Elliptical Machines

How accurate are calorie counters on elliptical exercise machines?

Question by oldpink18: How accurate are calorie counters on elliptical exercise machines?
Whenever I workout on my elliptical machine it says I burned alot of calories but I don’t feel like it was that hard. For example I worked out for about 30 minutes at a resistance level of 10 and it said I burned about 650 calories. Is this accurate? If not, any ideas on how much its off by?

Best answer:

Answer by Chuck
They’re not. Each person is different, does it ask your age or weight? It is only their guesstimate. If you want to lose weight count your calories you put in your mouth, at least food labels will help you with that. Good luck.

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How to Find Great Value Elliptical Machines For Sale

2905611897 08a7c80906 m How to Find Great Value Elliptical Machines For Sale
by avlxyz

How to Find Great Value Elliptical Machines For Sale

The problem people face when looking for new or used elliptical machines for sale is that just like most products in buyer markets, there is a huge variety of prices and models available. Making the right choice does not have to be a nightmare, as a little bit of research can make it fun and enjoyable.

To find great value elliptical machines for sale, you need to know what price you are willing to pay. What is affordable to you will limit you to a certain range of models, whether it is top grade, premium value or budget. It doesn’t matter what range you can afford within, you will still be able to find yourself a great deal.

Where you are comfortable buying from is the next step to finding new or used elliptical machines for sale. Some fitness enthusiasts would rather shop in offline retail stores because they either like to try or see the machines first but also would rather speak to the person selling them the elliptical face to face. However, buying offline seriously limits your ability to bag a real bargain. Buying online allows you to explore several different stores and also allows you to read top reviews, to get a real idea of which ellipticals are rated highly by people who have already bought.

The experience online is made better by knowing you are buying from a reputable site. The likes of Amazon and the actual manufacturer site, for example Smooth Fitness, are both very popular sites for finding new and used elliptical machines for sale. The buyer experience is very pleasant and the chance of not only getting a great deal with extra money off but with free delivery makes it all worth the while.

Again, depending on how much you are willing to spend, will ultimately determine what kind of model you can buy. You will find that a lot of online stores now advertise elliptical machines for sale which are remanufactured versions of top grade models for half the original price. This can be a saving of up to 00. The Life Fitness 9500 HR is an example. These elliptical machines are rebuilt to original spec and are good as new. Brand new models are also available online at extremely good prices. The Schwinn 430 is an example of a budget model and has received fantastic reviews from Amazon buyers.

Finding new or used elliptical machines for sale does not have to be tasking. Yes, buying offline may give you more confidence in buying but by simply reading the reviews and checking out the top online stores, you can find an even better deal.

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Q&A: Do elliptical machines help you gain stamina?

Question by achiu17: Do elliptical machines help you gain stamina?
theres this guy on my track team and he can run the mile fast cuz he has a lot of stamina. will elliptical machines help gain stamina? cuz he said he uses it everyday.

Best answer:

Answer by lestermount
I think an elliptical machine is a good substitute for running, however, it is not as good as actually running.
So if you can’t get outside you could use this machine sometimes, not as a regular form of training.
I doubt that your friend does only the elliptical and not any other training.

What do you think? Answer below!

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Elliptical Trainers : Elliptical Trainers: Workout Techniques

When working out on an elliptical trainer, use the center hand grips to become familiar with the machine and to strengthen the core muscles. Apply various workout techniques with tips from a personal trainer in this free video on elliptical trainers. Expert: Hank Odluski Bio: Hank Odluski has been a personal trainer for over 10 years at The Basic Gym, which is located on 1584 South Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, Calif. Filmmaker: Nili Nathan

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Benefits of Exercising With Elliptical Machines

Benefits of Exercising With Elliptical Machines

Fitness is an elusive term covering a vast array of attributes: flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, strength, power. Fitness equipment is essential for proper exercise and a full body work out, and the regular use of fitness equipment is very beneficial to the body and for exercising specific groups of muscles.

Many personal trainers claim that the dual action exercise of an elliptical trainer can actually be more efficient in burning calories. Since you can adjust incline, speed and other factors, you can maximize cardio impact, making elliptical trainers more effective than weight lifting, leg presses, or other less comprehensive types of exercise. Elliptical trainers offer a non-impact workout that can vary from light to high intensity based on the resistance preference.

