Cross Trainers also known as Elliptical Trainers are a low impact way to tone your upper body and your legs at the same time, while flexing your stomach and sides with gentle twisting movements. The all-over workout burns calories more effectively than exercising arms and legs only, making cross trainers an ideal way to lose weight. The range of movement builds flexibility, and a few sessions a week on a cross trainer will also improve your general aerobic fitness.
In order to use a cross training machine, you need good balance, and to be able to use both the foot plates and handles in synch. The development of good technique means the head will be upright and the shoulders will be relaxed, the chest out, and the core muscles of the abdomen nicely supporting the entire upper body.
Below the waist, a smooth stepping motion will provide the foundations for the entire interaction between person and machine. You should experience knees, hips and shoulders moving smoothly all as one. As you lose the initial fear of falling off the machine you will relax and not even need to kerp watching your feet.
The main advantages are:
- Low impact exercise, which is gentle on backs, knees, hips and joints
- Weight bearing exercise that helps build bone density and burns calories efficiently
- Suitable for a large range of training needs
- Low maintenance, keeping costs down
- Smaller in size than a treadmill
Points to look out for on cross trainers are:
Flywheel Weight -
This will be given on most models except maybe the most basic and is measured in kilograms. It determines how smooth the movement is on the cross trainer. On very basic models the cross trainer can feel like it is sticking at the top point of the movement. This means the user has to apply more pressure at the top of the movement which can be not good for your knees. It also makes the machine slightly less comfortable to use. The higher the value of the flywheel weight the smoother the movement on the cross trainer.
Resistance Levels -
This indicates the range of resistance levels the machine is capable of. The lower the value the easier it is to move the cross trainer through the movement. The higher the value the harder it is to move the cross trainer through the movement. Obviously the more levels of resistance there are the more variety available. You could use a low resistance level at high speed to increase the heart rate. Or you could use a high resistance level at low speed to increase the heart rate. The second option will also improve muscle tone in the lower parts of the body, but will not increase stress impact.
Pivoting Footplates -
Some models will have pivoting footplates. This means as you use the cross trainer the foot plates you are standing on change angle to match your natural foot position. The benefit of this is there is no over stretching of the achilles tendon or ankle.
You can categorise cross trainers through the drive system utilised by each device. You can find centre drive, rear drive and front drive cross trainers, on average rear drive requires the least maintance and is the best starter trainer.
An alternative to cross training for weight loss and general toning is to use a Vibration Trainer.
  
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