Elliptical machine

im up to 2 hours now :D

resting only for bathroom breaks and to refill my water bottle.... is this insane? it is definatley a MAJOR mental thing.

Its not on level 1 setting either... im usually intervaling in the 6-15 range with the occasional boost to 18-19.
 
...

I guess Im one of those weird few that can EASILY go on it for an hour.

Im 258 lbs, and can do it for an hour comfortably.. AND I dont exercise regularily, so I know that Im out of shape..
But it still just doesnt bother me.. even with extra incline and resistance.

I dont know, Im a strange one. :)

xo
 
Jump Rope vs. Treadmill

Storytime... ;)

In November '06 I got a treadmill and started doing 30mins 4 - 5 days a week, then added minutes every day until I was doing an hour, then 70mins, then 80, then 90, and when 90 became too much I split it up to two 50min sessions, then went up to two 60min sessions. I'm currently at 173lbs, down from 230, having recently averaged a 3 - 5lbs loss every few weeks, but now I've run into a big problem of motivation. I hate treadmilling in this heat. HATE it. I want to keep losing as much as I have been but doing two hours a day (3 days in a row, 1 day off, 3 more days in a row, etc) is killing me. So when I heard jumping rope for 15mins is like jogging for 30min, I bought a rope which I've used for 30mins to an hour, instead of jogging, for about four days. It's floored me, my abs and thighs are SO sore, but it's so much nicer to be able to do it outside under a sprinkler.

My questions: Can a 24-year-old 5' 4" female lose a lot of weight just jumping rope? How much would I have to do to keep losing so much, or at least a significant amount? I heard the benefits of jumping rope may be a myth, so I'm terrified I've given up something that works well for something that doesn't..

Thanks in advance.
 
I'm one of the people over 300 pounds that spent and hour on the elliptical. I'm 374 pounds to be exact. The first time I was on it I did 4 minutes and thought I was going to have a stroke. I might start of fairly quick but as my heart rate increases; and it does this very quickly. I keep getting messages for me to slow down. I finally got up to one hour and it took everything i had. My thighs started burning then my arse and then my back and stomach. It can be done it's just an endurance thing. I just kept working on it and went from the 4-10-15-30-45-and then finally one hour a few weeks later. Will I ever do it for an hour again????? I'm not sure but it sure made me feel good that I could.

On the technical question I really don't know but I wanted to ring in and say that someone over 300 can do it but it takes a lot of effort.


Edit: I should add I use it on a basic level. I set up the cardio program and input my weight and desired heart rate and I use to keep my heart rate elevated. If I tried to run one of the pre-set programs I would never make it lol.
 
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Swiftlet said:
Storytime... ;)

In November '06 I got a treadmill and started doing 30mins 4 - 5 days a week, then added minutes every day until I was doing an hour, then 70mins, then 80, then 90, and when 90 became too much I split it up to two 50min sessions, then went up to two 60min sessions. I'm currently at 173lbs, down from 230, having recently averaged a 3 - 5lbs loss every few weeks, but now I've run into a big problem of motivation. I hate treadmilling in this heat. HATE it. I want to keep losing as much as I have been but doing two hours a day (3 days in a row, 1 day off, 3 more days in a row, etc) is killing me. So when I heard jumping rope for 15mins is like jogging for 30min, I bought a rope which I've used for 30mins to an hour, instead of jogging, for about four days. It's floored me, my abs and thighs are SO sore, but it's so much nicer to be able to do it outside under a sprinkler.

My questions: Can a 24-year-old 5' 4" female lose a lot of weight just jumping rope? How much would I have to do to keep losing so much, or at least a significant amount? I heard the benefits of jumping rope may be a myth, so I'm terrified I've given up something that works well for something that doesn't..

Thanks in advance.
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That all depends on your "energy balance". If jump roping can set you in a negative energy balance ( taking in less calories then you expend) . Than yes, you will loose weight. However, the same can be said for the treadmill.
If I may so ask, Why have you been spending so much time on the treadmill anyway? Who told you you need to walk a 100 minutes a day to loose weight? Whoever it was deserves to be slapped.
 
ummhusayn said:
Ok so i hear some people talk about spending like an hour on the elliptical. I can only do like 10 mintues(i started doing it 3-4 times a week at the gym). Am i really really out of shape??? I dont understand how someone who weighs almost 300 lbs can possibly do it for an hour?!?!?!?!?! Is it just me who thinks that is insane?

Rena
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i weight 340 now, but started at 380 and was able to do a full hour, now i do that hour and im not even out of breathe and my heart rate is at 75%-80%

its all about endurance and the level your body is at, i may have been 380 but i was able to move :boxing:

just do what feels right to u
 
I figured I would lose weight if my caloric expenditure/intake was balanced. I don't count calories, but I do balance three meals and small snacks throughout the day and that seems to work. So you're saying it is as good an exercise as the treadmill then? How much time with the jump rope might equal a run on the treadmill?

That would be me that needs the slap. I have a thing where once I go passed a certain point I can't go back or I feel like a failure, which is really the only way I've kept motivated, so when I went from doing one 90min session to doing two 50min sessions it didn't feel like enough and I did more. Also, I started this kind of blindly on my own with trial and error and that's what worked, so I didn't think much of the inconvenience. If I'm doing too much though, that's also what I came here to hear.
 
