Elliptical trainers are growing in popularity. There are a number of factors, including the low-impact and dual upper and lower body workout. However, another factor that is contributing to increased sales is the ability to burn more calories in less time.

An elliptical trainer allows you to exercise numerous muscle groups at once. With the dual action of an elliptical trainer, you exercise your back, triceps, biceps quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes and chest. There is no other fitness equipment that offers this full range of exercising.

By exercising more muscle mass you improve fat mobilization, build muscle endurance, burn more calories and fat in less time, and reduce your perceived rate of exertion. It is suggested that you actually exercise harder on an elliptical trainer, and yet do not notice the extra exertion. By exercising more muscle groups at once, you get more results with less effort.

Consider also, that an elliptical trainer develops the muscles in both your lower and upper body, and as we know, muscles burn calories more efficiently. Unlike a treadmill that only exercises your lower body and builds only those muscles, an elliptical trainer converts more body fat to muscles.

It should be noted to gain the full advantage of the upper workout you must apply adequate resistance to the upper body. Many individuals let their lower body do most of the work while letting their arms just go through the motion when holding on to the handlebars. You want to distribute the resistance between your upper and lower body. This allows you to get the maximum results from a crosstrainer.

In recent studies, it was concluded that energy expenditure among overweight subjects was higher on the elliptical trainer than a treadmill or stationary bicycle. For overweight individuals who are initiating a regular exercise program to decrease excess body fat, they will find that elliptical trainers optimize energy expenditure.

If you are out to burn the most calories in the least amount of time, you want to either use an interval training program, or simulate it through manual programming. Interval training is becoming popular not only on elliptical trainers, but also through fitness classes. As the name suggests, interval training is alternating between high intensity exercises and cool down periods. You burn an intense amount of calories for a limited period, recover, and do it again. Interval training is proven more effective in burning calories than a sustained level of exertion.

So far, I have discussed the calorie burning efficiency of an elliptical trainer, but let us not forget one of the most important benefits – the low-impact workout. If you suffer from any lower body injuries or strains, an elliptical trainer is ideal for rehabilitation. The elliptical motion of a crosstrainer allows you to get a strenuous workout with little or no impact to your body. That is why they have become so popular with the baby boomer generation.

Next time you are at a sporting goods store or a health club, try out an elliptical trainer. Whether you want to lose weight or just get back into shape, the combined upper and lower body workout of an elliptical trainer could be the ideal solution. In particular, check out the Sole Elliptical Trainers. They come with a generous 5-years parts and 2-years labor warranty.

Fred Waters worked in the fitness equipment industry for a number of years. You can get his expert advice on buying an elliptical trainer at his Elliptical Trainer Reviews site.