Finding Your Perfect Fitness Machine Match

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Cardio, Strength or Cross Training: Finding Your Perfect Fitness Machine Match

Whether you work out at a gym or you want to find the perfect piece of exercise equipment for your home, there are a variety of machines that you can use to get a great workout. Some are great for strengthening your muscles, some focus on cardiovascular exercise and still others strike a balance between both.

Depending on what you want to get out of your exercise routine, there are a number of different exercise machines that can help you achieve your fitness goals. Here are some things to think about when deciding to use exercise equipment as well as two of the better options you have at your disposal.

Recognize Your Fitness Goals

If you want to buy a piece of exercise equipment for your home or are deciding which machines to use at your gym, you need to first recognize what you want to get out of your workouts.

The first thing to understand is that you can still strengthen your muscles without lifting heavy weights. Sure, weights will undoubtedly build up your muscles, but maybe you have an injury that prevents you from lifting weights, or maybe you just don’t want to get into that side of exercise. Many pieces of exercise equipment use your natural body weight to build muscle.

Exercise equipment can also help your cardiovascular health at the same time as strengthening your muscles. Equipment like exercise bikes, treadmills and elliptical machines all provide an intense workout that gets your heart rate up and will tone your muscles.

If you want to improve your cardiovascular health and tone your muscles, the follow pieces of equipment may be just what you need.

A Treadmill

Treadmills have been a staple of gyms for decades, and for good reason. They are a perfect way to warm up before more intense exercise, or as a standalone workout that gets your blood flowing and your body sweating.

Treadmills are very versatile because you can walk or run on them as you see fit. Also, models like the Sole F80 treadmill allow you to adjust the incline, so you can feel like you’re running or walking on a smooth city street or climbing a hillside road to the top of a mountain. Not only will a treadmill improve your cardiovascular health, it will help build strong leg muscles.

An Elliptical Machine

Ellipticals allow you to run or walk on them and they also incorporate arm exercises in one smooth motion. These machines are good for people with injuries or arthritis because of their low-impact nature.

A unique feature of an elliptical is that you can do your exercises in reverse as well, so you will tone all of the muscles throughout your body. Like a treadmill, an elliptical will increase your heart rate and strengthen your muscles at the same time.

Exercise machines are a great way to get a workout that builds muscles and strengthens your heart.