A lot of times when we hit the cardio machines at the gym our ultimate goal is a toned-all-over look, but what if you could get all-over-body toning with emphasizing your booty? Um, yes please. Researchers looked at the best cardio machines to find out which work out bums the most. Here are the results (FYI, the more glutes activated, the more your butt is working):
Best Cardio Machines
| The Machine | Percentage of Glute Muscles Activated* |
| Treadmill (jogging) | 48.9 |
| Elliptical | 32.6 |
| Treadmill (walking) | 24.3 |
| StairMaster | 24.0 |
| Recumbent Bike | 6.0 |
*Refers to gluteus maximus, the largest of the three glute muscles
Treadmill
Begin at an easy walking speed, slower than your normal brisk pace. Avoid using the handrails, allowing your arms to work in opposition to your legs. Slowly increase the incline until you are at the maximal level. Increase the length of your stride, taking giant steps as though climbing a mountain. Despite the slower speed, you will feel your heart rate soar while your buttocks burn.
Elliptical
Ease your hips back so your butt sticks out a bit, and push down with your heel as much as possible.
Biking
Ditch the recumbent ride for an upright one. Then sit a little farther back on the seat and focus on pushing the pedals down forcefully. If you’re spinning, stand up and stick your butt out while leaning forward.
StairMaster
The traditional Stairmaster is also a great booty shaper, providing a climbing motion without lifting your feet off the pedals. To maximize butt action, focus on tightening the glute muscles and fully extending the hip before shifting your weight to the other foot. Be careful not to hyperextend or lock out your knees. Mixing it up by splitting your workout between various machines or using a different machine each day is an effective cross-training strategy that will yield the most bang for your butt.