Are you determined to commit to a gym routine? There's no better cardio machine to get you started than the elliptical trainer; it's easier on your joints than the treadmill but still gets your heart rate up and soaring.

Before you hop on board, it's important to note that there's more to this machine than stepping on and pressing the quick-start button. Try out one of these easy-to-follow and effective elliptical plans the next time you're in need of a cardio workout!

Full-body plan: Mix things up to bust boredom on the machine! You'll pedal forward, backward, and hands-free in this beginner-friendly 35-minute sweat session [3] that is the perfect starter plan.

An hour of intervals: Once you're comfortable for 20 or 30 minutes on the elliptical, up the ante with this 60-minute interval plan [4]. It will push your body to the max but still allows for ample periods of recovery so you feel strong from start to end.

Booty burn: This short elliptical workout [5] works double time — it gets your heart rate up while toning up your glorious glutes. You'll be moving at a higher incline than you might be used to, but the pace goes slow to keep you feeling confident as you build your booty.

Your personal DJ: Need awesome music to motivate you on a machine? We so get it. This 60-minute elliptical playlist [6] mixes up the pace with every song. It's a slow and steady workout that will make your time at the gym fly by!

Lunchtime sprints: While its pace is fast, this lunchtime workout [7] is totally in your reach. Minute-long sprints challenge your body and help you build up a sweat, but they're followed up by longer sessions of recovery. This quick workout is the perfect plan for anyone new to interval training!