It’s fair to say that heart disease is now a common problem for society. The modern age of convenience and fast food makes living healthier harder than before. Actually, forget that. It’s not hard to live healthy – It’s just that is so damn easy nowadays to have an unhealthy life style. It is important to combat this by adopting a healthy, active lifestyle. This lifestyle should include daily exercise, eating well, and maintaining an good, healthy, body weight. You are ultimately in control, and should take the necessary steps to help prevent any future hearth problems. You can guess what I’m going to say next! Consider purchasing a cross trainer to help you improve your heart health and well being.

A Cross Trainer Benefits a Healthy Heart

If you’ve read other articles on this site you will know that we are huge supporters of the cross trainer. As we’ve stressed before, you will find that a cross trainer offers you a fantastic cardiovascular workout with limited risk of injury. The smooth workout motions that you get from a cross trainer gets results without the risk of sustaining injury this is associated with high impact machines such as treadmills.

With a cross trainer, you not only give your heart get a great workout but you also get your arms and legs working too. You really do get a total full body workout. A cross trainer provides a total body workout that is rarely found with exercise machines, which is, of course, brilliant for weight loss. Many independent studies have shown that those who have a lower body weight lower their risk of having heart related health problems.

Getting a Healthy Heart with a Cross Trainer

The good news is that its easy to get started exercising with a cross trainer. Cross trainers come in all price ranges and with many different features. Check out some of our cross trainer reviews. Once you have found the machine that will work for you, begin slowly – it’s important not to over do it when you are starting an exercise program. This goes for any type of exercise equipment, not just cross trainers!

Start out with 30 minute workouts 3 times a week and gradually work your way up. When you have become used to the machine it will benefit you to check out professional cross trainer workout programs.

While an improvement in your heart health may not be apparent straight away, you will certainly see a significant difference and improvement in the long term. Having a healthy heart is a marathon, not a sprint. Your heart will become healthier as you begin strengthening it through regular workouts on your cross trainer. The more you exercise now, the healthier your heart will be in the future. If you are looking to improve your heart health, don’y overlook the benefits of a cross trainer.

The Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer is a lightweight and compact cross trainer that is perfect for use either in the home or at the office. It’s small size means that it can be stored easily, in a cupboard or closet or even under a desk. As you would expect from an elliptical trainer, it is low impact making it great for your joints with the non-slip pedals making for a very safe workout. The Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer doesn’t skimp on features either, it boasts a good quality electronic console with provides you with information on your workout such as elapsed time and calories burned.

So, what else does the Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer give you? Stick with us to find out more.

Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer Features

Overall the Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer is a great quality machine that you might even use instead of going to the fitness center or gym. It’s a great choice if you don’t have a lot of space for a full size elliptical trainer, although it is a trade off against the intensity of the workout that it can give you, in comparison to a full sized cross trainer. The Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer is really just two pedals and the central unit, much like a mini exercise bike but with the motion of a cross trainer. Its diminutive size means you will never struggle to find somewhere to store it. It’s also fantastic if you tend to travel a lot but don’t want to miss your regular workouts.

The Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer has different resistance levels that can be controlled easily so that you can tailor your workout experience to your needs. We were surprised by the effect of the resistance from such a compact unit. At higher levels, after a few minutes use, you can really start to feel the burn.

The on board computer monitor allows you to monitor your progress with it displaying the usual metrics such as calories burned, strides per minute and elapsed time.

Overall the build quality is of a very good standard. The Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer feels solid and sturdy being built from steel, but remains very portable owing to it weighing in at twenty four pounds.

Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer: Easy to Assemble?

This is a question that is worth asking of any equipment, as normally you open the box to be met with a pile of metal, nuts and bolts. Refreshingly, the Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer is easy to assemble, partly owing to its compact size. There aren’t lots of individual parts, and the unit can be assembled in a matter of minutes rather than hours! You’ll be working out before you know it!

Once assembled, as mentioned earlier, it can be moved around with ease meaning that you can be very flexible in your choice of place to work out. For me, it’s great if you want to work out in front of your television whilst watching your favourite show.

What Kind of Work Out can you Expect from the Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer ?

