Archive for the 'Cardio' Category

Elliptical Machines Provide Safe Total Body Work Outs

It does not matter where or how it is done, but cardiovascular exercise is a very important segment of anyone exercise regimen. In homes and in fitness clubs, the elliptical trainer machine has become an increasingly popular way to get the cardiovascular exercise that is needed.

Why Is the Interest in Elliptical Machines Increasing?

The elliptical cross trainers have been proving to people that they can give beneficial results in many areas. If you currently go to the gym for workouts, have you noticed all the many types of machines designed for cardiovascular work outs? The elliptical machines would be one of those and give the exerciser a workout that burns fat very efficiently. That is why more people are turning towards the ellipticals to work out on, as well as that it does it with low impact on the body.

Low Impact Exercise?

Low impact with an elliptical cross trainer means that your feet never lose contact with the foot pedals, therefore creating a smooth exercise for the body with no starts and stops or jerky contact with machinery. A traditional treadmill requires the feet to lift off and replant causing continuous impacts to the joints. Other exercise equipment will cause other joints to be affected, depending on the goal of the machine used. Elliptical machines eliminate the joint impacts and therefore provide your joints with a little impact for repetitious damage.

How Will an Elliptical Machine Cause Weight Loss?

Aerobic exercise is what is necessary for losing weight – it makes the heart pump faster which makes the body burn more calories efficiently to keep up with demands. The elliptical equipment provides your body with a way to achieve the aerobic exercise.

How the elliptical cross trainer can do this, is through using your entire body in movement. Your arms and legs are both used at the same time, requiring the muscles through the rest of the body to help and work in unison. Treadmills and steppers will traditionally work just one area of muscles. Using more muscles in exercise means burning more calories which reduce the chance for them to be stored as fat.

A total body aerobic exercise is good for both the inner and outer workings of the body. On an elliptical machine the muscles are toned and sculpted in the legs, rear-end, hips, back, chest and arms rendering a truly beneficial workout.

Ellipticals Can Help with Bone Density?

Bone density and osteoporosis are usually treated with weight bearing exercises to slow down the disease or to prevent it. Women facing high risks of diagnosis with this will find it helpful to know that.

Even better to know, whether you have the disease or may possibly, cardiovascular exercise is considered a weight bearing exercise. Usual weight bearing exercises come in the form of free weights or weight machine training, but ellipticals may now be used as well to increase bone density levels. So while you burn fat and exercise the heart, ellipticals provide a form of weight resistance too.

Can Ellipticals Work for Advanced Exercisers too?

Many serious trainers and fitness people will eventually out preform or plateau on a piece of equipment, not providing any challenge to their bodies. Elliptical machines can be adjusted through tensions and resistances for a custom exercise regardless of fitness level.

Better quality elliptical cross trainers include computer trays that allow the exerciser to further custom the work out such as with different programs to follow. The six to eight different programs are designed for people looking for various workouts with certain goals in mind, like weight loss or interval work outs.

Can Anyone Use an Elliptical Machine?

As mentioned above, the elliptical machine can be adjusted to fit any one’s level of fitness and is easy to use successfully with very little additional training. The exercise combines a simulation of walking, running, skiing and cycling that is low impact and is easy to gain benefits from, no matter the level you are at.

Even pregnant women can keep their exercise routine going comfortably with an elliptical cross trainer because it has low impact on the body and joints. This also interests the older generation since exercise often puts frail bones and weak joints at risk for injury with most other forms of exercise.

Highlights of the Elliptical Machine?

It can be used by anyone, it is low impact while providing great benefits to the body through cardiovascular exercise and weight resistance, helps a body to lose weight by burning calories in increased quantities and also works and sculpts almost the entire body’s muscular system.

5 Ways To Get The Best Use Out Of Your Home Treadmill

The #1 fear that people have when investing in a home treadmill (or any piece of exercise equipment) is that they won’t use it.

You know the story. It gets delivered, you set it up and enjoy it for a few days…and then it sits…and waits.

A few months down the road, you notice how dusty it has become and how much space it’s taking up. And you remember how much weight you were determined to lose by using it faithfully every day. But now, unfortunately, it doubles as a clothes rack.

Never fear. This article will help you make sure that DOESN’T happen.

A treadmill provides the best overall cardiovascular workout & it’s still the number one exercise machine for those who want to lose weight. So it’s an investment in your health that will pay large dividends…if you are prepared to get the maximum benefit from it!

Here are 5 easy ways to get the BEST use from your home treadmill:

#1) Do your research first

Make sure you look at what each treadmill offers you and compare it to your unique needs.

