Just got a recent interview on this topic with Fit Jerk:

FitJerk’s Bio, in his own words: I am Certified Level 2 Gymnastics Coach, Black Belt Martial Artist, National Champion Power Tumbler & Passionate Fitness Writer. My initial goal was to develop the mighty six pack, which got me into the fitness scene. I’ve been through many different body phases: Skinny, chubby, ripped…you name it, my body’s been through it. It was after developing some core techniques and principals that I am now at a state where I know EXACTLY what to do to get the desired results (in me or anyone else).

After reaching my goals I just got obsessed… or passionate, whatever you want to call it. I had so much information that a buddy told me to turn it into a book, which became the Flawless Fitness Book… and then as they say, “the rest is history”. You’ll notice I don’t like wasting time, I don’t kiss people’s ass and I can’t handle those that feel sorry for themselves. This is where I get my pen name from, but I think being blunt is necessary. In the end, I live for results… and you can’t achieve results if you sugar coat everything. You gota keep it real. You can read more on FitJerk’s Fitness Blog

Kaleena Lawless has been a personal trainer since she lost 50 pounds, six years ago. After working in fitness clubs including women’s only, boutique style studios, and major chains, she ventured in to independent training under her new business name “Kalisthenix Fitness.”

Kaleena also works with Dr. John Barrett, leading obstetrician at The Women’s College Hospital, training pregnant women with multiple birth pregnancies, and medical risks. She has been featured on CBC news at six, to analyze the Wii Fit for Nintendo, as well as interviewed for Faze Magazine’s summer issue on the benefits of outdoor exercise, for teens.

She is determined to continually reach new goals, and try a variety of activities that promote health, and well being. Kaleena can be found on her blog, Kalisthenix Fitness Blog.com

Q: Please Kaleena, let Us know a bit more about Yourself. How did You started Your brilliant Fitness career?

A: Of course! Growing up, I lived a very sedentary lifestyle, being more interested in reading, writing and video games. By the time I finished high school, I was eating fast food regularly, and found myself fifty pounds overweight. I was unhealthy, and very unhappy. My Mother had lost around eighty pounds a few years before, after having four children, and I thought, “If she could do it, so can I!”

We had a treadmill at home, and I started using it every morning, in addition to cutting out junk food, and drinking lots of water. Getting started was really hard at first. I could not run for more than thirty seconds, and didn’t think I had the motivation, or attention span, to achieve my goals. However, with some persistence, I improved really quickly. Before I knew it, I was running ten, twenty and finally thirty minutes without having to stop! It was incredibly motivating, and from then on, I was in love with fitness.

I really enjoyed the way it made me feel, both physically, and mentally. Plus, buying smaller clothing every time I went shopping, and having my friends and family compliment my determination, and success, made me feel really good about myself. Six years later, and I still can’t believe I did it!

I have always loved teaching, and I started personal training as a way to spread my love for fitness to others that wanted to change their lifestyle. I became a certified personal trainer, and worked in gyms for a long time, before I realized that I had lost weight without a gym. I thought it would be amazing to train clients with my own philosophy.

I have always loved writing, so I started my fitness blog, and before long, people wanted me to train with them in their homes. I really love what I do now, and I count my lucky stars every day that I have been blessed with such a rewarding career. I have really determined clients. Their amazing transformations regularly help me to prove that you can get in shape, anywhere!

Q: Please Kaleena would You suggest what’s Your favorite weekly training schedule for an average working mom?

I mean how many days a week, what exercises to do, how many hours she should train each day, how many calories she should burn, etc…?

A: After a lot of program trials, it’s my opinion that weight loss is achieved with a consistent cardio and strength routine. If you’re just starting out, don’t worry about diving in full force. Actually, it’s a good idea to slowly allow your body to become accustomed to exercise.

This way you can screen yourself for underlying injuries, and conditions. Start small, with fifteen to twenty minutes of cardiovascular exercise, such as on an elliptical trainer, or treadmill, and add an additional 5-10 minutes of strength training. Do this two times a week. When the routine becomes easy, you’re ready to take it up a notch!

Gradually add time and days to your routine. Ideally, you want to be sweating for more than twenty minutes. When we exercise, our metabolism uses different fuels from our body, to burn calories. First, it wants to burn through glucose. This is basically, what you had for lunch.

