The Arc Trainer – Cardio

Today is the day I give you some cardio fun knowledge. Not really knowledge but some information about me and this cardio machine called the arc trainer. I don’t think this machine is new by any means, but it isn’t something I started using until recently, when I had noticed that anyone who used it was working up a sweat within minutes. I have a love hate relationship with cardio and over a period of time, the treadmill was starting to become a bore and running sprints in front of my house was becoming a sauna (not to say that I don’t enjoy sprinting) but the weather makes it unbearable sometimes to enjoy a run outside.  I decided to give this machine a go at the gym, and this has only been my 3 week using it, but I feel myself pouring down sweat each and every time I have used it. Some days I use it for 5 minutes, some days 10 minutes and today I used it for 15 minutes. No matter how long I am on this machine, it forces me to push myself, there is no slowing down when I am on this machine, no stop let me take a break and I love it for that reason alone.  I do not promote cardio machines normally, for the fact that they normally are boring and repetitive and used as an excuse to walk at a slow pace in order to say you have had your workout – yes I just went there, but this machine really does the trick.. Now I use it after my strength training, so it normally feels like I want to pass out when I finally finish up with it, but it does justice and I don’t think of it as boring. For anyone who goes to a gym, if they have this machine, you should definitely give it a go! I was skeptical at first because I didn’t think I would know what I was doing and didn’t want to make a fool of myself, but after a while it warms up on you and you are able to adjust the modes and speed and time, ect.  Give it a go. 

So some of you are thinking “this looks somewhat like the elliptical, what makes it any different”, well I will be the first to admit, I am not a huge fan of the elliptical (not saying it does not work, but I don’t like the machine, makes me semi uncomfortable and I never can sustain a decent speed) doesn’t mean others will agree, some love the elliptical and that is fine to do so. The Arc trainer:

• Effective Calorie Burning machine and significantly higher than the elliptical. 
• Less joint stress. The arc trainer is a low impact machine, giving you complete range of motion with the knees and hip.
• More muscle engagement. Comes with a wide range of variable resistance, incline and longer arm features.  The higher inclines target the quads and the lower inclines with increased resistance tone the butt muscles.  
• Has program variety, you can set it to different programs depending on your goals and what you want out of it.
• Much more challenging than the elliptical machine
• Good for those with injury, because it is low impact – elliptical is also low impact

Now this doesn’t mean other cardio machines are of no use, I am not taking away from what they can offer you, all I am saying is try something new.  I had to in order to find a cardio machine that worked well for me, for some of you, you may decide you love ir and for others you may hate it but you never know until you try it! 

Happy cardio!

Your fitness blogger,

Shay-lon xoxo.