12 Elliptical Mistakes That Can Sabotage Your Workout
Ashley Lewis
The elliptical gets a bad rap for being an ineffective workout tool, but that’s only because most people use it wrong. Tweak these bad habits to get the most out of your workout.
You only ever use the elliptical
Using the same equipment at the gym in the same way every single time is not only monotonous, it can also hinder your ability to meet your fitness goals in the long run. “Working out your body the same way every day can lead to overuse of certain body parts that may result in injuries,” says Ryan Halvorson, senior editor of Idea Health & Fitness Association and a personal trainer in San Diego, California. “You’re making yourself good at one thing. [Eventually] your body will adapt to that specific movement and you’ll plateau.” If you don’t want to give up the elliptical, fitness experts suggest incorporating an elliptical workout into a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) routine; this means you alternate between high-intensity exercise for 30 seconds to a minute and low-intensity exercise for one to two minutes. Instead of an hour straight on the machine, try doing as many burpees or mountain climbers as you can in 30 seconds, then hop on the elliptical for a minute or two to let your muscles recover. But bear in mind that the length of a HIIT session varies from person to person depending on your fitness levels and goals. If you’re unsure how to do HIIT, take advantage of the free personal training sessions that most gyms offer. “You can up the ante, cut your time in half, and burn twice as much,” says Chris Ryan, a certified personal trainer and strength and conditioning specialist in New York City. Check out these treadmill mistakes that make trainers cringe.
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