Fitness Workouts Creative, Calorie-Torching Elliptical Routine Burn up to 300 calories in just 30 minutes and firm every inch of your body By Lindsey Emery Lindsey Emery Lindsey Emery is a freelance writer and editor living in Portland. She has written for Yahoo, Men's Health, SHAPE, Men's Journal, Outside online, ACTIVE.com, WW (Weight Watchers), Bicycling Magazine, Triathlete, and Runner's World, among others. Shape's editorial guidelines Published on November 20, 2012 Share Tweet Pin Email If you can chat on the phone while on the elliptical, then you're not getting the most out of the machine. "To burn more calories and target a greater number of muscles, switch up your direction and arm position," says New York City-based trainer Amie Hoff, who created this minute-maximizing routine. In addition to moving forward, which emphasizes your quads, you'll pedal backward to shift the focus to your hamstrings. Your upper body will get in on the action too: "Pushing and pulling the levers strengthens your biceps, triceps, chest, and back," says Hoff. "And holding your arms out to the sides sculpt sexy shoulders and engages your core to help you balance." The result is a fat-blasting workout that-hold the phone!-truly works every muscle. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit