Glider & Weight Loss

Aerobic exercise plays an important role in creating a healthy mind and body, with exercise being associated with a reduced risk for several diseases ranging from heart disease to even some forms of cancer. New advances in exercise technology introduce new workout products into the market each year, most of which can be used to help you lose weight. One more recent introduction to the market is the cardio glider.

How It Works

A glider works like an elliptical machine, but it has a slightly different type of movement. Both machines remove the impact of your feet against the ground, which makes the workout suitable for those with joint issues, especially problems with the knees and ankles. However, the glider creates more of a front-and-back motion, while the elliptical uses more of a circular motion like cross-country skiing.

Aerobic Workout

Performing exercise on a glider creates aerobic exercise. You will see an increase in your heart rate and respiratory rate while you are exercising on the machine. The workout focuses on the muscles of your legs and hips, especially your calves, hamstrings and quadriceps, which expends energy and burns calories as you glide your feet back and forth. The faster you glide, the greater number of calories you can burn per hour on the glider.

Calorie Deficit

For you to have weight loss occur from your work on the glider, you need to create a calorie deficit. A calorie deficit occurs when you burn more calories through exercising on the glider than you take in through your diet. To burn enough calories for this to occur, you need to take part in moderately intense cardio exercise at least 150 minutes a week, although the entire 150 minutes does not have to come from your glider. Following a healthy varied low-calorie diet can also help increase your chances of losing weight while using the machine.

Noticeable Weight Loss

When a calorie deficit occurs, the body turns to other sources of energy, especially the stored fat in your adipose tissue. This fat is broken down into smaller components that can be used to create energy through a process called lipolysis. The broken down components are exposed to oxygen, causing a reaction that creates energy to continue working the muscles through gliding, as well as byproducts like water and carbon dioxide. While the carbon dioxide is placed back into the bloodstream and transported to the lungs to be exhaled from the body, the water is eliminated from the body through sweat and urine. As the byproducts of fat burning exit your body, you see a noticeable change of weight loss on the scale.

Effectiveness

It's important to note that use of a glider may not be appropriate for those who already regularly exercise, or those who require more intense physical activities, like running, to lose weight. Research by the American Council on Exercise suggests that gliders may not produce much more exercise than a brisk walk or jog. However, while this may not be enough for those who regularly exercise, a brisk walking pace or jogging is enough to still start the weight-loss process in those that are not already in peak athletic shape.