Elliptical Trainers – Are They The Perfect Workout?

Elliptical trainers are the hottest of the hot in fitness
equipment They are easy to use, and provide a great workout
Using an elliptical machine will give you a great cardio
workout, similar to that of running, and will tone your lower
body as well And, because the impact is less than that of
walking, even those of us with not so great knees can use an
elliptical trainer without pain Many people are finding the
elliptical trainer to be such a great workout that they aren’t
interested in doing anything else However, no one machine can
give the perfect workout So, how does the elliptical machine
stack up against other ways of working out? Well, if you take a
closer look, you’ll find that elliptical training has distinct
advantages, but a few disadvantages too
One of the great benefits of elliptical trainers is that it
provides an aerobic workout through a weight bearing exercise
Running does this, of course, but working out on an elliptical
trainer provides an impact to your joints comparable to walking
In addition, many people report that working out on an
elliptical trainer feels like less work than working out on a
treadmill Plus, if you use the upper poles on the elliptical
machine, you are working your upper body as well With a
treadmill, you get no upper body workout
Serious Runners Take Note
But, what if you are training for a marathon? Here’s where a
treadmill has a real advantage over the elliptical If you are
training to be a runner, you need to run The gliding motion of
the elliptical machine won’t provide you training comparable to
running in terms of preparation for a race
Another issue you should consider is your need to build muscle
If you are looking to build bulk, you will still need to lift
weights Elliptical trainers provide great cardio workouts, and
are great for toning your legs and arms, but they won’t build
bulk For a complete training regimen, it is best to alternate
using the elliptical trainer with weight machines and free
weights a few days a week
Impact Is Not All Bad
One final issue about elliptical trainers – the very thing that
makes them great also has its own disadvantage Elliptical
trainers are so popular because they provide a low impact
workout But impact has its advantages, especially if you don’t
have knee problems Your body responds to the shock of the
impact of exercise by building new bone cells, thereby
increasing your bone density So, if your knees are healthy
enough to withstand the impact, running will protect your bone
health in the long run
The most important issue when it comes to any exercise is
longevity You need to find an exercise that you can stick with
If you have joint or knee problems, an elliptical trainer can
allow you to workout more easily than other weight bearing
exercises But, if you love to run, and are healthy enough to do
so, the elliptical trainer might not be for you It is
beneficial to try out both machines, and, if you’re buying a
machine, be sure to check out elliptical trainer reviews as well
as those on treadmills Be assured that both can help you
improve your cardiovascular health, lose weight, and gain
overall fitness

Tags | advantages, aerobic, cardio, complete, distinct, equipment, gliding, machine, marathon, regimen, trainers, treadmill, upper, weights, workout