Ellipticals are a somewhat recent development yet a popular workout machine.
- They are a staple in every professional gym setting.
The cost to purchase an elliptical has become more reasonable in recent years and more private individuals are adding ellipticals into their home gym. I’ve seen that the selection of ellipticals at my local fitness center is always in demand. I chose to research this workout innovation to better understand what’s so appealing about them. I found out that the best asset of an elliptical is that it partners high intensity interval training with an effective cardio workout. Cardio sessions are essential to every productive training program. It requires the heart and lungs to work harder and provide the muscles with more blood and oxygen. It works toward stronger muscles and better stamina. An elliptical is a wonderful choice for burning a lot of calories in a fairly brief period of time. Depending on the intensity level of exertion, a person can burn between 300 and 400 calories in a half an hour elliptical workout. There are benefits to an elliptical that are similar to a stationary bike. They both eliminate stress on the joints. There is none of the jarring impact on the feet, knees, ankles, hips and whole body that a treadmill and high intensity cardio training includes. The feet don’t lift off the pedals of the elliptical and the motion is totally smooth and consistent. The better models include handles. This makes an elliptical one of the very few styles of training machines that targets both the upper and lower body. The weight of the body and resistance is evenly distributed. Arms and legs are both in motion at the same time and rewards of effort are maximized. An elliptical workout focuses mainly on the quads, glutes, hamstrings, chest, back, biceps and triceps. The core muscles get worked. The machine is designed to reduce body fat and tone muscles.