Benefits

And although less exertion is required, the calorie burn and benefits to your heart are on a level equal or greater than treadmills, stair steppers and other types of home exercise equipment. The benefits are financial as well as physical, as purchasing these devices for your home eliminates those hefty monthly gym payments, not to mention the inconvenience inherent with traveling to and from a commercial gym.

What’s even better, by adding one of these machines to your training program, you can avoid the pitfalls of outdoor exercise by shutting out the heat or cold and ensuring no mean dogs stop you from reaping the benefits elliptical cross training has to offer. Moreover, advantages of the elliptical exercise machine are proportional to stride length so prolonging pedal movement raises user-experience and exercise benefits. One of the most popular elliptical benefits is the prevention of sore joints or to help people workout who already have existing joint problems.

Health

Exercise machines are also safe for beginners and for women in the early pregnancy stage, provided that they are done in moderation and with the guidance of a health professional. Exercise machines, although they may not be cheap are a worthwhile investment for those interested in fitness, health and in exercising daily. And whatever you do to benefit your heart now, will keep you healthy and fit for many years to come.

Most people get their health out of a bottle these days, be it a bottle of vitamins or pharmaceuticals. Having an elliptical trainer as a cardio workout companion pays handsome health dividends Improved cardiovascular function, overall conditioning, and healthy weight loss due to a revved up metabolism, are all part and parcel of the benefits of an elliptical trainer package.

Conclusion

Elliptical exercise machines are some of the most popular home fitness machines on the market. Superiority of ellipticals: elliptical exercise machines are commonly area economical elliptical cross trainers are not costly; bargain rate and cheap elliptical machines are a cinch to locate eliptical cross-trainers are nominal compaction, signifying, they are light on back joints, in comparison to the more intense impingement motorized treadmills or even in contrast to using stepping devices or step climbers.

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Who Manufacture the Best Elliptical Machines?

Who Manufacture the Best Elliptical Machines?

The one thing you will notice when researching the elliptical machines market, is the wide range of manufacturers and models. Each manufacturer produces different models for different grades of elliptical machine whether it is for commercial or home use.

Just like treadmills, ellipticals imitate walking, jogging and running but in an oscillating motion utilising both arms and legs. All models will allow the user to create this motion with their body as the majority of elliptical machines come with both moving handle arms and linking foot pedals. Obviously the more use the machine will see i.e. in gyms and health clubs, the more durable and stable they have to be. With quality comes cost. Precor and Life Fitness offer some of the best models on the market for commercial use as they build to last and will normally incorporate heart rate monitors, calorie counters and workout programs into their consoles as you would expect. Some of their elliptical machines fall just within affordable prices for fitness enthusiasts buying for home use. It really depends on the price you are willing to pay and whether you can clearly see how cost-effective home cardio equipment can be.

For the more mid-range elliptical machines we see Smooth Fitness offering very much affordable but great value machines. Much of their ranges are developed for home use and with the value you would expect. Smooth Fitness machines come with fantastic warranties and with new features such as iPod docking stations with built in speakers and adjustable fans. They also offer lifetime warranties helping dictate the quality of their products and you are guaranteed great value for money.

Towards the lower end of the range, this is where manufacturers start to jeopardize build quality. With cheaper materials being used to help keep costs low, to produce affordable elliptical machines for the home, constant daily use can mean bad news. However, Schwinn offer some trendy models within the lower budget price range for the home and customer reviews are generally very good. The majority of their best models offer the same features that you would expect on commercial elliptical machines.

There are many great names in the elliptical world but it is important to know that price, normally means quality. For the best value for money make that investment and you will soon reap the rewards.

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Elliptical Machines – Best Elliptical Machine Secrets Will Save You Money!

Elliptical Machines – Best Elliptical Machine Secrets Will Save You Money!

Are you looking for the best elliptical machine at the best possible price? If so you’ll want to read my tips to find out which will be the best buy for you and/or your family. Choosing any elliptical trainer is much more complicated than just stopping in your favorite sports or fitness store, testing it out and buying it on the spot. Much more thought and research should be put into any fitness equipment that you buy today.


