do ellipitical machines help tone and lose weight?

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Replies

  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    OK THAN WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE MACHINE THAT I CAN USE? :) to help me lower body fat %???

    squat rack..

    for real. i've lost 5 pant sizes and around 8% body fat primarily from eating at a small deficit and lifting heavy
  • lovelyMYlovely
    lovelyMYlovely Posts: 1,066 Member
    1- They work out your whole body since you're moving your arms and legs and your torso is slightly twisting back and forth.

    2- Theoretically you burn calories doing this, but you only lose weight by eating a calorie deficit. I would imagine you could only "tone up" if you have the resistence setting on really high.

    3- Personally, I haven't seen any results using them and I've wasted years doing this. The only results I see on me is when I lift heavy weights. If you want to lower your body fat % I would recommend lifting over cardio any day.
    hmm ok ok..... thanks
  • serenapitala
    serenapitala Posts: 441 Member
    I do a lot of elliptical and have lost over 50 pounds. My legs do look great, but I've lost weight too. Honestly, I haven't lost enough weight to tell you how the midsection looks from it, but mine is definitely stronger. I don't just do the elliptical though. I do lots of different things. I think you really have to change it up for the best results.

    Edit: I hadn't done any lifting until last week. So, you can definitely lose weight and tone up without it, but a variety of things will help you the most. Cardio is good for your heart, stamina and toning as well as weight loss. Lifting is good for weight loss, toning and general body composition. Both are great for confidence! Why do one when you can do both?
  • babyblooz
    babyblooz Posts: 220 Member
    Spend $250 on sessions with a personal trainer, home ellipticals are nonsense.

    Yeah, I'd have to disagree.

    - the girl who has lost 46 pounds using hers :laugh:
  • syrklc
    syrklc Posts: 172 Member
    lost 24 kg's in 28 weeks using elliptical................:smile::wink: :laugh: :happy: :tongue: :love: :flowerforyou: :glasses: :smokin: :smooched: :drinker: :bigsmile: :blushing:

    I am not an expert. I don't spend any $ on exercise equipment or gym. I have a mix of workout videos which I use alternately. Most of my videos include strength training and cardio exercises. For me, this works better. I am never bored and not relying on equipment in a gym to get me in shape. :wink:
  • serenapitala
    serenapitala Posts: 441 Member
    Also, I want to echo the comments about weight loss being a calorie deficit. What goes in is important too, not just what goes out. You're on MFP, so I'm guessing you know that, but I just wanted to make sure :smile:
  • judykat7
    judykat7 Posts: 576 Member
    THANK YOU LADIES WHO HAVE USED THE MACHINE AND LOVE IT!!! i am going to buy one now!!! and yes probably start working out with jillian michaels 4 times a week.. YAY im excited!!!!! i hope i lose inches! i dont really mind about the weight i just want to lose inches.... ok im going to buy one FOR SURE....

    I would go to a fitness store and try out several before making a purchase decision. When I got mine I did this and several of them just didn't seem to "fit" me or they were wobbly or noisey. I ended up with a Gold's model and have been very happy with its performance. I have had it a couple years now. I hate the machine and call it the machine from Hell but it sure puts a sweat on me top to bottom. I do use the arms a lot and am working up to the circuits it offers. I only use it 2x a week. I bowflex 2x and walk everyday.
  • Ibipo
    Ibipo Posts: 3
    I have one, and found it very useful. I assume that I could loose some weight while using it as it is very easy to get into a routine.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    hmm, to a degree.
  • mynameiscarrie
    mynameiscarrie Posts: 963 Member
    OK THAN WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE MACHINE THAT I CAN USE? :) to help me lower body fat %???

    picard-facepalm2.jpg

    do we not listen...
  • JenRun1
    JenRun1 Posts: 212
    Im a runner but I use the home eliptical during the winter....I burn 450 calories on it in a 40 minute work out. It is not an expensive one but not cheap Walmart one either. As long as you set your resistance so you are challenging yourself, I'm sure it would help you with weight loss. I also combine weights so if you want to tone, I would advise you do weight training too.
  • dave4d
    dave4d Posts: 1,155 Member
    Be careful with the home models. I love the ones in the gym. I can burn a lot of calories, and it doesn't hurt my knees like running does. I was thinking about buying one, at one time, and when I stepped on it to try it out, it was quite jerky, and felt weird. I didn't like the way it felt, so I decided against it. If you are determined to get one, make sure you try out various models to find out which ones feel the best to you. That way you don't end up spending $250 on a clothes hangar.
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    You can do the elliptical if you want to, to help maintain your calorie deficit. But it won't produce a tight, hard body.

    My story in a nutshell:

    was fat.
    started counting calories and walking.
    lost 20~
    started using elliptical too and continued counting calories.
    kept losing.
    ran a 5K and then a 10K. still counting calories. still on the elliptical A LOT.
    kept losing until I finally hit my "goal weight" on the scale.
    felt dissatisfied because I was "there" but my body still looked squishy and soft and the same shape it had been, only smaller.
    was stubborn.
    kept trying to reduce calories, lose more weight through cardio only.
    still stubborn.
    ...
    noticed that all the super successful and HOT friends I had here on MFP were all lifting.
    started lifting, quit doing any kind of cardio.
    did Stronglifts 5x5 program for 12 weeks. Ate 1800 on non-lift days and 2100 on lifting days.
    ...
    Became AMAZED at the progress I was able to see, visually, and FINALLY started loving the way my body looked.
    (kicked myself for staying stubborn for so long)
  • justal313
    justal313 Posts: 1,375 Member
    Last January when I had 100 pounds to lose, I only did the ellipticals. Maybe about 2 or 3 months later, I added in machines, not dumbells and the like because I can be totally self sufficient using them.

