Elliptical Machines: Re-Revving Stationary Exercise

            If you have ever stepped inside a gym, a YMCA, or perhaps even someone’s basement, you have probably seen an elliptical trainer.  Similar to treadmills, these stationary exercise machines, commonly referred to simply as “ellipticals,” are used to simulate running or walking.  They offer a safe, indoor, cardiovascular workout that can vary in intensity depending on the resistance preference set by the user.  However, ellipticals differ from treadmills in a few important areas, which may be why so many people are switching from the latter to the former, and also why ellipticals have been chosen as the primary machine to participate in the ReRev program at Furman University.

            Patented in 2004 by Larry D. Miller, these machines were created to specifically target and mimic the form of the human body in motion.  Unlike the treadmill, the elliptical actually works with the body in a clean, fluid motion.  They have been called the “impact-free” workout machines, because your feet literally never hit the ground; the machine moves with you, much like cross-country skiing.  This causes much less stress on the joints, leading to fewer injuries.  For this reason, ellipticals are especially beneficial for those wishing to workout with already existing joint problems such as arthritis or weak knees.

            Furthermore, the elliptical utilizes the muscles of the entire body.  Dr. Pearman from the Health Science department at Furman University stated, “The ellipticals are a great full-body workout…a lot of students use them as an effective, allover cardio exercise.”  The treadmill typically only exercises the leg muscles, which is why Miller created a new stationary machine that would train more than just the legs.  Most ellipticals are now equipped with handgrips that move when one’s legs move the foot pedals.  This makes it easy to work the upper body as well as the lower body.  This also makes it easier to use the elliptical in reverse, a new idea that is taking the workout world by storm.

            However, if you decide that you would really like to only focus on the lower half of your body, many people choose not to use the handgrips and instead pump their arms just they would if they were walking or running up a hill.  Not only does this improve motor fitness and balance, but it also promotes better posture.

            All of these benefits are why Furman University has chosen ellipticals to be the machines initially equipped with the Re-Rev program: a gift from the senior class of 2010 in which the energy produced by the ellipticals will be powered back into the Furman grid and used in lighting buildings on campus.

            Finally, an ongoing debate between fans of treadmills and elliptical enthusiasts is whether one burns more calories than the other, and which one is a more efficient cardiovascular workout in general.

• Treadmills are generally seen as harder  workout, but a recent study by the University of Idaho shows that as the stride of the elliptical is lengthened, the user burns more calories without any higher rate of apparent effort.
• The elliptical offers a full-body workout whereas the treadmill solely focuses on the leg muscles.  

Due to the ways in which ellipticals are easier on the joints, provide a complete body workout, and allow the user to burn the same, if not more, calories than the treadmill user, ellipticals are increasingly becoming the new “hot item” in workout equipment.  For this reason especially, they have been chosen to head start the ReRev program at Furman University.

            ReRev is a revolutionary and exciting invention that is taking the university’s sustainability reputation to the next level.  And, the use of ellipticals is no coincidence.  According to Dr. Pearman, ellipticals are without a doubt the most popular machines at the PAC (Physical Activities Center).  They are the “new and improved” version of the treadmill, and everyone wants to use one. 

            These machines have come far in the past few years, and there is no doubt that they will continue to grow in popularity, perhaps one day even replacing treadmills altogether.  As for ReRev, there is no talk yet as to whether the program will be expanded to include other cardiovascular equipment such as treadmills, stationary bikes, and rowing machines, but I think the program and its success can only expand.  The Re-Rev program is a great addition to the Furman community, and it seems that the ellipticals are doing a good job of starting the momentum needed to keep this plan in action.

To see more images of the Furman University Physical Activities Center check out our Slideshow !

Ladies Against Lifting

Men and women are not created equal. Society has worked hundreds of years to disprove this statement. But sometimes there is no denying this truth. Specifically, in the area of exercise men and women are simply unequal. There are noticeable physical differences among genders. These physical differences cause variations in training styles and exercise practices between genders. If you’ve ever walked into a fitness center you will notice usually of women on cardio machines and men using free weights. Is there a reason for this trend? Also what social pressures contribute to these exercise differences?




