Discover How An Elliptical Cross Trainer Can Be A Great Alternative To A Traditional Exercise Bike & Offers A Low Impact Exercise That Is Kind On Your Joints And One That Will Enhance The Quality Of Your Life

WHAT IS AN ELLIPTICAL CROSS TRAINER? An elliptical cross-trainer is a stationary exercise machine used to stair climb, walk, or run without causing excessive pressure to the joints, hence decreasing the risk of impact injuries. For this reason, people with some injuries can use an elliptical to stay fit, as the low impact affects them very little. An elliptical cross trainer offers a non-impact cardiovascular workout that can vary from light to high intensity based on the speed of the exercise and the resistance preference set by the user. Elliptical trainers first entered the market in the 1990s, invented by Precor. Most elliptical cross trainers work the user's upper and lower body (although some models do not have moving upper body components). Though an elliptical cross trainer is considered to be minimal-impact, they are an example of a weight-bearing form of exercise. They can be self-powered by user-generated motion or need to be plugged in for adjustment of motion and/or for supplying their electronic consoles and resistance systems. If you find yourself waiting in line to use your gym’s elliptical cross trainer during peak workout hours, you’re not alone. The elliptical cross trainer is often one of the most sought-after cardio machines at gyms and fitness centers. It’s also a good choice for home exercise equipment. So what is it about this low impact machine that makes it so popular? Check out these 10 benefits and decide for yourself.   LOW IMPACT, HIGH-INTENSITY: The Curv Elliptical Cross Trainer is a fantastic alternative to a traditional exercise bike & offers a low impact cardio exercise that is kind on your joints & full of great health benefits.   10 BENEFITS OF AN ELLIPTICAL CROSS TRAINER: 1. It Increases your endurance and cardio capacity Aerobic exercise, also known as cardio, is a key part of a balanced exercise routine. When you do aerobic exercise, your heart and lungs need to work harder to provide your muscles with more blood and oxygen. The elliptical cross trainer allows you to get a good aerobic workout, which can strengthen your heart, lungs, and muscles. This, in turn, can help build your stamina and endurance. On an elliptical cross trainer, you can perform both high intensity interval training and steady-state cardio workouts. 2. You can burn a lot of calories If you’re looking for a way to crush your calorie burn in a short amount of time, jump on the elliptical. Depending on how much you weigh, the elliptical cross trainer can burn about 270–400 calories in 30 minutes. The lower end of the range represents a person weighing 125 pounds (56.7 kg) while the higher end is for someone weighing 185 pounds (83.9 kg). Burning more calories than you consume can help you lose weight. To boost your calorie burn, consider increasing the intensity of your elliptical workouts. 3. Puts a lot less stress on your joints When the elliptical hit the cardio machine scene back in the 1990s, runners with achy joints and overuse injuries rejoiced at the thought of being able to train their cardiovascular system while relieving some of the pressure on their joints. Your knees, ankles, hips, and other joints can take a beating when running or doing other high impact cardio exercises. Since your feet never lift off of the pedals with an elliptical, this machine offers a low impact cardio workout. A 2014 study showed that an elliptical workout is substantially less weight-bearing than other cardio exercises like running, jogging, and similar workouts. In other words, with an elliptical, you can continue training without the wear and tear that comes with high impact exercise. 4. You can do both an upper and lower body workout An elliptical machine with handles is one of the few cardio machines that can provide you with both an upper and lower body workout. The key to maximizing its upper body benefits is to distribute your weight and resistance evenly. In other words, pump your arms just as fast as you’re moving your legs. When done correctly, the elliptical can target your glutes, hamstrings, quads, chest, back, biceps, triceps, and core muscles. 