16 June 2008

Precor elliptical trainers

Precor is one of the well known brands in the fitness industry. It has been around for a long time with its fitness equipment like treadmills and elliptical trainers. The company has a strong R&D and infact they were among the first to produce elliptical trainers. Precor produces few of the best elliptical trainers in the industry. A good attention is paid to natural body movements and rhythm when developing items like Precor elliptical trainers.

Models like EFX are quite popular. Precor elliptical trainers boast a feature called Crossramp which allows the user to change the incline of the ramp to change the angle of the ellipse. This makes it easy to adjust the machine for the comfort of the user so that it is easy on the foot.

There are a few models available in EFX range which includes 5.31, 5.33, 5.35, 5.37 and the EFX 5.17i. You can choose the one which suits your budget and fitness goals. Though on the premium end of price range, Precor elliptical trainers offer some good value for money as the products are of good quality and will last for years. All of the machines are designed to give you a natural body movement so that you can get an efficient cardio workout without being stressful on other areas. With so much experience in the fitness industry product are expected to be the best in their class.

Precor EFX elliptical trainers give you the smoothest workouts which can help you reduce your body fat nicely. You get the trainers with or even without the upper body movements.

You get a lot of choices in the premium segment; one of the good choices would be Life Fitness elliptical trainers. Go through some of the good models available before making a purchase.

04 November 2007

Calories burned on an Elliptical Trainer.

If you're trying to choose between an elliptical trainer and another piece of exercise equipment like a treadmill or an exercise bike, one of the most popular questions is

'How many calories can I burn with an elliptical trainer?'

You want to get the most bang for your exercise buck - that's understandable. Here are some calories burned estimates for elliptical workouts - and 4 tips to burn more calories with your elliptical trainer!


General Estimates of Calories Burned with An Elliptical Trainer:

  • 150 pound woman, 30 minutes of elliptical exercise: 387 calories
  • 180 pound man, 30 minutes of elliptical exercise: 464 - 500 calories
  • 120 pound woman, 30 minutes of elliptical exercise: 310 calories


General Estimates of Calories Burned (According To Elliptical Manufacturers)

  • Elliptical manufacturers claim you can burn up to 720 calories an hour with an elliptical workout.

Factors that dictate how many calories you burn include:

  • Workout Duration
  • Interval Training
  • Elliptical Tension Settings
  • Body Composition (Muscle to Fat Ratio)
  • State of Cardiovascular system (regular exerciser or new to exercise)
  • Weight
  • Sex
  • Upper Body Arm Usage

And for those of you who want to burn the maximum amount of calories on your elliptical machine, here are 4 tips to increase your calorie burn:

  • Build in Intervals
Most elliptical trainers offer incline and or tension that you can increase or decrease while workout out. Try building in 30 second incline intervals every couple of minutes to your workout.

This will not only push your body further and burn more calories during your workout - but it can also elevate your calorie burn for up to 24 hours after your workout.

  • Use Upper Body Arms

Many ellipticals offer you upper body arm bars that you can use to build your arms muscles into your workout. More muscles worked = more calories burned. If there are no upper body arms, grab a couple of 2 - 5 pounds handweights and swing your arms while striding.

  • Take Advantage of the Forward and Backward Directions

Using more muscles (and ones you may not have used before) also increases your calories burned, even after your workout. So take advantage of the fact that most ellipticals allow you to go forward and backward. Switch up your routine every few minutes to rev your calorie burn.

  • Break up your Workout

Experts are now telling us that 2 mini-workouts may even be better than 1 long workout as far as fat burned. Why

Any exercise will temporarily rev up your metabolism - so if you can do 15 - 20 minutes in the morning, and 15 - 20 minutes in the afternoon, your metabolism will stay charged up for a longer time. (If you can't do this, don't worry - remember that a 30 minute workout will still burn more calories than a 15 minute workout!)

So these are some tips to skyrocket your calories burned on your elliptical. Remember however that the best workout is one you enjoy - since it increases the likelihood that you'll want to do it again!

Kathryn O'Neill is chief editor for Elliptical Review offering unbiased elliptical trainer reviews, best buys & tips.

14 July 2007

Weight loss with Elliptical Trainers

If you are looking to loose some weight, cardio programs are a must, to be very honest there are no shortcuts to it. Exercise equipments like elliptical trainers or cross trainers are one of the best ways to you reach your goals in an effective way. And if you have that equipment at home, everyone can use it without having to make that extra effort to go to the gym.