It’s fair to say that the intensity of the work out that you get from the Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer won’t be as high as what you would get from a full size cross trainer or elliptical machine. But then, it is unfair to compare it to a full sized elliptical trainer, as it is not aimed to be in competition with those. What the Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer gives you is a decent lower body workout with the ability to be extremely flexible in where you choose to work out. Compared to other portable or mini cross trainers, the Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer is an excellent choice. It will help you get your heart rate up and burn some decent calories.

Does it Fit my Budget?

The Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer is fairly competitively priced compared to similar mini or portable cross trainers. When compared to full sized cross trainers, it’s much smaller and much cheaper so is perfect for anyone with a small budget whilst still giving great performance. This goes a long way toward making the Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer a great purchase.

Cross trainers, or ellipticals, are a great choice if you are looking to purchase home exercise equipment. As discussed in depth on this site, there are many advantages to using a cross trainer. They are low impact, meaning that they are great on the joints which lessens the likeihood of injury compared to other fitness equipment such as a treadmill. Cross trainers also do a great job in helping you get a fantastic workout. There are particularly effective for high intensity interval training, whilst remaining extremely controlled and safe to use. Cross trainers are a fantastic all round fitness tool, so long as you have the right one!

To help in making that choice we, along with bringing you articles on cross trainer fitness, will strive to bring you unbiased cross trainer reviews. The cross trainer reviews you will find here are well researched and as up to date as possible. The idea is to help you make an informed choice regarding which cross trainer you purchase ensuring that you get one which meets your needs and your budget.

The cross trainer reviews you will find here will give you the facts you need. We’re certainly not here to advise you to purchase a substandard product! If we review something that we fell is not worth you hard earned cash then we will tell you! So, on with the cross trainer reviews.

Cross Trainer Reviews Comparison Chart
Rank	Name	Quality	Ease Of Use	Features	Info
	Schwinn 420 Elliptical				Review
	Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer				Review

The Schwinn 420 elliptical or cross trainer is a fantastic looking machine. Everything about it shouts out excellent build quality as you would expect with Schwinn exercise equipment. It is fairly substantial in terms of size, and you get the feeling that it is built to last. Read on for our Schwinn 420 elliptical review.

Schwinn 420 Elliptical – Our Initial Thoughts

As with most exercise equipment, your first experience of your own Schwinn 420 Elliptical will be to unbox it and put it together. This can be a little fiddly and will certainly be a challenge if you attempt it on your own, so we recommend roping in someone else to lend a hand. Once assembled however, the Schwinn 420 feels like an extremely solid machine and proves to be very stable.

The sturdiness of the machine is backed up by the fact that the Schwinn 420 elliptical is rated for users of up to 300 pounds, which is fairly impressive for a piece of home exercise equipment. We talk a lot about stride length on this site, so it’s certainly worth mentioning that the stride length on the Schwinn 420 is 18 inches. This is a decent length, making it ideal for people of average height up to around 6 feet and above. If you are a lot taller than that however, then the stride distance will probably be too short. As ever, if in doubt, look into trying the machine out before you buy.

In terms of build and features the Schwinn 420 elliptical isn’t found wanting. It has dual action drive which means it can be used equally well in a forwards or reverse motion, which can help you vary your workout. It makes use of magnetic (or eddy current/ECB) resistance, which means it is quiet in operation and the motion is smooth contributing to an excellent workout experience.

The Schwinn 420 Elliptical – Can you Resist?

Talking about resistance, the Schwinn 420 elliptical offers 16 different, computer controlled, resistance levels which really helps you add variety to your workout and helps ensure that it always remains challenging. Being computer controlled, changing the resistance is as simple as pressing a button so can be done during your workout with the minimum of fuss. If changing the resistance manually isn’t your thing, then you can benefit from the 12 built in fitness programs. Just set the program and start exercising – easy!

The range of programs ensures that you can always find a challenging workout when using the Schwinn 420. In addition to the 12 built in programs, there is also a fitness test feature, which is a great way of checking out how much progress with your fitness you have made. There are also six user profile workouts which is great if more than one person regularly uses the machine. One additional program feature of note is the quick start feature which does exactly as it sounds – Get on, Set Your Resistance and Start Exercising.

