Ellipticals

captainbea

captainbea

New member
hi all, well im new to this forum, and I recently joined a gym. I spend most of my time on the elliptical, due to the fact that my doctor has told me that it is the best way to lose calories fast and without feeling tired.

I was wondering though, for those of you who have used this longer than I have (a week), what were your results? Maybe I just want fast results, but I haven’t seen a difference in my body yet.
 
I own my elliptical! I use it everyday (well almost everyday...) for 60-70 minutes.. there is no other exercise in the world that i could or would do for that long...and it is great! I do work up a sweat but I never have sore muscles etc... I used it once before in my life, when I lost 50 pounds before, that's why I had decided to purchase one this time. I find it very helpful to shed the pounds... you can't realistically expect to lose more than 1-2 pounds a week unless you are really heavy, then you usually can lost a bit more than the 1-2.. if you lose more than that, you will surely gain it back.
Someone said this to me when I was first losing weight... it took you blank years to get to this weight, it's going to take you a while to lose it. That made sense to me.
My only complaint about the elliptical is that it doesn't do as much for your arms as you might like. I hate my arms with a passion so I am always adding in free weights or a resistance band to work on those muscles..
Enjoy! and Good luck!
This is a good place for support!
Paulette
 
I have always loved working out on the elliptical and I agree that you can work out much longer on it then any other equipment.
 
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the elliptical. I use it 6 days a week. I do 40 minutes each day with a higher intensity. I've seen some great results. I havent even started lifting weights yet and im down 60 pounds in 12 weeks!
 
Cool, thanks everyone! Well I had my fitness test a day ago... to my surprised I’m at 188 pounds… Dang!!! But yeah, I think it’s awesome that I don’t feel tired using the elliptical for like 60 minutes… so I kind of thought it was too good to be true haha. Thanks everyone!
 
If you really want to feel it in your arms, as well as all over, turn the intensity up. On the ones at my gym they go to level 20, I usually keep it at 12, then turn it up to 15 and I have to push and pull with my arms. Gives the upper body a good workout too. Good Luck.
 
I've used ellipticals in the past for my workout and have had great results. Although, I have used ellipticals that have a rather odd, unnatrual motion to them. My workout usually consists of 25 mins on the elliptical and then another 25 on another cardio machine (usually treadmill or bike).

The most important thing to do when doing cardio training is to continuously challenge yourself. Once you build up enough endurance so that your normal workout is easy, up the ante - increase the resistance or set another goal for yourself. Dramatic results take a lot of work - no workout should be a walk in the park.

Oh - just as an aside... try peddling backwards - it works out a completely different group of muscles... makes for sore (but toned) thighs! :)
 
ellipticals are great for HIIT...that's why I prefer them over the treadmills... they're easy on the knees too :)

oh yeah with HIIT you won't get bored hahaha you'll get owned :D
 
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I use the elliptical primarily too. I get tired on it, but I am able to keep my heart rate up longer before getting tired on the elliptical.

I know this is a kind of costly suggestion, but I use my video ipod while on the elliptical. I usually watch an hour long tv show cuts down to 40 minutes without the commercials, or two episodes of a half hour show at 20 minutes each. Then, sometimes I can add a third episode in to kick it up to an hour. I find it easier to keep going when I also want to see how my show ends.
 
good idea, but i only have a nano ipod, darn. pussycat dolls are helping, but im starting to get bored.. OH NO!
 
i used the elliptical when i used to go to the gym and i love it! i could watch TV and still get a serious workout. no stress on the bad joints, etc! i'm looking into buying one for home (that or an exercise bike). i think i may have plantar fascitis, so i'm wondering if anyone's experienced this and could i still use an elliptical???

anyway - yeah - i love the elliptical!
 
I own an elliptical. I used to have a gym membership, but I put a home gym in my den. The gym had a cardio theatre, which made the the time go by quicker, (granted it had to be a good movie). Now I have my 61" TV in front of my elliptical, so I can throw in an action movie, and before you know it, I have finished an 1 1/2 hour ride without thinking about it.

The really cool thing about ellipticals is that they can get your heart rate up without shock to the joints. I have some slight knee problems and the elliptical gets the rate up without the hard bounce of a treadmill or the "seat weggie" you get from a bike.
 
lharper2 said:
When I use this machine, I feel unbalanced somehow. Does anyone else? What am I doing wrong?
Click to expand...

There are many models of ellipticals. The stride length, (how far the pedals can go back and fourth), varies from machine to machine. If this is a gym machine, then try another model. Most gyms have more than one brand. If this is a home elliptical, check the foot holders. Mine elliptical has sliders so you can adjust to different foot sizes. This also changes the stride length somewhat.

Ellipticals are not for everyone, just like treadmills and stair climbers. These may not be right for you. I don't know your frame or build, and that may have something to do with it.

Hope this helps. :)
 
That's a good idea, watching a video on my ipod while I'm on the elliptical. I figured I could watch 2 episodes of something while I'm there..I love The Soup so that would be awsome.
 
Thanks Fishman! I think it probably is the foot size. Usually I am so busy trying to keep my feet in place that one leg is sort of stiff. Will look to resize it next time. Thanks!
 
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