For the first twenty minutes, your body will burn these sugars (or carbohydrates) as its primary source of energy. It’s only after twenty minutes that our metabolism switches over to burning fat cells. Really, our body is constantly burning both glucose and fat at the same time, but after that magic twenty minutes, we burn more fat than glucose.

In time, aim for a routine that has you exercising 3-4 times a week, for 30-45 minutes. My favourite program is thirty minutes of cardio, with fifteen minutes of strength exercises before, or after. If you’re very busy, break the workout in to two parts, cardio one day, weights the next.

Try to hit every main muscle group: Chest, back, shoulders, biceps, triceps, glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. With only a single pair of weights you can have a fantastic workout.

Try this strength workout:

- Push ups against the wall (or from your knees/toes if they’re too easy)
- Two Arm Row
- Shoulder Press
- Bicep Curl
- Triceps overhead extension
- Squats
- Lunges
- Calf raises
- Crunches
- Stretching

If you have time, do two sets per an exercise at a weight that will fatigue your muscles at 12-15 repetitions.

Q: What do You suggest to keep track of the training results? I mean how to track the pounds lost, heart rate improvement, metabolism, etc…?

A: Keep a weight loss journal. Write down your workouts including: what exercises you did, how long you worked out, what you ate, what made you feel good, what you need to improve on. It sounds a little tedious, but I did this when I was losing weight, and not only is it great to look back on when you have achieved your goal, it’s very helpful for knowing when to make the program more challenging.

For example: you see that you have been doing bicep curls for two months with five pounds. At first you could only do ten, but now you’re up to twenty. It’s time to switch to the seven or eight pound weights!

For tracking progress, I recommend tape measurements. As you get fit, you lose fat, and gain muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. At first, you will notice your body becoming smaller, but your weight may stay the same. Go by tape measurements for a while, and focus on how you feel. If you’re too focused on seeing the numbers going down on a scale in the beginning, you risk becoming discouraged.

Once you have reached your goal weight, then I suggest weighing anywhere from once a week, to a month. This will help you maintain the weight loss. If you see the weight going up, you can adjust your diet, or exercise routine accordingly.

Learn how to check your heart rate, and do it first thing in the morning. This reading will be your true resting heart rate, because at this point you have not had any stimulants, like coffee, or stress. To check your heart rate, find your pulse on the outside of your wrist (thumb side), or on the carotid artery in the neck. Just don’t use your thumb.

It has a pulse of its own! Use a watch and count the beats for 10 seconds, then multiply by 6. The average resting heart rate for women is 75 beats per minute. Less than 75 is considered very healthy. If you’re serious about monitoring heart rate and blood pressure, purchase a blood pressure machine for at home. Many machines will keep a digital record for you.

Q: What do You think about Elliptical Trainers? What would You recommend to people who want to start home fitness?

A: I love elliptical trainers. They are really easy on the body, and this is very beneficial if the exerciser has bone/joint injuries, is overweight or just wants a machine that doesn’t place so much impact on the body. These machines really get your whole body moving, and using an elliptical trainer burns a lot of calories. You can do quite a few different workouts on them.

Try focusing most of your effort in to pushing for more tricep work, or more pulling for biceps. You can also try using mostly legs and go either forward, or backward. It’s possible to even bend your knees slightly, almost like a half squat. You will really feel the burn in your quads, on a higher resistance!

Q: What do You think we should consider when buying fitness equipment?

A: Always try a floor model. Some equipment is just too big or small for a person, and it can really make a huge difference in the overall effectiveness and comfort of an exercise routine. Make sure the new equipment feels right, and ask to be shown how everything works, by a sales representative.

With fitness equipment it’s better to go for a machine that is of good quality, even if it costs a little more. I’ve bought a lot of equipment over the years, and you really do get what you pay for. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to purchase the most expensive model out there, but keep in mind that you want a machine like an elliptical, or treadmill, to last around ten years. Even more importantly, you want it to be safe, with a warranty, and even a maintenance plan. If you can arrange for a service person to visit once a year for a tune up, at the time of purchase, you’re all set!

Q: Please Kaleena have you any resources You would suggest about home fitness?

