How to Make the Most Out of a Lateral Elliptical Trainer for Weight Loss

Do ellipticals help lose belly fat? An elliptical trainer, or cross trainer, is a stationary exercise machine used to simulate climbing stairs, walking, or running without causing excessive pressure to the joints.

Among the variants of ellipticals, lateral elliptical trainers are recommended the best for weight loss.

Is An Elliptical Good for Weight Loss?

There are two ways to burn more calories from your elliptical workout if you want faster results. First, you will have to work out longer.

Second, you will have to use more muscle groups preferably in your lower body.

If you can find an elliptical trainer designed to do either one of these or both, you will experience faster weight loss.

So, if you are still wondering: do ellipticals help lose belly fat? They do! Just make sure you are doing your workouts properly and longer.

Best Elliptical to Lose Weight

Elliptical trainers are an extremely versatile and popular piece of exercise equipment. Fitness buffs use this piece of equipment to engage in full-body cardio exercise without placing undue strain on muscles and joints.

Like any gym equipment, ellipticals have evolved through the years, with more functions and conveniences.

One type of elliptical that has been created with many benefits is the lateral elliptical that you can also use for weight loss. It has been designed specifically to achieve faster weight loss in record time.

Stack, a multimedia company with publishing and internet business units focused on sports, said something significant about lateral ellipticals for weight loss.

They reported that the Helix Lateral Trainer (HLT) is very effective gym equipment for losing weight.

Related: Anything You Need to Know When Buying Elliptical Machines

What makes the HLT so effective? Users are taken out of the sagittal plane and place themselves differently. The sagittal plane is the direction our body moves to when we walk, jog, and bike.

The HLT doesn’t only sculpt the muscles on the front and back of your body but the sides, as well. And because it’s different from the traditional movement, it is more difficult.

Gunnar Peterson, who was recently named Director of Strength and Endurance Training for the Los Angeles Lakers recommends the lateral elliptical for weight loss. He said that the HTL is a terrific tool.

He added, “It’s working laterally, it’s changing your position in space from high to low, it’s working inner thigh, outer thigh, and it’s also challenging you from a balance standpoint.”

If you need more proof on how effective the lateral elliptical is for weight loss, take a look at these results from a study conducted by the University of Tampa in comparing the benefits of the lateral trainer with those of a traditional elliptical machine:

• HLT had superior results in 7 out of the 8 muscles tested
• 55% greater activity in the obliques
• 50% greater activity in the outer thighs
• 37% greater activity in the inner thighs
• 40% greater activity in the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius when in a squatting position

Use the Elliptical 30 Minutes a Day for Weight Loss

The number of calories you burn on a lateral elliptical will depend on several factors like how much you weigh and the length of your exercise.

You can use a calorie burn calculator available online to get a more accurate estimate.

How effective is the lateral elliptical? In a 30-minute workout on the lateral elliptical, you may burn about 324 calories.

If you extend your workout to one hour, you will burn 648 calories. The American Council on Exercise recommends only burning at least 250 calories per day through exercise.

These numbers show that the lateral elliptical machine is a great way to torch calories or burn unwanted fat so you can get leaner faster. Is 30 minutes a day on the elliptical enough to lose weight?

To get the best results from using the lateral elliptical trainer, you will also have to determine your daily calorie intake and keep it at a minimum.

Likewise, you should track your calorie intake and burn. Make a goal to burn more calories than you eat each day.

Reap the Benefits of a Lateral Elliptical Trainer

The different way your muscles are trained on a lateral elliptical trainer will give you an entire lower body workout, more burned calories, stronger knees, and a faster way to get stronger and fitter.

The lateral elliptical trainer for weight loss is one ultimate workout machine you should be using.

Boost Your Cardio with an Elliptical

Fitness Expo has a variety of elliptical machines perfect for any cardio workout. Find our stores in Louisiana and Mississippi. Or give us a call!

Check out our beginner-friendly guide on how to use an elliptical machine.

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Fitness Expo caters to all your exercise needs from treadmills to fitness accessories.

First opened in 1980 by the Rice family, the store continues to offer the top brands and largest selection of exercise equipment for the home or commercial facility making it one of the oldest and most reputable fitness retailers in the country.

We have showrooms across Louisiana and Mississippi, but you can also shop on our website from the comfort of your own home.