Archive for October, 2009

Are you bored with your elliptical?

Posted at Wednesday, 28 Oct 2009 in Elliptical Exercises

Learn how to beat exercise boredom to get the most out of your elliptical exercise equipment.

Remember the very first day when you got your shiny piece of fitness equipment? You promised to yourself that you would regularly step on it and burn calories. Time passed by and you found yourself reluctant and too tired to spend your free time on your own elliptical equipment.

bored-girl-on-treadmill

Boredom buster 1
Dance to the beat!

The sound of music can help raise your energy and enthusiasm. Find your favorite tunes while you walk and move on your elliptical. You can listen to slower tunes during warm up and cool down. Upbeat and modern tunes can also help intensify the main part of your workout session. You are sure to enjoy and look forward to having a time alone during exercise as well as a music therapy.

Boredom buster 2
Enrich your knowledge.

Another great option to pass away time is to read audio books. Once you start to read your favorite book, you are sure to look forward to the chapter of the book where you last read. It will allow you to read it while exercising. Use this as a motivation to get that extra push on the exercise machine everyday.

Boredom buster 3
It is all in the program.

You can also make time fly by watching television. Keep up with your all-time favorite shows while burning calories. Television is also a good motivator to help you look forward on spending time on your elliptical.

Boredom buster 4
Instant connection

Your time on the elliptical can also be a good time to catch up on personal conversations with the use of a headset of your mobile phone or telephone. Be cautious when you decide to call up a loved one or friend. You don’t want to talk while you pant out of breath.

Boredom buster 5
What a nice view

You can position your elliptical machine near a window showing a good view. Watching wildlife and admiring the beautiful scenery can make you distracted form the tedium of the workout.

Boredom buster 6
Zen

Try to meditate while you are moving on your elliptical. It will greatly clear your mind from the clutter from work, home or social relationships. Feel each movement and be mindful of your form. You get to exercise both your mind and body at the same time.

Boredom buster 7
Brainstorming time

Think hard and long while you exercise instead of merely walking on your elliptical. Keep a pad of paper and pen handy so you can jot new ideas that pop out of your mind. You could make list of things to do and write down plans for a new project.

Your commitment to fitness includes regular use of your elliptical. Don’t let this useful and expensive equipment go to waste. Consider these boredom busters to keep your workouts as interesting as possible. After all, your purchase of elliptical sparked your interest to be fit. It is up to you to keep that spark alive.

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How you should use your elliptical exercise equipment

Posted at Saturday, 24 Oct 2009 in Elliptical Exercise

Elliptical exercise equipment is a very wise investment you can do for your health. As with any other type of fitness machines, it is inevitable to encounter boredom when using these machines. . Know the basics on how to workout with the help of your elliptical machine. Once you purchase your exercise machine, be sure you develop elliptical trainer workouts that will help you attain cardiovascular health and tone your body without overdoing it. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

how-to-use-an-elliptical-machine

Warm up and cool down
It does not matter whether you are a beginner or on an advanced level of fitness, warm-up and cool down before and after work out is essential every time you use it. Allow a good five minutes to warm up and five minutes to cool down at a slow and steady pace that give you the same feel as a comfortable walk to loosen up your muscles.

Use your Elliptical at least 3x to 5x a week
Plan on working out on your elliptical trainer three to five times a week. You can begin getting your cardiovascular workout thrice a week. Work your way up with five times a week when you get used to the elliptical machine.

Alternate exercise every other day
Your body might not respond as efficiently as it should when you exercise every single day. Chances are your muscles won’t get the rest they need. Muscles need to recuperate and reshape themselves only at rest and not during activity. Stick to every other day so that you can rest your muscles on the days in between until you’ve reached a solid fitness level. You can add a few days in a row if you wish or do other types of exercise on your “off” days.

Add variety into your exercises
Nothing beats boredom when you make a few changes on a workout routine. Vary your speed and exertion level. This is very important to maximize the benefits from your elliptical trainer workouts.

Begin with a slow but steady pace for five minutes, after your five minute warm-up. Follow this with five more minutes at a moderate pace, then five minutes pushing yourself to the maximum you can handle for about five minutes, then bring it back down in reverse (five moderate, five easy, then your cool-down). You can follow this combination for the first few weeks. Once you’ve reached the point where you don’t feel like you’re pushing yourself enough with this, add on until you reach a maximum of about 45 minutes (for the average person).



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