A: “Women’s Strength Training Anatomy” by Frederic Delavier is a fantastic, fully illustrated reference that shows how muscles look during specific exercises. If you have ever wondered “What exactly is this exercise doing for me?” This book will explain it all.

I also really enjoyed “Fitness for Life” By Matt Roberts. This book is from 2002, but it’s guaranteed to stand the test of time. It’s a complete lifestyle makeover program with nutrition advice/plans, workout programs and exercise instruction.

On the web I regularly visit www.bodybuilding.com for their extensive exercise database, and fitness articles and programs.

Thank You Kalenea!

From walking to jogging I’ve tried it all. Now at the (what I consider still young age) of 21 I am already feeling the wear and tear on my feet and knees. Maybe it’s because I didn’t have proper jogging form, maybe it’s just me, but I attribute it to three main things.

CONDITION THOSE MUSCLES!

First of all, the heavier you are, the more pressure is going to be placed on your lower body when you run. For most people trying to lose weight, as I was, this is going to be a tremendous amount of pressure for your feet to handle and frequently leads to stress fractures and overuse injuries.

Secondly, I never considered flexibility training important. I did not stretch before or after my jogs and I am now regretting that decision every day. It is so important that your muscles be prepared to deal with the contractions and relaxations that accompany the movements associated with long strides.

And, like most people I know who began exercising to lose weight I placed cardio at the top, while strength training took a bottom rung. That meant if I had time, I might do it, but most of the time I did not and I ultimately considered it unimportant. Now I know how important strength training is. By strengthening those muscles around your joints you are able to better protect them from injury.

Also, whether you are doing cardio or strength training the muscles will be taking your excess fat cells to use as energy and to build muscle with, so even though strength training does not burn as much as cardio it still helps with weight loss. Another way it helps with weight loss is because, as we’ve all heard, muscle burns more than fat. While you may need to be a bodybuilder for this to have a significant impact on your weight loss that doesn’t mean it doesn’t help. Toning and strengthening your muscles gives you a leaner, healthier body, which in turn boosts your metabolism and helps your body to use your energy sources more efficiently.

HITTING THE GYM

So, if I incorporated these new pieces of information that I’ve learned over the years does it mean I will be able to jog without pain? Maybe, but for me I’ve leaned more into the world of ellipticals. I began with treadmills, naturally, because running was what I had been doing and what I had heard burnt the most amounts of calories. However, running still caused me pain, and even though I was indoors (with no passerby’s to gawk at my poor jogging form) I still was not enjoying running.

Then I tried the stairstepper, and it was a WORKOUT! After just five minutes my heart rate was past 200 (a very high and dangerous number) and I could not go on any more. The stairstepper is a great workout, don’t get me wrong, just make sure that before you attempt it that you are already in good shape because those machines can be harmful if you fatigue and take a wrong step. So, I had tried a stairstepper, I tried a treadmill, what else was there?

I FOUND MY MATCH!

That’s when I found the treadclimber, a mix between a treadmill and a stairstepper specifically designed to take impact off of the lower body and provide more comfort during exercise. On this machine I do interval training, all the while keeping my heart rate around 180 (except during warm-up and cool-down). I do it anywhere from half an hour to two hours a day and I really feel like I’ve got a good work out when I’m finished. I feel tired, and hot, but not like I’m going to die (that type of feeling never inspired me to work out again :p). Maybe it’s the endorphins released during exercise but after I’m finished I feel so good about myself and what I’m doing for my body.

HOW IT FITS INTO MY LIFE

I try to incorporate healthy eating habits (although I do have to indulge in the occasional treat) along with my treadclimber, strength training exercises and stretching. So all in all, would I recommend the treadclimber, yes, a very big yes. Would I recommend jogging, treadmills, stairsteppers? That really depends on the person, all I can tell you is that I have tried many cardio machines in the past and this is the only one I have been able to stick with, have been able to maintain the recommended amount of exercise per week (and more) and have been able to effectively lose weight with.

SHORT BIO: Alyxandra Hayden

I was born and raised in Richland, WA. During high school I participated in such sports as track and volleyball, but my coaches never taught me proper form or stretching techniques. During high school I also did running start (completing two years of college while in high school) at which point I moved to Ellensburg, WA to attend Central Washington University. It seems weird but at twenty years old I graduated college with my degree in English education and a minor in creative writing (but please don’t judge my writing abilities on this, I’m not used to blog style ). Now I am beginning a year long program in massage therapy so that I will have supplemental income. I live in a very tiny house with my boyfriend, three dogs, and two cats :O. Other than that…that’s me!

Elliptical trainers, cross trainers, elliptical machines – these are the terms which are usually applied to an exercise machine which seems to have taken the place of the traditional treadmill in the market. Basically, an elliptical trainer is just like a treadmill in the sense that they are both stationary exercise machines which simulate running or walking.

However, the similarities seem to stop there. This is due to the fact that using elliptical trainers have a lot of benefits. When you use this type of an exercise machine, you do have the chance of working on both your upper and lower body.

Elliptical trainers are the best type of exercise machine for ageing individuals since it will not put undue stress to their joints and muscles. Also, the gliding motions that you will be able to make using elliptical trainers make for a lighter yet more fun workout!

Frequently Asked Questions about Elliptical Trainers

Now that you already have an idea about the benefits that you will get to enjoy by using elliptical trainers, let us now check on the most frequently asked questions about these exercise machines:

I am in my mid-50’s. How often should I use an elliptical machine?
Individuals who are over 40 years of age – especially those who have had heart conditions in the past – are advised to consult a physician first before using elliptical trainers just to be on the safe side.

When using the elliptical machine which is set at “High”, what is the equivalent number of miles that I walked if I workout for, say, 30 minutes?
When your elliptical trainer is on a high resistance setting, the effects of your workout would be similar to walking about 3 miles in 30 minutes. Naturally, a moderate to lower setting would yield lower. At this specific rate, you should expect to burn around 400 calories for a half an hour workout.

What is the correct form and foot position to take when using an elliptical machine?
Just as it is when using any kind of exercise equipment, it pays to learn about the basic position that you need to take when using elliptical trainers to prevent fitness-related injuries. With elliptical trainers, make sure that your feet follow a path which is just what the name implies: an elliptical motion.

The reason why elliptical trainers are marketed as similar to giving you the motion of gliding in mid-air is because using the equipment produces the results of several activities combined. It’s somewhere between fast-walking, skiing or stair-climbing.

The first time that you will use the elliptical trainers, make sure that each foot is securely placed on the center of each pedal. Take an upright but relaxed stance and once you start with the gliding motions, it should feel natural.

What is the best workout gear to wear when using an elliptical machine?
Working out using an elliptical trainer should be treated just as if you are having a regular exercise session in the gym. Make sure to wear the proper shoes that will provide ample support to your feet and your body during the more strenuous workouts.

Also, to keep your gym shorts from possibly bunching up while you are doing the gliding motion using the elliptical trainer, it is better to opt for the looser sweat pants or gym bottoms.

How many times should I ideally use an elliptical machine if I want to experience maximum fitness results?
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, it is best to make a habit out of using elliptical trainers. Set a specific time of day and set the number of minutes by which you aim to use this exercise machine, and make it a routine.

However, starting out slowly is the best course – and again, always seek the advice of your physician if you are over 40 and you would like to use an elliptical trainer. The same thing holds true if you are younger and you have a health condition as well.

These days, there are a good number of stationary exercise machines that you can use. Two of the most popular are the classic stationary bike and the just recently launched elliptical trainers.

Now, the question is: which exercise machine will give you maximum results and help you meet your fitness goals in the least amount of time?

Here, we will make a comparison of these two different types of exercise machines, exercise bikes and elliptical trainers – and also determine which one is suitable for individuals who are suffering from knee injuries.

Fitness Machine #1: Exercise Bikes

First, there is the oh-so-classic exercise bike. Visit any gym or local fitness club in your area and you will surely see one. Also called exercise bicycle, stationary bike, or exercycle, this exercise machine is exactly what the name implies. It’s similar to a typical bicycle used for transportation, only this one is stationary.

Over the years, several models of exercise bikes have been released. Rather than just allowing you to work on your lower body, there are brands of exercise bikes today with handle bars which will allow you to work on your upper body.

Exercise bikes are used for the following fitness-related purposes:

• Cardiovascular exercises.
• Overall fitness.
• Physical therapy.
• Training for cycling events.
• Weight loss.

Unlike when you use treadmills which put undue stress to your joints, using exercise bikes actually relieve the stress on such parts of the body while at the same time promoting low-impact movement.

Interestingly enough, if you are training using an exercise bike for one hour, you will be able to burn the same number of calories as if you ran for the same amount of time – at 7mph.

Fitness Machine #2: Elliptical Trainers

Second, there is the elliptical trainer. These are also called cross trainers or elliptical. What makes elliptical trainers different from exercise machines is the fact that instead of the rounded path that your feet takes as you pedal away, this type of an exercise machine has pedals which follow an elliptical trajectory.

Using elliptical trainers is a ‘cross-training’ between fast-walking, cross-country skiing and climbing the stairs. Just like exercise bikes, using an elliptical trainer is a great cardiovascular workout which does not place undue stress to the joints.

Your calves, glutes, hamstrings and upper body are the parts that will be worked when you use elliptical trainers.

Which Exercise Machine is Better for those with Knee Injuries

Now that you already have an idea about the basic difference between exercise machines and elliptical trainers, which one is actually better to use if you have knee injuries? Generally, using an elliptical trainer is actually kinder to your knees. If you have a chronic knee problem, using a cross trainer or elliptical trainer will produce less stress to your joints.

Elliptical trainers are even the fitness machine of choice for overweight individuals – so that they can burn off as many calories as possible without placing undue stress to their heart and joints.

Another reason why elliptical trainers are great for individuals suffering from knee injuries is because the natural movement produced by the machine will ensure that your knees are properly aligned. The same thing holds true for the alignment of your hips and ankles.

Just remember to still consult your general physician if you have serious knee injuries or other underlying health conditions before using elliptical trainers.

At the end of the day, using an elliptical trainer wouldn’t be known as similar to running on air for nothing. If you have knee injuries, the smooth flow of movement that this fitness machine produces will let you workout with the least amount of effort – while helping you reach your fitness goals at the same time.

If You want to read more info on Using The Elliptical Trainer please have a look at Steph’s fitness blog www.easy-exercise-tips.com

If you want to meet your fitness or weight loss goals the soonest time possible, the best way to do so is by maximizing every minute that you spend working out. As such, it pays to know whether a particular exercise will help you shed off the excess pounds that you have as compared to another form of working out.

This is what we will look into in the following sections. Will running outside for an hour give you better results as compared to when you workout on an elliptical trainer in the same span of time? What other benefits will these two similar workouts using different tools give you? Read on to find out.

Calculating the Calories Burned while Running

First, let us try to check on just how effective a workout running is. The general rule if you are looking forward to shedding off any number of excess pounds that you have is to be as physically active as you can. No matter which type of physical exertion it is that you take on, working out for about half an hour to one hour most days of the week is a good schedule to follow.

To give you an idea about the number of hours that you will be able to burn during one hour of running, here’s a list from MayoClinic.com:

• For a person weighing 160 pounds (73 kilograms) = 986 calories burned
• For a person weighing 200 pounds (91 kilograms) = 1,229 calories burned
• For a person weighing 240 pounds (109 kilograms) = 1, 472 calories burned

The list applies if you are running at a speed of 8 mph. As you can see, the heavier a person is, the greater the number of calories burned during one hour of running. Next, let’s see how it compares with working out using an elliptical trainer.

How about Using an Elliptical Trainer?

So what about if you workout using an elliptical trainer? Before that, let us first check what this type of a stationary exercise equipment is all about.

When you visit a gym or a local fitness club, you will see something similar to an exercise bike – only it has handles which are used to work on the upper body. This is what is called an elliptical trainer or a cross-trainer. Over the years, this type of an exercise machine has gained popularity because using it is similar to gliding on air. The name is derived from the elliptical pattern that your feet makes as you pedal away.

Basically, the number of calories that you will burn when using an elliptical trainer depends on the settings, your body composition, weight and even your gender.

Here’s a general estimate of the number of calories that you will burn using an elliptical machine:

• For a woman weighing 120 pounds = 620 calories
• For a woman weighing 150 pounds = 774 calories burned
• For a man weighing 180 pounds = approximately 1,000 calories

Interestingly enough, the manufacturers of elliptical trainers claim that you can burn a maximum of 720 calories in one hour using this type of an exercise machine.

The Verdict: Which Type of Workout is Best?

As you can see from the list, the number of calories burned during one hour of working out suing an elliptical trainer and running outside is almost the same. Perhaps the only difference is that when you workout using an elliptical trainer, you don’t have to leave the comforts of your own home.

When you run, however, you will get to breathe fresh air and interact with other runners. All in all, the way to enjoy the best of both worlds is to use a combination of these two types of training so that you can more effectively and quickly meet your fitness goals.

If you want to maximize the results out of the number of minutes or hours that you are working out – be it at home or in the gym – it helps to know whether the exercises will help you meet your fitness goals.

For example, if you don’t have a significant number of pounds to shed off but you would like to develop stronger arms and legs, you can probably do targeted exercises for these areas. On the other hand, if your goal is to lose 20 pounds, you need to have a complete exercise regimen which will be combined with the proper diet so that you can meet your goals quickly and effectively.

Now, one comparison that you can make is the number of calories that you will burn when you workout using an elliptical trainer and when you do an entirely different set of exercises.

Know How Many Pounds You’re Losing: Elliptical Trainer for Weight Loss

Over the years, more and more fitness enthusiasts are taking advantage of the multitude of benefits from using an elliptical trainer. The reason why this type of exercise machine has overtaken the popularity of treadmills and exercise bikes is the fact that they are a lot easier to use.

Basically, your feet and legs will make an elliptical pattern while using what is also known as the cross trainer. The marketing geniuses behind this type of an exercise machine dubbed elliptical trainers as giving you the motion of gliding or running on air. This is because of the fluidity and smoothness of motion, making it ideal for low-impact exercises.

Overweight individuals, the elderly and even those who are suffering from knee injuries are the ideal candidates for using elliptical trainers. Now, if you’re on a mission to shed off the excess pounds that you have, how are you supposed to use it to reach your fitness goals?

First, it is good to have an idea about the number of calories that you will burn using an elliptical trainer.

According to the manufacturers, you will be able to shed off a maximum of 720 calories in an hour when working out using an elliptical trainer. This is just a general estimate, however. The actual number of calories that you will burn during one hours of working out using an elliptical trainer will still depend on any of the following factors:

• Interval training.
• Settings of the elliptical trainer.
• Upper body usage.
• Your muscle-to-fat ratio.
• Your cardiovascular system – whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or if it’s your first time to exercise.
• Your gender and weight.

Elliptical Trainer Workouts versus Other Forms of Exercises

Next, let us make a comparison of how using an elliptical trainer fares against other forms of exercises:

Should I use an elliptical trainer or a stationary bike?
As a general rule, using an elliptical trainer will give you a better overall body workout as compared to using a stationary bike. But the latter is capable of targeting muscles like your calves and quadriceps.

Can I use an elliptical trainer to work on my abs?
If you’re tipping the weighing scale a bit too heavily, you need to work on removing the excess fat in your stomach first before you can actually work on showing off your abs. With an elliptical trainer, you can take the first step to work on your abs by removing the excess layer of fat first through an overall body workout.

What if I want to work on my legs and butt – will an elliptical trainer work?
Your legs, butt, hips and thighs are the primary target areas of an elliptical trainer – so using this type of an exercise machine is something that you should seriously consider.

When purchasing a bulky equipment like an elliptical machine, one of the many things that you need to consider is whether it is easy to maintain or not. How many times do you plan to use such an equipment like an exercise machine?

What do you need to do from your end to ensure that it will last you for a very long time? What will happen if a particular component or part gets broken?

These are the aspects of purchasing an exercise equipment like an elliptical machine that we will look into here.

What Elliptical Trainers are All About

The other names that elliptical trainers are known for are elliptical machines, cross trainers or simply elliptical. If you are looking for a type of an exercise machine that will give you an overall body workout without putting undue stress to your joints, this is exactly what you should purchase.

The good thing about choosing an elliptical trainer over other types of exercise machines is that they do not just give you a chance to work on your lower body. The upper body is being worked on as well because of the handles that you can use during your workout session.

Another advantage of using elliptical machines over treadmills or other types of exercise machines is the variety of physical exertions that they can imitate. For example, using your elliptical trainer will be similar to exerting the effort to go cross-country skiing, hiking and biking.

Elliptical Trainers Purchasing & Maintenance Tips

Now that you already have an idea about the basic information regarding elliptical trainers, let us take a look at the key points that you need to remember when purchasing one, as well as what you need to know about its maintenance.

First, here is a quick list of the things that you need to remember when purchasing elliptical machines:

Check out merchant stores to get the cheapest elliptical machines in the market. For mid-range to high-end brands of elliptical trainers, you can go to fitness specialty stores or sporting goods stores.

Just as it is when purchasing any kind of equipment, make a comparison of the rates, features and the reliability of the brand of elliptical machines before making a final decision.

Consider just how vigorous your workout sessions are. If you are planning to use the elliptical machine more than twice a week, you may want to look at the mid-range to high-end brands to ensure that the equipment will last you for a long time.

Second, here is a list of the elliptical trainer maintenance tips that you should keep in mind:

Clean and lubricate the flywheel at least every week.

Remember that the more set of features that an elliptical machine has, the more difficult it is to clean, repair and maintain. Part of your maintenance responsibilities would be to clean the flywheel at least every week.

If there is a deeper mechanical problem and the warranty for the equipment has expired, make sure to look for a good local mechanic who will be able to perform the repairs needed.

Follow the care instructions as indicated in the manufacturer’s guide.

The first time that you purchase the elliptical machine, read the manufacturer’s guide and follow the care instructions to the letter.

If you want to keep your elliptical machines as spick-and-span as possible, place the equipment on top of an elliptical mat so that cleaning the exercise equipment would be easier.

Finally, you can put the elliptical machine on top of a mat to make cleaning the equipment a bit easier. There are also some do-it-yourself cleaning and repairing techniques that you can perform. This includes tightening screws, a few nuts and bolts and probably applying lubrication to squeaky joints.

Just make sure to order the parts from the manufacturer. Otherwise, if the repairs need to be done by a professional, make sure that they are authorized by the manufacturer.

With a bit of loving care and following the maintenance tips provided by the manufacturer, your elliptical machine should last you for a good number of years.

Did you know that more and more individuals are recognizing the benefits of using exercise machines these days? Using these, they can workout on right in the comfort of their own homes – at their own pace and at their own time.

Another good thing about using stationary exercise machines is that they will give you the same level of physical workout that you will get by running for one hour, for example. You can even multitask and listen to music or watch your favorite television programs because there are some stationary machines which come with LCD’s as an added feature.

Moreover, instead of just giving you the chance to work on your lower body, there are stationary exercise machines with handles which lets you work on your upper body at the same time.

Elliptical Machines versus Treadmills: Which One will Give You the Ultimate Overall Body Workout?

Now, two of the most popular stationary exercise machines are treadmills and elliptical trainers. As you may already know, the treadmill is the older among the two because it has been around the fitness industry for what seems like forever. Elliptical machines, on the other hand, are relatively new in the fitness industry – although they are so popular these days that you will hardly see any gym or fitness club without one of these nifty exercise machines.

So which among these two stationary exercise machines will give you the ultimate body workout? To help you out in deciding, let us take a look at some points of comparison:

The physical differences between treadmills and elliptical machines

Visit any gym or fitness club and you can easily see the physical difference between these two. Basically, a treadmill is a typically bulky, black exercise machine which is made up of a looping belt. It imitates the act of running or walking without ever leaving your position.

Meanwhile, an elliptical machine is a stationary exercise machine which can produce varying positions including an elliptical motion, thus the name. Another difference between the treadmill and an elliptical machine is that the latter has handle bars built in so that you can also be given an upper body workout.

The types of exercises which are imitated with treadmills and elliptical machines

Using a treadmill will allow you to go through the motions of walking or running. This is unlike with the help of an elliptical trainer which lets you do cross-country skiing, stair climbing, hiking and biking.

The vigorousness of workouts that you can do with treadmills and elliptical machines.
For this aspect, the treadmill and elliptical machine seems to be on an equal footing because both machines can be adjusted according to the level of physical exertion that you like.

