OK, your doctor has said that you need to get into shape. You need to lose a bit of weight and you know that doing some exercise is good for the heart. You may have thought about taking up jogging 20 years ago, but not now. You just want a piece of equipment that will help you get fit with the minimum of fuss. The answer is simple. Try an elliptical trainer.

Elliptical trainers are great pieces of home workout equipment because anyone can use them. They are ideal for anybody beginning to get in shape or wanting to maintain a level of fitness. They are even used by professional athletes to keep at peak performance levels and to recover from injury.

This equipment is particularly useful for aging baby boomers that need to maintain their levels of fitness. Ellipticals are very low impact, unlike jogging or using a treadmill. This means that it is much more comfortable to exercise because you are not putting strain on the joints of the knees, ankles and hips. The elliptical movement is designed to mimic the natural movement of the body as closely as possible, making this a very enjoyable way to work out.

If you have been advised by you doctor to lose weight and improve your cardiovascular fitness (heart strength), then an elliptical machine could be ideal for you. Choose a machine that has a heart rate monitor built into it and you will be able to track your progress as you continue to exercise. Remember to take things easy at first and work your way up to more demanding exercises.

Elliptical trainers were originally introduced in the 90's and have since taken the exercise world by storm. You'll see them up and down the country in every professional gym and health club because they are such a great piece of equipment to use. You can now get affordable machines for use at home. This is an ideal solution for the baby boomer generation.