Getting The Most Out Of Your Elliptical Trainer Workouts
As with any exercise routine, a workout on an elliptical machine is only as effective as the amount of effort exerted. When you maximize your workout you burn calories faster, which results in a tighter and more toned body in less time. Here are some tips on how you can get the most out of your workout with elliptical trainers. Increase Your Resistance If you really want to burn the maximum amount of calories, consider increasing the machines resistance. Some people think that speed plays a bigger part in burning fat, but it is actually the resistance that makes the largest difference in the effectiveness of a workout. The higher the resistance on the machine, the more the muscles have to work to get through each movement. Additionally, the harder the muscles work, the more calories and fat your body burns. Your resistance level should be determined by your actual workout and not by the machines standards and controls. A person just beginning to workout should have a lower resistance than a person who exercises daily and is already in shape. Choose a level of resistance that really pushes your body to work, but that is not so hard that you cant complete a 30-minute workout at that level. Develop A Longer Stride Lengthening your stride on elliptical trainers will help you burn more calories in a quicker amount of time. Instead of short, choppy steps, be sure to take the full length of your stride, reaching as far as you can. A longer stride on the machine pushes your muscles to the limit and makes the workout harder on your body. Interval Training Can Blast Away Fat Exercising at different intervals that vary in levels and difficulty is a great addition to any workout. An example of an interval training program for elliptical trainers may involve three minutes at an intense, high speed pace followed by two minutes at a slow pace, then followed by five minutes at a regular pace. The different intervals help to vary the workout and keep your muscles continually guessing at whats coming next, which causes them to burn more calories. It is an effective way to keep your workouts interesting while reaping the most you can from them. Be sure to constantly maintain an elevated heart rate, as this is what burns the most calories. Even at times when you are at a slower pace, still maintain a speed fast enough to keep your heart rate up in the fat burning zone. Elliptical trainers provide a total body workout regardless of your fitness level. By optimizing your workouts for full fat burning, you can ensure that you are getting the most out of each and every stride. Increasing resistance levels, taking longer strides, and using intervals in your workout are surefire ways to burn fat and calories at an astounding pace. Christine OKelly is a writer for Smooth Fitness, an online retailer of elliptical trainers and other home gym equipment. Smooth Fitness offers a wide variety of elliptical trainer styles to meet the needs of every exerciser, regardless of skill level.