How To Pick A Cardio Exercise Equipment At The Gym

I can't help but notice how big of a variety of cardio exercise equipments my local gym has each time I walk by them

. I can usually see that these machines are almost always full with people doing their workouts. So, I wonder how many of these people are actually burning as many calories as they should be burning. Actually, there aren't good or bad cardio equipments if you know how to use them. This article will teach you how to burn more calories in less time when you use the right machine properly.

Cardio exercise equipments are not made equal. So, I'm going to categorize them into their level of effectiveness. Here they are:

#1 The Treadmill

The treadmill is the king of cardio exercise equipments. But, you'd have to know how to use it to your advantage. Obviously, running would burn more calories compared to walking. The common mistake that a lot of people make when they're on the treadmill is to either run at a steady, medium speed or hold on to the side rails while walking on an incline or both. There's probably other mistakes out there but these two are very common.

To use the treadmill to more effectively, you'd have to give yourself a little bit more challenge by running at different intensities. For instance, you can warm-up at 3.5 mph for 3 minutes. After warm-up, you can run at a faster pace at 4.5 mph for 20 seconds then increase your speed to 6 mph for another 20 seconds. You can then repeat this sequence without the warm-up section 4 more times then end with a cool-down. This protocol is called high intensity interval training or HIIT and its intensity will help you burn more calories during and after your workout. Beginners can start with this protocol without a problem. Once you've been doing these intervals for 2-3 weeks, you can progress by increasing your speed or your interval time.

So, the next time, you're at the gym, head for the treadmill first and use these instructions for running more effectively.

#2 The Stairmaster

The stairmaster is a great equipment and for good reason. This cardio equipment provides a great, effective alternative when you want to take a break from running. To use the stairmaster, think of high intensity intervals again. Warm-up for a few minutes and climb at a higher speed for your intervals. You can start with 4 intervals at 20 seconds and go up from there. Remember to always cool down or move on to the Elliptical as detailed below.

#3 The Elliptical

The elliptical is probably the busiest cardio machine in the gym. A lot of people tend to like it simply because they don't have to run or lift their foot off the ground when they use it. I put it as the #3 machine because it has its place if you're trying to lose weight. But, it definitely shouldn't be your "go to" equipment if losing fat is your goal.

If you want to use the Elliptical more efficiently, you would have to use it only after you've done your high intensity intervals on the stairmaster or the treadmill. As soon as you're done with your intervals, you can then use the Elliptical for another 20 minutes. This helps you burn any fat that is floating in your blood system so that you don't end up storing it again. When you do your cardio in this sequence, you will be very efficient at burning more calories and more fat in less time.

In summary, you can use the treadmill or the stairmaster for your high intensity intervals then use the elliptical only after you've done your intervals. The rule is not to use the elliptical as a supplement to your cardio routine but not as the only cardio exercise equipment you use. If you use these machines as directed in this article, you will see the fat melt off your body in all the right spots.

by: Anna Dornier

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