In the history of personal fitness and aerobics, ellipticals are the only aerobic products that have made a breakthrough. They only really came into the marketplace a few years ago and they’ve been gaining in popularity fast among users of all ages. Because elliptical machines are a cross between the treadmill and a stair climber you can easily cross-train too.


Elliptical machines offer the best cardiovascular workout. It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice or seasoned fitness user the elliptical trainer will work well on any exercise program you choose and you’ll find your own comfortable personal fitness level. It works well with a nice rhythmic flowing movement.


The good higher-end quality machines can give you a comfortable stride because they are larger and have better construction. Although there are trainers available with a 14-inch stride, make sure to pick a 21-inch stride for the best use and settings.


The elliptical trainer is a low/no impact machine so it’s the perfect machine for anyone suffering from joint problems that often occur in the knees, hips, back and ankles. That’ one major reason that they became so popular is that they give you an excellent aerobic workout without much stress to the joints. If you suffer from any kind of balance problems they are a better choice than the treadmill where good balance may be necessary. An elliptical workout provides a good body workout with very little strain.


Buying an elliptical machine online shouldn’t be hard to do and you’ll reap the benefits if you spend time comparing rankings, reviews and ratings. The basic must-have features include the drive and resistance systems and the proper stride length.


Make sure the model you choose has an adjustable and wide range of inclines. This will help with your aerobic activity as you move along in your workout or exercise routine. You’ll also want varying levels of resistance. The combination will give you the best possible workout. Make sure your adjustments are not jarring. You may want a trainer that has a few different programs that have been preset into the computer.


Make sure your elliptical trainer is quiet. You may want to be able to watch TV or listen to your favorite music or not disturb sensitive family members who need a quiet environment. Check to see that it has proper safety features. You may want cooling fans. Warm-up programs and cooldown programs help you work your muscles properly. A heart rate monitor is always a good feature to have. You can easily check out your aerobic and heart rate goals.


Of the many benefits the most important is the low impact benefit. They also have been proven to give a lower ‘feeling of exertion’ when you work out. Some studies report that because they optimize energy expenditure, that most people will burn more calories. The machine uses all the muscles in the lower part of the leg. And all the movement helps maintain healthy bone density. If you don’t have a lot of space or have a small workout area, they can be a good way to save space over other home exercise equipment.


There are a many good, popular and higher-end brands of elliptical machines in sports stores, specialty stores, fitness stores, big box stores and online stores including Precor, Life Fitness, SportsArt Fitness, Horizon, Nordic Track, Smooth, Schwinn, and Quantum Fitness. Many can handle users up to 180 kg (400 lbs) or so. They can range in price from 00 to 00.


If you want to save a lot of money, make sure to check out the online prices. Compare them to the offline prices in your sports, fitness specialty or big box stores. You’ll find that many of the dealers online will offer to ship them free. And if you know the model number that you want to buy you can check out the machine in your local stores and then compare the prices online.


The sports equipment consignment stores and used sporting goods stores usually have used or slightly used ellipticals at very low prices. Some of these will be in very good condition. That is because many people buy equipment they think you’ll use and then they don’t follow through as you probably know.


Try asking for a business discount, health professional discount or senior discount if appropriate. In any case ask for a discount, even if it’s on sale. Look for sales all year round. And there are still other ways to buy them cheaper.


To sum up there are many manufacturers of high technology home elliptical machines. There are many health benefits that can be reaped. You can easily find a low cost trainer with a little research. And if you’ve never used one you should give it a try before you buy.

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Fitness & Weight Training Exercises : Elliptical Machine Exercise Tips

Elliptical workout machines focus on leg muscles and the lower body, including the quads, calf muscles and hamstrings. Better understand this workout machine with thesetips from an experienced personal trainer in this free video on fitness and exercises. Expert: Aaron Hill Bio: Aaron Hill is a professional fitness and health instructor at Fitness for Life in Wilmington, North Carolina. Filmmaker: Reel Media LLC

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Overview Of Commercial Elliptical Machines

Overview Of Commercial Elliptical Machines

Commercial Elliptical Machines

One of the best ways to get a cardio workout is by using an elliptical training machine. There are many models available for home and commercial use. So what is the difference between the two?

Home elliptical machines can be purchased with a range of features from the most basic model to a commercial grade unit. If you take the reviews as evidence, apparently you get what you pay for.

