Introduction
There are many different equipment and machines that are great for exercise. You can see these in every gym and home of fitness freaks. From treadmills to ellipticals, different fitness equipment serve a particular purpose.
Out of the many types of equipment, the cross trainer is the go-to machine if you are looking to tone up your muscles, build strength, and burn calories. Cross-trainers target almost every major muscle in the body from the arms, shoulders, abdomen, and back to even lower body muscles like the thighs, calves, and also the butt.
There are different types of cross trainers that you can choose to start your trainer workout.
Cross trainers can be used in many different ways. This way, you can get a workout done that would otherwise warranty the use of 2 or 3 different fitness equipment.
Following these 5 tips, you can greatly boost the number of calories and kilojoules you burs while training on your cross-trainer.
5 Ways to Boost your Cross Trainer Workout
Here are ways in which you can boost your cross trainer workout:
- 1. Add intervals in small increments: the main type of training that a cross-trainer helps in is cardiovascular training. By increasing the number of intervals while having high-intensity training, you can easily burn a lot of calories and kilojoules. The way it works is that you will have a short burst of high-intensity workout followed by a slow resting period. This cycle of rest-workout-rest is the main principle that is to be followed. For example- you can have 1 minute of pedaling at full speed followed by 5 minutes of rest. As more and more time passes, your body will get accustomed to this sort of high-intensity cross-trainer session. At this point, you can increase the amount of time you spend in the cross trainer and reduce the resting periods. It should be kept in mind that while on the cross trainer, you are expected to pedal at top speed or as fast as your body will allow.
- 2. Increase the resistance on the cross trainer: One of the easiest ways to boost your cross trainer workout is to simply crank up the resistance. The resistance is a setting that is found in a wide range of fitness equipment and forms the basis of building strength and stamina. By increasing the amount of resistance on the machine, you will need more strength and effort to pedal.
The increased resistance will force your body to burn more kilojoules and help strengthen your upper and lower body.
When starting, begin by increasing the resistance by just enough to feel a difference. Starting too strong can up strain on your muscle and joints and can cause injuries. As you slowly get accustomed to the resistance, increase it again. By doing this, you can add a significant boost to your cross trainer workout without having to even change your original workout routine.
- 3. Going backward is the way forward: This may come across as weird, but by pedaling backward, you can get more out of your cross trainer workout. The muscles in the body all are constantly moving in a certain rhythm. This is especially true when exercising on cross-trainers. By pedaling in the opposite direction, you will at once feel the difference as it is a movement your muscle are not familiar with. This is a great way to improve your balance and trading your quads. For an extra challenge, you can try to squat down while pedaling backward. This is an extremely difficult thing to do and should be done for a short burst of 30 seconds at most. Doing this a couple of times a week will show noticeable changes to your upper legs.
- 4. Let go of the handles: crunches and planks are often associated with strengthening the core. This helps in toning the lower back and abdominal regions of the body. By letting go of the handles of the cross trainer, similar results can be gained thought the workout. To add to that, letting go of the handles also promoted better balance. With all this combined, getting a leaner body becomes a realistic goal. Not having handles to brace yourself will automatically make you use your core muscles to help you retain your balance while pedaling. This constant motion of the cross trainer will help burn more kilojoules and can be a great way to boost your workout.
- 5. Push and Pull: A cross trainer is great for an overall workout. But those who want to take it a step forward can try to move the machine just by pushing and pulling on the handles. In order to do so, you may need to reduce the resistance. By pushing and pulling on the handles the movement of the cross trainer will solely be done using your upper body. Pushing will help tone and strengthen your triceps while pulling will tone your biceps. While attempting this type of workout, it is essential to keep your back absolutely straight for good form and to avoid any injuries. Mix using the cross trainer in this fashion with the normal pedaling in spaced intervals to get a full-body workout.
The cross trainer is a great piece of equipment to use to lose weight and also strengthen your muscles. Getting creative with this fitness machine can get you a long way in terms of health and fitness. As a cautionary point, you should always consult a professional trainer and physician before attempting any sort of high-intensity workout. Different people have different bodies that react in unique ways to workouts. Using a cross trainer will help you get to know the importance of daily exercises and wellness. Keeping this in mind, get on your cross trainer and walk down the path of fitness as you get closer to your dream lean body.
