Best Elliptical Machine Site

In recent years the elliptical machine has taken over the treadmill in popularity – mainly because they are less impact to your bones and joints.  Over the long haul, running can destroy joints and bones because of the constant impact and force to your feet and knees.  This force is absorbed by the tissues in your joints and can have long term health risks.  My father in law was an avid runner in his late 20’s and is now unable to participate in many physical activities fully, because of the damage to his joints.  Elliptical machines are a great alternative because the move your feet in an elongated circle, (elliptical.)

If you are in the market for an elliptical and are thinking about making a purchase you may want to start by reading elliptical machine reviews.  There are plenty out there for you to gain information from and they can really assist you as you consider which machine to go after.  Not every machine is made with the same materials or with the same care to details so if you want to find the best one for you make sure to spend a few minutes researching.

Trying out a few different machines will definitely be a good idea especially if you plan to buy from someone who offers a variety of styles.  You may also want to stop by your local gym and see what machines they use.  Any gym will make an investment into machines that can handle 12 hours or more of use on a daily basis for months at a time.  The gym I use has had the same set of elliptical for the last 5 years and they are the most popular machines in the cardio area.

There are so many different machines each at a different price point and each with different pros and cons.  The more you test the more you can feel the difference in the machine.  Pay close attention to the motion of the feet pedals.  The motion should be strictly back and forth, if you feel any variation where it seems your foot is moving out to the side there is a strong possibility one of the bars is bent, this will cause a continual amount of unnecessary torque be placed on the machine which will lead to early wear and tear of the belt line.

If you really are in the market for an elliptical trainer most of the top industry leaders say your bottom line price should be at LEAST $1,000.  While there are cheaper machines on the market that may seem like a really good deal consistent testing by independent research companies continue to prove they cannot hold up to rigorous usage.  If you are in the market for a simple once a week device than under $1,000 will be an okay way to go but as you do your research keep the following in mind;

Try it in the store or find one at the local gym before you buy it.  This will facilitate an easier evaluation of the performance of the machine.  Does it vibrate or tremble as you use it?  Does your stride feel natural or forced?  Does the pedal spacing fit your body type or can it be adjusted?  These are all things to consider before investing over $1,000 into any piece of equipment.

Make sure the machine is solid and not prone to movement but is fluid when in use.  The trainer shouldn’t feel woobly or wobbly or jerky.  A lot of lower cost machines tend to shimmy their way across the floor as you use them; this is because the materials used to make them are light and prone to be moved on by your motion.

Non slip grip should be at your feet’s tip.  Make sure within the foot holds there are grips for your feet.  The space in the foot pedal will be designed to handle up to size 14 or 15 shoe, so make sure there is a grip in there so your aren’t sliding around as you use it.

Handle bar comfort is key.  They should fit your body position and feel natural this is known as being ergonomically adjusted.  It allows for proper posture and body response.  If you are looking for moveable handles make sure they slide back and forth in a straight motion.

Easily adjustable resistance levels.  Make sure you can easily re-program the resistance in the machine so that you can easily change it while using the trainer.  Buttons should respond quickly without you having to push them too hard but at the same time should be touch sensitive so you’re not leaning forward to get force enough to change the button as this could lead to a mis-step and subsequent injury.

Cardio training is like a four letter word to some people and for others it represents an escape from modern day stress.  Any way you slice it cardiovascular activity is vital to the healthy development of any personal fitness plan.

People use the term cardio as a nik name for cardiovascular and it simply refers to any activity which raises your heart rate, the main organ in the cardiovascular system.  There are many ways to perform cardio and people preferences pale in comparison to the amount of activities that produce a cardiovascular response.  All activities are not equal though, as some produce more results quicker and others are used to develop the athlete in unique ways.

Anyone who uses cardio as a part of their exercise routine is doing it in an effort to burn off excess calories and as a result of performing cardio your body will require more energy.  Some activities are considered better than others at strictly burning fat but all cardio will eventually burn off calories.  Because fat lose is a result of burning more calories than you consume cardio is a step in the healthy direction.

The motivation for performing cardio does not begin and end with fat loss because there are a wide variety of health benefits you can receive from a consistent cardio workouts.  The most important reason aside from fat loss is the improved condition of your heart.  The heart is a muscle just like any other in the body and needs to be worked out just like anything else.  A lack of exercise to the heart is similar to a lack of exercise to any other body part and when the time comes that you need the muscle if its not ready you can cause serious long term damage.  Ever wonder why those Viagra commercials tell you to make sure your heart is healthy enough for sex?  Its because if you get going and your heart is in bad shape you can induce a heart attack.

By constantly challenging your heart to pump harder and faster you are able to develop muscle walls which in turn strengthen the ability for your heart to pump blood.  The second primary benefit of cardio is an increased metabolism.  In simple terms an increased metabolism means your body has an easier time maintaining its current weight.  This, ironically, means you can spend less time in the gym burning calories because your body reaches a point where it does the work for you, unfortunately if you reduce the cardio your metabolism also falls off the chart.