Generally the more vigorous the exercise, the more amount of fat and calories you burn.
Everyone who exercises has a set heart workout rate that is best suited for him or her when they exercise. For most people, it is recommended that they exercise within 55 to 85 percent of their maximum heart rate for approximately 25 to 30 minutes, usually per day. If you are an experienced exerciser, you may want to increase your pace or exercise longer. If you are beginner you may want to start at the minimum recommended exercise level.

An exercise program has to keep a few important factors in mind like the sex, age, weight, fat percentage, diet, work schedule or any other health problem a person may be suffering from. For eg- A diabetic person has to be more careful with his diet and exercise plans.

You want to participate in a fitness program that will help you lose weight but you also do not want to over exert (exhaust) yourself to the point that it can cause you health problems.

There are quite a few fitness programs that can help you lose weight and can be performed at varying speeds. These include aerobic exercise routines, dance classes, and sports workouts. All of these types of exercises will help you burn fat and calories. The more running involved in an exercise the better. Fast walking, treadmills, stair climbing, and bicycling are all options for you as well. Elliptical trainers are good choice as they do not put too much pressure on your joints as in running or using treadmills and some models also give you a upper body work out.

If you know what level your heart rate is when you perform any of the above exercises, then it will help you determine how effective your fitness program is. If you find that your heart rate is at the recommended level for your age then you know your workout will help you lose weight. If you find that you are not at the recommended heart rate level, under most conditions you may want to consider increasing the intensity of your aerobic workout.

In addition, there are a variety of other tests you can take that will help you determine whether or not your fitness plan is working for you. For example, one of these other tests would measure the percentage of body fat that you have. The average ideal body fat percentage for men is 15% to 18% and for women it is 22% to 25%.

If you are confused about how to figure out what your ideal fitness program should be, then you can consult a doctor or personal fitness trainer. They will help you create the ideal fitness plan for you, which will help you lose weight at a slow, steady pace. They will also guide you in ways to keeping the weight off. But start off with something today. Make up your goals and get going.

You can find more on Best elliptical trainers for home use in previous articles.

26 June 2007

Which is the best rated elliptical cross trainer for your home ?

If you are looking for a the best elliptical cross trainer for your home use , there are some of factors to be taken into consideration. Some of them are also listed in the Buyer’s guide for best elliptical trainers.

With the numerous brands and their various models it can be quite difficult. Elliptical cross trainers come in all shapes and sizes but you have to consider the best ones for your home and family.

The design is the most important factor to look for. Some elliptical trainers have fly wheel in the front and some at the back. The models with flywheel at the back are preferred though there are some good ones having front flywheel as well.

A smooth elliptical motion is what we are looking for. The weight of the flywheel is also important, the heavier it is, the smoother the motion.

When you want to get a cross trainer for your home, check out the quality of components as well, they should be build to last.

To be a top rated elliptical trainer, it needs a top rated company to stand behind it. So choose the one that gives you a warranty and service.

To help you choose one which is best suited for your home, you can also take benefits from consumer surveys conducted by various magazines. Generally when you pay more for a piece of equipment you get a better deal.

The best brands are Proform , Precor , Schwinn, Nordic track and Lifecore . You can choose one according to the budget and features you want.

So get the best elliptical trainer for you home so that all the members of your family can use it when ever they feel like.

21 June 2007

Step into best cardio workouts with Elliptical Trainers

Majority of people think of cardiovascular exercises in relation to weight loss but the best part is that cardio exercises are not just for weight loss, they help you a lot more.


Our sedentary lifestyles and comfortable routines make our bodies more rigid and less flexible. Most of us sit whole through the day at work, and almost all of us must have felt stiff neck, tensed shoulders and body ache. Our bodies are not meant to be like this. They were meant to be moving. Exercise gives that extra energy to our bodies that is why there is a feel good factor attached with the exercise. Now cardio exercises do a lot more than what is seen or observed. You might not see or feel some of the benefits but there is always a lot more. Its all about the consistent effort you put in and it does nt happen overnight. Starting up with elliptical trainers is one of the best ways to get going with your efforts.

Here are a few of the benefits of cardio exercise:

  • Weight loss
  • Stronger heart and lungs
  • Increased bone density
  • Reduced stress
  • Reduced risk of heart disease and some types of cancer
  • Temporary relief from depression and anxiety
  • More confidence about how you feel and how you look
  • Better sleep
  • More energy
  • Setting a good example for your kids to stay active as they get older

You don’t have to run in the park or sweat it out on the tread mill for all those benefits. A lot has changed with time. Home gym exercise equipment like elliptical trainers give you the best of these benefits of a good cardio session and some added ones too-

Elliptical trainers can be used by any one in the family, young or old, you don’t have to worry about stressed joints as you work out because your feet never lift from the pedals. You can use an elliptical trainer indoors even while watching a Dvd . Best elliptical trainers also give you a full body work out, working on your upper body as well.

