People using elliptical machines
Elliptical machines allow for a smooth, natural exercise - as natural as walking itself. And just like walking, you can go forward or backward (one normally doesn't walk backward that often, but you could!). This allows for a greater exercise benefit.

Elliptical Machines

Want to know about elliptical machines? Sounds scientific don’t it. It actually means, “egg shaped”, not so scientific now. No, that’s not just it. It means ‘egg shaped’ because that is the shape in which we walk, and elliptical machines (or cross trainers) try to imitate. So it is basically walking on the spot but slightly more circular, it is likely you have been on one before but never knew what it was called. With 99% of cross trainers come the hand grips (it is mainly just the mini cross trainers don’t include it), where you can push backward and forward in a slow motion punching fashion in conjunction with your feet. This is to give you a better all round workout.

The main reason someone would buy an elliptical machine is for a cardiovascular workout (heart, lungs and blood flow). Although cross trainers do tone the muscles it uses, it is not used for any specific muscle, but generally on working up a sweat. This is why it is great for cardiovascular exercise, which is great for people warming up for a workout, daily workouts, and especially for overweight people as it doesn’t pressure you as much as other machines.


Wow! This is Really Natural

One of the unique selling points of ellipticals is that they are very natural to use, like a smooth walk. You don’t really feel it, but it gets you worked up and is the easiest and arguably the most efficient way of losing them pounds. There are front, rear and now centre driven ellipticals. The front driven gives you more of hill climbing (but not as hard) affect, while rear gives you a walking style movement.

With the more expensive versions of these, which you can find in good gyms, you get a lot of nifty add-ons that do various tasks. One of these is resistance adjustment, so to make more of a challenge by making it harder for you to push. This accompanied with programs you can set will give you more enjoyment and help you burn maximum calories. Some elliptical machines come with iPod docks. Everyone is more motivated to exercise from music, so this add on is very well needed!

Home or Gym Use

There are a couple of ways of going about using ellipticals, at the gym or at home. Now unless you are a very wealthy person you are not going to be able to afford a decent elliptical for your home due to it being $1000 plus. There are options though; from $150 you can get a cheap model. The cheaper models are as you may have guessed, very simple. Two pedals and a fan pretty much sum it up. Go up the money ladder and now we are getting somewhere, I would say from $300 you’re going to get a sturdy little exercise buddy. This comes in the form of a couple of cushy pedals, gripped handlebars, multiple resistances, and a couple of programs.

Gym quality elliptical machines are much more durable and reliable, but to get that you are going to have to pay for a gym membership (or own it). Now, push this money ladder onto the redwood tree and climb it. At $1000 - $3000 you are going to be looking at a first class elliptical. With 22 to 32 inch strides it feels great. It’s the most natural thing next to… walking? That’s not the point, there are more muscles being used therefore a better workout! As well as a tonne of resistances and professional programs to follow, there is also music playing facilities, and everything you could ask for on an LCD monitor (heart rate, calories lost, speed, distance, time, etc, etc.). Hell, the Octane xR6 even has a star trek chair you can sit on whilst pumping that blood round your body.