Elliptical Benefits

So boys and girls, for fun today, I thought we would discuss the benefits of the elliptical machine.

Let me state, I usually prefer to be out on the road and not on machines, but there are times and places for everything.

Sometimes I use it as a warm up for strength training, about 15-20 minutes to loosen my old body up. Sometimes I use it at the beginning and end with weight training in the middle, makes for a nice solid workout.

The other day though, I just felt like slamming out a serious cardio sesh so I did a little over an hour on it.

The thing I love about that? It gives me the same exhausted, sweaty,exhilarating feeling I can get with a solid run.

Which I’ll take, since running is off my plate for now. 😑

It’s not all fun and games

In the comparison of running to the elliptical it works like this for me :

First 10 minutes on it…..”Oh my word, are we done yet? Why am I doing this??”

20 minutes in…..sweat has been free flowing for awhile, I’m keeping a steady pace, thinking “ok maybe I’ll do 30 minutes ”

35 minutes in, all of my favorite metal music in my ear, I’m totally in my zone thinking “hey I’ll just do 45 minutes….”

40 in, “I forgot how amazing this feels, I’ll stop at 50”

Then…..I’m hitting that hour mark….

Sweat in my eyes, blinded by it, heart strongly pumping, breathing hard because I’ve gone all out in the last minutes……

There is something so therapeutic about it, something cleansing and satisfying in the work of it.

Ok…but admittedly I’m a weirdo and you may not get the same sick thrill from it I do.

But can I share some positive benefits of tackling it for any time period?

Benefits of elliptical training

It can aid weight loss. A 30 minute session can burn between 150-400 calories.

It’s low impact. So if you have any joint issues it is a perfect non impact exercise that can pack a good cardio punch.

Offers a whole body workout. Not only using the stepping motion for lower body but using handle levers that work with the upper body give a total body workout.

A big boost for your cardio health. Love it or hate it, cardio exercise benefits your heart and lungs, strengthening them so they can do their work more efficiently with less work. Spending 20 -30 minutes on the elliptical will greatly help your heart.

Improves cardio stamina. A high intensity session of 15 minutes or moderate for 30 minutes will greatly improve cardio stamina. Building yourself up will also allow you to have more stamina in other exercises.

Helps to improve balance and mobility. Elliptical trainers are good for conditioning your body for better balance and mobility.

The Elliptical trainer workout also helps improve blood circulation. Better blood circulation helps maintain oxygen flow to all parts of the body. It boosts immunity, reducing the risk of diseases and chronic sickness. Good circulation also keeps the vital organs healthy and helps improve sleep quality. It also reduces your skin and hair issues.

Spending just 5 minutes on the elliptical machine can help you feel less stressed. That’s because exercising releases serotonin, the “feel-good” hormone. Serotonin has blood pressure-lowering or antihypertensive effects.

Doing low-intensity or moderate-intensity elliptical workout every day can have a positive effect on hypertension. However, you must consult your doctor if you are taking medicines for hypertension or have undergone major surgery.

Elliptical exercise is weight-bearing. This means your muscles and bones need to work to push the pedals. This causes muscle wear and tear, which is good for building stronger muscles and bones. This workout is great for people with osteoporosis and those with a high risk of fracture.

There you have it! Some positive and beneficial reasons to try out and implement an elliptical into your fitness routine.

Now your turn, have you tried one before? What is your take on it?