Buying ellipticals without breaking a sweat
Stephanie Venizelos works out every morning, sometimes walking the hills of Watertown, riding the bike path, or, when bad weather drives her indoors, exercising on the elliptical machine at her health club.
During a recent half-hour session on the machine, she figured out that she burned about 25 calories every five minutes. "There's my half of piece of toast I ate this morning," said Venizelos.
Her husband, Steve, also uses the elliptical trainers, and sometimes they compare progress reports. The machines are often so popular there is a wait, especially during the health club "rush hour."
The Venizelos aren't alone in their fondness for the low-impact trainers.
"Elliptical trainers have risen to popularity because they're a nonimpact cardio workout that simulates running or walking," said Amanda Freeman, cofounder of Vital Juice Daily, a health and wellness website. "Unlike most gym equipment, ellipticals have the option of working both the upper and lower body."
Researchers at the University of Mississippi found that elliptical trainers offer the same cardiovascular benefits as treadmill running but without the impact on joints. Physical therapists such as Chris Cesario, a Boston University physical therapist coordinator, often use the machines for working with orthopedic and sports patients, as well as with senior citizens recovering from surgery or illness.
"When you use the machines, you're moving in an oval pattern, almost like floating, and there is no pounding or crunching on your legs," Cesario said.
Fans of elliptical machines swear by them. Bill Douglass, a New York City-based investment banker, said his 30 minutes on the elliptical machine "gets me pumped up for the day."
"I've tried pretty much any cardio machine that can be found in the gym, and nothing gets your heart rate up like an elliptical."
Dan Leinweber, president of Leinweber Associates, a Boston public relations firm, said that he reads the newspapers and catches up with the news on TV while working out on his elliptical trainer in his basement. "I play tennis regularly and the elliptical trainer helps me to stay in shape on the court. Moreover, when combined with a diet, the elliptical really helps to keep weight off my middle-age body."
Investing in an elliptical trainer for your home gym, however, isn't an inexpensive proposition. Adam Campbell, features editor at Men's Health magazine, said that higher-end models from makers such as Precor, LifeFitness, and Smooth start at $1,500.
"As a general rule of thumb, you probably won't be happy if you buy the cheapest model," Campbell said. "They often feel rickety and simply don't compare to the models found in the health clubs."
Leinweber, for example, chose his elliptical trainer after using the same model in a hotel health club. "I liked it so much, I went home and ordered one," he said. This professional version - sold only online - was slightly more expensive, he said, but was better made, lasts longer, and needs fewer repairs, he said.
There are limitations to elliptical machines. Campbell, a hard-core athlete, said he prefers stationary bikes, treadmills, or rowing machines, citing calorie figures that are slightly different from Venizelos's estimation. "A stair climber burns 12 calories per minute; a stationary bike, 14 calories; a treadmill, 17 calories, and an elliptical burns 13 calories," he said. "They're not ideal for doing high-intensity exercise or compared to simply getting outside and exercising." 