Cybex Arc Trainer

Wookinpanub
Wookinpanub Posts: 635 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have begun to use this after using the elliptical for months. The Arc trainer is quite a workout. My issues is I select P5 which is the 1:1 interval program. I do level 1 and when I get to the hill it goes to 55 resistance. I then manually adjust to 45 and it is still very difficult. On the non hills it is at 30 which I manually adjust down to 20. The constant manual adjustments are a pain.

I just don't think I have the settings right as Level 1 should not be this difficult. I am in decent shape and should be able to handle Level 1. Any advice?

Replies

  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    The Arc trainer is always wayyyy more difficult than an elliptical. I don't think the machines are as common (my gym has them). It's not even a workout in the MFP log the last time I checked.

    There's a reason the Arc trainers always have a sweat spray on the floor from people using them. I think even the most basic level on them is designed to be challenging. I would pick a setting that works for you and gradually build up to do more. I would not suggest constantly fussing with the settings--that takes you out of your zone.
  • monolith66
    monolith66 Posts: 168 Member
    Cybex Arc Trainer is a staple in my routine. On my off-days of lifting, my cardio consists of 30-35 mins of Hill Intervals, Level 10 max incline, 40 resistance on the low @ 100 SPM, 60 resistance on the high @ 120 SPM. Most of the time, I crank up the high portion to 80-100 resistance and try to maintain my 120 SPM, burns so gooood... Such a great workout. Pick a comfortable program like Weight Loss Level 1, and tweak the level as you get stronger and more adept to the routine/movements. If you're not huffing and puffing after your high interval, up the level. It took a while to work up to level 10 but the juice is worth the squeeze.
  • Wookinpanub
    Wookinpanub Posts: 635 Member
    Cybex Arc Trainer is a staple in my routine. On my off-days of lifting, my cardio consists of 30-35 mins of Hill Intervals, Level 10 max incline, 40 resistance on the low @ 100 SPM, 60 resistance on the high @ 120 SPM. Most of the time, I crank up the high portion to 80-100 resistance and try to maintain my 120 SPM, burns so gooood... Such a great workout.

    How is that possible? I do the hill intervals on Level 1 and have to manually adjust down to 20 - low & 45 high. Not sure what my SPM are. I am just struggling with it and it looks like I am slogging thru quicksand on the 45. I am not that out of shape.

    Is the machine just that bad *kitten* that it is beating me up?
  • monolith66
    monolith66 Posts: 168 Member
    You have to build more endurance in your legs. My legs are cut. I've always been blessed with good genetics in the leg department so I have a slight edge in that regard and I train my legs every Monday. Even still.. genetics or not, you have to work your way up the levels. That's the beauty of the Cybex Arc Trainer. I started with the Weight Loss setting and did about 45 mins to 1 hr of steady-state cardio, that builds your endurance quite well. Avoid manual adjustments during your cardio session, you need to power through the resistance and incline of that level and go beyond your comfort zone that's how you develop strength and endurance.
  • ShellF415
    ShellF415 Posts: 182 Member
    This machine kicks my butt every day. I had to start on manual to build up the leg strength to be able to do anything higher than 25 resistance and that was after six months of running on a treadmill and elliptical.
  • crazybookworm
    crazybookworm Posts: 779 Member
    The Arc Trainer is Killer!(but in a great way, of course!)

    That is level one, believe it or not. However, you will get used to it! There was a time that I could barely get through 5 minutes on a resistance of 15. Now I happily hang out on it for an hour sometimes, doing intervals.

    Instead of going by the machines intervals, why not just manually create your own interval program until you have built up some endurance? For example, hop on and set it to 15 than after 5 minutes of warming up, manually increase the resistance level to 20(I would also adjust the level of the strides as well, maybe to an 8) do that for say 2 minutes, then repeat for X amount of time. After a week or so, you will probably be ready for an increase. Pretty soon you'll be sailing through Level 1 of the Arc Trainer's interval program!

    Good luck!!

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