Stigma around elliptical machines

I'm really perplexed by everyone saying how ellipticals are better on the knees. When I've tried to use one I last about a minute before it feels like my knees are going to literally explode.

And no I don't have any knee problems. I can bike half a century or run a 5k with no problem whatsoever. The elliptical just feels all wrong and hurts.

I have short legs (well, I am a short woman...) and the stride of the elliptical is hard and feels very un-natural to me and it doesn't help my arthritic knees at all. I prefer the ARC Trainer where I can choose different kind of programs and have variety in my cardio workout. The water rower and the ARC are my two main cardio machine, followed by the stationary bike.

I don't care about the calories burned; my only interest is the time spent in the machine and the benefits of the workout itself. So OP just do whatever you prefer and is good for your body. The only exercise that matters is the one that you enjoy and do in a consistent way.

Jruzer wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I'm still not getting the whole "stigma" thing...what is this "stigma?"

Preface: I think the elliptical is great. I've got bum knees so I can't run, and the elliptical is one of the the most intense exercises I can do.

But there is plenty of stigma out there against ellipticals. Don't kid yourself. Just have a look at the following excerpts. Note that these people are all wrong and misguided, and many straw men are slain. But the cumulative effect of seeing this stuff can certainly scare people like OP off of a good workout:

http://thisgirltrains.com/why-elliptical-bunnies-never-reach-their-goals/

This is why I hate elliptical trainers. In my opinion, they’re useless pieces of equipment. No other cardio machine allows people to fake workouts and lies about how hard they’re working like ellipticals (and before you start whining about how bad your knees are and that the elliptical is your only option, allow me to introduce you to swimming and biking).

http://www.bradkanus.com/2012/08/people-we-hate-users-of-the-elliptical-machine.html

Nobody looks dumber in the gym than the rows of elliptical riders awkwardly paddling their feet back and forth trying to both ski and run at the same time. Never has someone ever looked at someone on an elliptical machine and thought "now that's athletic, that's a workout." ... Straight men should stay the hell off of these machines if they want to retain any shred of dignity.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/forum/thread72293.html

The eliptical is one of the most useless things in the gym. I hate people going on that thing trying to lose fat. Mite as well go sit on the sitdown recumbant bike and go at a snails pace while you read your kindle.

http://elitedaily.com/wellness/jillian-michaels-skip-elliptical/1588536/

When asked about “one exercise people should stop wasting their time doing,” (Jillian) Michaels responds,
"The elliptical. Ugh."

https://www.t-nation.com/training/4-dumbest-forms-of-cardio

The elliptical machine is too easy. However, it's great for mental zombies who enjoy pretending to exercise.

http://www.chicagonow.com/get-fit-chicago/2014/04/the-6-biggest-workout-mistakes/

If you're workout regularly consists of riding on an elliptical machine for 45 minutes or jogging on a treadmill to bank 4 or 5 miles, you're doing your body a disservice. While there is nothing wrong with working out at an easy/moderate pace every now and then - even once a week - continuous steady state cardio puts your body on the fast track for storing fat.

https://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=1&f=113&t=1649107

What worthless stupid stuff did you see at the gym today? ... People on cardio machines, especially the stairclimber and elliptical. I hate that whole part of the gym, especially considering there's a 300m indoor track in my gym and two Olympic lap pools that nobody uses while fatties kill themselves on these machines because for some reason the elliptical has been society's image of how you lose weight. Not saying it's completely worthless but if we're talking effectiveness, well it's not.

OK...but I guess I could say that about any machine in the gym...or rather, my critique would be of many individuals using these machines. I have been in and out of gyms most of my life and while there are plenty of people putting in the effort, there are that many more who are doing a little better than nothing which isn't going to do a whole in regards to improving one's fitness. IMO, if you can sit there and read a book or kindle or magazine or whatever, there's not much in the way of effort being made...personally, I'd just go for a walk at that point and enjoy a nice low impact activity...but I wouldn't expect a whole lot out of it.

