolic rate is higher.
With elliptical machines, you exercise all the muscles groups in your body - upper and lower. The elliptical machines with reverse motion help to work the same muscles in different ways and work additional muscles that very few other workouts actually target.
The resistance level of the machine determines the number of calories you burn because each higher level of resistance requires you to work harder and therefore requires more energy.Elliptical machines provide better cardiovascular exercise and burn calories at a higher rate than other pieces of fitness equipment. It provides you with a low impact and easier form of exercising to compliment your weight loss program.