The computer console boasts an LCD display which gives you all the metrics you need to be able to track your workout. Metrics such as elapsed time, resistance level, burned calories, distance travelled, speed and your heart rate are all present and correct. On the subject of the heart rate monitor, the sensors are built into the cross trainer’s handlebars. It gives a decent reading, but if you are serious about monitoring your heart rate accurately then you may want to consider purchasing an independent reader such as one from Polar.

Other features of note on the Schwinn 420 elliptical include the magazine rack, for those of you that like to read whilst working out, and the water bottle holder which is conveniently placed.

To summarise, the Schwinn 420 cross trainer is a great quality, sturdy and reliable trainer boasting excellent build quality. Given a mid-range price range the quality is such that it is a worthy competitor to many more expensive cross trainers whilst also including many of the features you would find on those more expensive models. Overall, the Schwinn 420 elliptical offers excellent value for money.

Due to all the great cross trainer benefits we’re always talking about on this site, you are no doubt keen to look into buying a cross trainer of your own. Ok, whilst I can’t take credit for your decision I can offer some tips if you are looking to purchase a cross trainer, especially if you are looking to purchase one online. So, without further ado….

Buying a Cross Trainer Online

Given the great prices that can be found, a lot of people are now doing their shopping online. This is no different when it comes to exercise equipment, and there are many excellent reasons for buying a cross trainer on the internet. The main advantage of course is the price, but there are others such as the ability to view many models in one place (far more than there would be in a store) and the ability to read real customer reviews which all adds up to making your buying decision that much easier (or at least, more informed!).

A word of warning when buying a cross trainer online however. Before you click the purchase button make sure that you have done your research to ensure that you get the perfect cross trainer for you.
Here are the main things to look for.

What to Look Out for When Buying a Cross Trainer

When spending a substantial amount of money on anything it is important to make sure it is right for you. The following represent the things we feel are most important to look out for when buying a cross trainer.

1. Practicality. Most of all you want your cross trainer to be easy to use, as if it’s not it will be unlikely that you will use if regularly, which kind of defeats the purpose! Most cross trainers will work in the same way, but there will be noticeable differences between models and manufacturers. If, for example, you purchase a folding cross trainer then you will want to make sure it folds away, and back again, easily. Another thing to look at pertaining to ease of use would be how easy it is to set up and how easy it is to change resistance levels whilst you are exercising. You want the cross trainer to be as easy to use and adjust as possible.

2. Length of Stride. This is related to the ease of use of the trainer. You will want to buy a cross trainer that fits your stride length. If the stride is too short or too long then you may not get the workout that you desire or it may even be uncomfortable to use. If possible it’s best to look into buying a cross trainer with a variable stride length, although this feature tends to be on more expensive models. What you can do as an alternative is to go and try out a cross trainer at a gym or local store in order to find out your stride length before taking advantage of the cheaper cross trainer prices online.

3. Noise. Although it’s difficult to tell in the gym, cross trainers and other types of exercise equipment can be excessively noisy. This isn’t a problem if you are working out in the gym, but if you are buying a cross trainer for home excessive noise levels will not make you popular with whoever you share your home with. Luckily, there are many cross trainers on the market that are virtually silent in operation (usually those that make use of magnetic resistance). The best thing to do is to try one out in the shop, or take notice of the customer reviews when buying online. Noise is often forgotten when comparing cross trainers, but it is one of the most important features when it comes to living with the machine on a daily basis.

4. Resistance. There are normally two types of resistance when it comes to cross trainers. We recommend the magnetic resistance types. Although they tend to be more expensive, it is often worth it due to their quiet operation and digitally controlled resistance levels.

5. On-board Console. Another feature that is often overlooked, but we recommend paying attention to, is the quality of the on-board console computer and display. When exercising, you need to be able to track your progress. A good quality display will go a long way to helping you do that. Make sure it covers the common metrics such as calories burned, distance travelled and elapsed time. Many models will also come with a heart rate monitor, though you may prefer to use a standalone one such as a Polar. On the subject of the computer console, depending on how you like to work out, you may want or need a cross trainer that has pre-set workout routines built in. This helps you get a good workout without having to think too much about manually adjusting the resistance levels. In our experience, built in programs also help to keep the exercise interesting which really helps with keeping us motivated.

