Elliptical vs Treadmill

While in my local gym recently I found myself trying to decide whether to use the elliptical trainer, otherwise known as the cross trainer or the treadmill. I set about researching which is best and why. This is the ultimate elliptical vs treadmill comparison and I hope to give you all the required facts about both to help you decide which to use and why.

What is an elliptical trainer?

An elliptical trainer or cross trainer is a stationary exercise machine found in pretty much all gyms and more and more at peoples homes. They are popular as they offer a way to exercise with little to no impact on your joints.

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Elliptical vs Treadmill

Flat Stomach Exercises For Beginners

There are many flat stomach exercises you can perform to get six pack abs but first you need to understand the abdomen. The abdomen contains the muscles that most beginners struggle with because they take a long time to develop and need a low level of body fat to be seen. The abdominal muscle group consists of three main muscles:

1. Rectus abdominis – commonly known as the abs, this is a large flat muscle wall that runs from the lower chest to the pubic bone.

2. Obliquus abdominis – commonly known as the obliques, this muscle runs diagonally along the side of the mid-section from the lower ribcage to the pubic area. The internal obliques lie underneath the external obliques.

3. Transversus abdominis – this is a thin strip of muscle that runs horizontally across the abdomen.

You can target these muscles effectively by performing the following flat stomach exercises:

1. Crunches – 3 sets of 15-20 reps. This exercise will work the upper abs.

2. Pelvic tilts – 3 sets of 15-20 reps.This exercise will target the lower portion of the abdomen below the navel.

3. Side bends – 3 sets of 15-20 reps. This exercise will work the obliques.

As with all exercises you need to take care in scheduling specific body parts. To begin with you should incorporate your abdominal flat stomach exercises into a program similar to the one suggested below:

Day 1: Biceps, Back, Abs

Day 2: Hamstrings, Shoulders, Abs

Day 3: Quads, Forearms, Calves

Day 4: Triceps, Chest, Abs

For the first couple of weeks complete one set but then add one set each week to a maximum of three. At the end of three months you will be ready to move on to more intensive intermediate level exercises.