Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Dueling Cardio Machines

These days, there are more cardio machines than ever before to choose from at the gym. Being able to vary your workout by means of so many different machines is great, but too many options can be overwhelming, especially if you're new to exercise (or returning to it after a break).

How do you know which form of cardio might suit you? Let's check out two common machines, and see if we have a good match for you.

Recumbent Bike This form of cardio exercise is great for beginners. It's not the greatest calorie burner -- because your body is sitting during the exercise, you are only working your leg muscles. That said, you can still ramp up the resistance to push yourself as much as possible. You might want to consider doing some light arm exercises while you bike, like biceps curls or shoulder presses, to get your heart rate up.

Rowing Machine I love this form of cardio for a change of pace. It allows you to work several different muscles simultaneously. You can tone your back, biceps, and quads — all while working your cardiopulmonary system. To get the most out of this exercise, keep the resistance at a minimum of 3. Make sure to press through your heels as you extend your legs. Keep your abs tight and relax your neck and shoulders. To target different back muscles, alternate an overhand grip with an underhand one every five minutes.

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