Recumbent Elliptical Machine

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Aaron Leach, fitness director, trains Michael Smith, on a recumbent elliptical Feb. 2, 2017.

What Is A Recumbent Elliptical Machine?

A recumbent elliptical is a piece of exercise equipment that provides all the benefits of an elliptical workout, while sitting in a comfortable position. These machines are perfect for different types of workouts, so are suitable for most people, as they work the entire body, with the use of the arm handles and the pedals for the feet. The included handles allow for the upper body to be worked as well as the lower by way of the strides.

Recumbent machines



not only work the entire body and provide an effective cardio workout, they are efficient at working a greater proportion of muscle groups, and this results in a more efficient workout. Whether you are looking for a machine to do cardiovascular exercise, resistance training, rehabilitation or muscular endurance training, recumbent elliptical machines are useful in challenging you and helping you reach your exercise goals.

Easier On The Joints



The movements that are made when using a recumbent elliptical are much easier on your joints than other exercise equipment, which means that the risk of injury is lower while at the same time still getting a great cardio vascular workout and effective toning for major muscle groups. Risk of injury is still present however, especially if you are unable to adjust the machine to the proper position to suit your needs.

Choosing The Best Machine



If you are planning on purchasing one of these machines, it is best to familiarize yourself with the different features, materials and designs in order to get the proper machine for you. And if at all possible, try out any exercise equipment before buying, to get a feel of what is comfortable for your body. It is of course better to buy equipment of as high a quality as you can afford, rather than cheaper more inferior products.

Features To Consider



Different recumbent elliptical exercise machines come with different features, so you are bound to find one that will suit your needs.

  • Stable Base

One of the most important considerations is a stable base that ensures that it doesn’t rock during workouts.

  • Adjustable Seat

One feature of recumbent elliptical machines that is useful is an adjustable seat. It is important to also find one that has sufficient back support, to minimize the pressure on your back. With an adjustable seat, you will be able  both to find a comfortable position and one that opens your hip flexors, so as to minimize risks of lower back pain and injury.

  • Tracking And Workout Analysis

Something else to consider when choosing a model for purchase is whether it has a tracking and analysis feature to help you measure whether you are meeting your personal exercise goals. Most modern exercise machines have built-in computers that monitor different functions including the total workout time, speed, revolutions per minute (RPM), calories burned and heart rate.

  • Resistance Levels

Resistance levels is another important consideration because as you progress in your workouts and your fitness levels increase it’s important to challenge your body and that is when a diverse offering in resistance adjustment is very important. Changing the resistance level makes the workout harder and this is another way of measuring your progress. You can also, of course, lower the resistance to make an easier workout if you have done something else also, or to help you recover progressively from injury.

Typical Features Found On Recumbent Elliptical Machines

• inclusion of upper body workouts;
• A range of resistance levels;
• Seat adjustment features that optimize comfort and safety;
• Adjustable incline.
• Number of pre-programmed workouts that will enable you to reach your target heart rate zones.
• Stride length this is important for providing the most comfortable range of motion.
• Display – Is it easy to read? Easy to control and access while working out?
• Tracking and Analysis features: show calories burned, your average and maximum heart rate, carbs burned, strides per minute, distance, etc…
• Ability to program and save data for one or more users.
• Foldable versus non foldable models.
• Different sizes are offered to ensure proper fit at home or in a commercial setting.

Top Rated Brands And Models Based On Customer Reviews

One example of a recumbent elliptical machine is the HCI PhysioStep. This machine offers many of the features that have been mentioned above and can be used in many different environments, such as your home, as well as hospitals and physiotherapy clinics.
Because it is so versatile, it is possible to choose from a number of different workouts and levels to suit your needs.

Top Rated Models On Amazon

It is so important to find equipment that makes you feel comfortable, and as you can see, with so many models with different functions, settings, positions and prices, you are bound to find the right machine for you.

New To Weightlifting

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www.figure-competition.comNew To Weight Lifting? Learn Patience!

Many of those who are new to body building or figure competitions expect too much too soon and if you want to continue with this, you will need to learn patience. Most people will know that it’s pretty easy to put on 5 pounds of fat – a summer holiday or a week of non-stop Christmas food and drink will do that for a lot of people – but adding 5 pounds of lean muscle is another story. It also needs a sensible diet that will help your body recover and grow between workouts.



Your training program must increase in intensity as your body starts to fill out. The body needs new challenges regularly, when you are doing good exercise, otherwise it gets lazy and coasts along. Many people seem to think a bodybuilder is all brawn and no brain but the opposite is more often true. Most successful body builders have a strong mind-body connection. Discipline is a part of that, as well as patience and you also need persistence – the ability to continue lifting and dieting until you reach your goals.

But you also need to be able to focus on controlling specific muscle groups during a workout routine.

