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.
