My God those stairs!!!!

DJ7203

We just got stair climbers at my gym. I normally do an elliptical type machine. But this week I've been doing the stairs. I am more dripping wet with sweat after 15 mins on the stairs at level 8, vs doing 30 mins on the elliptical. Even through the machine on the stairs says I burned about half of what I normally do on the elliptical. I know that's just a very rough estimate though. I am definitely working harder. I think I'll be sticking to 15-20 mins on the stairs from now on. Instead of 30-45 mins on the other. I love time savers!

abuck_13

I'm pushing for my gym to get a Jacob's ladder....try that once and see what happens!

Forgot link first time http://www.jacobsladderexercise.com/

contingencyplan

I am scared of falling off of it. My old recovery once made me try it and I nearly did.

DvlDwnInGA

By far the toughest cardio in my gym is the stairs. Unfortunately we only have 2 of them and they are always full.

liznotyet

Don't forget to countertrain and give your knees some support.

Aemely

liznotyet wrote: »

Don't forget to countertrain and give your knees some support.

How do you countertrain for stairs?

kommodevaran

Will it not hurt one's back?

chunkytfg

abuck_13 wrote: »

I'm pushing for my gym to get a Jacob's ladder....try that once and see what happens!

Forgot link first time http://www.jacobsladderexercise.com/

My gym has one of those. Terrible bits of kit but oh so fun.

Most gyms won't use them because they won't get used, they make a huge amount of noise compared to other machines and they take up a lot of space.

msstatz

I don't have a stair machine but I walk the stairs and a t is a great workout for me at 19 weeks pregnant.

DJ7203

abuck_13 wrote: »

I'm pushing for my gym to get a Jacob's ladder....try that once and see what happens!

Forgot link first time http://www.jacobsladderexercise.com/

Looks intense! We don't have that at my gym that's for sure lol!

DJ7203

msstatz wrote: »

I don't have a stair machine but I walk the stairs and a t is a great workout for me at 19 weeks pregnant.

Oh I can imagine! I remember that from when I was pregnant.

DJ7203

DvlDwnInGA wrote: »

By far the toughest cardio in my gym is the stairs. Unfortunately we only have 2 of them and they are always full.

We have 5 now & since they are a newer machine & people are so used to the old ones I think most of the regulars are scared to try them. So they are always empty lol! Or if they are used it's only for a few mins.

DJ7203

contingencyplan wrote: »

I am scared of falling off of it. My old recovery once made me try it and I nearly did.

Oh the first time I tried them years ago at another gym, I got on & turned up the speed too high & fell off them too. I was so embarrassed & swore I would never use them again lol! This time around I started out slow & adjusted the speed as I went along to see what I could handle.

DJ7203

liznotyet wrote: »

Don't forget to countertrain and give your knees some support.

How do you do this?

JoRocka

contingencyplan wrote: »

I am scared of falling off of it. My old recovery once made me try it and I nearly did.

just slow down. The stairs are one of the most deceptive machines- what seems painfully slow when you first start becomes the march of death within 5-10 min. If you find a speed you're thinking is a "good speed" when you first start- odds are it's just to fast for longer stints.

just slow down.

I didn't use the stair master for the longest time- I refused- too many cardio bunnies- but after watching all the body builders I knew use them I figured they had to be good for something.

So. now i use it- and I'm good at it- took me some time though. My old gym there were 3 and they were always in use. My new gym only has 2 and they are rarely in use- much less both of them. People prefer the ellipticals or the treadmill. <shrug> more movie time for me!

MsHarryWinston

We have a step climber but I would LOVE to a stairmill! They are supposed to work better.