Many people who are looking to buy exercise equipment for the home are not really looking to get fit as their main goal but to lose a bit of weight through exercise. The getting fitter tends to be a secondary goal. If you are looking to lose weight through exercise there are many machines to choose from and one of the most popular is an elliptical, but is an elliptical trainer good for weight loss? Lets have a look at the two major reasons an elliptical is great for weight loss.
Calories Burned
elliptical trainer
A treadmill is widely recognised as the most effective home fitness machines for burning calories. You can expect to burn up to 700 calories an hour on a treadmill during an intense workout. The elliptical on the other hand, can allow you to burn 650 calories per hour. Burning excess calories is one of the best ways to lose weight. Most individuals put on weight when they consume more calories through food than their body uses to function daily. The excess calories are stored as body fat. Burning extra calories will help maintain weight but if you burn enough you can eat into the excess calorie stores on you body and erode fat deposits. Most dieticians concede that losing one pound per week is healthy weight loss. On pound on body weight is generally 3500 calories, so to lose weight with an elliptical or treadmill you need to exercise for a couple of hours per week or mix exercise with reductions to your calorific intake through diet.
Motivation
The real reason ellipticals are popular, apart from their ability to burn calories, is that they are easy to use and keep using over the longer term. If you consider a treadmill, all your energy expenditure during exercise is through your legs. Only the lower torso takes the punishment although you lose weight from across your body. For the beginner, intense workouts of fewer muscles can bring on muscle exhaustion and potentially injury, the rate of perceived exertion for the calorie burn is high.
With an elliptical the burden of exercise is shared across more muscle groups in upper and lower torso. What this means is that non of your muscles are worked as hard as on a machine that works fewer muscle groups so you feel less exhausted and are less likely to suffer injury whilst getting an intense cardio calorie busting workout. This means you are more likely to stick with your workout program over the long term with an elliptical. Ellipticals offer exercise that has a lower perceived rate of exertion than many other machines, essentially for the same calorie burn an elliptical feels easier than a treadmill workout.
If you are looking to lose weight an elliptical can be a good idea. You’ll burn more calories per hour than you can on other machines, you’ll stick with your workout plan for longer and because of the low impact of using an elliptical and the spread of muscle groups used you are less likely to suffer injury.
Stamina 55-1610 InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer
- Compact, lightweight elliptical trainer for the home or office
- Foot-pedal-only chassis fits handily under a desk or in a closet
- Low-impact design protects back, knees, hips, and ankles
- Electronic monitor tracks strides, exercise time, and calories
- Sturdy steel construction; non-slip pedals
With the Stamina® InMotion E1000 Elliptical, your low-impact workouts will burn a similar number of calories as jogging, without the risk of injury to the back, knees, hops or ankles. The adjustable tension control knob allows you to easily set the workout intensity level to best fit your needs. It’s compact and lightweight enough to use at home or at the office, and stores easily under a desk or in a closet.Forget the gym. Now you can enjoy a full cardio workout in the comfort of your home or office with this compact elliptical trainer from Stamina Products. Unlike full-size ellipticals, this trainer doesn’t have arms or a front console. Instead, the trainer is essentially foot pedals only, with a chassis that’s small enough to store under a desk or in a closet. Despite the small size, the trainer still packs a workout wallop, letting you burn a similar number of calories as jogging but without the risk of injury to the back, knees, hips, or ankles. Just keep your feet moving on the
List Price: $ 200.00
Price:
Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer
- BioGlide motion technology allows for a comfortable and natural 18-inch elliptical stride
- BioFit footpads and handlebars offer a comfortable feeling while working out
- Features 16 computer controlled resistance levels
- Grip heart rate monitoring on handlebars helps you track your workout
- Measures 59 inches long by 26 inches wide by 68 inches tall; includes a water bottle holder and transport wheels
The Schwinn 430 offers eight computer-controlled resistance levels and eight workout programs for workout variety, including six user-profile programs, one manual, and one calorie goal program. Its quick start functions allows you to easily change your resistance level while exercising to challenge yourself to the next level. Three feedback programs–recovery mode, results mode, and body mass index (BMI)–allow you to track the progress of your workout routine.Ideal for the home gym for fitness enthusiasts of any skill level, the Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer provides an effective cardiovascular workout by combining upper and lower body flexibility and coordination into one impact-free motion. Elliptical trainers emulate the natural motion of your foot while supporting your heel throughout the stride, making them much easier on your knees and joints. In addition to feeling more natural while working out, regular use on elliptical trainers will increase heart and lung capacity while im
List Price: $ 799.00
Price:
Body Champ BRM3671 Cardio Dual Trainer
- Two-in-one design allows you to use it as an elliptical trainer or exercise bike
- Deluxe programmable LCD console features 10+ preset workout programs, heart rate driven programs, and user customizable programs
- Seat adjusts vertically and horizontally
- 14-inch stride length.
Blast away calories with the Body Flex BRM 3671 dual trainer! It features a sturdy oversized steel construction and 2-way adjustable seat, allowing it to be used as an elliptical or exercise bike. The adjustable magnetic resistance lets you set your own pace, while an electronic display offers easy progress monitoring.The Cardio Dual Trainer is an ingenious two-in-one exercise machine that serves as both an elliptical trainer and a stationary bike. It features patented elliptical motion design technology and an advanced magnetic resistance system that provides quiet and smooth rides with no impact to your knees. A programmable LCD console features preset workout programs, heart-rate-driven programs, and user-customizable programs. The seat adjusts both vertically and horizontally for optimal comfort. Other highlights include a sturdy, oversized steel construction and a pass-through frame design. Made in China, the machine has a 14-inch stroke length and a weight capacity of 275 pound
List Price: $ 399.99
Price: