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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. Read the rest of this entry »

The Schwinn 418 elliptical trainer is a Nautilus product, and overall Nautilus builds quality machines that are durable and perform well. For the price you are getting quality at a moderate price. The Schwinn 418 is one of the most popular elliptical trainers on the market.

It comes with an articulating footplate that follows the natural motion of your foot and supports your heel through the stride. It has a 18″ stride that can accommodate a wide range of users.

There are 12 workout programs including rolling, valley, fat burn, ramp, random, plateau, intervals, mountain, 2 heart rate, 1 fitness test and manual mode. The LCD display provides feedback on time, speed, distance, RPM’s, resistance level, calories, calories per hour, load, heart rate and course profile.

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Treadmills have always been popular exercise machines all over the world used by every age group. People who use tread mills can be of any body type from atheletic to even obese ones or over weight people. Almost every one is familiar to treadmill which can be used for walking or running .

Now there is another exercise machine that is gaining popularity and will be even more effective than treadmills and that is an elliptical trainers. Now how do both these machines compare?

Treadmills

Treadmill machines are created for performing functions such as walking, jogging, or running, as well as simulated hill climbing. (Some treadmills are better suited for walking and are not made to support users over a certain weight limit.) Higher quality treadmills tend to be suitable for walking or running and can handle larger and heavier users. Commercial units that are found in gyms are generally capable of supporting more weight than most home units. However, high-end models of home treadmills can be quite sturdy and comparable to a commercial unit.

Exercising on a treadmill is good for cardio workouts, to burn calories and to increase your energy levels.

Treadmills can be automatic in which you have preset programs according to the intensity of the workout you want. Or you can manually adjust them for their height, incline levels and speed.

As in every exercise, a beginner should start from a low intensity workout and as he gains more strength and stamina he should increase the intensity for a good workout. Your body should feel a good exercise.

Running on a treadmill is better than running on hard surfaces like pavements in many ways . Nicely cushioned running surface provides less impact on the knees, shins, ankles, back, and joints. As a result, the runner who uses a treadmill is less likely to sustain a running injury than a runner who runs upon a harder surface. (Nonetheless, a runner’s body will still experience impact when the foot lands on the belt. Up to 2 1/2 your body weight).

And You don’t have to worry about road or trail hazards when exercising on a treadmill. You need only maintain your rhythm on the moving belt. You dont have to worry about the weather as you do it indoors .

But some people, in fact quite a lot of them who are not used to it , find it a little tough to keep pace with the rotating belt. And they have to grab the hand rails until they are comfortable again. Holding handrails can restrict your motions and movements to lower body only, limiting the benefits.

Elliptical Trainers

Elliptical trainers are relatively new but they are gaining popularity very fast. Elliptical trainers allow the athlete to burn a similar number of calories as jogging…but without the risk of injury to the back, knees, hips, or ankles. Your feet never leave the pedals. As a result, this type of machine is quite low-impact and goes easy on the joints. In fact, whereas exercising on a treadmill requires your body to absorb the impact force of walking or running, exercising on an elliptical can be compared to running in midair.

Because ellipticals are so low-impact and easy on the joints, this type of exercise equipment may very well be one of the best choices for older people or for individuals who are recovering from a joint injury. Elliptical machines mimic the normal elliptical motion of the foot, the extension of the leg, and the rotation of the hip during walking or running. This motion uses all the leg muscles, giving you a total lower-body workout.

Unlike treadmills , elliptical trainers also give you a upper body workout. , the hands grip the moving handlebars, exercising the arms. The movement of the dual handlebars mimics cross-country skiing.

Because elliptical trainers DO work the upper and lower body simultaneously, the heart rate climbs more quickly. Thus, less time is required to achieve more results. The amount of energy expended is optimized. As the legs are being worked, the back, shoulders, chest, biceps, and triceps are also working …making it possible to burn more calories in less time. (An optimal workout need only be about 20-30 minutes long.)

The foot pedals can be worked in a forward or reverse direction. When you change the direction of the pedals, you’ll target your lower body in different ways. It is nice to be able to add versatility to your elliptical workouts, and such a change works to ensure optimal training of the leg muscles.

The intensity level can be adjusted on elliptical equipment to fit your personal level of fitness. Resistance may be added as desired to increase the workload on your legs throughout the forward or backward stride.

Additional benefits of elliptical training include its ability to build bone density and to inhibit the onset of osteoporosis. Everyone needs strong, healthy bones. This is especially a concern as we grow older, and our body’s bone mass begins to deteriorate. Elliptical exercise can inhibit bone deterioration and actually improve bone thickness.

An elliptical device is safe to use (i.e. it stops when you stop). It uses very little electricity and is economical to operate. Because of its lesser impact, there is less wear and tear of the machine, making maintenance quite low. It has a small footprint, so it takes up less floor space than other fitness equipment. And, as with the treadmill, it allows you to exercise in a controlled environment for more comfort and convenience.

So in all they are more efficient machines than treadmills and you can loose fat and get in shape without being tough on your knees and joints.

Also read other related articles-

• Maximum workouts
• Elliptical trainer benefits
• Elliptical trainers

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Here are the top 6 reasons of Eliiptical Trainers. Choose yours to get one.

1. The Elliptical trainers allow the user to burn a similar amount of calories as jogging but with more ease. Feet never leave the pedals which makes this machine low impact and easier on the body, especially the joints. Doing running exercises on an elliptical trainer is equivalent to running in midair as the body does not feel the impact.

2. This machine has been recommended for users who are elderly or for people recovering from a joint injury. This is because of the lack of impact experienced by the body.

