Elliptical Trainers - Are They The Perfect Workout?
By Mike Singh, Thu Dec 8th

Elliptical trainers are the hottest of the hot in fitnessequipment. They are easy to use, and provide a great workout.Using an elliptical machine will give you a great cardioworkout, similar to that of running, and will tone your lowerbody as well. And, because the impact is less than that ofwalking, even those of us with not so great knees can use anelliptical trainer without pain. Many people are finding theelliptical trainer to be such a great workout that they aren'tinterested in doing anything else. However, no one machine cangive the perfect workout. So, how does the elliptical machinestack up against other ways of working out? Well, if you take acloser look, you'll find that elliptical training has distinctadvantages, but a few disadvantages too.

One of the great benefits of elliptical trainers is that itprovides an aerobic workout through a weight bearing exercise.Running does this, of course, but working out on an ellipticaltrainer provides an impact to your joints comparable to walking.In addition, many people report that working out on anelliptical trainer feels like less work than working out on atreadmill. Plus, if you use the upper poles on the ellipticalmachine, you are working your upper body as well. With atreadmill, you get no upper body workout.

Serious Runners Take Note

But, what if you are training for a marathon? Here's where atreadmill has a real advantage over the elliptical. If you aretraining to be a runner, you need to run. The gliding motion ofthe elliptical machine won't provide you training comparable torunning in terms of preparation for a race.

Another issue you should consider is your need to build muscle.If you are looking to build bulk, you will still need to liftweights. Elliptical trainers provide great cardio workouts, andare great for toning your legs and arms, but they won't buildbulk. For a complete training regimen, it is best to alternateusing the elliptical trainer with weight machines and freeweights a few days a week.

Impact Is Not All Bad

One final issue about elliptical trainers - the very thing thatmakes them great also has its own disadvantage. Ellipticaltrainers are so popular because they provide a low impactworkout. But impact has its advantages, especially if you don'thave knee problems. Your body responds to the shock of theimpact of exercise by building new bone cells, therebyincreasing your bone density. So, if your knees are healthyenough to withstand the impact, running will protect your bonehealth in the long run.

The most important issue when it comes to any exercise islongevity. You need to find an exercise that you can stick with.If you have joint or knee problems, an elliptical trainer canallow you to workout more easily than other weight bearingexercises. But, if you love to run, and are healthy enough to doso, the elliptical trainer might not be for you. It isbeneficial to try out both machines, and, if you're buying amachine, be sure to check out elliptical trainer reviews as wellas those on treadmills. Be assured that both can help youimprove your cardiovascular health, lose weight, and gainoverall fitness.

About the author:Mike Singh is a fitness instructor and writer, who providesunbiased reviews of fitness products for consumers looking forquality information. Checkout the largest collection ofbrand-name elliptical trainer reviews online athttp://www.elliptical-trainers-reviews.com, the latest news onfitness products at http://www.1-stop-fitness.com and low-carbdiet recipes at http://www.low-carb-diet-recipe.info