Exercising for a healthier, well-rounded lifestyle is one of the most important steps you can take for yourself. Unfortunately, for those who have difficulty with more traditional types of workouts - such as running or weight-training - an effective exercise routine can be hard to find. Enter the elliptical.

The elliptical is an excellent option for those who are overweight or obese, and would like to begin making lifestyle changes towards health. At its core, the elliptical is a low-impact piece of equipment, meaning users can benefit from a full-body workout with significantly less stress to their joints. This makes it great for those beginners who may not be up to the task of running or jogging yet. Moreover, research has actually shown that a regular elliptical workout can actually lead to more weight loss than running, due to its greater calorie burn.

Along with promoting weight-loss, the elliptical can also provide another number of physical benefits that those that are overweight will benefit from. Some of the potential gains include improved balance, posture, agility, and coordination. An elliptical session also promotes good cardiovascular health, as the machine can target both your upper and lower body. The elliptical is also a great choice for those who suffer from any type of joint pain, as it increases mobility and joint flexibility.

Finally, an elliptical workout can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience for beginners and veterans alike. The movement of the pedals mimics a running motion, allowing users to comfortably transition into more traditional forms of exercise should they wish. With this, the elliptical lends itself to a large variety of workout routines, from interval training, to distance-based sessions to those with more of an emphasis on upper-body engagement. This also allows users to switch up their session to prevent boredom.

In summary, the elliptical can be an outstanding and accessible choice for those who are overweight and wishing to embark on their healthy lifestyle journey. Due to its low-impact nature as well as its varied potential benefits, the age-old machine still holds up and can help anyone that decides to take it up.