Everyone knows that taking the stairs is always going to be better than using an elevator or escalator. Hands down, every time, it is going to win. This is why the Stairmaster was invented. A beautiful machine that allowed the user to mimic the action of taking the stairs while remaining stationary and listening to music, reading a book, or watching TV. But the popularity of these machines has been dwindling in recent years, giving the popular vote to machines like the treadmill and elliptical machines. But are Stairmasters a good way to burn fat, and why have they been dwindling in popularity?
Stairmasters are in fact a great way to burn fat! While passing one you may just think it’s a matter of pushing on your feet in very small movements, stand on one for just a few minutes and you’ll quickly feel the burn these machines deliver. Stairmasters also come with all the features that the other, more popular machines have. Stairmasters have preset programs that allow you to choose a fat burning program, a speed program, or any other type of program you choose. If you’re feeling in the mood just to get on and go, you can also work these machines in manual mode and have more control over your workout. More than that, it’s said that a Stairmaster will burn as much as 800 calories in an hour! So, why are you most likely to see treadmills lining the floors of gyms, with just a few Stairmasters off over to the side?
Ironically, the very reason it’s such an effective way to burn fat is also the reason why it’s not very popular – it’s extremely difficult! Even though watching someone work out on one may not look like much, these are extremely high-cardio machines that will truly give you a run for your money. Stairmasters also tend to be much more high-impact than machines such as elleptical trainers and stationary bikes. Many find that, just like with walking up and down regular stairs, Stairmasters can be quite hard on their knees and joints.
The choice to use a Stairmaster is a beautiful one because it’s truly up to you! If you like the feel of a Stairmaster workout, then by all means jump on and start seeing the effects of what such a high-demand cardio workout can give you. And if you don’t like the Stairmaster, go ahead and sit on a bike or hop on a treadmill. As long as you’re exercising, you can’t be doing all that much wrong!
The GI Diet is a weight loss method that can be thought in very simple terms of a diet that consists of high protein and low carbohydrates, although it works a bit differently than just that. The GI diet follows the glycemic index and rates food according to where it falls on the index. Foods that are broken down quickly within the system are given a high GI rating because they cause the blood sugar to rise fairly rapidly. High GI foods are things such as white potatoes, bread, and white rice. Low GI foods on the other hand, take the body a long time to break down and fully digest, and so they are given a low GI rating. The blood sugar levels also remain relatively low when low GI foods are eaten.