If you’re trying to decide between an elliptical trainer and another piece of exercise equipment, consider the workout advantages an elliptical provides. What’s so special about an elliptical workout? Here are 3 unique advantages of using your elliptical trainer to workout

1 Forward & Back Motions Provide Better Workout Results

Almost all elliptical trainers offer both forward and back motion also called dual action motion. This allows you to work different sets of muscle groups in your legs hamstrings vs quads which adds up to more calories burned, more muscles toned and an overall better body workout.

You can’t walk backwards on a treadmill ok, you can but that might be difficult. And peddling backwards on a bike might not be so helpful. The dual action ability of your elliptical trainer helps you work more muscles. Plus you have the potential to burn more calories

2 You Get A Lower Impact Workout

A properly designed elliptical trainer mimics your body’s natural stride – the way your foot moves elliptically when walking, running, or jogging. You stand upright striding in a forward or reverse motion. Your feet never leave the pedals.

Because of this, impact is basically eliminated and there is much less overall stress on your knees, hips and back, joints and back. Just make sure you get a properly designed elliptical trainer – not one of the cheaper department store versions!

Because of the lower impact of an elliptical workout, the elliptical machine is becoming very popular with the older population or those who are more easily prone to sports injury.

3 Upper Body Arm Bars Help You Burn More Calories & Get A Superior Overall Body Workout

Many elliptical trainers offer moveable upper body arm bars. By working both legs and arms, your heart rate elevates more quickly which encourages your body to burn calories faster and more efficiently.

It also results in a lower perceived rate of exertion basically you don’t feel like you worked as hard as you really did. This may mean that you end up burning more calories, even without feeling like you did much of a workout.

By offering upper body arms, an elliptical trainer workout also helps you tone your arms, shoulders and back for better definition.

An elliptical trainer workout has many advantages over other exercise machines. It gives you an overall body workout that burns extra calories and gives you an extra efficient workout. Just make sure you choose one that meets your needs and is properly designed for maximum comfort.

You know what makes exercising on a treadmill so effective in losing weight and getting in shape the ability to adjust the incline. With the push of a button you can adjust the intensity level of your workout to any degree.

If you live in a flatlander state like Illinois and you run or walk outside, youre stuck at one level. With a treadmill you can simulate running or walk on hills or mountains, and that is where you start getting the heart beating and the calories burning.

Breaking Out of the Exercise Rut

For those of us who exercise regularly, we tend to get into a rut. And once you get stuck in a rut you reach a plateau. You find that you are not losing any more weight, and you are not getting in better shape. By changing up your routine and the intensity of your workout you can reach new highs in your personal fitness.

That is why hill and interval training are such popular programs on the treadmill. In fact, one of the hottest trends in exercising and weigh loss is High Intensity Interval Training HIIT. This new form of aerobic exercising manages to get the maximum results in less time. And for us who struggle to find the time to exercise, this type of workout is very attractive.

Treadmill Are Ideal for Interval Training

High Intensity Interval Training requires exercising at high intensity levels for 1-3 minutes, and follow-up with a recovery period that is approximately 2 to 3 times longer. HIIT can apply whether you run or walk. It just is a matter of raising the incline level and getting the heart beating faster.

Treadmills are ideal for aerobic workouts like High Intensity Interval Training. You crank the treadmill up to a high incline for several minutes then reduce the level and slow down to a walk or slow jog. You can either use existing hill or interval programs on the treadmill most at least have hill training, or you can manually control the workout to a level you feel comfortable with.

The important point is get out of the rut. Experiment with different speeds and incline levels. As you start getting comfortable at a certain level for a certain period, increase both the incline and the period of time. The benefits of breaking out of the rut is burning more calories, getting in better shape and breaking up the boredom of your exercise routine.

If you plan to increase your level of exercising, make sure you are physically in shape to handle the intensity. You may want to check with your physician first, particularly if you are just starting back into a fitness routine.