    Around April/May I ran for the first time on a treadmill. I was afraid of using one and falling and getting launched across the floor (silly I know).

    It wasn't long until I decided that I really liked running, but I kept up with 3-4 times a week on the machines because I was getting ready for the warrior dash.

    My progress was fairly linear as I was maintaining a deficit the whole time. I would imagine any "tone" I have is from the sum of my efforts.

    I am however going to be training for a half marathon starting late spring so my weight training of any kind is going to drop to twice a week most likely as I get two "rest/cross" days on my training schedule for the 1/2 marathon. I'll at least bang out some pushups on my running days some of them anyway.
  • lovelyMYlovely
    lovelyMYlovely Posts: 1,066 Member
    alright i see..... cool... i love hearing these stories it gives me hope :)
  • NikoM5
    NikoM5 Posts: 488 Member
    And just in case it hasn't already been said enough, as far as fat loss is concerned...

    Cardio = 5%
    Diet = 95%

    So spend you're money on cardio equipment ONLY if your diet is spot on, otherwise you're wasting time and money.

    FYI I do zero cardio.
  • now_or_never13
    now_or_never13 Posts: 1,575 Member
    Spend $250 on sessions with a personal trainer, home ellipticals are nonsense.

    Why are home ellipticals nonsense?

    $250 where I am would get me 6, maybe 8 sessions with a trainer that are 30-45minutes in length. The elliptical I have at home has done a lot for me.

    To the OP, if you get a decent quality elliptical you can lose weight if you have your diet in check. Especially when it comes to the last few pounds it comes off very slowly. Ellipticals are great... so are treadmills, weight lifting, bikes, rowing machines, etc. An elliptical isn't a magical piece of equipment but helps to create a calorie deficit by exercise.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,994 Member
    Ok......

    I don't have a lot of time to work out. So I up the resistance and do a "running" pace rather than a "walking" pace. According to my HRM, that's what it is.
    Dependent on how much resistance there is, it would start becoming more anaerobic than aerobic. An HRM doesn't read anaerobic burn correctly. That's why when people use it for weight lifting, the calories burned is incorrect. HRM measure heart rate, but not how that heart rate originates from. For instance, wear a heart rate monitor and watch a suspense/horror movie. Your heart rate will indicate that you may have burned 300 calories in 20 minutes, when that's not the case.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • now_or_never13
    now_or_never13 Posts: 1,575 Member
    OK THAN WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE MACHINE THAT I CAN USE? :) to help me lower body fat %???

    HEAVY WEIGHTS. listen to people. Stop waiting to hear what you want to hear and start hearing what people are saying.
    so if i JUST do weights and no cardio..... ill lose the most fat?.....

    You will lose fat in the process... just don't step on the scale because if you are doing lifting right and having the correct food intake your weight will go up but your measurements will go down.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,994 Member
    OK THAN WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE MACHINE THAT I CAN USE? :) to help me lower body fat %???
    Your own body. It doesn't have to be complicated workouts. If you have no equipment, pushup, pullups, squats, burpees, jump lunges, jump tucks, mountain climbers, etc. are all excellent ways to get your heart rate up and improve strength. And it COSTS YOU NOTHING, but a little time and effort.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • oDapho
    oDapho Posts: 50
    They work your whole body. I find if I use it enough my abs, thighs, calves, and arms all get tighter and occasionally sore. I have seen results in the past using the elliptical.
  • alienrite
    alienrite Posts: 314 Member
    I have an elliptical machine at home and have completed 135 workouts for a total time of 107 hours with an average calorie burn of 749 calories (HRM) since July 2012. I splurged many years ago and purchased a gym-quality machine which I have used for short periods of time but since joining MFP, it has been the backbone of my workouts. I have been diligent at increasing my resistance as I grew stronger and have developed very toned legs with calves and quads like steel, and my upper body and abs have started to really firm up too. I have done no weight training because I have a hard time lifting and eating a significant calorie deficit. I have also been very diligent with logging all my food on MFP and stayed very consistently within my calorie budget. The best part is that I have lost 48.5 lbs in the last 215 days and I am 11 lbs away from my goal weight which I should hit on 3/22/2013 or so.

    I have started running in November and I am currently training towards races but running hasn't really changed the rate of my weight loss. The elliptical allows me an accessible way to workout every single day so that I can increase my calorie budget because I have a really hard time eating at a deficit without any workout calories to eat back. I am pretty certain that the majority of my success has been through my food control and much of my toning has been simply by becoming more lean. That being said, my elliptical is a great tool and an asset I don't think I would have achieved what I have so far.
  • serenapitala
    serenapitala Posts: 441 Member
    And the answer to what machine (or routine) works best:

    Whatever you will continue to use. Not just until you hit your ten pounds, but indefinitely.

    If you get what someone tells you to get and then don't use it, you won't burn anything. If you aren't sure what you would continue to use again and again, I would recommend going to a gym for a month or so. Then you can figure out what you would be happy doing every day.
  • notthatthis
    notthatthis Posts: 218
    Spend $250 on sessions with a personal trainer, home ellipticals are nonsense.

    Why are home ellipticals nonsense?

    $250 where I am would get me 6, maybe 8 sessions with a trainer that are 30-45minutes in length. The elliptical I have at home has done a lot for me.

    To the OP, if you get a decent quality elliptical you can lose weight if you have your diet in check. Especially when it comes to the last few pounds it comes off very slowly. Ellipticals are great... so are treadmills, weight lifting, bikes, rowing machines, etc. An elliptical isn't a magical piece of equipment but helps to create a calorie deficit by exercise.

    Buy a man a fish and he has a fish. Teach a man to fish and he can feed himself for life.

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