So, those were the main things we think you should look for when buying a cross trainer. We can’t stress enough the importance of doing your research. Read reviews from several sources (including this very site!), check out real customer reviews and, where possible, actually try it out before buying a cross trainer.

Did you know that there is such a thing as a folding elliptical trainer? If there’s one thing you can say about exercise equipment it’s that it is rarely small and compact. This can be a problem for many people because most people don’t have lots of unused space in their home, so finding a place to keep a piece of fitness equipment can be a challenge. In many cases the equipment becomes a source of irritation as you have to keep stepping around it, or you end up using it as an expensive clothes horse. Many people join a gym, and incur all the expenses that go with it, just to avoid having large, bulky fitness equipment in the home. This is where the folding elliptical trainer comes in.

The Need for a Folding Elliptical Trainer

With the growing trend towards people wanting to work out at home rather than pay for expensive gym memberships, fitness equipment manufacturers have taken notice of the need to produce more compact exercise equipment that can be stored away more easily. Folding exercise equipment such as a foldable exercise bike or a folding elliptical trainer have become very popular with consumers. Folding cross trainers are relatively new compared to other types of folding exercise equipment, but they are quickly growing in popularity as people come to be aware of the fitness benefits of cross trainers. Now said to be more popular than comparable folding treadmills or exercise bikes, a folding elliptical trainer offers the dual benefits of being as good as a fixed crossed trainer (in many cases), whilst being perfect for people with limited space in their home.

Because the folding elliptical trainer is relatively new compared to other types of exercise equipment it can be harder to find, with there not being lots of models to choose from. Many high street stores and retailers won’t keep folding cross trainers in stock, but you will find that you will have more luck in finding one online. There are many online retailers, such as Amazon, that stock folding elliptical trainers, and you should be able to find one to fit most budgets.

Buying a Used Folding Elliptical Trainer

If price is a major consideration then it may benefit you to look for a used folding elliptical trainer. Used models will often be far cheaper than those from a retailer, and you can often get yourself a bargain. Ebay is a great place to look but, as with buying anything that is used, it will be worth checking it out in person before handing over your hard earned cash.

Have you just started using a cross trainer, or elliptical, and are looking for an effective cross trainer workout program ? Cross trainers are becoming increasingly popular, both at the gym and at home due to the fact that they combine the effectiveness of the treadmill, stair climber (stepper) and the exercise bike to give you a full body workout. You certainly get a lot of bang for your buck, hence the cross trainer name. Alternatively, it is referred to as an elliptical which describes the oval motion of the legs whilst in use.

The Benefits of a Cross Trainer Workout Program

A quality cross trainer workout program will give you both a comprehensive full body workout, which is perfect for building strength in muscles you never knew you had, and an excellent cardio workout which will really get your heart rate up. The real benefit of a cross trainer workout program is that it enables you to work on both your upper and lower body at the same time, which gives it an advantage over other types of exercise program. An added bonus is that working out on a cross trainer is fairly low impact which means that there is little chance of injury to the joints which, in turn, helps minimise any disruption to your workout routine. This is great as the key to any cross trainer workout program is consistency. It only works if you use it!

What Can You Expect from a Cross Trainer Workout Program?

A cross trainer gives your legs a similar workout to what you would get from jogging, or running on a treadmill, but with out the stress on your joints that the impact nature of jogging gives. A cross trainer is load bearing so the impact on the joints is minimised given that you are in constant contact with the machine. This quality makes the cross trainer popular amongst those with lower fitness levels or with people recuperating or recovering from injury. All in all it is one of the safer ways to workout.

Due to the dual action nature of a cross trainer many fitness experts believe that you can burn more calories when doing a cross trainer workout program than you would if following a comparable program on a different machine. In terms of how a workout on a cross trainer feels, I would say it is closest to the experience you get using a treadmill, whilst feeling more controlled. At the end of a training session on an elliptical your body certainly knows that it has been working out!

A cross trainer workout program is no different to a work out program for any other kind of exercise in that it is best to start off slowly, discover your limits then, as you get stronger and fitter, adjust the machine to make the workout more challenging.

