How Elliptical Machines Work

If you’ve jumped on an elliptical trainer, you know how great a workout you can have on this newer fitness machine. With its smooth, rhythmic motions, elliptical trainer is ideal workout for anyone looking for a high cardiovascular exercise—without impact of stress and pressure on your joints and back.

Purchasing an elliptical trainer can be tricky, but with a little help, you can make right decision for you. Knowing how an elliptical works will influence which style you purchase—as well as which model you are willing to buy.

Similar to most stationary bikes, when you get onto elliptical trainer and begin to move, program will immediately start. Underneath foot platform is an array of mechanical accoutrements that make your workout experience a great one. As you push pedals in an oval, or elliptical, pattern, machine starts, offering an array of fitness programs. You can adjust fitness level with a mere push of a button on display panel in front of you. The pedal position gives you a choice of moving strokes to work out various muscle groups on your body.

Manual resistance is key component in an elliptical trainer. As you glide methodically along, you can control fitness levels that offer more resistance for a higher-intensity training experience. A user’s body is placed over center of drive wheel for most natural ergonomic positioning possible. This natural position leads to extended times on machine, as well as a more comfortable experience throughout length of workout.

The base of machine is a crank arm attached to a bar. The bar moves in a linear fashion, side-to-side, on one end, while moving in a circular pattern on other. This results in an exercise that is elliptical. The motion of pedals is similar to stationary bike, but feels more natural and less jarring.

Recent studies have shown that sleep deprivation disrupts a series of metabolism and hormonal processes. It causes increased hunger and affects body’s metabolism making it difficult to lose and control weight.

Lack of sleep causes a hormone called cortisol, which controls appetite, to take excess calories and store them as excess body fat. In addition, sleep loss interferes with carbohydrate metabolism which may cause high blood glucose levels. The excess amount of glucose encourages overproduction of insulin, which may lead to diabetes or even obesity.

Furthermore, sleep deprivation can promote weight gain by affecting our behavior. People who lack sleep tended to crave sweets or high carbohydrate, high fat food with low nutrient value. They tend to snack on chips, cakes, pastries, burgers, fries, soft drinks, etc. Though short-term rise in blood sugar, brought on by these snacks, gives a surge of energy, extra calories are not needed by body and must be stored as body fat.