New to the elliptical - thighs on fire

forevercurvy

forevercurvy

New member
I joined a great gym about a month ago but stuck to the bike and weight training until one day when I decided to try the elliptical.

I don't know if I did it wrong, but I doubt I will ever try it again. I put the machine on manual and the lowest resistance to start. After about 5 seconds my thighs were completely on fire and "ripping apart". This confused me, because my thighs are the strongest part of my body (I can press 10x+ more with my legs than lift with any other part of my body). I lasted about 5 minutes on the machine until I just couldn't take it anymore.

QUESTION for elliptical users -- does this go away with practice? was I not on the lowest setting? does the elliptical use all leg muscles at once hence x3 the normal workout of any other machine? (so said a trainer to me).

I have since switched to the treadmill since I think it works the muscles I actually want to work (mid section) and gets my HR way higher than the bike.

BUT I would like to have the option of using the elliptical. Or am I hopeless?
 
heya,
i've been using the elliptical for about 2-3 weeks now and now manage to do 60mins on it (there's some elliptical experts on here so they may be better placed to answer your question).

however i just wanted to let you know that in my experience when i started the elliptical i had no problems on it in terms of my thighs i could keep going, the only problem i had on it was i kept feeling like my feet were falling asleep but that went away the more i used it.

HOWEVER, there's this machine at our gym called the AMT that is rather similar as it is a mix between a stepper and an elliptical type of machine and i can only manage 1min 20secs on it and thereafter it feels like the muscles in my thighs go on fire so to speak...lol! so i gave up on it a while back but hoping to try it again soon. so in that sense i kinda have an idea where your coming from with your question.

from what i understand if you want to keep trying the elliptical, each time just keep attempting to increase the time you do it even if its by a few seconds and little by little your body becomes more accustomed to the machine and you'll find as time goes by you'll be able to stay a little longer than the last time.


forevercurvy said:
I joined a great gym about a month ago but stuck to the bike and weight training until one day when I decided to try the elliptical.

I don't know if I did it wrong, but I doubt I will ever try it again. I put the machine on manual and the lowest resistance to start. After about 5 seconds my thighs were completely on fire and "ripping apart". This confused me, because my thighs are the strongest part of my body (I can press 10x+ more with my legs than lift with any other part of my body). I lasted about 5 minutes on the machine until I just couldn't take it anymore.

QUESTION for elliptical users -- does this go away with practice? was I not on the lowest setting? does the elliptical use all leg muscles at once hence x3 the normal workout of any other machine? (so said a trainer to me).

I have since switched to the treadmill since I think it works the muscles I actually want to work (mid section) and gets my HR way higher than the bike.

BUT I would like to have the option of using the elliptical. Or am I hopeless?
Click to expand...
 
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Personally I never liked those type of cardio machines. I always liked the treadmill. For some reason I feel it better, I sweat more and I tend to want to push harder on a treadmill. But thats just me
 
Just because you can press a lot, doesn't mean your thighs are conditioned to long term exertion or endurance. The way you're using your muscles when you press or squat or lunge is totally different from how you use the same muscle when you run. And the way you use the muscles on the elliptical is different from the way you use them when you bike or run.

I love the elliptical and could easily do cardio on it for 60 mins at a time (not that I want or need to). But when I first started running ... it kicked my ass. And you know ... I could have said the same thing ... but I can do X ... why can't I run?

And the answer is kinda like saying "I can bake a great cake - why can't I make lasagna!" :) Maybe a rather clumsy analogy, but I think it makes the point.

It will get easier if you keep at it. Just like you couldn't press 10x your other weight when you first started leg presses. :) And it's possible that you might decide the elliptical isn't for you ... that's an option too.

I personally like to rotate through all of the different types of cardio. I think each has it's benefits and works my body differently and I don't want to get set in a rut.
 
i gotcha Kara! haha.

yeah it makes complete sense that the motions are different.

I think I'll stick to the elevated treadmill to build up my endurance before trying the elliptical again :)

thanks all!
 
Give it a go again I would say, keep at it. I used to be able to bike 100kms but only manage 2 mins on the elliptical.

Slowly ive worked it up and now i can go for over 35mins easily. Try playing with resistance also a little :)
 
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