If you're looking for workout equipment that gives you the chance to train for cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength at the same time, the elliptical machine is what you are looking for. With two pedals and two sets of handlebars, this is a total body workout machine. The dashboard display enables the exerciser to put such details as weight and age so that calories burned are displayed. By switching cardiovascular workouts with strength training sessions, repeated exercise sessions leading to boredom are prevented. "Fat Burn" settings speed up your heart rate and burns more calories by letting you pedal quickly. A "Hill Climb" option allows you build muscle and develop strength by simulating an uphill workout session.

To experience the full benefits of an elliptical machine, you need to actually use it. This might seem a bit obvious (and stupid) but you'd be surprised at how many people actually buy this expensive piece of equipment and just admire it. Also, any weight loss benefit is actually dependent on the amount of time and effort you put in your training sessions with this equipment. If you commit to cardiovascular routines five times a week, you'll certainly burn more calories for greater weight loss. Combined with such resistance exercises as pushups, squats and lunges, you can expect to get a firmer, well-toned body in no time. For strength training sessions on the elliptical, you only need to devote two days a week for it on alternate days and only for about 30 to 50 minutes per session so you give your muscles time to recover and rest.

You can add more excitement and intensity in your elliptical machine sessions by doing high intensity interval training. HIIT, as you may already know, is a type of workout regimen that involves doing short high intensity workouts followed by longer periods of low-intensity exercises. To do HIIT on the elliptical, you can pedal fast for one minute to be followed by a regular pedal for three minutes. Alternate these high and low intensities for a period of twenty minutes to achieve a faster caloric burn. Anytime you feel dizzy or have difficulty breathing, stop the HIIT workout and rest.

The elliptical machine is one versatile piece of exercise equipment. Before doing any workout on this machine, make sure that you give your whole body a ten-minute stretch so you prevent strain and injury. After your main workout, don't forget to cool down by pedaling slowly and giving your body a final stretch. Your main workout session can start with a ten-minute regular pedaling session which you can follow with a high-intensity interval training for 20 minutes.

Using the elliptical is one of the best ways to lose weight and tone muscles. When used on a regular basis, this is one of the best workout machines that you will ever need to use at home. It gives your body immense cardiovascular and strength training benefits that enhance your health and wellbeing and keeps you fit and trim for life.