Many Americans are considerably overweight. The number of obese men and women has skyrocketed to new heights, and the health problems that occur due to this obesity are increasing with them. Though it appears that very little is being done to reduce obesity problems across the US and abroad, there is no doubt that most overweight men and women WANT to lose weight, but for some reason or another are not putting forth the time and effort to do so.
One of the primary reasons for this is that the most well known way to lose weight – jogging or running for extended periods of time – is also one of the most difficult, especially if you are elderly, have weak muscles, or have so much weight that your legs have problems running. Jogging puts a great deal of pressure and impact on your muscles, feet and joints, and that impact can be so painful that it causes people to quit long before they have received adequate amounts of exercise.
The Home Gym
In order to assist in the weight loss process, many people have their own home gyms that they equip with dumbbells for weight training, mats, and other pieces of equipment that will help them burn calories. It is with that in mind that many people choose to purchase treadmills – so that they can run without having to go outside and experience the harsh weather and terrain.
Still, treadmills do not solve all of the problems. Impact on your legs is the same, and so you will still experience the same discomfort that you experienced with jogging outside. It is with that in mind that sports scientists have found a viable alternative – the elliptical trainer, a machine that can give you the aerobic exercise that you want without the discomfort that is associated with running.
Why Does the Elliptical Work?
The reason that ellipticals are so effective is that they provide you with the exact same benefits as running on a treadmill, but with considerably less “perceived exertion.” Your feet stay in place, and your legs do all of the work.
It is referred to as perceived exertion because your body still exerts the same amount of energy, but without the pains caused by impact, it does not feel as bad on your body. Elliptical machines provide you with the exact same calorie burning power, the exact same muscle use, and the exact same cardiovascular benefits, all without the aches and pains that occur from slamming your feet against the hard ground.
The benefits of elliptical machines have been well documented – and at several major universities, rather than in some private “lab” like many of the pieces of exercise equipment you see on television. These machines do work, and they work quite well. They also allow you to condition specific muscles, something that jogging does not allow you to do.
Because calorie burning is the same, but perceived exertion is less, the elliptical is a considerably better option for those looking to burn calories and lose weight, and is a great addition to anyone’s home gym.
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