How long on the elliptical?

The elliptical is just like running. So I would start at around 5 minutes, do that for a few days until it's easier, then go up to 8 minutes. And so on. It will get easier, just keep at it. The elliptical is a great way to burn calories!

When I first started it killed me....it was brutal.

I've found a good way to break it up though so that I get about 15 minutes for my work out. 4 days a week I do strength training and make a circuit through the weights 1 set, 10 reps for each exercise (mix of machine and free-weights) and finish with 5 minutes on the Eliptical. I take a couple minutes to relax, then repeat the whole process twice more. It keeps the heart rate up for the Calorie Burn and breaks it up so that I don't consider the eliptical a tool of the devil by the end of my gym time.

When I was losing weight I'd be on the elliptical for about 30-35 minutes. If your legs are shaking, could you possibly be dehydrated? Can you lower the resistance? Do some leg strength training exercises to go along with it?

If it really is fatigue, can I suggest you try walking and building up to an elliptical or treadmill? Walking doesn't require you to be on a machine and you can slow down if it gets too intense

this just makes me worry that the ellipticals i've used aren't doing enough for me, or that i'm really not burning the calories i think i am (i've used many, though, at a lot of different gyms, and i'd say i feel the same about all of them).

the first time i ever went on one i did 30 minutes on the weight loss interval, and although it was difficult, i wouldn't say that i was "dying" or that my legs couldn't take it (i am overweight and not very fit...yet). now i do the 30 min. weight loss interval and up to another 30 min. with changing resistance and incline.

are the machines i've been using all this time just too "easy" or are my legs stronger than i thought? i have noticed that certain machines at the gym seem to have less resistance than others.

i also like them better than treadmills, simply because i cannot run for more than a few minutes at a time. but i have that nagging in the back of my mind that's telling me i like ellipticals more because they're "easier" and i'm really not burning as much as i could be.

I use to do a steady 50 minutes every morning.

Now I stick with 30 minutes but make it more challenging by changing the level and/or adding wind sprints in between. I also add a few minutes in reverse. Doing this really makes the time go by faster as you are changing it up and wind sprints really help with weight loss.

Starting out I was at 10 minutes and incremented 5 minutes each week. Takes a while to get your cardio wind.

I just had a GREAT workout on the elliptical. I did 35 minutes. that includes the 5 minute cool down. I did an HIIT intervel. I kep tmy incline on 10 but i changed up my resistance. After 54 minutes, i busted out 405 calories. it was a great feeling!

you can do it

I think ellipticals are harder when they're not gym grade. My boyfriend and I bought and elliptical...and it wasn't cheap..it was like $1200. I couldn't go longer than 7 minutes on it and my legs would be so sore that it made me not want to use it. Now, I use the elliptical at the gym and I have gone up to an hour on it. I think it just depends on the kind.

Echoing what people have said when we got ours and I first started it was all I could do to make 8 - 12 minutes. Keep at it you'll get stronger at it, now I can do an hour but would hate to do that (I still call it the infernal machine)

Stick with it and each day do a little more. 2 months ago I felt the same way... now I do 30 minutes most days of the week because that is all the time I have... but can do 60 minutes on the weekends now if I have time!

I love the elliptical. I feel I get the most calorie burn in the shortest amount of time!!

Good luck!

I go anywhere from 30-60 min, depending on what else I'm doing that day.