Which machine to choose?

Walking on the treadmill is amazing exercise and a great place to start.

They are all a great way to exercise. Try mixing it up. One day do the elliptical, then treadmill, then bike. This way you are mixing up your exercise and you can see which one you like and gives you the results you want!

I would use the elliptical and the treadmill. Exercise bikes don't do much unless you're doing a crazy spinning class. Start with the elliptical and do it for as long as you can. If it's just a couple minutes, that's fine. You'll start building your endurance as you go. Then go to the treadmill and do some interval training, as fast as you can go for as long as you can go and then a slower "rest" period, and back to fast.

I found the Elliptical to be the easiest on my joints when I first started. Yes it feels hard and even now the first 10 minutes make my legs ache but once past that I can stay on for hours.

You could also try the treadmill on a slow speed but with a good incline.

I vote for the cybex arc. I love it.

I'm sorry the first night didn't go so well. Did you try any of the treadmills or bikes? Maybe try the treadmil until you get a little more used to being active. Dont push yourself so much that's you're in real pain, because that just makes it more likely to get burned out and quit. Hang in there!

Did you ask if someone was available to show you around on the machines? Maybe just changing a setting would help it feel better? (Staff at my gym will do this for free.)

I vote for the cybex arc. I love it.

Me too!!! :flowerforyou:

When I am getting back into the gym routine I find a circuit like workout is good until you work the strength for some of the machines. Try 5 or 10 minutes on a few machines. Then you can keep working up how long you are on them. I like some kind of bike, elliptical, stairclimber combo. Ive been gym friendly for a lil while now so on the weekend when I have time to burn I can do 45 elliptical, 20 stairs, and 40 bike in whatever order. Then I stretch for 15 and just make the 2 hour daycare limit! I only get lunchbreak sessions during the week so 30-40 min max, so I try for a good push on Saturdays!

I vote for the cybex arc. I love it.

Me too, love it!!!

When I first started I couldnt do but 5 minutes on the elliptical now I can do 30. But I like having someone to talk to me it makes it go faster. The treadmil is so boring to me and my feet feel like they go to sleep. I dont usually have that problem on the elliptical. Do what is the most comfortable for you especially until you get use to it. Or try a little of both.

Where is it hurting when you use the elliptical?

Very good question and I was astonished no one asked. So... what's the source of the pain? Joints? If so which? Is it chafing?

I would disagree with the previous poster who said you should be running intervals on the treadmill. It's something I would not advocate even for a generic newbie runner from the outset, never mind someone addressing 300lb weight issue. The impact on the joints would be enormous and likely to lead to more pain than the elliptical ever could.

Initially I would stick with non-impact exercises.

Spin classes are great and generic exercise bikes also have their uses. Ellipticals make great fat burners in general. Another machine you may find comfortable is a Concept 2 rowing machine. The burn is similar to running and you have no impact on ankles and knees.

I hate ellipticals!
HATE them!!
They make me feel all sloshy and motion sick.
I don't really like bikes unless they have the upper body ergometer (meaning the bike thingy for the arms too.) I try to watch tv or do other things if my arms aren't busy too and then I find I have forgotten I am on a bike and just sit there...

I really like the treadmill cause even when I am slowly jogging I can read while I am on it and I can't forget that I am on the treadmill cause it'll throw me if I do!

Lol, I am reading your post and looking at your profile/avatar pic with the cat. So suiting for the despising of the Elliptical, like an outward facial express just toward the topic.. if that makes sense, made me LOL. 'Cause i'm weird like that,..

ANYWAYYY, to the topic.

I found for me the Elliptical always worsened my ability to workout, and the intermittent knee pain I have. I found all ellipticals run on a different stride length, (18, 22.. etc) and if your stride doesn't quite match it - it feels awkward, sloppy and PAINFUL. Usually the higher end models at gyms are better than the average home ones(i found if you spend under 2,000 on an elliptical.. you get junk for the most part; not always).

I know a treadmill can wreak havoc on your knees, but for me when I try and counterbalance it with leg curls or squats it helps, and for me the Elliptical is based on a, |Put in= get out| factor, and if I slack - so will the movement, so with a treadmill it pushes me,.. Like, "OKAY, YOU SLOW DOWN AND SLACK - I'LL KEEP MOVING AND YOU CAN FALL ON YOUR FACE, K?" Lol, so a treadmill actually keeps me more consistent and I found my weight loss/maintaing has been achieved better with a treadmill than an Elliptical.

I like the bike..also not too big to have in the house.:flowerforyou:

I like the Ellipical the best. I burn the most calories on it and I feel like I sweat the most on it, so it must be giving me the best workout. But it's good to switch it up some so your body doesn't get use to the same thing, you gotta keep your body guessing if you want to continue changing yourself!