http://articles.ellipticaltrainersplus.com/rss.xml A blog about ellipticaltrainersplus.com daily 365 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://articles.ellipticaltrainersplus.com/?a=35925 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Beyond the many exercise items used within the home, such as jump ropes and exercise balls, there are numerous larger pieces of equipment that would make a fine addition to any workout area. A popular option making waves in the home exercise scene is the elliptical trainer, which provides a wide range of possibilities for losing weight and toning muscle. <br /><br />One of the main reasons home exercisers are drawn to an elliptical trainer for their home gym is because it provides a workout with no impact. This is great for the preservation of joints that tend to sustain damage from outdoor activities, as well as running on a treadmill. <br /><br />An elliptical trainer is the perfect choice for someone who suffers from joint pain or muscle stiffness. Other health problems that this piece of equipment accommodates include bad backs, knees and hips. It is also important to find a method of exercise to keep the heart pumping and blood flowing throughout the body. <br /><br />Enjoy Resistance Training<br /><br />Although an elliptical trainer offers no impact, there are several training exercises to enjoy, which provide varying levels of resistance. This provides positive results with increased bone density and healthy muscles. Users will also burn more calories, as well as benefit from the promotion of cell growth.<br /><br />Work the Entire Body<br /><br />When using an elliptical trainer, you will find that the workout uses both the lower and upper parts of the body. This means you will spend less time burning calories and toning muscle because you will be moving your arms and legs at the same time. Depending on the time you spend on the machine, the amount of calories burned can be compared to the amount lost when running miles. An elliptical trainer combines the same advantages as running on a treadmill and using a stair climber, meaning you will enjoy the benefits of all of these methods of exercise at once. <br /><br />Budget Concerns<br /><br />When you only have so much space to devote to your workouts and the equipment you wish to use, the elliptical trainer is a good option for you. This is because the trainers are smaller than the typical treadmill, as well as easier to move from place to place. Elliptical trainers are also good choices for those on a budget. It's almost like purchasing three machines in one.<br /><br />Thinking About Buying?<br /><br />When you are interested in making a move towards the exceptionally beneficial workout from an elliptical trainer, there are a few details to look out for. Adjustable inclines is a helpful feature for many users. You should also pay attention to the stride length. Typical stride lengths are usually 21 inches, which accommodates most. An elliptical trainer should not make a lot of noise and the motion should flow smoothly. Some of the best workouts are also tweaked with an adjustable resistance feature. Other features to consider include handrails, heart rate monitor, as well as programmable workout options. The possibilities are endless. <br /><br />Before committing to a particular brand, it is suggested that you take the time to shop around before making a final decision. Once you've settled on a particular model, you will soon be on your way to a better workout that won't placed unwanted wear and tear on the body.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as elliptical training equipment at <a href="http://www.ellipticaltrainersplus.com/">http://www.ellipticaltrainersplus.com</a></p> 2006-09-30T14:00-04:00 http://articles.ellipticaltrainersplus.com/?a=35924 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Many users of an elliptical fitness machine can attest to the ease and enhanced capabilities of such a fine piece of exercise equipment. Compared to running on air or gliding on a ski slope, elliptical exercise equipment also offers an entertaining, fun outlet from the monotonous routine of treadmill jogging and knee splitting stair climbing. When considering the purchase of one of these exercise giants, you will find a variety of options on the market to choose from.<br /><br />Life Fitness<br /><br />For those who wish to benefit from a cross training workout, as well as an elliptical experience, the Life Fitness brand offers an option that has been rated as one of the best in the industry. A fixture at many high end heath clubs, the Life Fitness elliptical machine provides a variety of convenient settings. For example, the Life Fitness 9100 possesses an auto start feature, as well as 20 different resistance options. Some users praise the fact that no external power means are required to operate the equipment. Additional features include an accessory tray and convenient reading rack. An array of built in programs can be enjoyed with the elliptical machine, including interval training and speed workouts. The medium price for this piece of equipment is about $2000. <br /><br />Smooth REV<br /><br />Another elliptical exercise option is the Smooth REV 300, which delivers relaxing training and workout possibilities without the hassle of impact to various body parts. The design of the equipment is made to accommodate the knees, hips, ankles and backs of its users. Total body results can be achieved through the workout of both the upper and lower body. Some of the programs offered with this product include fat burning, target calories and endurance. This product makes a great addition to any workout goal focusing on burning calories and achieving muscle tone. The midrange price for this piece of machinery is $1500.<br /><br />Fitnex<br /><br />A variety of workout programs are offered throughout the Fitnex line of elliptical products. Let's take a look at the E50 model, which offers six built in programs to explore, as well as 16 different resistance options. This is a great way to integrate various programs to burn the maximum amount of calories per workout. The display console alerts the user to their heart rate, RPM speed, watt level, weight, and time through matrix technology. An adapter power cord provides the juice to keep this machine running, which tends to sell around $1500. <br /><br />Elliptical machines are a great addition to any home gym, which surpasses the benefits of a stair climber, as well as treadmill. Not only is it a great option for exercisers suffering from back pain, weak knees or hip problems, but also the no impact feature coupled with resistance training is good for all users.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as elliptical trainers at <a href="http://www.ellipticaltrainersplus.com/">http://www.ellipticaltrainersplus.com</a></p> 2006-09-30T13:57-04:00 http://articles.ellipticaltrainersplus.com/?a=35259 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Since its introduction the elliptical trainer has continued to move to the forefront of popularity in gyms everywhere. Most trainers agree that the elliptical is the best device for cardiovascular training. Besides being very easy on the joints there are other reasons the elliptical deserves the accolades.<br /><br />Elliptical trainers are in that rare category of exercise that combine weight bearing and non-impact in the same activity giving you the bone density building and best calorie burning while saving your knees and lower back at the same time. Stationary bikes and treadmills give you good workouts but the bikes don't burn as many calories and treadmills can be tough on the knees and lower back. Rowing machines are hard on the back as well. <br /><br />The health benefits of the elliptical are similar to other cardio exercises. Heart and lung fitness is increased; immune system function is enhanced along with improved cholesterol levels while lowering the risk of heart disease, diabetes, strokes, and some cancers.<br /><br />In addition to the overall health benefits elliptical training is great for increasing muscular endurance in the quads and glutes which combined together are the largest muscles in the body, as well as the thigh biceps or hamstrings, calves, and hip flexors when performing the exercise on an incline. If you are exercising on a unit that has the arm attachments for upper body work you will also receive endurance benefits in your pectorals, triceps, and anterior deltoids on the pushing portion and the lats, biceps, rhomboids, and rear delts on the pulling motion. The benefit to using a machine with arms is an increase in heart rate but the same thing can be accomplished with increasing the incline.<br /><br />Many models do not offer the availability of the incline patented by Precor, the industry leader but those that do have an incline range of 13-40 degrees along with electronic pre-set workouts. Just remember that the higher incline increases the stress to the knees and lower back. <br /><br />The main two variables offered with all elliptical trainers are resistance and speed. It is advisable to set the resistance so that you are able to maintain a pace of 120 to 200 strides per minute without straining. <br /><br />Another great benefit to the elliptical trainer is the fact that so many workout choices are offered. Being able to adjust the speed, resistance, incline, and also having the &quot;arms&quot; for the upper body may make designing a workout a more thoughtful process but it definitely eliminates workout boredom. <br /><br />As with any exercise program see a physician before beginning a rigorous fitness regimen.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For elliptical trainers go to <a href="http://www.ellipticaltrainersplus.com/">http://www.ellipticaltrainersplus.com</a></p> 2006-07-30T10:04-04:00