Most modern cross trainers will have built in workout programs which you can use to begin with, or use as a benchmark of where your fitness levels are. Built in programs are fine, but as you get used to working out on the cross trainer you will want to develop your own workout plan. A cross trainer makes this easy as changing the speed or the resistance level is normally as easy as pushing a button. This makes a cross trainer ideal for those of you that are in to interval training, be it resistance based interval training or speed based interval training.

Interval training on a cross trainer is fantastic for weight loss with out the issues you can often find when interval training on a treadmill. Of course, if weight loss or strength isn’t your primary goal and you just want to build stamina and endurance or have a quality cardio session, then a cross trainer is great for that too. It really is an all purpose fitness machine.
So, we’ve discussed the benefits of a cross trainer workout program. What about the details of the program itself? Lets outline a workout plan.

Getting started with a Cross Trainer: A Beginners Guide

Whatever your goal, be it weight loss, improved fitness levels or greater stamina and strength then it is important to bear a few things in mind with regard to your workout program. As with any fitness machine short exercise sessions won’t be beneficial. Any cross trainer workout program has to have you working out on the elliptical machine for a minimum of 25 minutes but ideally at least 40 to 60 minutes. The reason for this is that it takes a while to warm up, and you most likely will not have gotten your heart rate up to the desired level to around 15 or 20 minutes into the session.

Now when I say 40 or 60 minutes this does not necessarily mean that it is continuous exercise. By all means, have cool down periods, especially if you are interval training. The important thing is that you use the machine for a sustained period of time. By doing this you will really start to see the benefits that a cross trainer can give you. Of course, as well as exercising for a sustained period during a training session, it is also important to keep the training sessions themselves as regular as possible. Many experts say you should be aiming to workout (cardio) between three and five times a week.

So, this forms the basis of our cross trainer workout program. First you need to find your limits depending on your fitness level, but aim to work out for between 20 and 60 minutes, three or four times a week.

High Intensity Interval Training: For the Fitter and Experienced Trainers

For those of you looking to get a high intensity workout on a cross trainer, carry on reading. Interval training, as mentioned above is about short bursts of high intensity activity designed to get you heart rate high for short periods followed by a period of recovery. The following describes a high intensity interval based cross trainer workout program.

Start: A low or medium resistance warm up for around 5 minutes
Interval: Go as fast as you can on the trainer for around 15 or 20 seconds, then follow this with 30 or 45 seconds at a lower resistance level or lower speed (depending on the type of interval training you are focusing on). Repeat this cycle for as long as your workout session lasts.
Cool down: End on a lower speed and resistance for approximately 5 minutes or until you feel your heart rate is at a normal level.

Given the high intensity of this type of workout it is important to know your limits and to speak with a medical professional before starting out on a new fitness regime.

Hopefully this introduction to a cross trainer workout program has been useful. We will talk about ways to vary your cross trainer workout program in future articles.

Well, you’ve arrived at this site, so I’m guessing you know a little of this already, but what is a cross trainer exactly? If you’re new to this kind of exercise machine the aim here is to give an overview of what a cross trainer is, the advantages and disadvantages of a cross trainer, and what a cross trainer can do for you. So, let’s get started!

Help – What is a Cross Trainer?!

In a nutshell a cross trainer is the perfect all round fitness or exercise machine. If you have been to a gym or fitness center you will have seen one. It’s the one where the person exercising looks a little like they are cross country skiing, whilst looking slightly daft. In all seriousness though, yes the movement looks a little unusual if you are used to a treadmill or exercise bike, but the benefits are fantastic as a cross trainer helps you work both your upper and lower body at the same time. And the best bit? You can also get one designed for home use, if going to the gym is not for you.

What is a Cross Trainer like to use?

Like any exercise machine, the experience you have with it will vary from model to model. Lower cost models will tend to have less features than more expensive types. An example of a feature you might want to look for is whether the cross trainer has adjustable pedals so that you can change the angle that your feet are positioned at. Lower end models tend not to have this feature. That’s not to say that you have to purchase a more expensive model, just that you will want to do a comparison of the cross trainer features before handing over your hard earned cash.

