How to Get Results From a Leg Magic Exercise Machine

The Leg Magic Exercise Machine is a simplistic machine that moves your legs across two tracks, offering a cardiovascular workout and some strength training in the lower half of your body. Some of the claims the product's manufacturers make are extreme and unrealistic. For example, they claim you can work out for only a minute at a time. If you want to get the best results from the machine, you'll need to adopt a more traditional workout and ignore inflated promises.

While the Leg Magic claims that you can lose weight working in one-minute increments, this isn't long enough to get sufficient cardiovascular activity or burn many calories. Instead, focus on 30- to 45-minute workouts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate cardio per week. To lose weight, you'll need even more exercise, so aim for at least 300 minutes per week on the machine.

More intense workouts burn more calories. Try gliding on the machine at close to your maximum intensity, or alternating between slow and fast intervals. For even more intensity, try holding weights during your workout or using the Leg Magic Exercise Machine as a warm-up to a more intense routine such as running or jumping rope.

You can't lose weight if you eat more calories than you need, so examine your diet and cut out unnecessary calories -- start with soda, alcohol and sugary snacks. Then, focus on eating plenty of greens, fruits and lean proteins. If you have a favorite "bad" food, you don't have to give it up entirely. Instead, focus on eating in moderation and compensating by exercising more.

The Leg Magic Exercise Machine won't give you a full, balanced workout, and doesn't meet the CDC's recommendations for strength-training. For the best benefits, get at least two days a week of strength-training that works all major muscle groups. Add in other cardiovascular routines such as swimming and running, and increase your activity level by taking frequent stretching breaks, walking to your destination and playing with your kids or dog.