Cardio (short for cardiovascular exercise), can be defined as any exercise movement that elevates the heart rate for an extended period of time. Foe some, cardio is a dreaded term and for others it’s an activity that they just can’t get enough of. No matter which angle you look at it from, cardio is a key ingredient that should not be left out of any fat loss program.
There are many different machines that are used for cardiovascular exercise. The machines that will be discussed here are the elliptical trainer, the treadmill, the stationary bicycle, and the stair climber:
– The Elliptical Trainer: An elliptical is a stationary exercise machine used to simulate walking or running without causing excessive pressure to the joints, therefore decreasing the risk of injuries. Elliptical trainers offer a non-impact cardio workout that can vary from low to high intensity based on the resistance level that the user sets it on.
– The Treadmill: A treadmill is an exercise machine for walking or running while staying in place. Treadmills offer the benefit of reduced impact because almost all treadmills offer some sort of shock absorption. It can also be great for people who don’t like to walk or run outdoors.
– The Stationary Bicycle: A stationary bike, or exercise bike, is a device with a saddle, pedals, and handle bars arranged as a bicycle, but used as exercise equipment rather than transportation. Exercising on a stationary bicycle is low impact and there is little to no stress on the joints.
– The Stair Climber: A stair climber machine is a machine that resembles a set of stairs. The user steps up each step as the steps move down. This resembles walking up stairs. Stair climbers are good for strengthening and conditioning the leg muscles.
So after looking at some of the top cardio machines used for fitness and fat loss, the best cardio machine for fat loss is arguably the treadmill. Treadmill running not only burns a lot of calories, but it also keeps the joint stress to a minimum. It’s a high impact, high intensity exercise machine that will get you lean and mean.
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