Why An Elliptical Trainer Will Take Your Fitness To The Next Level

If you are looking for a way to take your fitness routine to the next level, then an elliptical trainer is a perfect choice. Elliptical trainers provide an excellent workout that will improve your heart health and burn calories. 

This article discusses how these machines can really help you achieve better results when it comes to weight loss or building muscle tone. 

Keep reading if you want more information on this cool piece of  equipment!

The benefits of an elliptical machine

Boost your stamina and cardio capacity

Aerobic workouts can strengthen the muscle of your heart as well as lung function which will help build stamina and endurance levels in other areas too

By strengthening these muscles you are also burning calories and fat.

One way people have been doing intense cardio lately is through high-intensity interval training where they're required to spend short intervals going all out then resting for longer.

Burn a lot of calories

Depending on your weight, elliptical machines can help boost calorie consumption by up to 400 in just 30 minutes!

If you weigh 125 pounds (the lower end of the range), then it would take about 270-calories worth; whereas if at 185 lbs., then that number jumps all the way up to 400 and beyond.

Perfect for those with more muscle mass who need every ounce possible burned off after an intense workout session.

As you burn more calories, you will also be able to burn more fat. This provides a ton of other benefits, including improved heart health and a better mood.

Put simply, increased muscle mass equals more fat loss!

Here's a list of other benefits of burning calories:

* Improved mood - As your calories decrease, so does the level of cortisol.

* Improved cardiovascular health - As your heart works less, it's able to heal itself and stay healthy. Your blood pressure will also decrease (which means you'll be less likely to have a stroke or cardiac arrest).

* Reduced stress levels - Whenever we talk about reducing stress we always forget about the physical effects. Decreasing your stress levels will also have a positive effect on your body, decreasing inflammation and reducing symptoms of depression or anxiety.

* Better sleep - As we talked about earlier, cortisol is released when you're stressed out or anxious. And high levels of this hormone can disrupt any chances of getting quality sleep at night. The better your night sleep, the better your day will go.

* Better posture - One of the most common problems for people who sit at a desk all day is their back and neck start to ache from being in one position for too long.

A few hours on an elliptical trainer can reverse this problem by giving you some time where your muscles are working without

Places less stress on your joints

The elliptical machine is a great way to get your cardio workout in without putting too much pressure on joints.

The elliptical machine has the added benefit of providing resistance that changes depending on how fast you pedal, as well. If you're young, you may not appreciate this, but as you get older, you'll find that it's a lifesaver.

* Ellipticals are also low impact - If you're not used to working out, or if your joints are sensitive, the intensity of elliptical can be too much for you.

* Ellipticals work your hamstrings and calves - as well as other muscles in your legs. The stronger each muscle is, the more fat and calories you'll burn.

* Perfect machines for the home -  Ellipticals are perfect for the home because they're low impact, easy to store and will help you burn calories no matter what your fitness level is.

* Elliptical machines allow for natural movement - The elliptical simulates running or walking with a flat stride so that it doesn't put pressure on your joints in ways that could cause injuries.

Get both an upper and lower body workout

The elliptical machine is one of the few cardio machines that can provide you with both an upper- and lower-body workout.

The key to maximizing the benefits for your arms while on this machine, which in turn will help maximize its overall effectiveness by targeting all these muscles at once, lies within weight distribution.

Instead of pumping them as fast as your legs are moving (which leads to constant readjustment), try distributing some more weight onto those arm handles so they'll be just a tad heavier than what's happening farther down below.

Burn body fat

The elliptical is a great way to burn fat and tone up your muscle.

You can make this process even more effective by integrating interval training into your workouts with an intensity ratio of 2:1 - 30 seconds high-intensity work, followed by 15 second recovery period or 60 seconds of intense work, then 30 second rest periods.

Make sure you don't stop moving during the rest time.

Once you get into the routine, you'll be able to maintain your intensity level for the duration of the workout.

Target specific leg muscles

An elliptical is a machine that requires minimal space and can be quickly assembled with ease. The resistance on an elliptical can be adjusted by changing the incline of the foot pedals.

This means you don't have to worry about breaking your back or using up too much time trying to figure out how far down in order for it does not kill you :)

Instead, focus more energy on targeting different muscles like those found in your quads, glutes, hamstrings, or calves while working intensely during exercise.

Improve your balance

Weight-bearing exercise can help strengthen your bones. But did you know it also improves your balance?

If you stand up straight and let go of the elliptical handles, then target those core muscles as well!

Just make sure to set the resistance and incline at a manageable level so that when using an elliptical machine, don't forget about safety by holding onto something too tight.

Maintain fitness after injury

If you’re nursing an injury and can't participate in your regular physical activities. Working out on a stationary bike may be the perfect workout for you.

It's low-impact so it puts less pressure on joints than high-impact workouts like running or jumping.

In addition to building up endurance thanks to its constant motion, it also strengthens muscles that support bones and ligaments which will help give stability after injuries occur during other exercises.

Enjoy a variety of options

Elliptical machines are versatile and offer programs for any type of workout.

Whether you want to do a hill climb, some internal training, or another option, ellipticals have the right program for everyone's needs.

Here's a list of the different exercises:

Hill climbs - A hill climb is a workout that increases the resistance of your machine as you ascend. This will increase the intensity and help to build strong muscles in those crucial body parts like legs, abs, arms, and butt.

Internal Training - Elliptical trainers offer a program that lets you train your internal muscles without any risk of injury to these areas. This is perfect for those who want to get in excellent shape but don't feel confident enough to do the intense, high-impact workouts.

Go backwards - This is something you probably haven't thought of, but you could go backwards on the machine and try to work in a new way. This can help build up your muscles that might have been neglected before, as well as give you an all-over workout.

Learn quickly

One of the great advantages of an elliptical is how easy it is to learn.

The learning curve isn't that steep, but you may want a personal trainer's help if this machine is new territory for you.

They'll give advice on your best workout routine and offer tips on getting started with the foot pedals only or adding in some handles as well.

Conclusion

Elliptical trainers are the best at building cardiovascular fitness, which is why they make for an effective workout and a great cardio machine.

The truth is that elliptical trainers are one of the best ways to burn a lot of calories in just 30 minutes or less.

They’re also much more affordable than other workout machines, and they don’t require you to purchase an expensive gym membership.

If you are looking for a way to get in shape and reduce joint pain without straining your body, an elliptical trainer may be the answer.

Ellipticals offer a low-impact exercise that can help you lose weight and build muscle while protecting your joints from injury.

Keep in mind that a good way to incorporate both upper and lower body workouts is on an elliptical trainer. The provides a nice mix of aerobic and anaerobic exercise, which is great for weight loss.

If you're looking to burn body fat, then you should try to stay in the fat-burning zone. The fat-burning zone is about 55% of your maximum heart rate, which on an elliptical trainer means around 130 beats per minute.

Also, you can target certain areas of your body by increasing or decreasing incline. If you want to work on the lower part of your glutes, for example, then turn up the resistance and adjust the inclination level so that it hits this muscle area harder than others.