Commercial elliptical machines can be found in therapy offices, doctor’s offices, fitness centers, gyms and just about anywhere else you can go to work out. Usually, these models are feature packed and run into the thousands of dollars (00 is the median). Although the commercial models can have the same features as a residential one, the difference is the quality of the construction. This justifies the price tag.

Commercial elliptical machines can monitor your heart, breathing and pulse with additional items sold separately. Of course these additional items cost additional money. Most commercial elliptical machines provide not only the walking simulation for cardio, but also an upper body workout as well.

The Nordic Track brand was the first one I remember seeing and it was marketed as a simulator of cross-country skiing. Perhaps this was the basis for the rest of the industry to add in the upper body workout portion.

In any event, commercial elliptical machines are basically built stronger and more durable to withstand prolonged, continuous use. One machine may be used 20 or 30 times a day in some gyms, maybe more. They are equipped with stronger motors, better drive systems, advanced cardiac monitoring systems, softer, more fluid stepping action and even laptop or personal stereo holders, if you want to work or listen to music as you exercise.

There are, of course, other options and features, too. This is just an overview of commercial elliptical machines. When looking at commercial elliptical machines, the best brands to look at are:

• Precor
• Fitnex
• Star Trac
• Stairmaster

These are top quality brands and will carry a top quality price tag as well, but they have been reviewed as the best commercial elliptical machines by consumers. All have several models to choose from and can be delivered anywhere in the world.

Commercial elliptical machines are preferred over treadmills. This is due to the low impact of the elliptical machine on the feet. Joint and ankle pain was a complaint of people using treadmills for a long period of time. While treadmills are still used widely, elliptical machines are fast becoming the preferred machine to use. With an elliptical training machine, there is no impact on the feet at all, as on a treadmill. This alleviates the foot, ankle and heel injuries to a great extent.

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Do elliptical machines really work that well?

Question by Eddie Cacciatore, Private Eye: Do elliptical machines really work that well?
I’d switched largely to the elliptical in recent months and while I work out hard on the machine at a high level and burn over 500 calories, according to the machine, I just don’t see the same results from running or even the exercise bike. I find myself softer in certain areas. Is it me?

Best answer:

Answer by autumn
I don’t have one and haven’t tried one so I had to look online to find the answers. Here is what I found out from two websites: “The elliptical trainer provides a high energy, low impact work out. It will increase the heart rate as if the person is in an aerobic exercise, and burn calories at a fast rate while maintaining a low impact work out on your ankles, knees, and joints.
It provides a cardiovascular workout that enables your body to burn fat and calories at the same rate as an aerobic workout. This in turn, builds the bodies muscles and greaten the bodies bone density.”
Here is something from the other site:
“Ellipticals are great in terms of giving you low-impact workouts that can help you lose weight and tone up your entire body.

Another advantage to elliptical machines is that, because of the upper body arm bars, they give you a more full body workout. This results in what experts call a ‘Lower Perceived Rate of Exertion’ which means you actually worked harder than you feel like you worked – and burned more calories.

So working out on an elliptical can actually maximize your workout time and minimize your fatigue.

Elliptical machines can also help you crosstrain and avoid an exercise plateau. This is because several ellipticals now come with adjustable stride lengths and incline or ramp. This means you vary the stride or angle of the elliptical motion, work different sets of muscles and avoid overtraining.

So, for most people elliptical machines work. They help them get fit, lose weight and tone up. However there are cases where elliptical trainers do NOT work.

Again, it goes back to the question – what do you want your elliptical to do for you? If you’re looking to build muscle, an elliptical is not the best machine for you (get a weight stack home gym, free weights or even a Bowflex Crossbow Gym).”

I might have to try one of these to see how I like them.

What do you think? Answer below!

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How to Use Gym Equipment to Exercise Your Cardiovascular System : Increase Resistance on the Elliptical Trainer for Cardio Exercise

Learn how to intensify resistance on the elliptical machine to intensify your workouts, in this free exercise video tutorial on using gym equipment.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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elliptical machines vs treadmill as a way to lose weight?

Question by Pus gums: elliptical machines vs treadmill as a way to lose weight?
I need to lose 60 pounds to be my ideal weight- I use the treadmill quite often, but am losing weight as a snails pace- Friends told me elliptical machines are actually better weight burning exercises than treadmills- Is this true? Should i spend more time on the treadmill or the elliptical machines ?

