Elliptical Trainers Vs Treadmills - Which Is Right for You?

It is not so long ago that treadmills were the most widely used pieces of gym equipment, however elliptical trainers are becoming more and more popular for use both at home and at the gym. In this article we will have a look at the pros and cons for both treadmills and ellipticals to help you determine which is the best choice for you.

Firstly, let's have a closer look at what each piece of equipment has to offer.

Treadmills

These offer the user a simulation of walking or running either on a flat surface or on an incline, and they are a great way of improving overall fitness levels by improving your cardiovascular fitness, burning calories, increasing your energy levels and helping to improve your bone density.

They are generally very easy to use and offer an extremely attractive method of exercising indoors instead of placing yourself at the mercy of the elements outdoors.

There is a wide range of models available at a wide range of prices, but most will feature some kind of inbuilt computer to select the different difficulty levels, keep track of your workout and to help you get the most out using your treadmill.

The big drawback with these pieces of gym equipment is that although they are very good at improving your cardiovascular fitness levels, they only provide a workout for the muscle groups of your lower body, and this is where an elliptical trainer really stands out from the crown and comes into it's own.

Elliptical Cross Trainers

Just like treadmills, these are excellent pieces of exercise equipment to use for improving your cardiovascular fitness, general calorie burning and helping to increase your bone density, however one of the big advantages to using one is that they are also excellent at working the major muscle groups in both your lower and upper body.

When you are using a treadmill you are simulating running outdoors, and with each stride your feet leave the surface of the running belt and then impact back down. The running motion on an elliptical trainer is different, in that your feet do not leave the platform (they travel in an elliptical arc), thus significantly reducing the impact and strain on your legs and lower body joints such as your ankles, knees and hips.

This low impact form of exercises that people with joint problems, or the elderly or people who are recovering or rehabilitating from an injury or accident, can often exercise using a cross trainer, whereas they would not be able to use a treadmill due to the level of impact on the joints.

Most machines have a computer console that will allow you to monitor your progress and alter the levels of intensity and change the built in programs.

Which to Choose?

Should you choose an elliptical trainer or a treadmill? Well if you are looking to improve your overall levels of fitness, or if you have any problems with your joints then an elliptical is for you. If however you are training for a distance run, and you only want to concentrate on your overall fitness and working your lower body muscle groups, then you would probably be better off choosing a treadmill.

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Cardio Fitness Equipment - What Are Your Options?

The world of fitness is filled with great options to get you in shape. Finding the right type of cardio fitness equipment that is right for you might be hard to find but not if you have some information about your options to help you decide what is the right choice.

Elliptical Cross Trainers are quickly increasing in popularity and there is no denying why. These machines give the user the ability to assist the movements with their arms making the exercise a total body workout. Elliptical trainer are a great way to reduce impact on your joints. If you want to raise your workout intensity you can push a button to increase the resistance.

Treadmills are the most common type of cardio fitness equipment in any home or traditional gym. With this machine you can set a speed to push yourself to maintain a consistent pace. Tracking the distance you have traveled is very simple on treadmill. Using a treadmill you can record your progress very easily. You will be able to record the distance and the time it took you to run or walk it. If you want to make the workout a bit more difficult you could adjust the incline to simulate different types of terrain.

Recumbent Exercise Bikes are a great way to comfortably get a great workout. These machines offer the least amount of joint impact making this the ideal equipment for someone who is currently overweight or in need of physical therapy. Now this machine is not limited to people in lower fitness levels. The resistance on recumbent bikes can be set to challenge even elite cyclist.

Steppers are one of the more efficient machines in the market. With steppers you can exercise your gluts, calves and thighs while burning lots of calories at the same time. There is not much movement needed for these machines to be very effective for weigh loss. Now if space is a concern, this is a great choice. This equipment comes in mini-models which can practically be stored anywhere in your home.

Rowing Machines are known as the most efficient cardio fitness equipment out there. They give the user the ability to work out most major muscle groups while burning a ton of calories. Like the other equipment, rowing machines give you the option of increasing the resistance making your workout as intense as you want.

As you can see, there are many different types of cardio fitness equipment out there but there will be some you like better than others. The thing to always remember is to make the choice base on what you would like to repeatedly do. The key to exercising is to stay consistent, it is the only way to see results. Picking something you like rather than something you hate can be de difference between success and failure.

Getting to know your options when it comes to cardio fitness equipment is only the beginning. Getting involved in a fitness blog or forum can help you stay committed and communicate with others that are in your position.