There are a lot of choices when it comes to workout machines, we take a look at what you should stay away from, and what (and why) are the best exercise machines.
Some are good, and some are not so good.
On this page we are going to take a look at some of the choices you have available and hopefully that will help you find the best exercise machine for you.
Some Machine You Should Stay Away From
If you have ever been awake late at night and turned on the television, you have no doubt seen infomercials for a countless number of workout gimmicks.
A few years ago something called the Shake Weight came out and this device is some kind of spring-loaded weight that you shake back and forth.
Not too long after the Shake Weight came out there was something called the Bodyblade which looks a bit like a bow (as in bow and arrow) and it has the same idea as the Shake Weight, simply shaking the Bodyblade back and forth. Both the Bodyblade and the Shake Weight provide resistance by shaking something back and forth. But in reality, you really don’t need any special equipment if you are just going to hold onto something and shake it back and forth. You can literally pick up anything you have lying around and use it to get the same results.
Some other fitness equipment that I would stay away from would be just about any type of ab machine.
The commercials for machines that are supposed to give you six pack abs make it look so easy to use their product and get a tight, toned core. The fact of the matter is that it takes more than simply exercising your abdominal muscles to get a sixpack. You also have to burn body fat so that the toned muscles underneath will show through.
It’s also true that you really don’t need any expensive machinery to get a great ab workout because there are many different exercises you can do that don’t require any equipment at all.
Now that we have taken a look at some of the equipment and gimmicks you should stay away from, let’s take a look at some good quality machines that you may want to invest in.
Treadmills
Treadmills are probably the most popular and most common cardio exercise machines around.
They are in every gym and in many homes. By simply walking at a brisk pace, you can burn up to 100 calories per mile (runners world). If you walk at 3 mph, you can burn 300 calories per hour. Of course if you take it up a notch and jog or run on a treadmill you can burn up to 1000 calories per hour or more.
With a treadmill you can increase the intensity of your workout as you get in better shape.
You can increase the speed and also increase the incline to give you a more challenging workout.
Further reading:
Treadmill Versus Elliptical – Which Machine Is Right for You?
Elliptical Trainer
An elliptical trainer is one of the best pieces of cardio exercise equipment you can get.
They allow you to get a great, full body workout, while also virtually eliminating any impact on your joints. When you run on a treadmill there is a lot of stress on your knees and hips but the smooth elliptical motion you get with an elliptical trainer keeps your body moving without pounding on your joints.
With an elliptical trainer, you may not be able to burn quite as many calories per hour as you could with a treadmill, but you can still burn approximately 700 to 800 calories per hour.
Further reading:
The Benefits of Working out on an Elliptical Exercise Machine >>
Tips for Finding the Best Elliptical Machine at the Best Price >>
Exercise Bike
Exercise bikes are another piece of equipment that can give you a great workout with minimal stress on your joints.
There can be a little bit of strain on the knees but you still don’t have the pounding that you get from running.
When you ride an exercise bike, you can expect to burn about 100 calories for every 4 miles that you ride.
N.B. Exercise bikes require caution.
Rowing Machines
When you watch someone rowing, you may think that the act of rowing only works the upper body.
The fact of the matter is that you can work your upper body and lower body all while getting a great cardiovascular workout.
Rowing machines are great because they work many major muscle groups in the arms, legs, and core while also getting your heart pumping. The drawback to rowing machines is that people who have back pain normally have a difficult time with rowing machines. If you are able to use a rowing machine comfortably, you can expect to burn over 1000 calories per hour.
Further reading:
6 Helpful Tips for Choosing the Best Home Workout Equipment >>
Hopefully this brief look at some of the best cardio exercise machines will help you make a decision about which type machine will be best for you.