Best answer:

Answer by mikey
I’ve found that elliptical machines do burn more calories in the same time frame than treadmills, at least at a walk/fast walk speed. I’ve never actually run full out on a treadmill so i can’t say what the correlation is there. Just as an example, doing 20 min on the elliptical, i typically burn 250+ cals.

What do you think? Answer below!

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What is the difference in speed running on elliptical machines?

Question by Izze <3: What is the difference in speed running on elliptical machines?
I want to get better at running for soccer, so I have been running on elliptical machines. I ran 4.5 miles today in 25 minutes on an elliptical machine and I was wondering what the difference between that and actual terrain would do to my time.
Would it take me much longer? If so, how much longer?
Thank you! icon smile What is the difference in speed running on elliptical machines?

Best answer:

Answer by Brooktini9131
It just depends. Some people run better on grass fields, while some run better on a tread-mill. (I run best on a track) If you are training for soccer though, you will not be running 4.5 miles non-stop. There will be times when you are walking or stopped. But the soccer fields are often rough and bumpy and it will slow your time a little bit. Good luck though!

Add your own answer in the comments!

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Elliptical Machine Reviews – Cheap Precor Elliptical Machines

Elliptical Machine Reviews – Cheap Precor Elliptical Machines

Using an elliptical machine is a very good way to do aerobic exercise. Using them will allow you to workout without putting pressure on your joints. You can jog or walk using a machine like this or do a workout of low impact that will solicit your body more than a treadmill would.

Some good names of elliptical machines are Cyclone Crosstrainer made by Quantum Television, Ellipse by NordiTrack, HealthRider Elliptical CrossTrainer made by ICON Health and Fitness and Power Train by Ruthy-Renker.

You can use an elliptical trainer as a cross trainer if you wish. The best elliptical machines will allow you to do cardio, aerobic exercise and strength training.

1) The benefits of an elliptical – it can give you a complete low impact body workout, keeping your joints safe, as you don’t have to slam your feet like you would with a treadmill. You just have to keep your feet where you have to, just like you would on a stationary bike. Using all the time an elliptical machine will help you with the weight training, aerobic exercise and cardio.

2) The best elliptical trainer – there are a lot of elliptical machines, and that makes it so hard to choose the best one. After counting all the pros and cons, I think the Precor line is the best. They are easy enough to use by the beginners, durable, have a lot of options, are dependable, they can be inclined, have twenty resistance levels and a long stride of 19 inch. It even comes with safety features for children, for the parents that worry about that.

And another good part of the Precor elliptical trainers is that they don’t come with a weight limit.

My personal opinion is that Precor is the best elliptical machine, but you can make your own mind. Do some research by yourself and pick the elliptical machine that fits your needs.

Discover the best site to buy cheap Precor elliptical machines. Visit my site to find out the best recommended elliptical machines.

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Best Elliptical Machines – How to Choose the Best Elliptical Trainers

Best Elliptical Machines – How to Choose the Best Elliptical Trainers

You can find all kinds of elliptical machines online, and just as easily you can find them in local stores. The problem when buying from a local store, is that you don’t know what others had to say about it, the experience with it that other customers had.

Would they buy it again? What kind of issues they had with the machine, and how long did it take to fix it? The only way you can solve this in a local store, is if you would contact them personally, if you know someone that bought an elliptical machine or if the store would give you a list of people that bought it, which is against their privacy.

In this case, the best method when buying from a local store is to search for reviews online before you buy it. These reviews are written by customers, and not by the company that manufactures them. You can learn everything there is to know about elliptical machines this way, what people think about them and how dependable and durable they are.

The best reviews can always be found online as I said before, both for general websites about elliptical machines or for certain machines in the sites of the manufacturers.

If you want to buy an elliptical machine, then read a review before you make up your mind, so you can find out what opinion other costumers have on them, and with which brands or models. It’s important that you find out how elliptical machines work from those that use it, not from the manufacturer, which is only after the money.

Before you buy one, read reviews from customers and find out if they would buy another elliptical machine. Also, what brand they would pick. By reading a review, you can get insight on what the elliptical machine that you want can do, and what you can expect when you start using it.

