Is the Cross Trainer any good?

seanieclarke

are the cross trainer machines good or are they the sort of machines that are a bit of waste of time?

thanks for any feedback

Colm_OReilly

I suppose the question is good for what?

If you're a beginner any sort of exercise will help you improve your fitness. Personally I stay away from Cross trainers, since I don't do that action in day to day life.

Now, granted I don't row in day to day life (I used to) but rowing does produce a better physiological adaptation and the movement is akin to a deadlift - picking stuff up - and it's based off a hip extension, which is a fundamental movement.

For cardio I'd stick to running (not on a treadmill), skipping, swimming, bicycling and rowing.

Hope this helps,
Colm

davyjose

Colm_OReilly wrote:

I I stay away from Cross trainers, since I don't do that action in day to day life.

You don't move your arms and legs forwards and backwards? I do know what you're saying, but you can take that line of thinking to any form of exercise.

The cross trainer, I find, is great for an all round cardio exercise, involving push/pull movement, leg movement, and it engages the core. I find it great for fat burning, because you can keep it at a steady pace and go for an hour with even a basic level of fitness (I can't run or row for that long). Maybe not as good for fitness levels as running or rowing, but, if you want, you can still leave your lungs burning. And it's low impact. I honestly don't see a huge amount of flaws in it.

Mickk

In a gym they are good, if you are asking in relation to buying one for home use, I woundn't reccommend them. Home use ones are generally very flimsy and smaller and restrictive to workout on.

Colm_OReilly

You don't move your arms and legs forwards and backwards? I do know what you're saying, but you can take that line of thinking to any form of exercise.

I get your point Davy. For me, Cross Trainers have always felt "contrived" while using them.

I find it great for fat burning, because you can keep it at a steady pace and go for an hour with even a basic level of fitness (I can't run or row for that long).

Cardiovascular adaptations, particularly at longer times/distances are largely modality specific. So if you can run for ages, it's not guarantee you can row for ages or cross train for ages. You'd get more benefit switching to the modality you're weakest at and improving that. Or better yet, mixing them up!

I honestly don't see a huge amount of flaws in it.

No massive flaws or danger to it, just there's better (more effective/efficient, greater transfer to day-to-day living) methods out there imo.

Peace & Love Y'All,
Colm

rubadub

Colm_OReilly wrote:

I stay away from Cross trainers, since I don't do that action in day to day life.

That is why I do not go running or jogging, I never have reason to do it in daily life and I am always hearing of people injured from it.

are they the sort of machines that are a bit of waste of time?

I know you mean are they a "waste" RE calorie burning/fitness etc. I see them as a waste of time since I could have spent the energy better doing something useful, e.g. walking/cycling to work, digging the garden, doing housework quickly. I much prefer to exercise with a reason/goal, not just blind expenditure of energy. I know guys who will drive to work & back, then hit the gym, so 1 hour is wasted on driving to work, 30mins driving to the gym, 1hour in the gym. 1 hour cycling to work would have had the same result, and had 1.5hrs more free time, and all the associated money saved in the process.

siochain

davyjose wrote:

And it's low impact.

when gym training I use them a lot combined with rowing, good upper and lower body workout and above all 'Low Impact' easy on the joints.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Yes, cross trainers are excellent. They provide a range of exercise options, are extremly low impact. The really good one's promote proper posture while exercising also, which most exercises don't, including swimming!!.

If your considering buying one for the home shop around. Compared to the professional machines in gyms they can look and feel flimsy, but most aren't. They just don't build them for constant use like you'll find in a gym.

Finally, for the cost of a good crosstrainer for the home you'll pay a year's gym membership so you have to decide which suits your needs best.

seanieclarke

thanks for all the replies.

no im not looking to buy one for home use.i just started using the cross trainer in the gym and was wondering if what i was doing is very beneficial or wasnt very beneficial at all.

arybvtcw0eolkf

seanieclarke wrote:

thanks for all the replies.

no im not looking to buy one for home use.i just started using the cross trainer in the gym and was wondering if what i was doing is very beneficial or wasnt very beneficial at all.

Yes, they're very good for a whole range of training from fat burn to cardio fitness, and interval training.

Regards.

seanieclarke

Mairt wrote:

Yes, they're very good for a whole range of training from fat burn to cardio fitness, and interval training.

Regards.

ok thanks.thats exactly what i wanted to know