You might be shocked to hear this, but here goes - elliptical machines and treadmills are the least effective way to work out, period. And in this very article I’m going to explore ways of achieving a workout regimen that is much more effective in burning fat than using those boring machines.
That being said, it should nonetheless be noted that if you are truly happy with your elliptical machine and/or treadmill workout routines, then by all means, go nuts. Regardless of what kind of machine or exercise is most effective, in the long run what matters is how much you are enjoying what you are doing. People who enjoy their workout and find it stimulating are more likely to stick with it in the long run!
Just don’t say that you weren’t warned!
Even though I am a fitness fan myself, I can’t remember the last time I used an exercise machine—such as a bike, an elliptical, or any variety of cardio machine—in any of my own workouts, even to warm up! For years now, my warm-up routine utilizes dumbbells, presses, and bodyweight exercises.
But why are cardio machines are so useless?
Here are a few reasons:
- They’re simply ineffective! Considering the time you put into an elliptical- or treadmill-based workout, you aren’t burning nearly as much fat as you could by doing other, more interesting workouts.
- Elliptical machines and treadmills are terribly expensive, and when you consider some of the other available methods of burning fat and improving your metabolism, it’s hard not to see how purchasing one of these machines for your home is a waste.
- There have been quite a few studies into the effectiveness of various weight-loss machines, and they’ve been shown to be less effective than simply walking, jogging, running, and so forth. Because the ground has various different angles and other abnormalities, you burn more calories as well as train your heart and your muscles to become used to various kinds of environments.
- Incidentally, research has also shown that when you are in a steady-state exercise, you tend to allow yourself to become distracted – say, by listening to music or by watching television. This creates a mind/body disconnect that tends to lower results of using such machines.
- Using a treadmill or an elliptical sound is frankly just boring!
So, what alternatives can you use to fill the gap of cardio machines? Here are a few good suggestions:
- Outdoor wind-sprint workouts: The perfect workout when it comes to achieving a lean, fit, muscular body. Consider the physiques of world-class sprinters with the less-spectacular appearance of your normal marathon runner. Which would you prefer for yourself?
- Jumping rope: Why do you think professional boxers do so much jump roping? It’s fun, but it also requires full-body coordination. Once you are good enough, you can try speed jumping, crossover jumps, double jumps – you name it!
- Kettlebell workouts: High-rep kettlebell snatches and/or swings are the best thing to get your heart pumping and the sweat flowing! Though you can also use dumbbells, kettlebells typically have a better weight to them.
- Rowing machine: While some might argue that this is a cardio machine, the rowing machine offers a full-body workout as well as proper resistance to truly build that muscle and burn fat.
- Hill sprinting: This is simple! All you have to do is run up a hill as fast as possible, and proceed it with a calm walk back – then repeat! This is another classic often used by professional athletes to stay in tip-top shape.
- Shadow boxing: Just what it sounds like! If you’re a little self-conscious, feel free to try this at home.
- Swimming sprints: Similar to hill sprinting, you essentially swim as hard and fast as you can for one lap. Afterwards, you rest for about 15-20 seconds and then do it all again!
- Heavy bag kick-boxing: Any large, weighty bag—such as a speed bag or a rebounding bag—will do for this. A very focused mind/body connection is quite essential for the best results.
I hope that I have at least offered you a few fun ideas for how to shed those pounds in a more rapid-yet-exciting fashion! You can go out and use any of these right away, and even mix it up for the sake of variety. Good luck!
Mike Geary, CPT, CNS, is the author of the internationally Best-Selling Abs program, The Truth About Abs, with readers in 150+ countries. Learn how to lose weight and get a flat stomach and visit his website now.