One feature you should take notice of regardless of model is the stride length that he cross trainer has. The best cross trainers have a stride length of up to twenty three or twenty four inches, which really allows you to stretch your legs. Budget machines tend to have a shorter stride length which contributes to you getting a much less effective workout. The best way to find a cross trainer that suits your stride is to actually try one out in the store or at your local gym. The best cross trainers with the longer stride deliver a much smoother workout as you take longer strides rather than short fast steps. It is the movement of the longer stride that really works out those upper leg muscles.

What is a Cross Trainer like for Muscle Development?

Here, it is all about the resistance. The better the resistance mechanism of the cross trainer the better the workout. A cross trainer benefits strength and muscle development, like any exercise machine, provided you have the resistance set correctly.

Cross trainers tend to use one of two ways of generating resistance. You are ones that generate resistance using a flywheel and belt, often found on less expensive models. The other type of resistance mechanism is magnetic resistance, which tends to be the resistance method of choice on the more expensive cross trainers. The machines you find at your local gym will most likely use magnetic resistance (or eddy current as it is often referred to). If your budget permits, I would suggest looking into types of magnetic cross trainer.

Monitoring Your Workout

Just about all cross trainers will come with a heart rate monitor, though the quality of the monitor will vary from model to model. The most common kind are ‘pulse grips’, which are often built into the cross trainer’s handles. If accuracy is very important to you however, I would suggest purchasing a separate monitor such as Polar.

As you would expect, along with a pulse rate monitor, a cross trainer also has a (often LCD) display where you can keep track of your workout with metrics such as distance travelled, heart rate, speed and calories burned. If you are in the market for a cross trainer I would pay attention to the quality of the display as it can go a long way towards giving you satisfaction with the trainer. And, after all, it’s important to monitor your progress! The best consoles will have pre-configured work out routines so that you can concentrate on your workout without having to keep manually changing the resistance levels.

So, What is a Cross Trainer Going to Cost Me?

Generally speaking, considering that you get an upper and lower workout machine, cross trainers are reasonably priced. As with everything, there are cheap models and expensive deluxe models, so it really comes down to a trade-off between quality, budget and features.

Check out some of the reviews and price comparisons on this site for a better understanding of what you can get for your money.

Whilst being much less common than recumbent exercise bikes or traditional cross trainers, a recumbent cross trainer is a great option for getting a really good cardiovascular workout, exercising both your upper and lower body whilst offering excellent support.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this type of exercise machine, a recumbent cross trainer is very similar to a recumbent exercise bike. It will have the comfortable, broad seat and excellent back and lower body support that you would expect from a recumbent fitness bike. Where it differs from the bike is that a recumbent cross trainer has moving handlebars attached to the bikes frame. Just like you would with a standard cross trainer, you push and pull on these handle bars whilst cycling on the recumbent cross trainer.

A recumbent cross trainer doesn’t just work out the large lower body muscles like a recumbent bike does. It also helps you to work on your arms, back and chest muscles which means, of course, that you will end up burning far more calories because you are effectively working your upper and lower body at the same time. The cross trainer gives a controlled movement, exercising key muscle groups in much the same way as you would when training with weights. This makes the recumbent cross trainer an excellent piece of exercise equipment when alternating cardio workouts with strength or resistance training.

Getting Comfortable on a Recumbent Cross Trainer

A recumbent exercise machine is all about comfort and support. With a recumbent cross trainer, just like with a recumbent bike, you will find that you can adjust it until it is just right for you. As you would expect, you can adjust the position and height of the seat, the backrest and the handlebars amongst other things. This is quite an important point, but often overlooked, as the primary aim of a recumbent trainer is to give your back support. If the recumbent cross trainer isn’t set up correctly for your size and needs then you may find it uncomfortable to use. A common problem is having the seat in the incorrect position meaning that you are either stretching to pedal or are too cramped. This isn’t a problem exclusive to the cross trainer of course, proper positioning is important on any kind of exercise equipment or machine.

What Kind of Workout can you Expect on a Recumbent Cross Trainer ?

So, what benefits can you expect from using this type of cross trainer during your workout, or even as your sole exercising machine? Well, the answer to this is dependent on what kind of exercise plan you are using. A cross trainer, recumbent or otherwise, excels when used as an alternative to just work training. In our article on cross trainer benefits we talk about the excellent recovery aspect to using a cross trainer in between resistance training sessions. It’s a great way to get in a solid cardio workout if you are primarily a weight trainer.

