Treadmills and Ellipticals

 

How hard you push yourself determines how many calories you burn either on a treadmill or elliptical machine, or any other exercise machine.  And instead of choosing one machine over the other, smart exercisers know that both of these aerobic-building cardio stations play a major role in helping you lost fat, stay slim and work off those last few pounds.

 

RX: In between days of strength training and yoga, for instance, do 1-2 days of either machine or try mixing and matching in one innovative session, for 15 minutes each. There are many more options!

 

Treadmills Blast Body Fat

 

Yet the activity is fairly tough to maintain at quicker paces. Running outside burns even more calories than running flats on your treadmill, say our fitness experts. On the other hand, elliptical machines with arm handles and resistance allow you to work your upper body along with your lower body, which you cannot do on a treadmill.

 

If you prefer to run, elliptical workouts can be a great way to reduce boredom and prevent injuries, such as back pain, minor sprains and strains.

 

Proper Technique Decides the Winner

 

Same form apply though: Do not hold onto the treadmill bar to help support your body weight as you walk on inclines or run. Similarly, if you grab onto any exercise handles – like the Step Mill or the commercial treadmill – you are cheating yourself out of the biggest calorie burn – and proper posture, which helps prevent overuse injuries.

 

Commercial Elliptical Machines

 

The lower impact of the elliptical cross-trainer allows you to zero in on your butt and thigh muscles while pedaling and driving through heels with each rotation. On the safe, fun elliptical machine elliptical your feet are connected to the pedals — and similar to bicycling. Standing elliptical movements are easier on the knees and joints of the body, and require less stabilization, so some may consider it a safer form of cardio.

 

If you are preparing for any kind of competitive running race, you’re already working on speed, distance and stamina with running. If you have slight pains from al the running, it’s a safer bet to hop onto the elliptical machine and blast calories on that to give your feet a break.

 

However, not running enough leaves you vulnerable to injury on race day. Your heart may be able to sustain a marathon distance run after training on the elliptical, but your ankles, feet, knees, hips, back, quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes (butt muscles) will not be ready for the continuous pounding.

 

We think there’s a place for every piece of cardio equipment on a weekly regimen! Don’t get stuck on the same-old machine every day though, or you’ll stop seeing real results, Instead, start experimenting with pace, duration and intensity on several different machines.

 

Get your heart pumping and reduce stress  on both the treadmill and the elliptical machine.

 

Which one you choose depends on your potential injuries, race goals and overall fitness level. Try cardio cross training – and get the best of both worlds, and shed a few pound just in time for pool season!

Happy July 4th!

 

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) combines cardio activities – like running – with strength-training moves or lower-intensity exercises (like bench presses) for another interval, and you go back and forth.

 

In addition to supporting heart and brain health, much research proves that  fast-paced HIIT workouts can help you tone up and prevent exercise boredom.

 

Keep in mind: The whole point of high-intensity training is to kick up the intensity of your whole workout but especially the cardio elements for additional fat burning before the beach. Too late – it’s here!

 

HIIT Kickstarts Exercise Intensity

 

Alternating short bursts of intense activity with longer intervals at a much lower intensity blasts fat and calories, say our fitness experts. Athletes traditionally use interval HIIT training to improve performance – and picking the right moves to bounce between is key.

 

Bursts of speed and plyometrics can build strength and power by working your fast-twitch muscle fibers (the ones involved in quick, explosive movements), while dynamic moves like power lunges can challenge muscular endurance and perceived exercise exertion.

 

No Equipment Needed for HIIT

 

But it is more fun with lots of gym machines and moves thrown in. High-intensity busts in a HIIT workout might include intervals on a rower or stationary bike followed by anything plyometric like jumping lunges or mountain climbers to sharply increase your heart rate and exercise intensity.

 

Since summer bathing suit season arrived all-too quickly this year, we’ve scoped out the most effective, calorie-torching HIIT workouts across the web. And whether you do most of your physical fitness training at the gym, at your multi-family fitness space or even at the pool, you will get into synch with summer by smashing fat and calories with HIIT training once or twice a week in addition to your regular exercise regimen.

 

Here are some of our favorite HIIT workouts for a long summer holiday, get ripped!

 

HIIT Training With Dumbbells

 

More Fat-Blasting HIIT Workouts

 

Are You Doing HIIIT Correctly?

 

Have a happy, healthy and very fit summer season!

It’s the busiest travel season of the year, and many folks are visiting over long holiday weekends. Whether you are hosting the celebrations this year or flying around the country to join in, you may not have access to your normal gym routine, and may also have to work late and entertain.

Don’t ditch your calorie and stress-relieving cardio workouts just yet. You need them more than ever.

And help is on the way: If you or a member of your family lives in a multi-family space with a fitness center, your holiday luck has officially arrived. Research the fitness centers class schedule where you’ll be and sign up for yoga classes or pay a day rate at a local rec center or YMCA.

When you can steal 15, 20 or even 25 minutes during the holiday exuberance, it may help keep excess calories (and holiday stress) at bay.

Slate Regular Exercise to Stop Holiday Stress

To avoid getting trapped into using eating or meal times as an emotional crutch, devise other soothing strategies for self-preservation. This may include:

So remember,  holiday celebrations have officially started! That’s a lot of opportunity to skip exercise and double down on Thanksgiving dessert. Don’t do it! It’s basically freezing all over the country so buy a day pass to a local YMCA or use that local multi-family fitness center to blast calories and stress. Try drinking more water during all your fat-burning cardio workouts – and save that spiked eggnog for later.

Do @CardioMachine  #LoseThanksgivingPounds.