So you don't do cardio...
Fine, move on to another thread.
I however do, and so do many others.
Even though its not the way to go I'd rather do cardio than cut down on my food intake, the combination of both over time yields amazing results.
However, cardio is a bitch.
20-30 minutes of brain draining monotony. I get it.
Here's the machines that will help you get the most bang for your buck (or 30 minutes);
#1 Stepmill/Stair Climber - a humbling experience for even the most hardcore lifter. Done properly this will leave you gasping for breath and sweating like a whore in church within 5 minutes.
Then comes the lactic acid buildup in your glutes...30 minutes of ass cheek burning, hamstring searing work!
You will wobble, hold onto the bars for stability. The 102 lb. 20 something female beside you
will make you look like a chump, accept it.
Conquering this machine conquers all other cardio equipment, there is nothing left to fear after this but more sessions on the Stairclimber.
The often inaccurate calorie burning counter will "burn" more cals than any other machine with an equal time and it will make you feel like you got hit by a Mack truck after.
I hate it with a passion
but I love the results from the work.
#2 Elliptical machines- Instead of focusing on cardio that only involves lower body movements its a nice change of pace to combine them. I like moving my arms in a cross-country skiing fashion and moving my legs at the same time, helps teach my uncoordinated body some coordination between upper and lower movements.
Glute burning s not as prevalent with this machine and I'm finding I can get wicked stretches with my legs if I concentrate on it.
We are not simply doing the movement with any cardio, we are feeling the muscles work and act synergistic-ally while doing cardio. The combination of upper and body movements make this a refreshing pace from just sitting on the bike and making the legs do the work.
#3 Running on a Treadmill
Running after the bus is hard, running HIIT intervals in a field is hard, running on a treadmill is still hard but not as hard as running on a non-propellant surface.
The problem with the Treadmill is the tread, it moves you forward and makes running easier than on ground.
Its still hard, but its like fake running.
You can give me excuses about your knees and joints but its still fake running.
If you can't run, don't run at all.
If you can run, why are you using a Treadmill in summer when there's all sorts of places to run??
Its hard, not as hard as real running, its effective at boosting metabolisms, and gets the cardio/fat burning job done without a doubt.
However, I hate running of all kinds and despite how good it is for me I will never do it.
Your call.
#4 Cardio back Rowing machine
WhyTF is this in here?
Because it combines the power of both the back and the legs in a combined movement AND you can switch your grip to an underhand one to slightly engage the biceps.
2 of the biggest muscles groups are used and you can get on helluva back/bicep pump from this.
If my knees ache I can warm them up doing this before squatting and practice coming out of the squat hole by making my rowing deeper.
If you can deadlift and squat anything close to 225 there's no reason this machine can't be used on the max difficulty settings.
I also find it one of the least boring cardio machines out there.
#5 Stationary bike
Back in the day, this was all there was.
For some of us this is the only piece of cardio equipment we've seen and have used.
There's nothing inherently wrong with this machine, its just that there are better ways to spend your time, more effective ways.
Its good for warming up, cooling down, HIIT intervals, SPIN classes, and putting your laundry on if you have one at home.
I liked it because I could read books while riding it.
But easier doesn't make better and this machine is a little too easy if your taking your cardio more seriously.
I've also found it aggravates my injured lower back.
A good stand by when you're not in the groove or when the better equipment is all taken.
#6 Recumbent bike
This odd looking bike came out before treadmills and right after stationary bikes.
The main reason it is not on the bottom of the list is because generally it does not aggravate lower back issues for many people and it is a more comfortable device for overweight people new to gyms.
We all gotta start somewhere and the Recumbent bike is a decent place to start, especially if you are obese to start.
This machine is for the injured, the old and the overweight people.
You start here and then progress to more difficult machines.
If you're injured, you tend to stay on it because everything else hurts in a bad way.
It allows people who otherwise couldn't do cardio to do cardio.
That's it.
#7 Walking on the Treadmill
Almost the same as running on a treadmill, but walking. The tread is propelling you forward, there are no obstacles to dance around unlike real walking, and let me tell you...falling off a treadmill hurts way more than slipping and hitting the side walk.
"But I can do teh inclinez to make it harder dough!" you say.
So what?
You wanna do real incline work, move to San Francisco or walk up Everest.
This is lazy person cardio.
But again, for some that's all they can do but if you're aware you should chose something else.
#8 Hand pedaling "bikes"-no lower body movement
If I've missed any equipment on this list this "bike" would still be dead last.
This "bike" is for rehab, obese people, and older people.
If your leg is all FUBAR and you NEED to do cardio, do this, otherwise, do anything else but this.
It only uses the upper body (and not much of it either) and is a good start if your body is completely screwed up.
I have never stooped so low as to kick the 76 year old man off this bike so I can try it so my opinion is quite biased and naive.
That's it.
Do you agree with my list?
Do you have any additions you might like to try and get past the censor?
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(forgive me, I've been watching too many top 10 lists on youtube
)
