So, you have your elliptical workout machine, but you are not sure how you should be using it. Many people who purchase home gym equipment find themselves in the same position. That is why personal trainers can come in handy. But what if you cannot afford to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on personal training sessions? Well, keep reading, as this article will describe exactly what you need to do to ensure you are getting a good elliptical workout at home.
Different people have different needs and goals. Thus, your optimal workout program will depend on things like your current fitness level and what you hope to achieve by exercising. As a rule of thumb, it is better to do a little bit less than you can do than it is to over do it. So, if you find that you are working out so much that you cannot sleep properly or exercise makes you feel run down rather than perked up, then you are probably doing too much. In that case, take a few days off and then work back into a routine slowly.
It may take a little bit of experimentation to find out how much training you can do. Everyone responds to exercise differently.
That covers the issue of how much you should train, but if you are reading this article you are probably even more interested in what you should do during each elliptical machine workout. Fortunately, the scientific community has done a lot of research into the effects and benefits of different types of workouts, and they have reached a general consensus. The best type of workout you can do on your elliptical is called a high intensity intermittent training workout, or HIIT for short.
HIIT sounds complicated, but it is actually very simple. The idea is that you work out as hard as you possibly can for ten to twenty seconds, and then you slow down for about half a minute. Then, you repeat this cycle over and over. You may repeat the cycle only a few times per session at first. As you get fitter, you may be able to do this high intensity/low intensity cycle dozens of times in each workout.
HIIT is a great way to get fit for many reasons. First, it will make you fitter more rapidly than any other type of workout. Second, studies have shown that HIIT workouts are the most effective ones when it comes to burning fat. Third, you can do a good HIIT workout in just ten or twenty minutes. You can go for longer if you want, but it is not necessary. However, do not make the mistake of thinking that, because the sessions are short, they are easy. They are anything but easy. During the high intensity phase of the cycle, you must be working as hard as you possibly can to get the full benefits of this type of workout. Naturally, this will make you sore and tired, but it is definitely worth it.
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