For example, if you live in a condo and/or like things neat and clean, a folding treadmill might suit you best. If you want a folding treadmill, do you prefer a manual folding treadmill (like most folding treadmills) or do you want a shock-assisted folding treadmill with wheels on the bottom that’s easy to move?

If you like to drink water during your workout, make sure there’s a water bottle holder included in the treadmill console (it might surprise you how many treadmills do not have this feature.)

Do you get bored easily and need a challenge? What about getting a treadmill with lots of user programs or one that is iFit compatible?

These things may seem little and maybe it might cost you a bit more; but if it means you’re actually going to enjoy your workout it will be well worth it!

#2) Place the treadmill in a ‘happy’ spot.

By ‘happy’ I mean well-lit, open and stimulating. Don’t put it so you face the bare wall when you walk or run. I’ve tried this this and the workouts don’t last long! If you get bored easily, put it facing the television or facing a window where you can have an attractive view while working out.

Rooms and spaces have definite ‘feels’ to them and that will affect the success of your workouts. Make sure your treadmill is placed in an area that makes you feel energized, happy and mentally stimulated.

#3) Get your exercise arsenal ready BEFORE the treadmill arrives.

Do you like listening to fast music when you exercise? Do you like watching your favorite movies? What about reading magazines? What inspires you to work out and feel your best?

Get these things ready even before your treadmill arrives and you’ll be three-quarters of the way there. Have several workout or favorite CD’s around. Get your favorite movies or shows on tape. Gather your favorite magazines.

By having an ‘exercise’ stash around your treadmill, you’ll be inspired to workout AND you won’t be stuck running around looking for something to do when you want to start exercising.

Again, this may seem simple, but it works. Why do you think gyms have magazines, televisions and CD players handy?

#4) Make an exercise plan.

Before you start working out, try making a plan, a “roadmap to your rock-hard body” so to speak. By writing down how long and what kind of workout you’ll be doing in week 1, 2, 3, 4 etc, you’ll get yourself psyched up for success.

Remember that every time you workout, you are planting the seeds for the kind of dream body that you want.

By having a plan, you can see just how many seeds you’ve planted (and even how long it will take to start reaping the results!) Have fun with it and you’ll be motivated to achieve your health goals (and get maximum benefits from your treadmill!)

#5) Track your progress

Ok this is related to #4 but it’s more of an ongoing thing. By tracking your progress every day, you get a major sense of accomplishment which snowballs into even greater fat-burning results.

I suggest you have ‘minimum goals’ like “I’ll walk for at least 10 minutes.” or “I’ll do 5-30 second intervals.” These are easy to do and you’ll probably go beyond them – which will encourage you even further and heighten your sense of accomplishment.

And of course, you’re also getting maximum benefit from your treadmill!

Those are 5 ways to get best use from your home treadmill. Just remember that even a little bit of preparation will pay off large dividends in the long run.

How to Get the Best Fat Loss Benefits from Cardio Training

Most of us know that cardio training is a great fat loss activity and it is probably the second most popular way to lose weight, right behind diet. It also goes without saying that it is beneficial for the cardiovascular system, contributing to an overall healthier body. If the benefits of aerobic training are appealing to you here are some recommendations to get the most out of your workout.

It is generally recommended that you start out slow with a goal of exercising three days a week for at least thirty minutes each time. As you get stronger and in better shape this can be upgraded to five times a week upwards of 45 minutes or more per session. It is better to work your way up to longer and more sustained workouts over time. Over doing it when starting out is one of the reasons many people fail to stay motivated when undertaking a cardio exercise routine.

It is also important that as you increase your fitness level that your training intensity increase as well. By varying your workouts and exercises you will see greater weight loss over a shorter amount of time and you’ll keep your routine from getting stale. You can also do this with individual exercises by varying the intensity level during the workout. For instance, if you are jogging you can push yourself by increasing your pace for several minutes before returning to your normal pace.

Here are several things to remember about when to do your aerobic workouts. Try to avoid doing any type of exercise at least 2 hours before you normally go to bed. It will raise your energy levels and make it hard to get to sleep.

If you need a snack before your workout try to eat 30 minutes before the beginning of your workout. Avoid working out after eating a large meal as this will make your workout much less effective. A small, high carbohydrate snack will help fuel the intensity you need to lose that fat.

There is no time like the present to start your fat loss cardio program so head on out the door and go for a walk, or take a bike ride around the neighborhood. Build up your stamina and before long you’ll be pushing your body harder as the fat begins to melt away. Stay consistent with your fat loss goals and stick to your training routine for a healthier and trimmer you.