A good weightlifting routine to increase muscle mass includes exercises such as squats and bench presses: known as “multi-joint” exercises. Some people refer to them as compound movements. This is where the largest muscle groups perform most of the work. But when you shift to muscle building for definition then your routines should include curls and rear dumbbell laterals and also aerobic exercise routines too.

Increase Your Reps



Training for muscle gain involves progressively increasing your repetitions in a good weightlifting routine. You should make every effort to increase repetitions beyond twelve. Once you can hit more than 12 repetitions, then you need to periodically increase your weight at least five percent.
In order to continually be able to achieve muscle gains you need to increase the number of repetitions or increase the weight you are using. For example, if on Monday you were able to do 12 repetitions of squats using 215 pounds during your leg workout, then on Wednesday, increase your weight by 5% to 225 pounds and try to complete six repetitions of squats.

Starting Out



When you start out, creating your own weightlifting routine may be confusing. Hire a professional trainer or minimally, invest in some good bodybuilding videos and books. These should have training routines that you can copy and use for your own workouts.
Early on, your routines will take you through your entire body every four days or so. This offers the least amount of recuperation time for your body. Later, you’ll proceed to a 12 day cycle that triples the recovery time between muscle sets. Eventually you’ll be able to achieve sustainable growth with a training frequency of five to eight days for completing all body parts.

Rewards

You are a bodybuilder, so you’ll start to think of your workout as your reward time. Develop a good weightlifting routine that allows you to achieve the greatest results for a full body workout. That hour you spend at the gym everyday is your quality time. Make the best of it.

Fresh And New

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Fresh And New

If you want to enter a figure competition, (or even if you simply want to stay trim, fit and healthy) you need to keep up your fitness levels, as well as starting or returning to weight lifting. Tired of the same old exercise routines? Try something new for 2019, to keep your workout fun, fresh and interesting. A new workout will challenge your body, so it doesn’t get used to the same routine, and so, improve your fitness and health. Try these:

www.figure-competition.comCombo Workouts

Also known as combo workouts, fusion fitness and hybrid workouts, these classes, whether in a gym or on DVDs get the body working in ways it wouldn’t otherwise, by mixing moves and exercises from different types of workout, including martial arts, yoga and cardio type workouts.  These can include such classes as aerial yoga, piloxing, cardioga, poolates and kayoga. If you think your current workout routine is not doing enough for you then you absolutely need to try a fusion class. It will add an extra dimension for you, more flexibility or strength or aerobic capacity.

A spinner missing a strength component, for instance, could take a class using body weight or resistance bands and free weights to train a wider muscle group. You could pick a class with one of your favorite or current workouts in the name. If you are already doing yoga then try a yoga fusion class such as aerial yoga, piloxing (boxing with Pilates) or poolates. If you need extra flexibility or core strength, then you could try yogilates.



Alternatively, you could try something totally wild and different for you, like one that includes a dance class or kettlebells. Dance Fusion Classes such as Zumba and Masala Bhangra are great for those who are looking for a fun way to burn calories. or improve fitness or you could try belly dancing, hip-hop, or jazz aerobics. If you prefer a home workout, you could try one of the extreme fitness type DVDs, which fuse cardio, pilates, plyometrics and isometric movements. You could of course also try a favorite stand-by – the stationary bike. If you use that alongside a favorite exercise DVD or a floor workout exercise, you will still be getting a mix of exercises.

A 45-minute session can help you burn 600-900 calories an hour, depending on your fitness level and the amount of exertion.

Wellness Coach / Fitness Coach



Staying fit is a lifestyle and if you are serious about going in for a figure or fitness competition or even just staying fit and healthy, you may want to consider seeking the help of a wellness coach or personal trainer. Fitness coaches will push you to greater heights than you might push yourself with exercise and training, they can also improve your form. A fitness coach who has previously competed will also be able to provide advice on diet and how to present yourself on stage. A wellness coach will provide guidance on long-term changes that you can make so you can enjoy a healthy lifestyle for good. The one-on-one approach is similar to that of personal trainers. The only difference is that a wellness coach looks at your lifestyle and habits holistically. They will then determine what strategies will help you achieve your fitness goals. Ask your doctor or personal trainer if they can recommend a wellness coach. Before meeting with a coach, make sure you are ready to commit to making positive changes in your life.

Your Health

If you have not exercised for a long time, or are overweight or have health problems, you must consult your medical adviser before undertaking strenuous exercise. You may need to improve your fitness with a more moderate approach at first and work up to longer term fitness goals.


Walking and swimming are both excellent forms of exercise that can be enjoyed by people at all levels of fitness. And you can enjoy fusion workouts even with these by joining a water aerobics class or using outside gym equipment available along some walks.

Enjoy Your Fitness

Whatever your current level of health and fitness and whatever your goals for the future, enjoy your workout. You will get more from it and be more motivated to continue to reach your personal best.