5. Burns unwanted body fat Given that the calorie burn associated with an elliptical is higher than that of some other cardio machines like the stationary bike, it can help you lose body fat in a shorter amount of time. This is especially true if you focus on interval work. To maximize fat burning, try to focus on the intensity and duration of your workouts. One study found that while both high and medium intensity workouts helped with fat loss, high intensity intervals allowed you to accomplish more in a shorter amount of time. Consider adding interval training to your elliptical workouts with a 2-to-1 ratio, e.g., 30 seconds of high intensity work followed by 15 seconds of recovery, or 60 seconds of high intensity work followed by 30 seconds of recovery. Do not stop moving your legs during the recovery periods. Continue to move the pedals, albeit at a slower pace. 6. Targets specific leg muscles You can change both the resistance and incline of the foot pedals on an elliptical. By doing this, you can target different muscles in your lower body, including your quads, glutes, hamstrings, and calves. By increasing the incline, you may feel the backside of your lower body more. If you adjust the foot pedals lower, you may feel your quads working harder. Plus, since the foot pedals also move in reverse, you can change the direction of your stride and focus more on your hamstrings and glutes. 7. Improves your balance Weight-bearing exercise can not only help strengthen your bones but also improve your balance. If you stand up straight and let go of the elliptical handles, you can target your core muscles and work on your balance. Just ensure that the resistance and incline are set at manageable levels so you can use the elliptical machine safely without using the handles. 8. Maintains fitness after injury If you’re nursing an injury and can’t participate in your regular physical activities, working out on an elliptical can be a great way to build or maintain your fitness. Since it’s a low impact exercise, the elliptical puts less pressure on your joints than high impact workouts like running, jogging, or jumping. Working out on an elliptical after an injury may help you restore full range of motion. It can also help build up your muscles and joints while taking the stress off of the injured area. 9. Provides a variety of options Elliptical machines usually offer a bunch of different preprogrammed exercise routines that simulate hill climbing, interval training, and other customizable options that help you get the type of workout you want. 10. Straightforward to use One of the advantages of an elliptical is that it doesn’t take long to figure out how to use it. Although the learning curve with this machine is fairly easy, you may want to ask a personal trainer for guidance if you haven’t used one before. A trainer can give you good advice on how to use it correctly and the type of workout that may be best suited for your fitness goals. When first getting started on the elliptical, you may want to only use the foot pedals. Once you get used to the movement of the machine, you can add the handles. Is training on an elliptical as good as running? If you’re looking for an alternative to running, the elliptical is a great option. Not only is it easier on your joints, but you can also adjust the incline and resistance to simulate a running workout. That said, most avid runners will tell you that it’s not quite the same as a good old-fashioned run. Hitting the pavement or trails requires your feet to leave the ground and forces your body to adapt to inconsistent conditions.  You might be stepping on uneven surfaces or going up and down hills. This means you’ll recruit your lower body muscles to a greater degree and need more force to propel yourself forward. Plus, pumping your arms boosts your heart rate, increases calorie burning, and uses some key upper body muscles like the biceps, triceps, chest, and upper back. Many ellipticals come with handlebars that allow you to push and pull against resistance, but unlike the arm movements you perform continuously while running, this motion is optional with an elliptical. Also, the machine will do some of the work for you. Although you should engage your core muscles when performing any aerobic workout, it’s easier to let these crucial muscles relax when exercising on the elliptical cross trainer, making running a better workout for your core. One way to get the best of both worlds is to incorporate the elliptical cross trainer into a running routine. For example, replace one outdoor or treadmill running day with a 30–45-minute workout on the elliptical. Use this time to work on intervals and heart rate training. As a result, you’ll focus less on the impact and more on your heart and its circulatory system. YOU'LL GET ONE SWEET DEAL OF AN ELLIPTICAL! If you're ready to try one of the best Elliptical Cross Trainers on the market today, You've come to the right place!  The Bluefin Fitness CURV 2.0 Elliptical Cross Trainer is one of the best of its kind. The streamlined & compact Bluefin Fitness Curv 2.0 Elliptical Cross Trainer is the mid-sized model in its elliptical range & provides a low-impact cardio exercise experience for your home gym. The learn more on how you can build muscle and burn calories with a low impact cross-trainer workout that puts less stress on your joints than typical cardio training, Click Here Now!