The Cardio Machine, Why It’s An Important Piece Of Your Workouts
October 14, 2009 by Ricardo d Argence
Filed under Health
You’ve probably seen a vast array of cardio machines in your traditional gym. It’s like that all over the country, and there is a reason why each one has so many.
A well structured cardio program obviously plays an important role in any effective fat burning workout plan; but which cardio machines are best and what criteria should we use to determine which machines to focus on?
It need not be a complicated process, but here are the 2 main factors that I would suggest looking out for when deciding which machines to include in your program.
1) The best option upfront is to find a cardio machine that is easy to use. Your goal here is to keep your session short, concise, and highly intensive. This will provide you with more benefits in less time.
The reason a cardio machine is popular is because you don’t have to focus on your balance or form. Well, not too much anyways.
The goal here is to focus in on having high level intensity. The best way to do this is by choosing a basic and straightforward cardio machine.
2) Obviously potential injury is always a concern, so the machine should minimize any risks. When working out one of the main goals is to keep your joints and connective tissues strong and healthy at all times.
For this reason, you should try to stick to machines that produce low impact on your joints and that also don’t aggravate any existing injuries you may have.
It’s also important to experiment with different machines. If you feel uncomfortable or one of them causes discomfort, we recommend staying away from it. Actually, here are a few cardio machines that can work with the criteria we’ve given you today.
Upright Stationary Bike- This is about as straightforward as it gets. It will allow you to focus in on high intensity instead of form and balance.
Another benefit is that it’s a low impact exercise and won’t stress the joints too much. When you look at the technical side, these are easy to program and great for interval-style training.
The Recumbent Bike is the same as the stationary version, but your body is in a seated position. This will take the stress off your lower back, which is important for those suffering from lower back problems.
Treadmill- Just about everyone has used a treadmill once or twice. This gives you the opportunity to run indoors instead of out, and put less of an impact on your joints. If you need more of a challenge, then you can always increase the difficulty.
Stairclimber. A stairclimber can be used by anyone from beginners to advanced. It is another low impact movement and allows you to keep the majority of your focus on putting forth a hard effort. Make sure to avoid leaning on the handle bars as this will reduce the intensity of the workout.
Everything we mentioned today should give you a better understanding of how a cardio machine is important to your fat burning success. We recommend including any one of them in your program.
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