FitSugar

Do You Know Which Cardio Machine Meets Your Needs?

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:00:00 -0700

It's one of those rare days when you get to the gym and all the cardio machines are free. Which do you choose? You have many options and each machine has its advantages, so take this quiz to see which cardio machine is best for you.

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You Asked: Cardio Machine Accuracy?

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 05:30:00 -0700

You're asking and I'm answering . . .

"Hey Fit,
I was wondering if you knew how accurate the 'Total Calories Burned' number is on cardio machines at the gym. I put my weight and age in when I start, but I just wanted to know if my total calories are being calculated right on a typical machine. Thanks!"
- Kathy

Good question. To see my answer read more.

The calories burned readout on cardio machines are not known for their accuracy. Some machines are even known to bump up the calorie readout by almost 25% (apparently the feel good factor keeps us using their machines). Furthermore, machines do not always take into consideration all the factors in individual fitness levels and the specificity of the exercise and they're not often re-calibrated after hitting the gym floor, so things can get off set with time. Basically you can (and should) use the calorie readout only as a guideline but not as the end-all-be-all of how many calories you've burned.

Learn from my mistakes. I used to always use this one elliptical machine in the gym because it always showed that I had burned a ton of calories compared to all the other machines. Then I got a heart rate monitor. My new gadget helped me realize that I was kidding myself thinking I was burning all those calories. If two machines show the same calories burned but one workout seems way easier than the other then remember your common sense! Unfortunately you've most likely burned less calories on the workout that felt easy.

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Do You Use More Than One Cardio Machine in One Workout?

FitSugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:30:00 -0700

When I go to the gym, I tend to focus on one cardio machine a day. Whether I'm using the elliptical, the stepper, the stationary bike, or the treadmill, I usually get on it and stay on it. Occasionally, I play around with different machines using Gunnar Peterson's 4-5-6-6-5-4: Cardio Plan. It definitely breaks up the routine.

So, what about you?

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How Do You Pass the Time on Cardio Machines?

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 03:00:00 -0700

I'm sure many of you belong to a gym for the sole purpose of using all their cardio machines. Treadmills, ellipticals, stepper machines, and stationary bikes are great for toning your lower body, burning calories, and are beneficial to your cardiovascular health but to some of us, they can be oh-so boring. Tell me . . .

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Fit Tip: Use Cardio Machines in a Different Way

FitSugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:30:00 -0700

Since the weather isn't quite warm enough for most of us to exercise outdoors, many of us have been using cardio machines at the gym. They can get pretty boring since they're so repetitive, so try to think of different and maybe even unexpected ways to use them to keep your workouts fresh. Not only will this keep you from getting bored at the gym, but you'll work different muscles too. Here are some ideas:

Walk sideways on the treadmill and be sure to take turns leading with both sides.
If you're used to running at a constant speed for a certain amount of time, mix it up. Sprint for one minute, walk for one minute, and jog for one minute. Repeat this three-minute interval set for as many minutes as you usually run.
If running is your thing, walk for twice as long instead with the incline higher than you use when running.
If you want to target your glutes, increase the incline on the treadmill as high as it will go and pretend you're hiking up a steep mountain.
Work backwards on the elliptical. Since your feet have places to rest, it's safer than doing it on a treadmill. This will get your backside going.

Want to see the other ideas? Then read more

Let go on the elliptical, don't hold on to the handles. This will work your core and your lower body at the same time. You can also do this on the stepper machine.
If you're used to sitting on a stationary bike, try standing and pedaling. You don't have to do it the entire time, but maybe alternate between standing for one minute and sitting for five minutes.
Gradually increase the tension on your bike like you are riding up a hill. It's tough but really satisfying, and will get you ready for tackling hills when you ride outside.

Do you have any other ideas? Share them below.

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Best Cardio Machines For Your Booty

FitSugar — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:00:00 -0800

A lot of times when we hit the cardio machines at the gym our ultimate goal is a toned-all-over look, but what if you could get all-over-body toning with emphasizing your booty? Um, yes please. Researchers looked at the most popular cardio machines to find out which work out bums the most. Here are the results (FYI, the more glutes activated, the more your butt is working):

Treadmill (jogging): 48.9 Percent of Glutes activated.
Elliptical: 32.6 Percent of Glutes activated.
Treadmill (walking): 24.3 Percent of Glutes activated.
StairMaster: 24.0 Percent of Glutes activated.
Recumbent Bike: 6.0 Percent of Glutes activated.

