Is It OK to Elliptical Every Day?

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Using an elliptical machine on the regular is an effective workout routine that could bear fruits in the long run, so it is ok to elliptical often, but not every day. However, using the elliptical solely is not a great idea. It is advisable to do it alongside other forms of resistance training and add a rest day as well so as to get the best results. To answer the question “Is It OK to Elliptical Every Day?” in a more detailed manner, read on.

For a little bit of background; an elliptical is a cardio machine that helps with working out both lower and upper body muscles. It also does a good job of relieving pressure on the joints during a rigorous workout. Many people hope to achieve a ripped body but don’t know what to do or how to use an elliptical. I’ll take you through how you can use an elliptical and some basic tips that could help with your workout.

Should Get on The Elliptical Every Day?

Your body needs time to adjust and heal the muscles that are engaged in rigorous workouts. Using the elliptical every morning could result in overstretching your muscles which could cause muscle raptures in the long term. You should incorporate at least one day of rest after seven days of training. However, if you feel the urge to train, you should consider engaging other muscle groups in your workout, strength training perhaps might just do the trick. Strength training could range from push-ups to pull-ups, squats, and lunges.

It’s essential to also lookout for signs of overtraining. Mostly you’ll have trouble sleeping and feel burned out. This will be an indication that you need to slow things down a little bit.

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Burning Calories on An Elliptical Machine

Cardiovascular training is an essential aspect of any form of a weight-loss program. It is recommended to do at least 75 to 150 minutes per week of intense cardio training to achieve a lean body. High-intensity training is basically an activity that gets your heart pumping at a higher rate. These cardiovascular activities can range from cycling, swimming, running, and working out on an elliptical machine.

Studies have shown that you can burn up to 365 calories on the elliptical machine for only an hour of moderate training. You should keep in mind though, that the calories burnt entirely depend on weight, gender, and other personal traits. This means you shouldn’t pay much attention to the number of calories indicated on the machine that you’ve burnt.

HIIT Workouts on Elliptical Machines

To spice up your training, consider trying high-intensity interval training (HIIT) rather than moderate or steady-state workouts. To pull off the HIIT training, it’s advised to increase the resistance and your speed for every set of 30 seconds on the machine. You’ll also need to ensure approximately 2 mins after every set for recovery. Ensure you repeat these steps until you’ve achieved your preferred time allotment. Adding a short cool down and warm up to your workout will help a great deal.

What makes HIIT more effective than a moderate workout is that it enhances your metabolism, and this brings about an afterburn effect which leads to the burning of some more calories after you complete the sets. The afterburn enhances your body’s ability to burn more calories minutes after the workout and thereby enhancing weight loss. The other advantage is that HIIT boosts your oxygen intake which gives you the endurance to handle difficult tasks.

How Do You Perform Resistance or Strength Training to Achieve Weight Loss?

Using an elliptical is not the epitome of achieving general body fitness. You’ll also need to train other muscle groups to improve your body’s overall performance. You can achieve a shredded body by just doing cardiovascular exercises but with a little bit of strength training, the rewards will be greater. In the long term, you’ll notice that you’ve lost tons of weight plus an increase in your lean muscle mass.

I’d recommend doing resistance training at least two days per week to achieve the best results. Keep in mind that all muscles from your shoulders through to your core and legs should be actively engaged. If you can afford to get a gym membership, access to a set of dumbbells or other strength training equipment’s then go for it. However, for those who can’t, you don’t have to stress yourself, a simple home workout such as push-ups, lunges, and squats are pretty much effective.

Mistakes You Need to Avoid While Using the Elliptical Machine

We’ve had complaints from many users who alleged that the elliptical machine is an ineffective trainer. The reason for this complaint is because most of them are doing it all wrong.

Below are some of the mistakes to avoid while using the elliptical machine.

Leaning on The Static Handles

This is a common mistake that most people do at the gym. Leaning on the static handles at the center of the console won’t give your body enough workload. The body uses its own weight to work up your muscles, so when you transfer that weight to the handles, you’re denying your body a lot of workloads. Avoid slouching on the handles as much as you can. Instead, normalize putting pressure on your core; abs—and imagine that you’re being pulled up to stand tall and straight.

Excessive Use of the ‘Fat Burn’ Button

New trainers are easily duped by the ‘fat burn’ button into thinking that they could lose weight quicker. This option only lets you burn fat at a much lower intensity—which means you won’t be burning calories at a high intensity. To really burn fats fast, resort to an intensive workout that will burn more calories and aid in muscle repair.

Maintaining A Constant Resistance

Over a period of time, your body starts getting used to the amount of resistance you offer it. This makes your workout routine relatively easy. When this happens, it is an indication that you need to add more resistance to your training otherwise you’ll end up hitting an exercise plateau. You should also ensure that the added resistance is movements that your body can perform. As days go by and you continue adding more and more resistance, you’ll notice that your body gets stronger and leaner.