Exercise Guide

Considering the purchase of a treadmill? If you are thinking about getting the benefits of a little running with the use of a treadmill, think again. There are several reasons why you should not use them. The fact is that you have several other opportunities out there for you. If you plan to exercise, you can purchase whatever exercise equipment you need to do so. But, don’t waste your money. Here are some facts that you should consider.

Why Not To Buy It

1. The pain- If you have used a treadmill in the past, you are probably well aware of the pain they can cause. The surface you are running on is hard and the impact can do some real damage to your body. Not only are you likely to feel it in shin splints but you’ll feel it in your knees as well as in your lower back. The fact is that you are doing well for your body but you are also doing bad for your body. Trading weight loss or muscle gain for back aches and sprained knees in return may not be the best way to go.

2. Outdoors is better- If you are the running type and can’t live without it then do it outside. Not only is the clean air good for you physically, but the fact is that the changes in the incline is better running than any treadmill can provide. When you run around your neighborhood, you’re more likely to have varying slopes, and the running path is likely to change course. This helps to push your heart just that much more. This is especially true when you use a different route each time you head out. You’ll get a better workout and best of all - it’s free!

3. Choose an Elliptical- Okay, so you know why you shouldn’t go with a treadmill but what do you use for indoor training then? If you are going to run, use an elliptical. Sure, it’s not the same as running outdoors but it offers a much healthier way of exercising because of its lower impact on your body.

Leave the treadmill at the store. Get out, or buy an elliptical instead and reap the rewards.

Mike Singh is the publisher of http://www.elliptical-trainers-reviews.com/ On his website he provides a schwinn 418 elliptical trainer review and proform elliptical reviews.

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Elliptical trainers are ideal for getting in shape and losing weight. When you workout on an elliptical trainer there are two important benefits:

It is for those reasons that elliptical trainers are growing in popularity. Treadmills sell more in total numbers, but elliptical sales are growing at a faster pace. They are particularly appealing to the baby boomer generation that is looking for an alternative form of exercise and workout that lessens the impact on aging joints.

Low-Impact Exercise

The two most popular forms of exercise are walking and running. But the facts are running, and to a lesser extent walking, cause stress to your body through continual impact. In fact, runners can apply as much as 2.5 times their body weight to their joints with each stride. This is why runners and walkers often suffer from ankle, knee, hip and back injuries. Especially if they workout outdoors on concrete or asphalt. With every step there is a degree of shock absorption. This shock can be felt throughout your entire body.

Elliptical trainers reduce impact through their elliptical motion. Your feet never leave the foot pedals. There is no reverse action, or significant impact. Consequently there is virtually no shock absorption to your joints. The motion of an elliptical trainer simulates the natural path of the ankle, knee and hip joints during walking, jogging or running. And yet you still get a weight bearing workout, which builds bone density, and inhibits the onset of osteoporosis.

With a treadmill you are constantly lifting your feet and impacting the treadbelt with every stride. Treadmills are designed to absorb some of the impact, but there is still that constant jolt to your joints.

Upper and Lower Body Workout

In addition to the low impact exercise, elliptical trainers workout both the upper and lower body simultaneously. By exercising several muscle groups at once you are able to optimize your workout. By involving more muscle mass in your aerobic workout you increase the efficiency of your workout.

When you exercise both the upper and lower body on an elliptical trainer, you utilize the quadriceps, glutes, chest, back, hamstrings, triceps and biceps. By exercising more muscle mass you attain the following benefits:

Regarding the reduced perceived rate of exertion, studies have shown that an elliptical trainer workout will often be perceived as less strenuous due to the combined upper and lower body exercise. The perception is that you get more results with less effort.

The benefits of an elliptical trainer workout have resulted in increased sales for both residential and commercial use. They are gaining in popularity at health clubs, and where several years ago you may have seen one or two, you now see rows of ellipticals.

If you haven’t used an elliptical you need to give one a try. If you are thinking about home fitness equipment, seriously consider an elliptical trainer. The benefits surpass those you receive from a treadmill, and you will be doing your body a favor.

Fred Waters worked in the fitness equipment industry for a number of years and is author of the Elliptical Trainer Review site. Get the latest reviews and ratings on the most popular elliptical trainers.

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Elliptical exercise machines are fast becoming one of the most popular ways to exercise at home or in the gym. They combine a very efficient cardiovascular workout with great muscle toning and conditioning exercises. Although many gymnasiums have very expensive and efficient elliptical trainers, some people prefer to exercise in the privacy of their own home, but with such a plethora of machines available for sale it can be difficult to sort the good from the bad and to know which cross trainer provides not only the best value for your money but also the best exercise workout and equipment reliability.

What really makes the decision so tough is that not only can there sometimes be a huge difference in price, but also the specifications can vary enormously between machines. However, the difference is not always just priced based because there are expensive ellipticals that are worth the money and expensive ellipticals that are poor performers and the same is also true on the cheaper end of the market. One of the best ways if you do have the necessary knowledge to go and buy a well-balanced cross trainer is to read some good quality consumer reports on ellipticals.

One of the best places to find consumer reports on ellipticals is in the most popular exercise magazines. These often have reviews of elliptical trainers, but also sometimes ask for opinions and experiences of members from the general exercising public who have actually used the machines on a long-term basis. There are also many health and fitness web sites that have great information on these machines and sometimes consumer web sites will have an exercise review section where you can see comments that are posted by the readers.

Although it may be tempting if you are in the market for an elliptical trainer to take the advice of the salesman in your local shop, it is generally a good idea to do a little of your own research. This can often help you to assess what machine is suitable for your requirements and it can also give access to many of the retail sites, both online and off-line, that may allow you to find a substantial price reduction on the elliptical trainer or exercise machine of your choice.

Consumer reports on ellipticals can be very helpful in making a decision about which machine in your price range is appropriate for you. Although professional reviews can be more comprehensive more often then not, consumer reports on ellipticals can give you a much wider range of opinions and experiences as to which machines of the best.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Elliptical-Trainer-Solutions.com He provides more elliptical trainer ratings, recommendations and information consumer reorts on ellipticals that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

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