subject: Diversifying Your Exercise On The Elliptical [print this page] If you have been using an elliptical as part of your workout for a long time you may be getting bored with your workout routine. There are not a lot of people that understand how important it is to change up their workout every once in a while.
Being on an elliptical can be especially boring if you do not know how to change up the workout. The nature of the machine makes it boring because you do not even have to pick up your feet throughout the workout.
The next time that you get on the elliptical you should try to change up your workout. As you are taking the time to change up your workout you have to make sure that you listen to your body and you stay within your limits.
The more that you know about your body and how it will react to the workout the more beneficial your workout can become. As you are working to make your exercise more enjoyable you have to make sure you are not losing any intensity.
A great way to change your workout up is to pedal backwards. When you are on the machine it is only natural to move your feet in a forward motion and, more than likely, this is how all of the people around you will be using the machine.
Instead of moving your feet in a forward motion you can also try moving your feet in a backwards motion. By doing this you will be targeting a whole new set of muscles in your legs without changing much of anything.
The motion may feel foreign at first and may take some getting used to. When you are able to get used to this motion you will be able to increase the speed at which you are pedaling and you will feel the different muscles being worked.
When you pedal forward you will be pushing forward with your quadriceps and pulling backwards with your calves. As you change up the workout and start to pedal backwards you will be targeting your hamstrings and your calves.
Your hamstrings are often much weaker than then should be. People usually do not take the time to target their hamstring and this muscles is not one that is targeted in day-to-day activities like your quadriceps are.
For some people pedaling backwards is not something that is enjoyable. If you feel that it is going to mess up your balance or it is not giving you an adequate workout you can always change your elliptical routine in a different way.
The next time that you step on the machine you can grab a pair of weights and change your workout. Some people will strap weights to their ankles or to their wrist to give their muscles a better workout.
If you have never used these types of weights before you should start with weights on either your wrists or your ankles and not both. Using both of the weights when you are first starting to use the weights can be very overwhelming.
When you have the weights on your wrists you should not use the handlebars that are attached to the machine. The handlebars that are attached to the machine will take away from the affect of the weights you have.
Instead you should hold your hands at your side like you are running. Pumping your arms and keeping your balance on the machine can be difficult but you will be working your core when you are keeping yourself balanced.
When you put the weights on your ankles you can continue to use the machine as you usually would. The weights will increase the resistance and the intensity of each motion of your leg giving you a better workout.
The more that you are able to change your workout the better of you will be in the long run. By adding changes that keep your workout interesting you will be keeping your muscles engaged and working at their full potential.
Keeping a consistent workout is the most important aspect of your workout. The more that you are able to work out on a consistent basis the better off your body will be.
If this means that you stick with the same workout for a very long time, then so be it. Changing your workout is something that you only need to do when you start to feel bored with the workout you are participating in.