Want to increase your results then read more.

Women's Health has these ideas to work your booty even more:

Jogging: Make sure your heels, not the balls of your feet, hit the ground first.
Walking: On a treadmill, increase the incline. On the road, try walking sideways: This will work your bum from a different angle as you pull your leg away from your body.
Elliptical: Ease your hips back so your butt sticks out a bit, and push down with your heel as much as possible.
Biking: Ditch the recumbent ride for an upright one. Then sit a little farther back on the seat and focus on pushing the pedals down forcefully. If you're spinning, stand up and stick your butt out while leaning forward.
Stair stepping: Lean forward slightly at the waist and take larger steps, as though you're climbing two at a time. Let go of the rails, forcing your glutes to take the brunt of the stabilization duties.

Dual Action: Tone Your Booty on a Cardio Machine

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:00:00 -0800

Let's face it, you can feel the gravitational pull on the backside increases with age, and this part of aging can cause some serious fretting. You are not alone in trying to conjure up new and exciting ways to tone your bum, and the answer might be as simple as tweaking your cardio machine technique.

Researchers in the heartland of American have studied the relationship between cardio machines and the gluteus maximus, the major muscle of your booty. They found that jogging on the treadmill activated the glute muscles most. This is, however, if your heels and not the balls of your feet hit the treadmill first. The second most effective cardio machine for toning your bum is the elliptical. To ensure you are working your glutes, make sure to drive the steps with your heel to fire up the backside of your legs and butt. Somewhat predictably, the recumbent bike has the least impact on your derrière.

Don't forget to add a little strength training to your routine too! Here are five strength training exercises that target the booty.

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Bad News For Anyone Looking to Buy Home Machines

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 03:00:00 -0800

The ratings experts at Consumer Reports have recently compiled a report on the best treadmills and ellipticals for the home and it's looking like if you want something that works well, you're going to have to shell out a few thousand bucks for it. That's because the Landice L7 Cardio Trainer treadmill (pictured) and the Precor 5.31 elliptical took the top spots overall and are both well over $3,000.

The best value in terms of elliptical machines was the $1,000 NordicTrack AudioStrider 990. Overall it was found that ellipticals that cost $2,000 and up were well-built and felt stable to testers, more like the $5,000 machines at gyms. And they were less likely to have defects.

To see the best values on treadmills just read more.

For the best value on treadmills, the magazine recommends two $1,300 machines - the Vision Fitness T900 Simple and the Epic View 550. However, in treadmill tests the magazine found that you have to spend well over $2,000 to get a machine designed for serious runners, though lower-priced models are just fine for walkers.

Online subscribers can read the full reports here.

If you own a treadmill or elliptical tell us about it in the comments section below. Do you like it? Was it pricey? Ya know, give us the dirt.

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What Is Your Least Favorite Cardio Machine?

FitSugar — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 03:30:00 -0800

Last night at the gym I forced myself to do the StairMaster - in case you didn't know, I hate the StairMaster. I would much rather use any other cardio machine at the gym but I know that I need variety in my workout so I pushed through it knowing that it would be a few weeks before I had to use it again. I started thinking while I was on it, "Am I the only one who dislikes this machine so much?" So of course that brings me to you guys, what is your least favorite cardio machine to use?

If you don't want to focus on the negative, you can still vote on your favorite cardio machine. And why not turn that negative energy into something positive and make your New Year's Resolution to learn to love, or at least use, your least favorite piece of cardio equipment. Too much of a challenge? Let me know in the comments section below.

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Fit Tip: Stand-Up Straight

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:30:00 -0800

Cardio machines such as the StairMaster, treadmill and stationary bikes are fabulous ways to get in a workout indoors.

However, there is a wrong way to use them and one mistake I see every day at the gym is poor form. This means slouching over the display and/or resting all your body weight onto the handles. Doing either of these poor form culprits limits your muscle usage and increases your risk of injury. Standing upright and using the rails for balance works your core for balance and support - so try to stand-up straight.

I like to alternate which hands I am using to balance since I have found that if I have both hands on the machine, I will put too much weight on the handles without noticing. Try going one minute holding on with your right hand, then another minute holding on using your left hand.

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