Recently I wrote an article entitled “Terms, Terms, Terms, An Inside look to buying supplements” which can be found on the Gurus and Guests section of my private forum. The article covered many of the misleading marketing terms buyers have to deal with in an attempt to make informed decisions on the supplements they spend their hard earned money on. Some of the more potentially misleading commonly used marketing terms I covered were

“Clinically proven”
“Patented”
“Doctor recommended”
“All natural”
“Scientifically formulated”
“Research proven”
“Used for thousands of years”

Readers interested in understanding why the above terms can be so misleading, can read my write-up on each of those terms.

In a nut shell, I went onto cover each of these common marketing terms that are used to sell supplements to unwitting consumers and explained each in detail as to what I view as their common misuse within the market place.

However, one term I didn’t cover, was “proprietary blend? which in many cases is the most potentially misleading term of them all, though not a term always seen in ads per se, but at the side of the bottle.

Thus, why I felt it was a separate topic to be covered at a later date as it does not fit under the classic definition of a commonly used marketing term found in ads. I also decided to cover this term in a separate article as it requires much more space dedicated to it then the other terms needed for reasons that will be apparent shortly.

Proprietary blends are not inherently a negative for the consumer, though they are inherently confusing for the buyer in most cases.

A supplement that lists a “proprietary blend” on the bottle can be there for one of two reasons

a to prevent the competition from knowing exactly what ratios and amounts of each ingredient present in the formula to prevent the competition from copying their formula exactly commonly referred to as a “knock off” or

b to hide the fact that the formula contains very little of the active ingredients listed on the bottle in an attempt to fool consumers.

Sadly, the latter use is far more common then the former. They see a long list of seemingly impressive ingredients listed in the “proprietary blend” none of which there is amounts that will have any effects. This is commonly referred to as “label decoration” by industry insiders. The former use of the term is a legitimate way for a company of a quality formula from having the competition copy or “knock off” their formula and the latter use of the term is to scam people.

So how does the consumer tell the difference?

They can’t, or at least they can’t without some research and knowledge, which the scam artists know few people have the time and energy to dedicate in finding the answers. Although there are a few tips the consumer can use to decide if a product with a “proprietary blend” is worth trying, no one, not even me, can figure out exactly how much of each ingredient is in the blend or in what ratio of each is contained within the formula, hence why the honest and not-so-honest companies employ “proprietary blends” so often.

Thus, we have something of a conundrum here and conflict between a company making a quality formula attempting to protect that formula from other companies vs. the company simply looking to baffle buyers with BS.

There are at least some basic tips or food for thought here regarding this problem. A formula that contains say 10 ingredients in a “proprietary blend” is by no means defacto superior then one with three ingredients in it. It’s the dose that matters. Clearly, it’s better to have higher amounts of ingredients that will have some effects vs. a long list of ingredients in doses too low to have any effects.

Sometimes it helps to look at both — what’s in the blend and how much of the blend actually exists. As an example, if say the blend is 300mg total and contains ten ingredients, that’s only 30mg per ingredient, assuming and you know what they say about assuming! that each is found in equal amounts. Clearly, for most compounds out there, 30mg wont do jack sh&.

On the other hand, if say the blend is 3000mg 3 grams and contains three or four ingredients, there is at least a better chance that the formula contains enough of each and remember, we can’t tell how much of each is in there as that information is “proprietary” to have some effects you are looking for such as an increase in strength, or a decrease in bodyfat, etc.

Unfortunately, the above examples are so vague as to be close to worthless as it’s easy enough to formulate a 3000mg blend where all the ingredients are worthless to begin with or a 300mg blend that contains compounds that only require small doses to have an effect and or can be toxic at higher doses.

For example, the mineral zinc tends to be no more then 30mg in most formulas and no more is needed nor recommended. Much of this comes down to the consumer knowing what the various ingredients are and how they work to decide if they are even worth using in the first place then deciding if the said blend appears to at least contain a dose that would have the desired effects, which just brings us back to my prior comment most people have neither the time or inclination to research all that info just to decide if they want to use a product and thus the many “proprietary blends” on the market that are no more than a long list of under-dosed ingredients.

Wish I could be of more help giving specific advice to readers of this here article as to what makes a good blend and what constitutes a poorly made blend, but the above advice is the best I can do under the circumstances. Although a “proprietary blend” is not by default a negative to the consumer, it is by all means the poster child for the well-known Latin term Caveat emptor which translates into English as “let the buyer beware”.

