Weight loss and the elliptical

I lost about 20 pounds while doing most of my exercise on an elliptical doing interval training supplemented with walking on non-workout days. Since then I've gone back to doing kettlebells on alternate days for strength training. And just last week I started on the rowing machine for some of my cardio minutes just to change things up a bit (again, doing high intensity intervals).

That said, I've read that food intake is by far the most important thing to work on to lose weight--with some folks claiming that it's responsible for 80% or more of what you lose. And really, weight loss is about being in a calorie deficit, so in theory limiting what you eat without adding any exercise would do the job. But exercise is good for a lot of reasons (heart healthiness, better blood chemistry, muscle tone, etc., etc.) besides just helping with your calorie deficit.

I do strength training for 30 minutes per day, but I love cardio for the calorie burn plus other benefits. I primarily use the elliptical machine for cardio. Sometimes running or cycling, but the elliptical is my "go to" machine.

I personally have to be careful that I challenge myself enough while on the elliptical. I make sure to put the resistance up or move faster. I find that sometimes I can "zone out" when on the elliptical if I am not paying attention and can cheat myself out of getting good exercise for the time that I am putting in. I check my heart rate to make sure that I am staying in the aerobic zone. I've lost almost 60 pounds, so it seems to work for me.

Good luck. I think you need to find something that you will actually do. I hate the treadmill, so I will only do 30 minutes on it max. I love the elliptical and can stay on that for 90 minutes at a stretch. It's all about being active in whatever way works for your lifestyle.

You're right! I did a little comparison reading on the "best" cardio exercise (of course, the real answer is the best one is the one you enjoy doing and will work the hardest on), but running pretty much gets top recommendations. The elliptical stores up momentum to smooth things out, so yes, it is easier than running. The tradeoff is that it's easier on your joints. Years ago I used to bike (a real bike, not a stationary one) for cardio, and with the hills and trying to keep a decent pace, it really bothered my knees. The elliptical had never been a problem for me, and by varying resistance, incline, and speed, it's possible to get a decent interval workout.

I wish I had the discipline to run. I've never really gotten into it, and in the climate where I live you have to be pretty dedicated to run outside in the long, cold winter. And I think I'd go nuts using the indoor track at the gym.

Congrats on your weight loss! To get as far as you've gotten, you've really got it together.

Yes. Me. During 50 days I have lost 20 pounds. Level 8 - 10 for 60 minutes + 5 minutes cool down. About 700 burnt calories. 6-7 times a week.