If there’s one piece of gym equipment that doesn’t get the real love it deserves, it’s the elliptical cross trainer machine. Inexperienced gym-goers often think the elliptical cross trainer is inferior to using the treadmill or rowing, but that’s definitely not the case. If you have never tried incorporating it into your workout routine, it’s time to give it a chance as there are few other machines that come with such a long list of advantages.
Everyone Can Use It!
There’s no physical precondition you need to fulfill in order to jump on an elliptical. This piece of equipment is safe for people of all ages and levels of fitness as the way you move directly determines your speed and intensity. So if you want to stop, simply stop moving and the machine will do so as well. Compared to other machines, the elliptical cross trainer machine is a lot kinder to people with joint, knee, and lower back problems. The fluid circular motion of your feet and the fact that there’s no pounding involved means that there’s less stress put on your joints and a reduced risk of injuries.
Have a Full Body Workout
On the elliptical, you can mimic all sorts of different types of exercises that target the legs – from walking and running to even climbing a hill. By pumping your arms to move the handles you also give your upper body a killer workout. The combined upper and lower body workout is the reason this machine is also referred to as a cross trainer. You can activate your quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, chest, back, triceps and biceps all in one go. In fact, there are few other machines that can simultaneously engage this many muscle groups. To get the best effect, it’s important to properly distribute the resistance between your upper and lower body.
Tone Your Body and Burn Calories Faster
By working on so many muscles simultaneously, you are able to tone more of your body much faster than you would by exercising them separately. What’s more, you can also optimize your energy expenditure and burn more calories and fat in less time. As a result, using the elliptical cross trainer machine can help you achieve your goals much quicker.
Best Machine for Home Use
If you’re looking for an affordable machine for your home gym, look no further than the elliptical. Many cross-trainers designed for home use are folding and take up only a small amount of space. They also require little-to-no maintenance and servicing. Considering how the cross trainer consists of only a few moving parts and using it involves only minimal impact movements, you don’t have to worry about it breaking down soon. In fact, most of these machines include a lifetime warranty on the frame and a 10+ year warranty on the motor.