Maintaining health is as important if not more so in your retirement years than it was when you were younger. Keeping up a good exercise regime that helps to keep your body in shape as well as building strength can assist in the time of recovery for injuries and operations, as well as help to stave off some diseases and infections. There are several ways in which you can keep your body in shape, but it is also critical that you pay attention to the messages your body is sending in order to avoid any damage that excessive workouts may cause.

The best way to keep yourself in shape as well as enjoy some quality time is to take a daily walk. These walks are great ways to keep aerobically fit as well as to get outside of the house and enjoy some of the scenery in your neighborhood. If you happen to live in an area in which walking is not recommended because of safety concerns or pollution, then you can check out local arenas and other facilities for different options. Many facilities that are funded by local governments also remain open to the public when there are no events in progress- they are ideal for walking around without the pressure of the track or the peril of the outdoors.

A walk can also offer a great opportunity for socialization. Walking with a group can be a fun experience and the journeys will allow you to build long lasting relationships which can spill over after the walk is over, as you gather together for a cool down or for the remainder of the day.

Make sure before attempting any exercise, including walking, that you do a sufficient amount of stretching before you set out. Insufficient stretching can result in long term suffering and the inability to maintain a good walking regime.

As with any exercise, whether you are young or older, you must pay attention to any signals that your body is giving you. Make sure to drink plenty of water before and during your walk to keep properly hydrated. If you begin to feel any sort of pain in your legs, torso, and especially the chest, or any shortness of breath, stop the activity immediately and wait for your body to return to normal. If the pain continues or intensifies, contact some help and go see a doctor this is where walking in groups can come in handy, as there will be someone with you who can go for help or take you to it.

Getting older is no reason to let your health slide- in fact, it can be the most critical time of your life for pursuing a healthy lifestyle in terms of a regular exercise regime. This exercise can be as simple and enjoyable as going for a walk, but it is important to pay attention to whatever signals your body may be sending out if you are overtaxing yourself.

Youve been thinking about it for quite some time now. You know you need to get your butt to the gym and start working out. You know you’ve gotten yourself out of shape and an hour or so in the gym three or four days a week sure wouldn’t hurt.

Ok, so you’ve finally done it. You went down to the local fitness club and spent 2 weeks pay on a one year membership. You even went to the local K-Mart and got yourself some new exercise outfits. Now youre ready to go and get in shape. But before you do, there are a few things you should keep in mind to make your time in the gym productive, enjoyable and most of all, injury free.

WARM UP FIRST this is very important to not only get your blood flowing but to minimize the risk of injury. some good warm up methods include walking on the treadmill for 10-15 minutes starting out at a slower pace then working up to a more brisk pace halfway through. Perform 10 minutes or so of stretching exercises such as toe touches, hurdlers stretches, twisting at the waist and reaching your arms out fully in every direction. before you do any exercises that involve using weights biceps curls for example do one set with half 50 of the weight you’ll be using to prepare the muscles, tendons and ligaments performing the exercise to better handle the heavier weight.

START OUT EASY when you first get to the gym and you are ready to hit the weights, select an amount of weight at first that seems almost too light but still provides some resistance for each exercise. Remember that proper form, posture and technique are far more important than how much weight you are using. Also, you must give your connective tissue tendons and ligaments time to strengthen in order to help prevent injury from the heavier weights you’ll be using later. You can always increase the weight as you go when you can do so without compromising proper form, posture and technique.

When you first get on the treadmill, stationary bike, stair climber or elliptical machine, remember that your heart probably isn’t going to be in the kind of shape to go all out and for this reason you should take it at a slower pace for a while. Each week, pick up the pace and the length of time spent on these machines a little at a time. This will give your heart time to build up to faster paces and longer periods. Remember, your heart is a muscle and like any other muscle, it needs time to adjust to the stresses placed on it during exercise.

KEEP AN EXERCISE LOG one of the best ways to monitor your workouts as well as your progress is to write out your exercise program, stick to it and write in the weights you use for each exercise, and when youre ready to increase the weight on any exercise, write it in.

