Elliptical Machines are a Smart Way to Stay Fit

 

Today’s health conscious adults want more information than just “eat right and exercise.” You want specific info to make smart fitness decisions. Let’s take a look at why elliptical trainers are an intelligent home fitness option – especially for those over 50.

Make This Enjoyable

First of all, elliptical trainers are fun. This might be part of the reason that ellipticals have a lower perceived rate of exertion (PRE) when compared to treadmills. This means that for any amount of calories you burn, it feels as if you don’t exert yourself as much on an elliptical.

As you get older, it gets harder to put in the same effort you did when you were in your 20s. An intelligent way to deal with this obstacle is to take advantage of the lower perceived rate of exertion (PRE).

And Low Stress

Elliptical machines are also low impact, which probably also contributes to the lower elliptical PRE. Since your feet never leave the pedals, your knees, hips, and spine do not suffer impact as they do when running. Less impact means less chance of injury.

Low impact also is great for people who have arthritis or joint problems associated with age. Joint pain can also be an obstacle for persons trying to lose weight which makes elliptical training a great weight loss strategy.

Exercise the Entire Body

Unlike a treadmill, you can also get an upper body workout at the same time that you exercise your legs on an elliptical. The handlebars provide resistance so you work your arms and core muscles as well. So if you are tight on time, ellipticals give a great total body workout all at once.

One area in which treadmills have the advantage is that they work specific running muscles. This factor is important to keep in mind for competitive runners and marathoners.

Burn Fat

Overall ellipticals are also fantastic for muscle activation which means you burn more fat. Muscle activation is basically the total amount of muscle tissue put into action with exercise. When you increase the incline and resistance on the elliptical machine, your body utilizes its oxidative energy system as a fuel source. This is the fat burning system in contrast with high speed exercise which burns carbohydrates. Avoiding high speed exercise might be important as you age in order to prevent injury.

High Tech Features

High tech adds-ons make things even more interesting. Some machines have built in scales, after entering in some basic data, you step on and the software generates a workout program for you automatically. Even if your weight changes just 0.22 pounds the system detects this and makes workout adjustments based on your body weight and body mass index (BMI).

So if you want a total body workout with minimal impact on your joints, then an elliptical machine is a smart choice.

About Joe Alter

Joe Alter is a fitness buff, writer, and the CEO of Yowza Fitness, a leading manufacturer of home fitness equipment, including treadmills, elliptical machines, and stationary bikes. He is on a mission to lead the home fitness industry to a new era of innovation, with biomechanically superior cardiovascular fitness equipment.

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