Forward and reverse motion is something you won’t find on your treadmill. Going backward on an elliptical really helps mix up your workout, reduces the monotony, and will certainly help you get to the final minutes of your workout before giving up early.
Most elliptical machines allow you to move in forward and reverse motion. Going backward on an elliptical machine is a must and if this feature is not provided, I wouldn’t purchase it. I believe that being able to move in reverse motion is the key helping me meet my exercise goals. Any time I feel like I’m ready to quit, I start going backward and I feel like the time I can stay on my elliptical doubles. You may need to keep the pace up or increase resistance when you start going backward on an elliptical to keep your heart rate up. Be careful because an elliptical that cannot go in reverse isn’t going to make it very obvious to the buyer.
And the bonus of going in reverse on your elliptical also means you’ll be working different muscle groups. Going backward on an elliptical will shift the emphasis from your gluts and hamstrings to your quadriceps and calves.
While you are going backward on your elliptical, also try leaning back so that your arms are straight and parallel to the grown, while squatting a little. This is killer forwards or in reverse but it feels great and helps put more emphasis on your gluts and quadriceps. After trying that for even 30 seconds, when you return to your normal elliptical posture, your workout will feel like a piece of cake.
Have fun and mix it up!
