Don't Cheat on the Stairclimber!

People love the stair climber machine because it helps cut fat and develops endurance and muscle power at the same time. Also, you can watch TV, read a magazine, or talk to your friends while getting in a workout. Are you really pushing yourself or are you just going through the motions? Stairclimber machines provide plenty of ways to cheat, so it's easy to get almost no exercise. If you hang onto the rails so hard that your hands turn white, you're robbing yourself of the calorie-burning potential of the machine. Don't take small baby steps; instead make large steps working through a full range of motion. Studies show you'll burn far more calories and better work your glutes and quads. Don't hunch over the bar when you climb. Not only do you burn fewer calories than when you stand upright, you also risk back injury. Finally, push yourself. The harder you work, the more calories you burn. To lose fat through exercise, it's best to do it the old-fashioned way-earn it!
(www.nutricise.com, Dec. 6,2001)