06 Nov 11 3 Reasons Elliptical Machines Should Be Avoided
3 Reasons Elliptical Machines Should Be Avoided
The elliptical machine is a popular piece of equipment, but is it really the best for helping you burn calories and lose fat? I don’t think so, here’s why.
The latest Men’s Health magazine comes down on elliptical machines hard. Now I know elliptical machines are often the only option for people with bad knees, but if your knees are healthy, think twice before using the elliptical machine for these three reasons.
First, on page 52 of the December, 2008 issue, Men’s Health warns, “Never trust elliptical machines“. That’s a harsh statement against a machine you’ve been using almost every day. But if it did work, wouldn’t you be getting amazing results from the machine?
They quote a study that found elliptical machines over-estimated the number of calories burned in a workout by 31%! Ouch.
So if your “elliptical cardio workout” burned 400 calories, the truth is you really burned closer to only 300 calories.
Second, later in the Dec. issue, Men’s Health magazine interviewed Biggest Loser contestant Ed Brantley. Ed lost 73 pounds on the show, but had this to say about elliptical machines, “I hated the elliptical. It was too easy, I didn’t feel like I was doing anything.” Exactly. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
But that’s EXACTLY why machines are so popular. You see, the third reason elliptical machines are inferior for fat loss is because they fail my “human nature” test.
Put it this way, if you take 100 people and put them in a gym with 100 treadmills and 100 elliptical machines. Tell them they have to exercise for 30 minutes at a hard pace, and they have the choice to use either the treadmill or the elliptical.
Guess where 90% of folks are going? The elliptical! Why? Because it is human nature to take the EASY WAY out. And that is why elliptical machines are so busy at the gym and you rarely see anyone doing intervals on a treadmill or bodyweight circuits in the corner of the gym.
Often I see folks using the machine only to say they “worked out”, but without getting any REAL work done. So if you are stuck at a fat loss plateau, and you’ve been counting on the elliptical machine to help you out, then forget it.
I recommend doing interval training outside, or on a bike or treadmill. Even better options include kettlebell training and bodyweight circuits.
Tags: Avoided, Elliptical, Elliptical Avoided, Elliptical Machines, Machines, Reasons, Should
15 Jan 10 5 Reasons Why Elliptical Machines and Treadmills are Useless Exercises
I know that all the elliptical and treadmill worshipers are probably fuming to me now after this title, but the fact is, cross trainers and treadmills are one of the least efficient methods of work in existence. With this article I'll show you how to get a much more effective fat burning training without wasting time mindlessly exercising on a boring treadmill or crosstrainer.
Now let me explain that if you really enjoy to be honestTheir cross-trainer and treadmill exercise training routines, then I'll give you my blessing to keep doing what you love. The reason is that even though ellipticals and treadmills are relatively ineffective compared to other types of exercises, what are you doing the most fun you will benefit most in the long run because you are more likely to stay with it consistently.
However, do not say that I would not warn you that you could lose yourTime with all the boring senseless cardio machine workouts.
I have also spoken to my ezine subscribers … I do not really believe in cardio machines as a good form of preparation at all. This may surprise you, from a fitness nut like me, but I do not think that I personally used exercise bike, treadmill, elliptical or any other cardiovascular machine for at least 8 years or more.
In fact, I do not think even with cardio equipment morefor warm-ups before my workout. I think it's really a much more effective warm-up to weight and / or Kettlebell swings, tears, clean and presses, etc. I do with a body weight exercises as a great full-body warm-up prior to the work of mixed.
Why do I think cardio machines are so awful? Well, here's 5 reasons:
1) Treadmills and ellipticals are just a very ineffective way to workout compared to other options. Why should you do treadmill or elliptical training, if you getbetter results by going to encourage more interesting forms of training that really a fat-burning hormonal response and stimulates the metabolism to a greater extent.
2) Elliptical machines and treadmills are insanely expensive and a waste of money for people who work at home … There are so many things better at home training, you should not waste your money spent it on an elliptical machine, treadmill or bicycle ergometer.
You'll seeplenty of ideas for a better bottom training home if you do not like to work out in a gym.
3) I've seen the results of several studies suggest that treadmill running that may be less effective than outdoor running burn for various reasons such as stride abnormalities on treadmills vs natural running experience, a little less calories to run outdoors, compared and so on.
(although I never recommend just "jogging" anyway … variable intensity walking / running or sprinting are much moreeffective field training your heart rate to a much wider range instead of the same heart rate the whole time).
4) steady state (non-exercise require concentration on what you're doing) while watching TV or reading a newspaper or magazine disconnect is a mind / body, which is in extremely poor results compared to exercise that requires focused attention .
5) Elliptical and treadmill workouts are just mind-numbing boring!
So what are good alternativeson cross trainer and treadmill training? Some of my favorites are:
Outdoor wind sprint training – This is the ultimate training for a rock hard lean body … just look at the powerful yet super-lean and ripped bodies of world-class sprinters and compare that withering weakling physiques of typical marathoners … What would you rather look like?
Jump rope – incredible mind / body connection and actually fun (you can try speed jumping, crossover jumps, andDouble jumps, good when you get to it)
Kettlebell training – nothing will beat your heart and sweat pouring like high rep Kettlebell swings and / or fragments obtained (or clean & pressing)! They can do with dumbbells, but I prefer kettlebells as they have better "feel" for them, and the imbalance of the KBs have, makes you work harder)
Bodyweight exercises – mountain climbers, bodyweight squats, push-ups, jumping drills, lunges, bear crawls, plank holds, and so on.
The good oldfashioned rowing machine – I do not know exactly in this cluster as "heart" of machine per se like elliptical machines and treadmills … Rather, I think the rowing machine is actually a great total body workout that actually uses real resistance)
Hill Sprint – running up a hill as hard as possible, followed by walking down and then repeat as many times as you can for a full training (yet another classic drill for a rock hard lean body)
Shadow boxing … a killerTraining, but if you're shy, this is best done at home because you get some crazy to do this in a typical gym looks like!
Swimming sprints – a muscle refreshment training compared with constant speed distance swimming … Pumping I actually love the upper body, I Sprint swimming (instead of swimming slow and steady, with sprint swimming, you swim as fast as possible to exert as much force as you get for 1 round. Then rest for 15-20 seconds In another swim before Sprint).
Punching BagPunching / kicking training, speed bag, recovered bag … All training is enormous, and much more fun than boring cardio machines (requires an very intense mind / body connection, the results increased).
I hope this article gives many ideas you can use it to go away to the right and bring more variety into your workout blunt rather than relying on the same old cross trainer and treadmill workout routines. Enjoy!
Tags: Elliptical, Exercises, Machines, Reasons, Treadmills, Useless
