has anyone lost a significant amount of weight using the elliptical trainer?

I used an elliptical to help me lose my 1st 50 pounds or so but it was mostly diet. I had an awful MCL sprain so I was limited to low impact exercises. I've discovered some HIIT rountines on the elliptical that help me burn more calories but the main way I've lost weight is a clean diet and giving myself a free meal every now again so I don't feel deprived. Once I felt better, then I started to lift weights and do more activities.

Exercise is for fitness and health. While it helps to create a calorie deficit, your diet is more important for weight loss than whatever exercise you do.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

20lb so far and I mostly do eliptical. Sometimes a bit of walking/treadmill/bike/weights but mostly treadmill.

In my mind anything that has you moving is going to help. Dance around the front room, walk to the shop rather than take the car if you can (not for like a weekly shop, that'd be daft for many)...and anything is better than nothing.Only felt like 10 minutes...least you did 10 minutes.

Do beware. I use Map My Walk and MFP and I can apparently burn 1000cals on a busy day at work...yeah, right! I don't actually eat back exercise calories per se...I aim for a weekly average of about 1350 ...the exercise cals are there for weekend can't be arsed to weigh everything, forgot the odd nibble, I'm eating out and have to guess...seems to work for me!

rabbitjb wrote: »

Not on it's own

I've lost a significant amount of weight eating at a calorie defecit

and I've used the elliptical to increase my cardio fitness

+1

I agree with everyone else. A suggestion for cutting back on calories - log your food before you eat. That will be eye-opening! Also, it is really helpful to get a food scale to accurately measure what you are eating (if you are not already using one). That will also be an eye opener. I find it much much easier to eat within my calorie goal if I plan ahead what I am going to eat. For instance, we are going out for dinner tonight and I know I will have at least one cocktail. I have entered two already plus I have decided what I will have while there. That typically (not 100% fool-proof, of course!) keeps me from making a split second decision when I get there and eating more than I intended.

Weight loss is due to a calorie deficit. You can either eat less than you use in a day. And/or use exercise to create and increase your deficit. Anything that gets your heart rate up and burns calories can be used as exercise to help lose weight.

I love my elliptical, best thing I ever did was buy one to have at home. I can choose my own intensity level and I use it as time for me, 30 minutes on the elliptical with a good book is worth it's weight in gold for me. Go forwards, go backwards, low resistence with speed or slow it down and bump up the resistence and you might just fall in love with the results.
I lost weight with a combo of healthy diet and regular movement. I would suggest finding several things to do not just the elliptical. The hula hoop is great for core muscles, yoga, calesthenics are all things easily done at home.

Whatever you choose to do I would advise you to take measurements, you'll see those change faster than the weight on the scale many times.

20yearsyounger wrote: »

The elliptical was my weapon of choice during my weight loss process. I had a reasonable calorie goal and used the elliptical to create significant deficits.

ditto.
direct answer to OP question with direct results.
use cardio to create a bigger deficit has also been a winning formula for me too.
good luck OP.