Bought my First Elliptical Trainer

Does cardiovascular training help you burn body fat? It certainly does - but not in the way many people think it does.

Many people feel that the most significant benefit of cardiovascular training is that it burns body fat while you are working out. Although some of the body's fat stores can be burned off and used as energy during cardiovascular training, it's actually a very insignificant amount.

One of the greatest benefits of cardiovascular training is its effect on your body's metabolism throughout the rest of the day. Effective cardiovascular training sessions rev up your body's metabolism just like your fingers get a top to spin.

The more effective your cardiovascular training session, the longer and harder your metabolism will function throughout the entire day.

A good, hard torque with your fingers will keep a top spinning for several minutes. Even if the top is only wobbling later, it is still spinning because of the powerful spin it was given earlier. The momentum that was created keeps the spin going long after your fingers have released the toy top.

Sure, your metabolism won't be functioning as fast as it was a few hours after your cardiovascular training session as it was, let's say, 30 minutes after your workout. But as a result of your effective cardio workout, your metabolism will still be working harder than it normally would because of that session - even if it's only "wobbling" a little.

But just like the toy top, the momentum that you created from your effective cardiovascular training session will keep your metabolism going long after your cardio workout has been completed.

Some advertisers claim — without evidence — that their exercise products offer a quick, easy way to shape up, keep fit, and lose weight. The truth is, there's no such thing as a no-work, no-sweat way to a healthy, toned body. Deriving the benefits of exercise requires doing the work.

Before you jump into the next home fitness fad, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers this advice: Exercise good judgment and evaluate advertising claims for exercise products carefully.
Evaluating Claims

Read the performance claims critically. Be leery of those that say the equipment or device can:

    * provide easy or effortless results or burn excessive calories. The claims may be true for athletes in top physical condition, but not for most people.

    * help you burn more calories or lose weight faster than other types of equipment. In general, exercise equipment that works the whole body or major parts of it probably helps you burn more calories than devices that work one part of the body. And, the more you use the equipment, the more calories you'll burn. That's a good reason to select equipment that suits you and your lifestyle. A study might show that one type of equipment burns more calories per hour than another type. But if the exercise is uncomfortable — or the equipment hard to use — chances are it will gather dust — not help you burn calories.

    * help you "spot" reduce; for example, help you trim your hips or lose the proverbial "spare tire." Toning and losing weight in one particular area of the body require regular exercise that works the whole body. Your weight depends on the number of calories you eat and use each day; increasing your physical activity helps you burn extra calories.

Always read the fine print. The advertised results may be based on more than just the use of the machine; they also may be based on restricting calories. The fine print may explain this. Even if it doesn't, keep in mind that diet and exercise together are much more effective for achieving a healthy, toned body than either tactic is alone.

Be skeptical of testimonials or before-and-after pictures from "satisfied" customers. Their experiences may not be typical: Just because one person had success with the equipment doesn't mean you will, too. As for those popular celebrity endorsements, they, too, are no proof that the equipment will work as claimed.

Read more:

• http://www.bodyproud.org/
• http://www.livestrong.com/
• http://theinnertube.cycling.tv
• http://help.com/