In conclusion, it’s best that you learn everything you can about the machine that you want to buy, before deciding to buy it.

The best way to find out reviews on elliptical machines is to look for online reviews. Either that, or buy fifty magazines that talk about elliptical machines to get the same amount of information.

It’s so much easier and cheaper to just go online and find a big review of the elliptical machine you’re considering buying. You can find out how durable it is, how well it works, or what prices exist in other stores. You should be looking to find out what people’s opinion of the machine is after using for a period of time.

You can decide much easier which machine to buy if you know the possible problems, the quality, the durability or what features it has. If the elliptical machine of your choice has good reviews, then your job of deciding should be much easier.

Check out the best elliptical machines at my site. Discover where to buy cheap Precor elliptical machines online.

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Elliptical Machine Reviews and What to Look For

Elliptical Machine Reviews and What to Look For

Elliptical Machines are one of the most rewarding investments that one can buy for maintaining health and fitness. However, like with most online products, when it comes to making a choice, the sheer quantity of different manufacturers, models and prices, can make it very difficult to decide which elliptical machines are the best value for money.

Various aspects of elliptical machines are tested when reviewing and recommending which are better than other:

The first point of check is the Manufacturer. With so many manufacturers developing and selling elliptical machines all over the world, you want to make sure that the company has a reputation for its quality elliptical equipment and customer service. There would be nothing worse than spending 00 and in the event of a fault with your elliptical, that you are unable to receive any after service help or assistance with faults or inquiries.

Along with the manufacturer comes the Warranty.

Expensive elliptical machines tend to ensure better quality and are more tolerant to continuous daily use. With cheaper machines you are nearly guaranteed problems. In any case it is always best to look for a product which comes backed by a warranty. Buying an elliptical machine is like buying a car. Would you expect to walk out of a BMW showroom without having the knowledge that the parts are at least covered for a few years in the case of breakdown? Obviously just like a car, an elliptical machines require maintenance throughout their lifetime due to wear and tear. Warranties can really be a true reflection of the quality of the elliptical. It proves the manufacturer is confident that their machines are built to last.

The next consideration is the actual Design of the elliptical machine.

Elliptical machines are similar in design and operate with the same elliptical motion. There are three main categories, Rear Drive, Front Drive and lately Center Drive. The more common type of drive is rear drive. There is no evidence to prove that one is better than the other but a different drive may offer different forms of elliptical exercises. However, there are more important specifications to consider such as Stride Length, Size, Weight Capacity, Console, Heart Rate Monitor, Resistance and Incline. These factors will ultimately be be determined by the potential buyers preferences but a combination of all these design features in one product will dictate the value for money.

It doesn’t matter which elliptical machines are introduced to the market or have been hyped up to be the best on the market, the underlying specifications and extras are what make them great value for money and make a fantastic review.

Simon P is currently the author of www.elliptical-machines.net and is dedicated to providing fresh information and product reviews on everything about elliptical machines. There is no need to doubt elliptical machines so why not join every other home elliptical user and click here for more FREE information. You have nothing to lose but weight!

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Best Elliptical Machine – Top Features When Buying an Elliptical

Best Elliptical Machine – Top Features When Buying an Elliptical

Looking for the best elliptical machine? Ellipticals are one of the most popular choices in fitness equipment today.


They give you a lower impact workout than other machines. They can also be lighter and more compact than other machines.


Plus, because you use both arms and legs they give you a lower rate of perceived exertion. (This means you actually worked harder than you felt like you did – which can add up to more calories burned).


But there are so many brands and models on the market. How do you choose the best elliptical machine for you?


This article reveals 6 key features to consider before buying. So you can choose the best machine for you.


1) Stride Length.


This is one of the most important features when buying an elliptical. Stride length is the farthest distance between the pedals during the elliptical motion. Stride lengths vary from 12 – 21 inches.


Stride length is important as a longer stride length works your leg muscles more fully, giving you a more effective workout and helping to burn more calories. Plus a long stride gives you a smoother, more fluid feel.


Cheaper ellipticals usually offer a 12 – 14 inch stride. For the average height person an 18-20 inch stride is good.


Taller people or those who really like to pick up the pace may prefer a 20 inch or even a 21 inch stride.


2) User Weight Capacity.


