You’ve probably seen it on TV plenty of times… Tony Little and his elliptical machine called the Gazelle. So is it possible to lose weight with this thing? yes, but…
First, let me tell you that I love elliptical machines. I think they are much better than treadmills because they are very gentle on the joints and ligaments. Using an elliptical machine allows you to have a great low-impact workout.
Second, the Gazelle would be a perfect addition to anyone working out at home.
Now the problem with most cardio machines like this has to do with how they are used, not the machines. About 98% of people also make this mistake.
So what is it?
Simply put, most people do “steady state” cardio. What that means is that they do long, slow to moderately paced sessions of 30+ minutes at a time.
Well, that’s not the most efficient way to burn fat.
A better way to use the Gazelle for weight loss is to do HIIT… which is short for High Intensity Interval Training.
Here is an example of how you can do it.
Using the Gazelle… get on and start going at a slow to moderate pace for 15-20 seconds. Easy enough. Ok, now after you’re done with that, go all out…very intense…as fast as you can. Do this for only 10 seconds.
Excellent! What just happened is you did your first interval. Now keep repeating that cycle for 6-10 minutes. Then get off the machine and rest… and have a drink of water.
The amazing thing about HIIT is that it’s fast and burns more fat than jogging. The reason you burn more calories and fat is because of what’s called “afterburn.” What that means is that your body (after finishing a HIIT session) is in a state of hyper-fat loss.
You are at an elevated level of fat burning. But the great part is that you stay in this heightened fat burning mode for about 18 hours after a HIIT session. That equates to massive amounts of fat loss compared to jogging or walking…because once you’re done jogging, you’re done burning fat. No afterburner.
So…weight loss on the Tony Gazelle elliptical is definitely possible if you don’t make that mistake. So give it a try. He is a great piece of equipment.