On the treadmill or any other cardiovascular machine, write in your speeds and length of time spent. when your ready to make increases, write them in. in this way you not only are able to stay on a structured program which is far more productive that having no system but you can also keep track of the progress you are making and see how much progress you have made since you began. When you see that youre making good progress as you go, you will become more motivated to stick with it.

COOL DOWN after you’ve completed your workout, take 10 minutes at a slow pace on the treadmill. This will let your body cool down a little slower and a slower cool down is easier on your heart than if you cooled down quickly. During this time, you can reflect on the workout you just performed and feel the sense of well being that exercise gives you.

Now that you know a few things that will help to make your gym experience a more productive, more enjoyable and more injury free one, you are ready to go and start working on getting the body of your dreams, the right way.

Want to know the secret of six pack abs? The truth is that there is no secret. Here’s how to get six pack abs in six simple steps.

1 – Diet Right
2 – Exercise Right
3 – Cardio Workout
4 – Lower Appetite
5 – Eat Right
6 – Abs Exercise

Diet Right
Trust me, you already have abdominal muscles. They’re just hidden under a layer of fat. Your first step to getting that sexy, ripped look is to eat less. Concentrate first on reducing snacking and when you do snack, eat high-fiber crunchy foods such as carrots or protein bars.

By eating fewer calories each day than your body needs, you force your system to start metabolizing stored energy sources, one of which is fat. However, your body defaults to burning easier energy sources first such as glucose sugar and simple proteins.

That’s where Steps 2 and 3 come in.

Exercise Right
You have to exercise the right way to get your body to burn stored fat. That’s the only way you’ll get rid of that layer of stubborn abdominal fat.

Start with a good all-around exercise program designed to strengthen your major muscle groups. You can do simple exercises at home without any special equipment. Remember gym class where pushups, sit-ups, squats, toe touches and running in place were part of the regular routine?

Establish a regular routine of these every morning. Even 15 minutes will be a big help. Don’t overdo it in the beginning. Gradually increase the intensity of your workout and you are much more likely to stick with it.

Cardio Workout
To kick your body into the fat burning zone, you’ve got to include a variety of cardio workouts. Once you’re in reasonably good shape, start doing things that increase your heart rate for a 10 to 15 minute period.

Avoid doing things with a steady rhythm like walking on a treadmill or jogging. Your body quickly learns to ignore these as requiring fat burning and uses other stored energy sources instead.

Instead, do things like jumping rope, play in pickup basketball games, jump on a stair climber, or use a rowing machine that varies the pace and strength required in different segments of the workout.

Running wind sprints burns way more fat than jogging, so don’t be lazy with your cardio workouts.

Lower Appetite
The best way to lose weight is to reduce your appetite. You have to be careful with appetite suppressants though, as some place unusual stress on your body.

Avoid supplements that include stimulants like ephedra or ephedrine as these can cause rapid heartbeat and other unpleasant side effects.

Stick with natural products like Hoodia that curb your desire for food without stressing out your body.

Eat Right
Eating right is critical to burning fat. The best foods to eat are high-fiber products like oatmeal, steamed vegetables, fruits, and raw vegetables.

These negative calorie foods often require more energy to process than they provide. Plus, their high-fiber content cleanses your body and inhibits absorption of fat and cholesterol.

Since your body relentlessly cycles fluids, always drink plenty of water to maintain proper hydration levels.

Abs Exercise
Once you’ve gotten your diet and exercise program well underway, then add some exercises specific to your abs. Start with leg lifts for overall slimming, then add oblique crunches to sharply define the rib cage transition area.

Doing these while resting your lower back on an exercise ball intensifies the workout and involves additional core muscle groups. Avoid overstressing these muscles in the beginning. Instead, work to gradually include using weights to increase the intensity of your abs workout over time.

Summary
As with any other diet and exercise regimen, there are no overnight results. You spent years building up that layer of abdominal fat. Getting rid of it will take some time and effort.

Make a commitment to reach your desired goal and follow these six simple steps. And that’s how to get six pack abs!