So you don’t have to huff and puff anymore, especially for the overweight people, do it the way it should be done, pure cardio workouts.

Also check out other articles on benefits of Elliptical trainers.

18 June 2007

Get up for some Cardios

Cardiovascular training is good for you in more than one ways. As you all must be knowing it also helps in weight loss and getting into shape. All those diet pills and a million other products won’t help if you don’t keep up with your exercise routine. Good comfortable equipment like elliptical trainers will help you stick to a routine.

Most of us have a common thinking that you have to really sweat it out for a good cardio session but that’s not exactly true. Cardios can be divided into 2 broad categories.

High and Low intensity cardios

High intensity cardio can maintain lean muscle, burn more fat then low intensity cardio, builds your endurance, and boosts your metabolism during and after exercise. The types of high intensity exercises you can perform can be any type in which the intensity level can be easily adjusted such as running, walking, and most cardio machines (treadmills, ellipticals, etc.) Basically, it involves interval training which means repetitions of high-speed/intensity work followed by periods of rest or low activity [Source: Wikipedia].

Low intensity cardio has little effect on your cardiovascular system but is good at burning fat. In fact, that is its main job and works well for people who are really out of shape. Low intensity exercises involve any cardio exercise in which you maintain a comfortable pace for the duration of the workout. So this is the one for starters and everyone who is looking for getting into shape first and ellipticals do a great job in doing this.

When to Use Each Type

Knowing the difference means you can decide when you should incorporate each into your workouts. High intensity cardio can be quite intense since it involves interval training. You’ll also want to eat a sufficient amount of carbs (at least 2 - 3 hours) before a high intensity workout for energy. Many athletes and bodybuilders use high intensity cardio to improve their endurance. I think a couple of times a week of high intensity would work on average but you should seek the advice of a professional fitness trainer to see what works for you.

Low intensity cardio is great for keeping your weight down or initially dropping weight when you are very out of shape. A 30 minutes or so on your elliptical trainer would probably be sufficient. You just have to get into a routine and stick to it.

09 June 2007

7 Ideas for the best workout with Elliptical trainers

Your new elliptical training machine is waiting for you in your exercise room in your home, and you're ready to begin. Your workout should be a fun and relaxing part of your day: beneficial for your body and your mind. But, if you find working out to be uncomfortable or bothersome, you're less likely to continue it regularly. If you want to make your workout most effective and enjoyable, it's best to be ready. So, try preparing these seven items before you begin.

Comfortable Clothing - Your best exercise wear would be something loose and comfortable, preferably in cotton, so that it will wick the sweat away from your body. Make sure that it's not too loose, though. It's important to ensure that your clothing can't get caught in any moving parts on your elliptical machine.

Appropriate Shoes - Even though an elliptical trainer workout provides a very low impact workout, it's important to wear good shoes. Be certain they have the best fit, and are designed for exercise. Running shoes or cross trainers are probably your best bet.

Water - Keep a bottle of water handy. Drinking plenty of water is critical during your workout. As your body temperature rises during exercise, you sweat to keep your body cool. Sweating dehydrates your body, so you must replenish these fluids by drinking water. Experts recommend one glass of water every fifteen minutes. Many elliptical trainers have a built in spot for your water bottle.

A Towel - All that sweating will get pretty annoying if you don't have a towel handy. A small hand towel is just the right size to wipe your brow without getting in the way.

Upbeat Music - Music can be a great enhancement to your workout. Your elliptical machine is likely equipped with many gadgets to keep up with your pace, but fast-paced music can ensure that you keep moving at the right pace, too. Rather than having to monitor your pace, just keep to the beat! Then, when it's time to cool down, put on something slower and your body will slow down naturally.

A Comfortable Room Temperature - Make sure the room you're exercising in is comfortable. Too hot and you'll sweat more than necessary, and too cold and you'll feel chilled when you start to sweat. Around 74°F is comfortable for most people.

A Clear Mind - Relax and enjoy your workout. Use this time on your elliptical trainer to de-stress mentally, rather than dwelling on bothersome issues. A few minutes out of your day to work your body and clear your mind can work wonders. When you're finished, you will feel refreshed and ready to take on all your challenges, both mental and physical.

Your new elliptical cross trainer is a great investment in your fit and healthy future so choose the best one. Assembling everything you need to have a great workout in advance will keep you ready to go whenever your workout time comes. Being prepared will make you less likely to skip your workout, and make it more fun.