If you are at a crossroads over which is the best piece of equipment to start your workout routine, then you can't go wrong starting with an elliptical. The elliptical is one of the main ways to work out because it helps your body on many different levels.
It would work great for someone just starting out or for a person at the pinnacle of their fitness journey. Young or old, male or female, even a small footprint elliptical can help you achieve your fitness goals. Let's have a closer look at the six major reasons you should seriously try out the elliptical trainer.
1. It’s an Easy Learning Curve
The elliptical machine is one of the best ways to exercise because it has an easy learning curve. It might not be as easy to use as the treadmill, which only needs you to walk or run; it doesn’t take too much time to get the hang of it.
All you have to do is hop onto the machine, start using your legs to power the pedals and handles with your arms, and after a few minutes, you will be used to the pattern. It might be hard at first for some people, but all that will depend on your bio-mechanics.
For others, it might come easier to them than other people. You shouldn’t get discouraged when it first appears challenging to use, as you’ll get the hang of it. At first, it might not come naturally to you. You shouldn’t give up, though.
You can try and tweak the settings to find the setting with a natural feel about it. You might also find that where you put your feet matters as well. Adjusting the incline will also make It easier for you to use the elliptical. If you’re shorter, holding the handlebars lower will help make it easier for you to reach them.
2. It Burns a Lot of Calories
Working out on an elliptical will help you burn so many calories. Typically, you’ll see the number of calories you burn on an elliptical skyrocket. If you work hard enough on the machine, you’ll burn up even more calories when you’re off it.
That’s called the post-exercise oxygen consumption rate. It is the body getting back to a normal state after intense physical activity. The more intense the exercise was, the more oxygen debt you accrue and pay up when your body is at rest.
When compared to the treadmill, the elliptical will burn more calories. That’s because, unlike the treadmill, which mainly focuses on the lower body, the elliptical will also work your upper body. Though a minor difference, the more muscles you work, the more calories you burn.
An elliptical will thus be of more benefit when it comes to burning calories than the treadmill.
Burning calories during exercise is essential. It is one of the main reasons why a person would be exercising. So why not bank on an exercising machine that guarantees you the burning of calories like the elliptical.
3. It Strengthens the Whole Body
The elliptical will provide strengthening benefits to your whole body. With the elliptical machine, you can go up against more resistance which will work your glutes, chest, hamstring, calves, quads, back, and shoulders will all have to work harder.
While it won’t be like lifting weights, using the higher resistance on the elliptical is still a good start. You will tone your muscles more and build your strength with the benefits spilling into your daily life.
The elliptical can also be a great fix to your poor posture. It not only forces you to use good posture but also works your back muscles. The back muscles are usually critical to an upright posture.
Poor posture is an issue for most people today since we all are hunched over desks working. Therefore, one must do something to reduce the effects of such long hours of being in a bad posture.
4. It is Low Impact
Another benefit of elliptical training is that it has a low impact. This will benefit people who usually feel achy or have joint pains whenever they do some light exercising. As you get older, you should take more care of your joints to avoid being unable to exercise or do basic tasks like walking.
Joint pain can be challenging to overcome and is a very limiting thing to have. That’s the reason you need to pay close attention to whatever exercise you do or the machine you use. The elliptical is one of that equipment that won’t give you such troubles, though.
It is built to be naturally low impact, thus reducing the effects of workouts on your body. You will therefore be doing your body excellent service working out with this machine.
5. It's Customizable
You should also consider the elliptical because you can customize it to meet your preferences. If you want more resistance, you can easily increase it on the machine. Want to do spring training? The elliptical got you covered.
If you want to work the quads, all you have to do is raise the elevation. Lowering the elevation will work on your glutes or hamstrings. By it being highly customizable, anyone can find the ideal workout plan for them.
It also means you can be continuously changing your workout plans each time. You must change your usual work routines from time to time to maximize the effect of the exercise.
6. It’s Fun
Working out on the elliptical can be quite enjoyable. It’s a whole new movement and will involve your entire body. Most people will testify to the elliptical being comfortable work despite the work being hard enough.
That means your body will feel good using the elliptical even though it is hard work. You might feel weary, but you won’t get off the machine because it is uncomfortable or punishingly hard.
As you can see, the elliptical is an excellent option to get started with exercising. The wide range of physical and lifestyle benefits should convince you to try it out.
If you’re someone who’s looking to change the way you do things, try using the elliptical machine. You can visit A Fasthealthcares.com if you need the elliptical or any other workout equipment.