The impact of the treadmill and elliptical machine exercises to your joints

Basically, elliptical machines have the edge when it comes to the impact that it has to your joints. When you use an elliptical trainer, it will be similar to gliding or running on air because of the smoothness of motion that your feet and legs will make.

Those who have knee problems, those who are overweight and the elderly will have a better and easier time working out using the elliptical trainer.

The overall body workout provided by treadmills and elliptical machines

Finally, with a treadmill, it is only the lower portion of the body which is given a workout. This is unlike the elliptical trainers which have handles that will let you work on your upper body as well.

As you can see, the benefits of using elliptical trainers seem to outweigh that of a treadmill’s. However, it is still up to you to pick out the machine that will give you the level of workout that you need and help you meet your fitness goals more easily.

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Call them elliptical trainers, cross trainers or simply elliptical – these exercise machines have been making the rounds in fitness centers around the world for the past few years. Also, for those who cannot afford to spend the extra time away from their busy schedules to visit the gym, purchasing an elliptical trainer for home use is the best option to get the workout that you need.

Here, we will review on particular line of cross trainers and determine whether they are a worthwhile purchase or not: the ProForm elliptical trainers.

Manufacturing Company & Equipment Background

First, here’s a brief background of the company which manufactures the line of ProForm elliptical trainers which is Icon Health and Fitness. Visit a gym anywhere in the world and you are bound to stumble upon an exercise equipment which is manufactured by icon. This is due to the fact that they are one of the largest retail fitness companies in the market today. No matter what your home fitness equipment needs are, Icon is definitely one of the brands that you can trust.

Now, what about the ProForm line of elliptical trainers that the company offers? There are more than a dozen models from the line of ProForm elliptical trainers that you can choose from. As indicated in one of the retailer websites selling ProForm, this exercise equipment will allow you to build long, lean muscle using a front-end mechanical elliptical machine.

Take a look at some of the models of ProForm elliptical trainers that you can choose from:
ProForm Crosstrainer 800 Elliptical
ProForm 480 CSE Elliptical
ProForm Easy One-Fold Space Saver Elliptical
ProForm Perspective 1000 Elliptical Machine with 7” TV
ProForm Razor 400 Elliptical Machine
ProForm Strideselect 600 Elliptical Machine
ProForm Space Saver DX Elliptical
ProForm 850 Space Saver Elliptical

This is merely half of the list of elliptical trainers offered by Icon Health and Fitness. The good thing about taking advantage of the line of ProForm elliptical trainers that they offer is that you can rest assured that the product was manufactured by a top-rating brand of exercise equipment which is known the world over.

In addition, each individual model of the ProForm elliptical trainers come with a variety of features that will suit your personal taste and fitness needs. For example, there’s a model which includes a 7” television with speakers that will allow you to enjoy your favorite television shows while you are working hard on the elliptical trainer.

Pros & Cons of Buying the ProForm Elliptical Trainers

Next, what are the pros and cons of buying ProForm elliptical trainers? First of all, buying elliptical trainers from a well-known brand like ProForm is already your insurance that you are getting a well-designed equipment due to the length of experience that the manufacturers have in the field. Second, ProForm elliptical trainers are within a reasonable price range.

Second, ProForm elliptical trainers come with all the bells and whistles that you might need from an exercise machine. Examples of these are the television screen which is included with some models, or the application of the iFit technology which incorporates various interactive workouts which will suit the taste of even the most serious fitness buffs.

The downside of purchasing ProForm elliptical trainers is that they are only suitable for the most casual users. This means that if you’re a serious bodybuilder or athlete who needs to train rigorously even while at home, then this particular line of elliptical trainers may not necessarily outlast other more expensive, higher-end exercise machines that you can purchase.

Another con to purchasing ProForm elliptical trainers is the fact that it comes with a short warranty period, and it might be difficult to source the elliptical trainers’ components if they fail to work.

The Verdict: Is the ProForm Elliptical Trainer a Worthwhile Purchase?

All in all, ProForm elliptical trainers are best suited for those who are just starting out in their exercise program. If you know that the elliptical trainer will be used on the moderate to heavy side, it is better to look at more heavy-duty elliptical trainers.

If you’re a casual user who is just looking for a way to occasionally do your workout at home in between the days that you are unable to go to the gym, then the ProForm elliptical trainers should be perfect for you.