6 Ways To Maximize Elliptical Machine Weight Loss: Best Tips

6 Ways To Maximize Elliptical Machine Weight Loss: Best Tips

Category: Fitness Machine & Workout Tips

• Causing less impact on your joints
• Providing a full body workout
• Being a suitable form of exercise for people who are ill, elderly or pregnant
• Improving your cardiovascular system

On top of these advantages, elliptical machines are also a fantastic way to lose weight, but only if you use them properly. So, what can you do to ensure a slimmer waist?

Recommended:

Top 7 Best Ellipticals under 1000: Fitness Buyer’s Guide

6 Ways To Maximize Elliptical Machine Weight Loss:

Here are six tips that can help you maximize your elliptical machine weight loss when you work out. If you follow these steps, you’re sure to notice the results

1. High intensity equals more calories burned

A high-intensity workout will cause added strain to your muscles which will lead to more calories being burned. If you’re breathing is still coming easily, you’re not training hard enough. There are several ways you can enhance the intensity of your workout to increase your weight loss.

• Increase Your Speed

The faster you move, the more work your muscles will be doing. If you’re moving too slowly, there won’t be enough stress on your muscles to actually make much of a difference. Some days it might be worthwhile to take it easy—if you’re injured for instance—but faster movements will lead to better results.

• Increase Your Resistance

Resistance refers to the amount of force needed to move the pedals on the elliptical. Most ellipticals have settings that allow you to adjust the resistance. If it’s higher, your body will need to put in more work to move. This means added strain which equals more calories burned. No resistance means so little work so it will seem as if you haven’t exercised at all.

• Variate Your Types of Workouts

Doing the same routine over and over again will only work selected muscles, so your calorie loss will be limited once your body gets used to the strain. Changing the workout that you do will focus on different muscles which will improve your performance and affect your weight loss training regimen.

• You can change your workout by:

Moving forward and then moving backward

Using the incline feature if your elliptical has one

2. Don’t come to a stop

Although a high-intensity workout is necessary to burn more calories, straining your body too much can actually end up damaging your muscles. It can result in severe:

• Strains
• Pulls
• Tears

These injuries can be incredibly painful and even impact your training in the future. That’s why it’s important to rest when you’re doing prolonged exercises.

Here’s the catch. If you come to a complete stop in the middle of your routine, it will essentially be the same as starting from the beginning. The result? You won’t burn as many calories as you’d like. So, how do you give your muscles enough rest while still getting the most out of your workout?

Consider going at full speed for the first twenty minutes and then a slower speed for the next ten minutes. This will keep your muscles at work while also giving them needed rest. If you do this, you’ll still burn a lot of calories.

3. Increase the duration of your workout

The recommended length of your elliptical workout should start at about 20 to 30 minutes. According to a study done by Harvard Medical School, for 30 minutes of elliptical exercise, you burn 2.16 calories for every pound you weigh. This makes it an ideal training session.

Once your fitness levels have increased, the duration of your workout will have less impact on your calorie loss. This is why it’s beneficial to increase the length of your session as you become more comfortable on your machine.

Try adding 10 minutes to your workout every week until you can comfortably train for an hour. More time will also add extra strain to your muscles, which will work them for longer. After a few weeks you’ll start:

• Feeling better
• Looking slimmer
• Your cardiovascular system will be healthier

4. Focus on your arms

Ellipticals aren’t only meant to strengthen your legs, but are built to give you a full-body workout. Some people might be tempted to neglect their arms in order to improve their leg muscles. Although ellipticals are designed to focus on legs, this can limit your weight loss.

Instead, make sure you purchase an elliptical with arm pedals. Even if you’re using the one at the gym, no pedals slow down your weight loss. Once you’ve selected your machine, pump your arms as vigorously as you’re moving your legs. This will work muscles throughout your body which will increase the number of calories you burn.

5. Maintain your posture

Maintaining your posture is as important as resting while exercising. Slouching while using an elliptical can lead to serious back problems and will decrease the number of calories you burn. When using this equipment you should remember to:

• Keep your back straight
• Your feet should be facing forward
• Move your right arm with your right leg and vice versa
• Hold in your stomach muscles

Keeping the right posture will prevent injury later on. It’s also the best way to maximize your workout.

6. Don’t watch a movie

It’s been proven that music can improve your training session. For this reason, listen to all the tracks that help you exercise at high speeds. On the other hand, watching TV or a movie can lead to distractions and loss of focus.

Because ellipticals are a low impact form of exercise, you might become too relaxed while working out. This will influence your intensity which will slow down the rate of your weight loss. Rather stay focused in order to enhance the potential of your session.

Final Thoughts

Ellipticals can be a superb way to lose weight quickly when used correctly. If you follow these six tips to elliptical machine weight loss and you will find yourself maximizing your workout as well as realizing your goals more easily realized than you might have thought possible.

Before long, you’ll start noticing your waist growing slimmer and your body feeling better. Worth some extra effort, right?

Recommended:

14 Best Ellipticals Under 500: Build A Home Gym On A Budget

Shop Your Fitness Essentials:

› Best Athletic Sneakers                                                                 › Best Women’s Sports Watches

› Best Men’s Athletic Watches                                                          › Shop SUUNTO Fitness Tech

› Best Running Watches                                                               › Shop Beats By Dre Headphones

› Best Running Waist Packs                                                                     › Women’s Running Shoes

Check out the Apple Fitness Store, Garmin Fitness Tech Store, or the Fitbit Store for cool and in-demand fitness wearable tech gadgets.

Need more health and fitness tips and advice? Read these other posts and articles below: