Exercising at home is a real alternative for anyone who wants to exercise regularly but doesn’t necessarily want to join a gym.
Some of the ellipticals and stationary bikes that are now available to home users provide excellent levels of exercise. The workouts that can be done on these machines compare very favorably to what you would associate with professional gym equipment.
Understandably, the ellipticals and stationary bikes marketed for home use are smaller than those typically found in the gym. However, this does not mean that they lack features or that they are not up to the task.
If you’re trying to decide whether to invest in an elliptical or a stationary bike, the choice tends to come down to exactly what you hope to accomplish with the machine.
Generally speaking, people who use a stationary bike tend to want to work primarily their leg and abdominal muscles. Stationary bikes also provide excellent cardiovascular exercise.
An elliptical will work in the same areas as a stationary bike, but it will also work in several additional areas. In fact, an elliptical is several exercise machines in one. It not only provides exercise for the legs, abdomen, and heart, but can also be used to strengthen the muscles of the arms, back, and shoulders.
A cross trainer is referred to as a “low impact” exerciser. He gets the same benefits he would expect from running, but avoids most of the problems that runners often suffer from.
Jogging puts a lot of pressure on your back, ankles, shins, and knee joints. Using an elliptical prevents these problems since your feet are always in contact with the platform of the machine. This means that it is not subject to the constant jolts that a runner has to deal with. However, the intensity of the exercise itself is the same as you would expect from a road training session. You burn as many calories using a cross trainer as you would jogging.
A cross trainer allows you to set the resistance level of the machine to suit the user’s fitness level. On more expensive machines, the resistance level is usually set electronically, while cheaper machines rely on manual adjustment.
The slightly more sophisticated machines also have a number of programs built into their computers and the user selects the one that best suits their needs.
Virtually all ellipticals, even the most basic models, tend to have a monitor of some description that provides basic workout information such as distance, time, speed, and calorie burn. Some of the mid-price range machines also monitor users’ heart rate.
If you’re still not sure whether you need an elliptical or a stationary bike, there are machines that combine the functions of an elliptical and a stationary bike.
Obviously, there is a cost involved in purchasing your own exercise machine. Keep in mind though that it will be a one-time cost and you should be able to use the machine for many years. If you compare this to an annual subscription to a gym, even buying a relatively expensive machine could be classified as a long-term savings.
Another benefit of having your own exercise equipment is convenience. You can conveniently schedule your exercise around your daily life and exercise at any time that is convenient for you.
You can even do your workout while watching TV if that’s what you want to do.