Why would there be a piece of equipment made to replicate walking or running when you can go outside and do the exact same thing?  Simple, an elliptical machine replicates that motion without the impact.  As you use the machine you are suspended in the air while your feet and arms are placed on pedals and handles respectively.  This allows you to move in the same direction with the same general workout without the high impact of slamming your feet against the ground.

The primary benefit to using low impact machines is the lower risk for injury.  Running may be a great way to lose weight but if you roll your ankle and are out of the gym for 3 weeks how many calories do you burn in a cast?

The reason these machines are less frequently known is because they are new to the market.  Just in the last 3 or 4 years have gyms seen a steady increase in popularity for these machines.  Anytime there is a new machine gains popularity it needs to pass the test of time in order to move it out of just a ‘trend’ and into mainstream work out devices.  The elliptical seems like are pretty sexy machine because its all the rage, and now it is.

Elliptical machines now come in a variety forms and functions and its only natural to assume that as time goes on they will only get more advanced.  Currently the only difference between the top two machines is the handles.  There is one variety that has a movable handle for you to place your hands and get an upper body workout as well.  The second style of machine is the one that has stationary handles for your hands placing more of the focus on developing the lower body.

The advantage to the variety without the handles is that you can focus more on moving on your lower body.  When you involve the upper body handles you add a level of physical coordination that takes a little more mental focus.  In all honesty moving the handles in conjunction with your legs is harder to think about and the more thinking you’re doing the less exercising you get.  In the end just make sure you are getting a good workout.  The elliptical is a great way to do it without the high impact.

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.

When it comes to maximizing your workout and getting the most from your time, the more you move the better.  Any extra movement requires the burning of extra calories.  When you work out on a stationary bike, for example, you are only using your lower body.  The elliptical machine is great because the handles and pedals move in unison, both arms and legs.  Because no muscle is totally isolated you will end up getting a better workout with an elliptical.

Treadmills are the most direct comparison to elliptical trainers because they are the two most popular machines used at the gym.  Both focus on the lower body and involve a moving strike path.  Everyone I have ever asked about their recent weight lost they inevitably answer it started when they began running.  Its true that using a treadmill for exercise or even outside can be great ways to exercise.  The only downside is that the indoor or outdoor running will always put a significant amount of pressure on your joints as running is high impact.

An elliptical can deliver the same results in a similar motion with much less impact.  The simple action alone of the pedals moving with your feet as opposed to your feet striking the treadmill pad saves countless pounds of pressure per square inch.  When you use a treadmill you are subject to the electronic settings and have less control over both speed and resistance.  With an elliptical you control the speed without having to adjust an electronic control.  Just because an elliptical has less impact it doesn’t mean there is any less resistance, you can manually adjust the resistance forcing your legs to push harder and faster to make the workout more complete.

The stair master is another popular cardio machine used at the gym because it can be used to increase your heart rate with a lower amount of actual physical motion.  The elliptical provides an opportunity for you to incorporate the benefits of the treadmill – high intensity – with the stair master – lower impact.  Truly the elliptical is one of the best machines to use when it comes to getting a full body workout.

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.

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.