Life Fitness produces elliptical trainers for commercial gyms and fitness centers as well as for home use. Though each Life Fitness elliptical trainer model functions slightly differently, you can use them all for the same basic aerobic training. Dr. Edward Laskowski, a Mayo Clinic physical medicine specialist, recommends elliptical trainers as a low-impact alternative to treadmill walking or running. Your feet never leave the pedals on an elliptical trainer. Thus, training on an elliptical machine puts less strain on your joints than higher impact forms of exercise.
Step 1
Put on properly fitting athletic shoes before your workout.
Step 2
Complete a five-minute warm-up session before each elliptical workout. Warm-up exercises, such as jumping jacks, brisk walking or running in place, should elevate your heart rate gradually.
Step 3
Place both feet on the elliptical machine's pedals. Grip the machine's handlebars or ski poles to steady yourself.
Step 4
Move your feet forward on the pedals. This motion should trigger the console display to light up.
Step 5
Navigate the available workout modes using the console's keypad. Most Life Fitness elliptical trainers offer a manual mode as well as a variety of preset modes, such as intervals, sprints, endurance training, hills or fat burn. Select the manual mode if you want to set the resistance level and incline yourself throughout the workout. Select a preset mode if you want the machine to automatically adjust these settings.
Step 6
Enter a time in minutes for your workout. Most Life Fitness machines allow you to enter a time limit up to 60 minutes.
Step 7
Enter your age and weight when the machine prompts you to do so. This information allows the machine to more accurately calculate the calories you burn.
Step 8
Adjust the machine's settings according to your preferences. In manual mode, you can adjust the settings at any time. In preset modes, you can adjust the level of difficulty up or down. Exercise at a higher incline to emphasize your quadriceps, hamstrings and gluteus maximus muscles, or at a lower incline to emphasize your calf muscles and lower legs. Increase the resistance level to focus on strength training, or pedal faster at a lower resistance level to focus on cardiovascular training.
Tips and Warnings
- Vary the workout modes you select to keep your elliptical workouts interesting. You might select the interval mode one day and a hill mode the next day. As you get stronger and fitter, continue increasing the difficulty level of your elliptical workouts, either by selecting more difficult preset workout modes or by increasing the resistance level or pedaling faster. All Life Fitness elliptical trainers have racks on the consoles where you can place books, magazines or newspapers. When you multitask by reading, listening to music or watching TV, you might find that your workout goes by more quickly.
- Consult your doctor before you start any exercise program.
Things You'll Need
- Athletic shoes
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