Along with unit weight and quality of construction, user weight capacity is a great indicator of the stability of the elliptical. You don’t want a machine that shakes or wobbles when you pick up the pace.


User weight capacities usually run from 200 lbs up to 400 lbs. Cheaper ellipticals run around 200-250 lbs and might be alright for 1 user under 200 lbs.


The higher you go – other things being equal – the more stable a machine you get. A great user weight capacity, especially for heavier users or more than 1 person is 300 – 350 lbs.


3) Resistance.


Resistance is basically how hard your legs have to push during the elliptical motion. Resistance gives you more of a challenge while you work out.


Increasing resistance can help you burn more calories, push to the next level or build intervals into your workout to boost metabolism.


Most elliptical trainers offer a range of resistance levels. Look for a trainer that makes resistance changes easy (i.e. one-touch resistance adjustment) vs a dial that you turn to increase resistance.


4) Incline.


Incline (also called Ramp) is not the same as resistance. Until a few years ago incline was only found on 00 commercial models. However it’s starting to make it’s way into the home elliptical market.


Incline allows you to automatically increase your workout slope so you work different muscle groups. This optimizes your workout and burns maximum amount of calories.


Some ellipticals offer automatic incline (where you press a button to increase incline). And some offer manual incline (where you have to get off the machine to set it). Although incline isn’t necessary to have, many people really like it.


5) Footprint / Folding.


The footprint is the width and length of your elliptical. While ellipticals in general are smaller than treadmills, they can still take up a lot of space. If space is limited in your home, make sure to consider the elliptical’s footprint before you buy.


Another option to save space is to buy a folding elliptical. Some manufacturers are starting to make elliptical machines that fold up and this can save space if workout area is limited.


6) Console.


Elliptical consoles come in many different shapes, colors and sizes. Many give you standard feedback like speed, time, distance, calories burned and heart rate.


One thing that many of the best elliptical machines have is a back-lit console. This makes the display bright and easier to read.


Consoles that are not backlit (usually found on cheaper models) can be very hard to read. This is especially true if you have poor lighting in your workout area.


So those are 6 of the top key features to consider when choosing the best elliptical machine for you. Other popular features include upper body arm bars, personal trainer workout programs and built-in speakers for your iPod or Mp3 player.


Finally, when buying your elliptical trainer, remember to consider everyone who will be using it. Consider their weight capacity, height (for stride length), workout preferences and fitness goals. Do this and you’re practically guaranteed to find the best elliptical machine for you.

Vienna Miller writes for Elliptical Trainer Reviews, offering elliptical reviews, comparisons and money saving links.

For the latest Elliptical Best Buys visit the Best Elliptical Machines page.

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Q&A: How come some elliptical machines have the rotating parts in the front and some have them in the back?

Question by dankees98: How come some elliptical machines have the rotating parts in the front and some have them in the back?
I am looking into getting an elliptical machine and I see that some of the machines have moving parts in the front and some are in the back. Why is that? Is one better than the other?

Best answer:

Answer by Matt
if its in the back it usually is harder to do but they know that at the companies

Add your own answer in the comments!

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How effective are the elliptical machines at the gym?

Question by Jenny Li: How effective are the elliptical machines at the gym?
I like to do about an hour of cardio on the elliptical machines, then swim for a while. I want to lose like 40 pounds. Is this a good stragedy?

Best answer:

Answer by racemoid
VERY good strategy.

I don’t even need to go into detail. That sounds like a great workout, as long as you do it consistently and keep your diet clean.

Add your own answer in the comments!

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Elliptical machines?

Question by jeremyaka: Elliptical machines?
I’ve started to use the elliptical machines for about 30 minutes a day, 5 to 6 days a week. I’m really interested in weight loss and gaining more physical endurance.

What are the best exercise programs on these machines to acheive my goals. Right now I’m using the cross country mode. I know there is a weight loss mode, but it doesn’t seem to be doing much for me.

Also, is it better to use the ellipticals that have the hand grips that are stationary or the ones that move back and forth as you move?

Best answer:

Answer by Shawnna M
I use the elliptical 6 times a week 45 mins each time. I use the one that the bars dont move with your arms. I put the resistance to 8 or 9 and do the one with hills because it works out all parts of your legs and butt. It has helped me not only lose fat all over but tone up my calves and booty.

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