Whether your goal is weight loss, general fitness, or toning your muscles, the elliptical machine workout can be the perfect addition to your current routine.

One of the many elliptical machine benefits is that you can work your lower and upper body at the same time, so it’s great for a smooth, full-body workout to boost your overall health and wellbeing. 

How to use elliptical machines

An elliptical machine is a stationary piece of cardio equipment with leg pedals and handles. Your feet stay on the pedals as you exercise, and your arms move at the same pace, so your movement is entirely controlled by you — it can be as energetic or as gentle as you like!

What are the elliptical machine benefits?

There are plenty of elliptical machine benefits — including weight loss, toning your muscles, and boosting your overall fitness levels with effective cardio. 

1. Add some full-body cardio to your workout

Adding some energy to your workout is easy with an elliptical machine: thanks to its leg pedals and handles, you’ll get a full-body workout. 

An elliptical machine has similar aerobic benefits to a treadmill exercise — but you get the added benefit of a workout for your arms, too. Essential for great health and a vital part of any workout routine, cardio speeds up your heart rate and helps you to strengthen your lungs and muscles.

2. Lose weight while you exercise

Looking to lose weight and then tone up? There are many elliptical machine weight loss benefits: depending on the intensity of your workout, you can burn calories and lose body fat quickly. 

For a weight loss workout routine, it’s recommended that you vary the intensity and duration: for example, exercise at high intensity for 60 seconds and then recover — while still moving your legs and arms — for 30 seconds. 

The elliptical machine benefits stomach toning, too: as you work out, you’ll lose overall body fat, and you can then begin to target your abs.

3. Tone up your muscles

Whether you’re new to establishing a workout routine or you’re a regular at your gym classes, the elliptical machine workout is perfect for toning up your muscles in a way that suits you. 

While running and pumping your arms, you can target the muscles in your legs — from your hamstrings to your quads — and your upper body, including your biceps and triceps. 

Want to focus on your legs? You’ll also be able to increase or decrease the incline and lower or raise the foot pedals to target different muscles, meaning a customised workout is simple.  

4. Choose your intensity level

Are you looking for an intense running workout, hill-climbing training, or a low-impact walk? One of the key elliptical machine benefits is that it can be tailored to your fitness levels and your body’s needs. 

If you’re looking for a low-impact cardio workout, the elliptical machine is a great option. Running can place a lot of pressure on your knees, ankles, and hips, but because your feet stay on the pedals while you move,  it mimics the sensation of walking in mid-air, so you can move without pain or injury. 

Equally, if you’re looking for a higher-intensity workout, you can adjust the settings or the incline for a tougher session. Perfect for gentle and rigorous exercise and everything in between!

5. Improve your stamina with interval training

Interval training is a series of exercises designed to help you work harder than you could without taking a break. 

No matter which stage you’re at in your fitness levels, the elliptical machine is a great way to improve your stamina: work out for periods of high-intensity time — for example, 60 seconds of training — and then slow down for 30 seconds of low-intensity jogging. 

This interval training is designed to improve endurance and stamina, so you’ll soon be able to run faster and for longer.

6. Maintain fitness after injury

Another benefit of the elliptical machine is that it’s a great option for those recovering from an injury or suffering from arthritis. While some people may find running on the pavement or even the treadmill hard on their knees, you can use the elliptical machine to simulate a hike or a run without placing excessive pressure on your joints.

What’s the difference between an elliptical machine vs exercise bike?

If you’re creating your workout routine, you may want to know the key differences between an elliptical machine vs exercise bikes, and which one you should choose for your fitness goals. 

While the equipment you choose will be largely dependent on your personal aims — for example, are you looking to train for a long cycling tournament or preparing for a challenging hiking trip? There are a couple of key differences to consider.

• Handles for an upper-body workout

While an exercise bike has handles for you to grip while cycling, it’s a piece of equipment generally used to target the leg muscles. The elliptical machine, however, has moving handles so you can give your upper body muscles a workout too — perfect for your quads and your biceps.

• Capacity for versatility

If you like a lot of versatility in your workout, an elliptical machine may better suit you: you can walk, climb or run with the same piece of equipment, so it’s easy to switch up your daily routine. However, if you’re looking for different levels of intensity with the same exercise, an exercise bike is a perfect way to build your cycling stamina.

Ready to build an elliptical machine into your workout routine? At Fitkit UK, we offer a range of elliptical machines to focus both your energy and your training.