Ellipticals, Treadmills and Exercise Bikes: Finding the Best Machine for Your Fitness Goals

Ellipticals, Treadmills and Exercise Bikes: Finding the Best Machine for Your Fitness Goals

The best thing about buying a piece of exercise equipment is that you never even have to leave your house to get a great workout. That means no more fighting traffic, or long lines at the gym: just workout anytime you like for as long as you like and then continue on with your day.

There are, however, a lot of different types of machines you can buy for your home, and making the choice to go with a particular machine can be confusing to some people. There are so many varieties in so many different price ranges that you can spend all day looking and not find what you want. The good news is that each machine has some basic pros and cons that can help you narrow down your choices. Here are some of the more popular types of home exercise equipment you can look into.

Elliptical Machines

Elliptical machines are one of the best ways to get a full body workout at home. They are very popular pieces of equipment and are fairly versatile when it comes to switching up your routine.

Ellipticals work both the upper and lower body. You stand on pedals that rock forward and backward and you hold onto posts that move in conjunction with the pedals. The overall effect feels like you’re running, but it’s much better than running for you as it is a low-impact workout. This means that you can use an elliptical, even if you have a history of joint or back pain, and still get the exercise you want and need.

The only real problem with ellipticals is that they can be hard to store: they are fairly large pieces of equipment, so they will not fit into a closet or under a bed. If you have a room you can dedicate to exercise though, then this would be an obvious place for the machine. Visit this website to find the best elliptical reviews and see what others are saying.

Treadmills

Treadmills are a classic exercise staple and, even today, they are ubiquitous training machines that you can find at any gym. You can also find them in many people’s homes, as they are a straightforward way to get in all the exercise you want.

Most models of treadmill allow you to vary your workout routine by offering different speeds — from a casual walk to an all-out sprint — and inclines so you can feel like you’re walking or running up different terrains. If you use the treadmill properly, you can experience a great full-body workout that will work up a sweat.

As with an elliptical, the major downside of a treadmill is storage. You will most certainly need a dedicated room to workout in. Also, treadmills are not low-impact, meaning that if you have existing injuries or are subject to back and joint pain, you may want to consider something else.

Nonetheless, if you are looking to multitask while exercising, a treadmill is ideal for you. By multitasking, it can mean watching your favorite TV show while you exercise. And if you are looking forward to doing high-intensity workouts, a treadmill is just the ticket. High-intensity workouts are an excellent way of reducing your overall fat mass within a short period.

It would be wise to make it a habit to switch up your routines if you want to avoid injuries. Exercising the same way regularly can be stressful on your joints. Besides, doing the same exercise can also slow you down from getting the results you desire.

Most people who play football, basketball, soccer or tennis, tend to develop a stress fracture in foot which happens over time. Using a treadmill can be a great way to prevent such injuries from occurring. However, it would be best if you also learned more about other body injuries as this could help you find better ways to avoid them through the right exercises. 

Exercise Bikes

Another timeless piece of exercise equipment, exercise bikes provide an intense workout that is fairly low-impact, saving your joints and back while giving you a great cardio exercise.

The best thing is that these aren’t your grandfather’s exercise bikes. Today, bikes have different settings you can tweak and automatic routines you can create that will simulate you riding up hills and mountains and rushing downhill. Some even allow you to hook it up to a television so you can watch scenery go by as if you were on a real bike.

Again, exercise bikes are large pieces of equipment, so storage can be a problem. They also do not give much of an upper body workout.

Rowing Machines

Rowing machines provide as intense of a workout as you want and, much like an elliptical, they are very low impact.

These machines work by having you sit down with your legs in front of you on a foot brace. Then you use your arms to pull a band that has varying resistances. You can go as fast or as slow as you like for a workout that suits you best.

One of the best things about rowing machines is that they are short enough to fit under some beds. This allows you to hide it when company comes over, or just get it out of your way once you are finished with it. The only downside is that you may experience knee discomfort if you have a history of injury or strain, so use caution.

Find the right piece of exercise equipment today and start exercising!