Body Composition 

We usually think of men naturally having larger muscles than women. Compared to body weight men have more muscle mass than women. While men have more muscle mass in their upper body and can support lifting more weights women have a stronger lower body and abdomen. In a sense, what women lack in upper body strength they make up for in other muscle composition. So, why do we associate large muscles with men and what does this extra fat mean for women?




Societal Pressures 

In a recent interview with Dr. Silas Pearman, an HES professor at Furman he cited these societal pressures as a main reason for different exercise preferences. Women tend to use cardio machines because they burn more fat and support the thinner ideal woman’s body. Men focus on weight-bearing exercises to increase muscle mass and fulfill society’s view of men as muscular. So how does this pertain to the Re-Rev program?



Currently the ellipiticals are the only machines equipped with Re-Rev. This means that the energy produced by the ellipiticals is mostly from women. The PAC could produce more energy if the ReRev program was moved to more machines that fit the interests of men as well as women. I mean it is only fair if the guys chip in. Let’s not let the ladies do all the work.

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Saving Energy One Workout at a Time

            The Re-Rev system was brought to Furman by the Class of 2010 as their Senior Gift.  Installed this past summer, this system was installed to fifteen ellipticals in the Physical Activities Center on Furman’s campus. 

           

         Re-Rev is a system that retrofits gym equipment to make alternative energy, creating this energy in a safe and productive manner.  More specifically, the energy of a moving elliptical is captured in an efficient way and then used to feed back into the building’s electrical system.  This program obtains energy that is otherwise wasted for a cheap price, saving the school money on its power bills. A typical thirty-minute workout on a Re-Rev elliptical produces fifty-watt hours of clean, carbon-free electricity. That can run a CFL bulb for two and a half hours, charge a cell phone six times, provide one hour on a laptop, or create thirty minutes of usage on a desktop computer.

           

         Creating something beneficial from otherwise wasted energy makes Re-Rev a great idea.  Re-Rev is in a market by itself; no other company is devoted to taking once wasted energy from exercise equipment and converting it into reusable energy for that facility.  The market for renewable energy is growing and expanding into new fields, and Re-Rev is solid proof due to its increased popularity.

           

         Re-Rev is present in twenty-four fitness centers around the country, but Furman may be the best fit for the program due to Furman’s dedication to sustainability. Re-Rev promotes the concept of Engaged living. It allows Furman students to be innovative, creating unique and new ways to do their part in a damaged environment.  Furman prides and promotes itself on sustainability, and Re-Rev is a jewel in its crown that allows it to not only save, but to give back.

The Sun Heats Up the PAC

by: Casey Robertson

Because of Furman’s status in the sustainability circles, Furman recently received a grant for $340,000 from the South Carolina Energy Office to install 304 photovoltaic solar panels on the Lay Physical Activities Center (PAC). 

Solar Panels

There are two ways of getting your energy from the sun: solar photovoltaic and solar thermal.

Solar photovoltaic

Solar photovoltaic takes the sunlight and directly turns it into energy. They can produce electricity and therefore can be used for running computers, TVs, phones, or anything else that uses electricity.

Solar-thermal

Solar-thermal energy, on the other hand, is produced by taking the heat from the sunlight and heating water in pipes. Solar thermal panels are only good for heating water or a house. Furman’s Physical Activity Center (PAC) has used solar-thermal panels to heat the pools and the water in the locker rooms in the building over the past four years.

Furman’s new project

According to Brittany DeKnight, these new solar panels “will produce about 95 kilowatts of energy, which will quadruple the amount of solar photovoltaic energy” that Furman currently has. These new solar panels are also projected to save the University $9,300 per year in the cost of electricity bills based on today’s electricity rates. Furman is working with external partners to install the panels onto the roof of the PAC.

The Shi Center is very excited about the new solar panels because the installation will be the second largest in the state in an institutional setting. Undoubtedly, this can only help Furman to continue to lead the state of South Carolina in renewable energy. Brittany advised that the solar panels should be installed by January.  However, she warned that the timing is just an estimate since there are many things that could go wrong to delay the installation. While these new solar panels do not put Furman’s carbon footprint at zero, it is definitely a step in the right direction, and Furman is slowly but surely leading the way to a more energy independent society.

To hear more about Brittany DeKnight’s view of the solar panels or about the new photovoltaic solar panels going on the roof of the PAC, listen to this podcast on our wiki.