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2 Main Things To Look For When Choosing A Cardio Machine
By Fitness Atlantic Writer: Sean Nalewanyj
Set foot in any traditional gym across the country and you’ll find an endless array of different cardio machines... from treadmills to stationary bikes to stairclimbers to ellipticals.
A well structured cardio program obviously plays an important role in any effective fat burning workout plan... but which cardio machines are best and what criteria should we use to determine which machines to focus on?
It need not be a complicated process, but here are the 2 main factors that I would suggest looking out for when deciding which machines to include in your program…
1) The machine should not require very much skill to use.
In other words, stick to cardio machines that are simplistic and mechanical in nature. Your goal during a cardio session is not to aimlessly slave away for a marathon session lasting an hour or more, but rather to keep the session short, concise and highly intensive.
For this reason, you don’t want to have to divert your focus onto balancing yourself on the machine or maintaining a specific form throughout the workout.
Instead, you should pick a cardio exercise that is basic and straightforward to execute so that the majority of your focus can be placed on generating a high level of intensity.
2) The machine should minimize the risk of injury.
One of your primary goals when it comes to both weight training and cardiovascular exercise is to keep your joints and connective tissues strong and healthy at all times. It doesn’t matter how effective and well structured your training routine is... if you end up with an injury, the entire thing will come to a grinding halt.
For this reason, you should try to stick to machines that produce low impact on your joints and that also don’t aggravate any existing injuries you may have.
Experiment with different machines to see how they feel for you. If any specific machine causes you discomfort, make sure to steer clear of it.
Here are a few of the machines I specifically recommend using based on the above criteria…
Upright Stationary Bike
This machine is extremely straightforward to use and will allow you to place all of your focus on generating a high level of intensity without having to worry about your form.
It is also a very low impact exercise and will keep the stress off of your joints. Stationary bikes are also easily programmable and are ideal when performing interval-style training, which is the kind that I most highly recommend.
Recumbent Bike
This is the same as a stationary bike, only your body is in a seated position. The seated position will take some of the stress off of your lower back, which is a nice advantage for those who have previous lower back problems.
Treadmill
Another great choice when implementing an interval-style of training. Treadmills are a great alternative to running outdoors, because the platforms are designed to produce less impact on the joints. If you want to increase the difficulty you can also raise the platform up on an incline.
Stairclimber
A stairclimber can be used by anyone from beginners to advanced. It is another low impact movement and allows you to keep the majority of your focus on putting forth a hard effort. Make sure to avoid leaning on the handle bars as this will reduce the intensity of the workout.
Hopefully this article has helped you understand which cardio machines are the safest and most effective fat burning solutions to include in your program.
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