For many people, exercising at home is the best option, considering the costs of going to the gym and the ease and convenience of working out at home. However, knowing the kind of workout you want to do is helpful in getting the right type of home cardio equipment. Some of the popular home cardio equipment includes ellipticals, treadmills and rowing machines, all of which have pros and cons.
Cardio exercise machines play a key role in helping you to burn calories, lose weight as well as maintain your fitness level. With the many features and varying calorie burning efficiencies that the different cardio equipment offers, it can sometimes be a challenge to decide on the right type of machine. However, before you invest in home cardio equipment, you should do your homework by getting the facts and comparing and contrasting them.
Pros and Cons of Home Cardio Equipment
A popular cardio equipment is the treadmill because of the convenience in using the machine. However, you are likely to burn more calories (600-1,000 per hour) by running, jogging or using the incline during workout over just walking on the machine. Holding on to the handrails provides limited benefit to your workout unless you have difficulties maintaining your balance.
While the elliptical may help you to burn around 600 calories on the hour, running may help you burn even more. If you use low resistance and the rail for support, it also reduces your calorie burning effectiveness. For the best outcome, use high resistance and watch out for the workout results from the elliptical computer as they may be exaggerated.
For a full body workout that is very effective with burning more than 1,000 calories per hour, the rowing machine is recommended. However, rowing may become monotonous and boring but you may overcome this by varying the speeds and distances. Using your arms, legs and torso as you row may lead to better results, but make sure that you have the right posture and that you follow the machine’s instruction in order to avoid injuries.
Choosing the Right Home Cardio Equipment
The decision as to what type of home cardio equipment you should select should not only be based on the calorie burning effectiveness of the machine but on other factors as well. These decision-making issues may include your budget, the durability of the equipment, the terms of the warranty and the resale value. You should also think about your space requirements to store the equipment as well as the machine’s capabilities of reducing injury risks.
Knowing the pros and cons of home cardio equipment such as the ellipticals, treadmills and rowing machines is important in helping you make the appropriate choice. One important factor to note is the calorie burning efficiency of the machines along with how much you can afford and the space available. Being able to exercise at home with the right cardio equipment is a good step in meeting your fitness and weight management needs and goals.