The great thing about the recumbent cross trainer however is that it also stands up on its own. Because of the range of muscle groups that a cross trainer works out you can use it as your sole piece of exercise equipment. In fact, if I could only buy one piece of fitness equipment I would choose to purchase a cross trainer. The reasons for this are numerous, not least of which is the fact that you will work up to twice as hard on a recumbent trainer than you would on a standard recumbent bike due to the fact that you will be working both the upper and lower body at the same time. Trust me, spend 20 or 30 minutes on a recumbent cross trainer, at a reasonable pace, and you will really start to feel the burn.

There are a great many cross trainer benefits. Our aim with this site is to make you aware of all the benefits of using a cross trainer, or elliptical machine. We’ll do this by bringing you articles and reviews, along with training tips and advice. We hope you’ll enjoy using your cross trainer as much as we do.

Our Look at Cross Trainer Benefits

Top of the list, when it comes to cross trainer benefits, is the general fitness boost that it gives you. By giving you a full body workout, a cross trainer can help you boost your performance in all the other activities that you do. If you are a runner, for example, then a cross trainer can help you run faster, for longer. If you are a swimmer, a cross trainer can help you swim faster. In fact, a cross trainer benefits you in just about any sport or physical activity that you can think of. A cross trainer does this by helping you to improve muscle efficiency, strength and stamina or endurance.

The way a cross trainer benefits your endurance shouldn’t be understated. A high level of endurance is a highly prized attribute in any form of physical activity. The improved endurance you can get from working out regularly on a cross trainer will serve you well in other activities such as swimming and cycling.
Just how many calories can you burn from these activities? Check out our calorie counter below:

How a Cross Trainer Benefits Recovery

Furthermore, a cross trainer benefits your recovery. If you play a lot of sport, by using a cross trainer in between sessions you will help your muscles recover quicker and stronger. Any athlete will tell you that it is a fact that recovery plays a crucial part in any exercise regime and that the right workout can play a huge part in that recovery. This doesn’t just hold true for professional athletes, recovery is an important consideration for people of any fitness level. How often do you hear of people giving up on their exercise program due to tiredness or soreness? It might seem counter intuitive, but in between periods of intense exercise, such as running, football or weight training, working out on a cross trainer can help aid your recovery and help prevent your muscles from stiffening up. A cross trainer is ideally suited to this task as it is load bearing, which minimises risk or chance or injury, and helps your work out multiple muscle groups simultaneously.

The benefits gained to recovery and endurance will also go a long way to help with your motivation. Everyone goes through periods of not wanting to work out, especially if their muscles are tired or sore from recent exertion. This is particularly noticeable in people who use the same workout for each training session. By working out in the same way every time exercise can become tedious, and the muscles you are working out will adapt so that the gains are not as great. A way to combat both tedium and your body getting too used to the same exercises is to vary the workout, or introduce a new workout. Which happily brings us back to discussing cross trainer benefits. A cross trainer is a great piece of equipment to help vary your workout, or as an alternative to your normal workout to help keep things fresh.

We touched on this earlier, but we would like to highlight the fact that the cross trainer is a load bearing type of exercise equipment. As far as benefits go this is quite a significant point as it can go a long way towards injury prevention. A good example where you may be at risk of injury is with jogging, or any sports that require you to run. If you are new to a sport or have just started jogging then there will be stresses on your body that you are not normally used to. In the case of jogging, the impact the exercise has on joints such as the ankles, knees and hips can cause problems. A cross trainer benefits you here by helping you strengthen those muscles and joints in a safe manner meaning that when you do take part in your chosen activity you will be less likely to incur injury.

Likewise, if you were to develop an injury it’s fair to say that use of a cross trainer benefits the recovery and rehabilitation process. Often people suffer setbacks when recovering from injury due to them rushing things a little too much and going back to the activity that caused the problem too soon. A cross trainer is perfect in this situation as it allows you to exercise without putting too much stress on those joints. If you’ve been unable to exercise for a while, using a cross trainer is a great way to get back into it in the comfort of your home. We’re sure you’ll soon appreciate how a cross trainer benefits your fitness!