Do elliptical machines really work that well?
Eddie Cacciatore, Private Eye asked:
I’d switched largely to the elliptical in recent months and while I work out hard on the machine at a high level and burn over 500 calories, according to the machine, I just don’t see the same results from running or even the exercise bike. I find myself softer in certain areas. Is it me?
best elliptical machines
I’d switched largely to the elliptical in recent months and while I work out hard on the machine at a high level and burn over 500 calories, according to the machine, I just don’t see the same results from running or even the exercise bike. I find myself softer in certain areas. Is it me?
best elliptical machines

best elliptical machines
I don’t have one and haven’t tried one so I had to look online to find the answers. Here is what I found out from two websites: “The elliptical trainer provides a high energy, low impact work out. It will increase the heart rate as if the person is in an aerobic exercise, and burn calories at a fast rate while maintaining a low impact work out on your ankles, knees, and joints.
It provides a cardiovascular workout that enables your body to burn fat and calories at the same rate as an aerobic workout. This in turn, builds the bodies muscles and greaten the bodies bone density.”
Here is something from the other site:
“Ellipticals are great in terms of giving you low-impact workouts that can help you lose weight and tone up your entire body.
Another advantage to elliptical machines is that, because of the upper body arm bars, they give you a more full body workout. This results in what experts call a ‘Lower Perceived Rate of Exertion’ which means you actually worked harder than you feel like you worked – and burned more calories.
So working out on an elliptical can actually maximize your workout time and minimize your fatigue.
Elliptical machines can also help you crosstrain and avoid an exercise plateau. This is because several ellipticals now come with adjustable stride lengths and incline or ramp. This means you vary the stride or angle of the elliptical motion, work different sets of muscles and avoid overtraining.
So, for most people elliptical machines work. They help them get fit, lose weight and tone up. However there are cases where elliptical trainers do NOT work.
Again, it goes back to the question – what do you want your elliptical to do for you? If you’re looking to build muscle, an elliptical is not the best machine for you (get a weight stack home gym, free weights or even a Bowflex Crossbow Gym).”
I might have to try one of these to see how I like them.