Cardio Exercise Equipment and Weight Loss

October 18, 2008 · 11 comments

This is a guest post by Zane from Best Diet Pills.

Dieters interested in losing weight can take advantage of a variety of cardiovascular exercises. Cardio exercises have been proven to burn calories while also providing overall added benefits to vital organs, tissues, and cardiovascular system functions.

Cardio Exercise Equipment

Treadmills

Treadmills provide dieters with accessible and convenient access to easy cardiovascular activities. Today, most treadmills come fit with speed and incline controls, in addition to calculated information to monitor your calorie expenditures and heart rate. According to research, an individual weighing 200 pounds can effectively burn calories on a treadmill. For example:

• Walking for 60 minutes can burn over 450 calories
• Jogging for 60 minutes can burn over 700 calories
• Running for 60 minutes can burn over 900 calories

Also, for individuals who are relatively inexperienced with exercise, a treadmill is a convenient way for dieters to get started on their paths to fitness without feeling intimidated. Adding to this, treadmills can also provide dieters with helpful exercise distractions, as many gyms and fitness facilities conveniently place televisions near treadmills, enabling members to work out while being entertained!

Elliptical Machines

Elliptical trainers provide dieters with added weight loss and muscle-toning benefits when compared to a treadmill. Unlike a treadmill, an Elliptical machine not only utilizes the lower half of the body, but it also makes use of the upper half of the body, so individuals are often able to burn more calories while toning more muscles. Added to this, Elliptical machines also cause less harm and damage to joints than running. For example, running may often cause injuries to areas such as:

• The back
• Hips
• Ankles
• Knees

Since running and jogging on pavement or treadmills forces the body to absorb harsher impacts than an Elliptical, these machines provide dieters with safe and effective cardio exercise opportunities.

StairMaster

StairMaster machines have been used by dieters for over 25 years. Many dieters consider the StairMaster to be one of the most challenging cardio exercise tools, as it requires individuals to repeatedly climb steps at various paces. In climbing these steps, dieters are able to burn calories while improving the overall muscle tone in the body and core/abdominal areas. The StairMaster equipment has been revised and re-designed since its introduction 25 years ago. Today, StairMaster machines have articulated steps, ergonomic handrails, a progress screen to report calorie expenditures and results, in addition to some higher-tech machines which also include LCD capabilities.

Bicycles and Stationary Bikes

Similar to a bicycle intended for outdoor use, the stationary bikes at a gym provide dieters with a variety of cardio and weight loss benefits. While biking outside allows dieters to enjoy a varied terrain, in addition to natural challenges of hills and peaks, stationary bikes can often provide similar benefits with their high tech advances.

Today, stationary bikes allow individuals to choose their own levels of resistance, as the bikes can simulate the cardio benefits of hills and additional factors, such as wind resistance. Whether biking outside or indoors, dieters can boost their calorie expenditures while also toning up their legs, gluteus, and core/abdominal/back regions with this cardio exercise.

Whether you do or you don’t use cardio exercise equipment, a cardio workout is essential for any fitness regime.

Note from John - another piece of equipment you need for cardio is a good heart monitor. Check out my Heart Monitor Review page for suggestions.

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{ 11 comments }

Mark October 18, 2008 at 10:19 am

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Joe S. October 19, 2008 at 12:47 am

The treadmill is my personal favorite for cardio, however I also enjoy going for long walks right around my neigborhood. The change of scenery keeps me from getting bored. I’ll chose to do that until it start snowing.

Zane October 19, 2008 at 8:02 am

Joe S.

I agree.

I find it is essential that you vary your cardio workouts, so as to avoid getting bored.

Janet October 19, 2008 at 7:22 pm

I love Elliptical machines, they don’t bother my knees as much as running does. Generally I think it is good to rotate different machines so your body doesn’t get used to them.

Jessica October 19, 2008 at 10:21 pm

When I was a member at the gym I loved using the Elliptical machines. For me it was almost a cross between the exercise bike and treadmill with low impact.

Charlie Hills October 20, 2008 at 7:25 am

I like a lot of these machines and have had success in the past. The trick is just getting to them.

Rachel October 20, 2008 at 2:28 pm

My favorite cardio equipment is Treadmill. I bought it once I had a baby and just did not have time to go for a jog. I missed my cardio workouts a lot and moreover I had to shed the post pregnancy pounds so I got myself a Treadmill and had it installed in my room. I could workout and babysit at the same time. I still use it every day. A good 30 mins on the treadmill in the morning keep me refreshed all day long.

Charlie Hills October 21, 2008 at 7:42 am

Whoa, Rachel! You almost scared me away from treadmills forever with this statement, “I bought it once I had a baby.”

;)

Lynn October 21, 2008 at 8:21 am

I like the ideal of variety in my cardio workout. It keeps me motivated and the boredom away. This is why being a gym member has its advantages over owning a single a machine at home.

Levi October 25, 2008 at 1:07 pm

I guess I’m a little biased, but I’ll throw my vote in there for the outdoor bicycle. Lots of great cardio benefits, plus fresh air and changing scenery!

I would agree - it’s great to get outdoors when you can.

Sadie October 29, 2008 at 9:21 am

In May my husband and I are moving back to our home town. My mom has an elliptical that serves as a clothes hanger in her bedroom at the moment and when we get there she’s going to let me have it. I’m so excited! I’m going to set it up in an extra bedroom with a TV. I think I’ll use it a lot more with a TV in there because I won’t be paying as much attention to how long I’m on it.

I really screwed up when we finished the basement and I didn’t put a cable connection in the workout room - I would so like a nice little LCD TV in front of my treadmill.

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