3. Elliptical trainers work the entire body-both upper and lower. As the feet are going in an elliptical motion working the entire lower body, the upper body is getting a workout from the rotating movement of the handlebars thus allowing the user to tone their arms.

4. Because the elliptical trainer works the entire body all at once, the heart rate climbs more quickly thus optimizing the body’s energy making for a more efficient workout.

5. Users of elliptical trainers can often burn more calories in the same amount of time as they could using other machines such as treadmills.

6. When using the elliptical trainer, one can adjust the intensity of the workout. They can set the resistance levels to what works best for them. This feature is great to adding tone to the body. Say good by to flabby buts and thighs–forever!
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Elliptical trainers are available at a wide range of price points, from $99 to motorcycle territory. Generally, however, you get what you pay for. At the extreme low end, many poorly made elliptical machines fail to give a comfortable workout. If you don’t enjoy the workout, the money is wasted, no matter what. If you can’t afford to spend at least $500 and up, you’re probably better off getting a Gazelle, or some other type of machine (like a stationary bike or HealthRider) rather than an elliptical you might not use or enjoy. Since, at the high end, gym quality ellipticals can cost thousands. The challenge, for most of us, is to find a decent machine that meets our needs for a reasonable price. Here are a few main factors to keep in mind before deciding on the equipment you want to buy.

Stride Shape - the most important factor
There is a wide range of machines calling themselves elliptical trainers. They all have a resistance flywheel and a pair of footpads and some handles - but beyond that there are some real differences. At the low end there are a lot of very attractively priced machines but if you look carefully you’ll see they have footpads attached directly to the flywheel. This means that the stride shape will be almost a circle - not really an elliptical. The stride is so humped it feels more like bumping up and down.

Here’s an example of an elliptical trainer with the footpads attached directly to the flywheel:
ProForm StrideSelect 825 Elliptical Trainer

Better machines have a track of some sort for the footpads to roll along - the footpads connected to the flywheel with metal rods. This allows the stride shape to be an elongated oval - an elliptical. This stride motion is much more natural - much smoother. This is the first major feature to look for. The taller you are the longer the stride length you should look for. 16 inch stride should be considered a minimum. If you are 6′ tall you should look for 18 inch stride at least. 20 inches is better - check out the Sole and Spirit lines (20″), as well as Precor (18″) and Life Fitness (20″) for long stride length.

Footpads - closer is better
When you run or cross country ski your legs move past each other with only a couple of inches between your ankles. Elliptical machines have to deal with the width of the flywheel, so it’s hard to engineer a machine where the footpads allow your feet to be that close. When the footpads are far apart it can stress your ankles, knees and hips. Over time, this can be painful.

Flywheel in the front or in back
Another thing you’ll notice about the Precor and Life units is that the flywheel is in back. You’ll see that in Tunturi and some other lower priced units. The flywheel in back is supposed to be a better geometry for having a good stride shape - but only if it’s well implemented. The other style is with the flywheel in front. Look at the Sole and Spirit trainers to see examples of good implementations with the flywheel in front. The key to these is the curved foot pad rods that help keep the stride shape more level and elongated. But the location of the flywheel isn’t as important as the overall engineering - and particularly the geometry of the flywheel connecting rods.

Other features
The other major features that you need to be aware of while choosing the best elliptical trainer are:
1) Weight bearing - a general testament to the stability and build quality. The heavier the rated weight, the better built and more stable in general. This is especially important if you’re heavy, of course.

2) Heart monitor - it’s a cardio machine so monitoring your heart rate is a critical aspect of doing a cardio workout. You can always augment with a wrist mounted heart monitor, but having the heart monitor integrated into the electronics head is a great convenience.

3) Number of preset routines, programmability options, quality of the display - the electronics head in general. The quality of the head can make a big difference in your day to day enjoyment of the unit. Having programmable routines is also a great feature. Some machines have fans, TV screens, and other amenities in their electronics heads. All of these should subsidiary to the mechanical integrity of the machine.

4) Flywheel resistance mechanism and number of levels. The bigger the flywheel, the smoother the motion. Magnetic resistance is much smoother and more mechanically reliable than mechanical resistance. The more resistance levels, the more customizeable the workout.

5) Adjustable footpad angle - a really nice ergonomic enhancement.

6) Heart rate handgrips are nice in that you can get a heart rate reading without wearing a strap. However the strap is still great because you don’t have to worry about your grip placement - especially important for the moving grips.

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Now the most popular new form of cardiovascular exercise in fitness facilities today, the Precor EFX 556 Elliptical features a no-impact, forward or reverse elliptical stride that lets you adjust ramp and resistance for cross training benefits. The Precor EFX 556 Elliptical allows you to stride smoothly while holding the handrails or moving your arms in natural sync, with or without hand weights. The Precor EFX 556 Elliptical provides excellent aerobic conditioning, muscle involvement, range of motion and lower rates of perceived exertion than on traditional exercise machines. Designed for heavy commercial use, the 556 features sturdy construction, ergonomic handlebars, 6 programs and 20 resistance levels. Workout Variety - Features a variety of pre-programmed courses and multiple resistance levels, keeping exercise routines fresh and motivating. Low Maintenance - Quality components and superior construction promote years of trouble-free use. Space-Efficient - Designed to take up minimal floor space while providing exceptional stability-even during vigorous workouts. Easy to move, it fits through most standard doorways.
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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 74F 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.

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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 wont help if you dont 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 thats 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. Youll 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.
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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 dont have to run in the park or sweat it out on the tread mill for all those benefits. A lot has changed with time. 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 dont 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 dont 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.

• 7 Ideas for the best workouts with elliptical trainers
  
• Get up for some Cardios
  
• Elliptical trainer Benefits

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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.

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