I feel more challenge using it compare to a treadmill (don’t know why) and what I love the most is how it doesn’t hurt my ankle.
 
The elliptical hurts my knees but I witnessed an insane workout last night.
Every day I get to the gym at 8:30. Usually the same people ther every day. Well last night there was a girl on the elliptiacal when I got there at 8:30pm. When I walked by the timer said time lapsed 47 min. Well I did my usual 1 hour and 45 minute workout. When I walked back by on the way out it said time lapsed 148 minutes. That is 2.5 hours. Anyway I talked to a buddy and he said she finally got off that thing at around 10:50 last night which put her on that elliptical for around 3.5 hours. THat is the craziest thing I have ever seen in the gym.
 
Swiftlet said:
I figured I would lose weight if my caloric expenditure/intake was balanced. I don't count calories, but I do balance three meals and small snacks throughout the day and that seems to work. So you're saying it is as good an exercise as the treadmill then? How much time with the jump rope might equal a run on the treadmill?

That would be me that needs the slap. I have a thing where once I go passed a certain point I can't go back or I feel like a failure, which is really the only way I've kept motivated, so when I went from doing one 90min session to doing two 50min sessions it didn't feel like enough and I did more. Also, I started this kind of blindly on my own with trial and error and that's what worked, so I didn't think much of the inconvenience. If I'm doing too much though, that's also what I came here to hear.
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Lol don't worry, Its not necessarily "bad". Just, a lot of ignorant trainers suggest to their clients to basically spend all day on the treadmill. I assumed you had one of those trainers;).

Take a quick read over here, as well as the other stickies when you have the time, http://weight-loss.fitness.com/weight-loss-through-exercise/12883-aerobic-training-101-a.html.

There is a saying. Workout smarter not harder, basically what you do in 60 minutes you likely could accomplish in half the time simply by raising the intensity instead of the duration of the exercise.

How can you know if your "if my caloric expenditure/intake was balanced. I don't count calories," is balanced if you don't know how many calories your in taking? An energy balance means you will not loose weight or gain, You are in a neutral state so to speak. To loose weight you must at the end of the day be in a negative energy balance. I suggest you start a fitday.com account if you don't already.

Jump rope and treadmill both cause the body to expend calories. Say 10 minutes of jump roping equates to around 150 calories used by a body. As well, say a another man spends 10 minutes on the treadmill that may be around 150 calories as well. Whats important is they both cause the body to "burn" calories, One is not "better" then the other when talking about calorie expenditure. Because that is all relative to the intensity and the duration of the exercise as well as other controllable and uncontrollable factors.

So, Start a fitday account. Look into getting some weights, as resistance training is likely the most overlooked and at the same time most valuable tool for weight loss. Work out smarter not harder, lower the time and raise the intensity. You don't have to cut out the 60 minute jogs/walks but mix it up don't stagnate! You might benefit from having a journal as well.

Any more questions please feel free to ask, best of luck!
 
Elliptical Trainer Help

I just bought a 430 Schwinn Elliptical Trainer for my home. I started on it 2 days ago and have done 20 minutes a day, which for me is only burning 180 calories. It works both the legs and arms.

I was wondering if anyone has any personal stories of weight loss thru using ellipticals or any pointers you can give me? I know that 180 calories is not enough to lose a significant amount of weight, which is why I purchased this machine. Also, I am quite out of shape from years of office jobs and sitting in front of the tv, so I am hoping that it helps with that. Thanks!
 
First off, unless the item ask you to imput your weight at the very least. Than its likely VERY inacurate as to how many calories your burning.
 
don't get too hung up on what the number of calories burned is...it's probably not that accurate - try to use the elliptical at different levels of intensity to make your workout more challenging... or at least do not spend much time on level 1 - though ou do have to start somewhere...
 
Hi!! I Too Use an Eliptical, 5 Days A Week.. So Far I Lost 32.5 Lbs From it. Of Course It Wasnt Only The Machine, I Started Eating Better And Did Strenght Training. I Like The Machine Becuase Its Better On My Knees.
 
20 minutes equating to 180 calories seems a tad low to me. You must be either a very small person or going at it at a slower pace or its simply inaccurate.
Does it indicate the speed in KPH or MPH?

Have you decided on a plan of action? Such as calorie intake goals, workout ideas, meal plans and so forth? I suggest you read the stickies that you find relevant to your goals and possibly start a log and post up some more questions as needed.
Good day.
 
Usually ellipticals burn more calories than that - I know treadmills aren't as good at the calorie burning unless you are really running or have them set on an intense incline.

Can you up you revolutions on them - you know try to make yourself go faster?

I have an elliptical by Precor and usually I can burn double the calories on the elliptical verses the treadmill.

I like my elliptical, it's just that my feet go numb after 20 min., but usually I will do a 30 or 40 min. workout.

Kudos to you for just beginning on the elliptical and getting in 20 min.!!
 
Oh and one other thing, got to get a hold on your eating plan as well as the exercise to be effective at losing weight.

Good luck!
 
I work out on the elliptical five days a week and although I've just started on my diet, I've already lost 7 pounds very fast, I think that the calories burned is inaccurate, I would say to go with how you feel after! I know when I get off my legs are BURNING and I know I've had a good workout!
 
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