The only thing I can say about the elliptical that I don't particularly like is that it's not particularly beneficial in regards to functional training...you can get a good cardiovascular workout doing pretty much anything provided the effort is there...but if you want to be a better cyclist, you need to cycle...if you want to be a better runner, you need to run, etc, etc...in that regard, the elliptical doesn't really translate to being all that beneficial functionally.

Like I said, I still use it from time to time, but it's definitely not my go to considering I'm a cycling enthusiast...it's really not going to do much for me as a cyclist other than help me maintain a base line of cardiovascular fitness.

Jruzer wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I'm still not getting the whole "stigma" thing...what is this "stigma?"

Preface: I think the elliptical is great. I've got bum knees so I can't run, and the elliptical is one of the the most intense exercises I can do.

But there is plenty of stigma out there against ellipticals. Don't kid yourself. Just have a look at the following excerpts. Note that these people are all wrong and misguided, and many straw men are slain. But the cumulative effect of seeing this stuff can certainly scare people like OP off of a good workout:

http://thisgirltrains.com/why-elliptical-bunnies-never-reach-their-goals/

This is why I hate elliptical trainers. In my opinion, they’re useless pieces of equipment. No other cardio machine allows people to fake workouts and lies about how hard they’re working like ellipticals (and before you start whining about how bad your knees are and that the elliptical is your only option, allow me to introduce you to swimming and biking).

http://www.bradkanus.com/2012/08/people-we-hate-users-of-the-elliptical-machine.html

Nobody looks dumber in the gym than the rows of elliptical riders awkwardly paddling their feet back and forth trying to both ski and run at the same time. Never has someone ever looked at someone on an elliptical machine and thought "now that's athletic, that's a workout." ... Straight men should stay the hell off of these machines if they want to retain any shred of dignity.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/forum/thread72293.html

The eliptical is one of the most useless things in the gym. I hate people going on that thing trying to lose fat. Mite as well go sit on the sitdown recumbant bike and go at a snails pace while you read your kindle.

http://elitedaily.com/wellness/jillian-michaels-skip-elliptical/1588536/

When asked about “one exercise people should stop wasting their time doing,” (Jillian) Michaels responds,
"The elliptical. Ugh."

https://www.t-nation.com/training/4-dumbest-forms-of-cardio

The elliptical machine is too easy. However, it's great for mental zombies who enjoy pretending to exercise.

http://www.chicagonow.com/get-fit-chicago/2014/04/the-6-biggest-workout-mistakes/

If you're workout regularly consists of riding on an elliptical machine for 45 minutes or jogging on a treadmill to bank 4 or 5 miles, you're doing your body a disservice. While there is nothing wrong with working out at an easy/moderate pace every now and then - even once a week - continuous steady state cardio puts your body on the fast track for storing fat.

https://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=1&f=113&t=1649107

What worthless stupid stuff did you see at the gym today? ... People on cardio machines, especially the stairclimber and elliptical. I hate that whole part of the gym, especially considering there's a 300m indoor track in my gym and two Olympic lap pools that nobody uses while fatties kill themselves on these machines because for some reason the elliptical has been society's image of how you lose weight. Not saying it's completely worthless but if we're talking effectiveness, well it's not.

It's not that I like the ellipticals but why so much hate: non-functional, useless, etc,. If you don't like it, use something else for cardio. When I see people using it, I just mind my own business. I guess ranting about how useless it is works too if one does not like it. I hate treadmills but never went all out my way to write how much I despise it and waste minutes finding links lol but whatever who cares. Haters going to hate bahahaha!

JulieSHelms wrote: »

That's funny that everyone is saying elliptical machines overestimate calories burned. My machine might say 250, then I come log it on MFP which says 450! I have absolutely no clue how many calories I actually burned--and I guess I don't care. I got good and sweaty for 30 minutes, my body's singing, and my strength and stamina are noticeably increased over the weeks of using it. I think ellipticals rock.
(Which is a good thing because any kind of long walking/running is out due to plantar fascitis and bad knees).

My HRM gives me about 100 cals more than the machine does. I don't eat them back but it gives me a guide of my effort (400 cals) and when I can stop rather than going by a specific time. And the sweat pours down my back.

My lower limb joints are so munted that treadmill (ankle, knee), the rower (hips), swimming (hips, knee) are limited time and frequency activities for me so I use the elliptical. I give zero *kitten* as to what other people think because I'm exercising for me, not them.

My favorite cardio thing to do is run outside at a park. But barring that (too cold, dark, or wet) I'll alternate the treadmill and elliptical. Rowing machine if I'm feeling ambitious. And I don't care about burning calories.

It's especially appreciated when my ankle/knees aren't 100%, so they don't get worse.

Also, a form note: dunno this for sure, but my understanding is that it's best to move in such a way that you're not bouncing up and down. So your head should stay about level, and your legs are putting forth more effort.

I have a damaged MCL on one knee and spent 6 weeks recently for a meniscus injury on the other. I can't run or do high impact activities anymore. I love the eliptical as a source of cardio that doesnt hurt me.

Rururiri wrote: »

It's not that I like the ellipticals but why so much hate: non-functional, useless, etc,. If you don't like it, use something else for cardio. When I see people using it, I just mind my own business. I guess ranting about how useless it is works too if one does not like it. I hate treadmills but never went all out my way to write how much I despise it and waste minutes finding links lol but whatever who cares. Haters going to hate bahahaha!

Sigh. Did you read what I wrote? I explicitly said that I liked the elliptical. I was demonstrating that other people apparently attach a stigma to it, giving examples of idiocy from around the web. Quoting someone doesn't mean that you endorse that quote.

This is what I said:

I think the elliptical is great. I've got bum knees so I can't run, and the elliptical is one of the the most intense exercises I can do.

In the course of my weightloss journey, I've put roughly 816439565469749 miles on my gym's elliptical machines. I love them because they don't make my joints hurt like the stationary bike or the treadmill, and it the motion just feels easier. I don't do much cardio any more, but I lost almost 60 lbs.

Also, I had no idea there was a stigma attached to the elliptical. Is that why no one at my gym ever talks to me? I assumed it was just my RBF.

zamphir66 wrote: »

I'm really perplexed by everyone saying how ellipticals are better on the knees. When I've tried to use one I last about a minute before it feels like my knees are going to literally explode.

And no I don't have any knee problems. I can bike half a century or run a 5k with no problem whatsoever. The elliptical just feels all wrong and hurts.

Not all ellipticals are made the same. I like the LifeFitness ones at my gym. I also like the Matrix ones. Some of the older and/or cheaper ones are really not comfortable for me.

Sued0nim wrote: »

Clearly the most useless piece of equipment in the gym is the Smith machine, closely followed by the manager who always responds "we are looking into it"...quit looking and do something you big *kittening* kittenkitten kittenhead*

Useless for you, that's all. Please don't generalize about the usefulness or not, of gym equipment and do not start a controversy about another piece of equipment not even mentioned in the original OP.

If you want to talk about or discredit Smith machines, start your own thread.

Sued0nim wrote: »

Clearly the most useless piece of equipment in the gym is the Smith machine, closely followed by the manager who always responds "we are looking into it"...quit looking and do something you big *kittening* kittenkitten kittenhead*

Smith machines are useful - for hanging my towel on.

And I perceive more of a stigma around Smith machine use than I do elliptical use - so there's that.

GauchoMark wrote: »

...
3) You HAVE to up the resistance. I think this is where ellipticals get a bad rap. Most people jump on and just start going. The problem is that these machines assist your stride, so you are tricking yourself on how hard you are working out. If you are using a fitbit, it counts steps, not energy output, so low resistance on an elliptical will give you a false count on your fitbit too. I set the resistance on a variable incline program and then put it on a resistance level that I can barely keep pace when the incline gets to the steepest part. My legs are jelly after 45 minutes on it. I walk funny!
...

This! If you don't increase the resistance you're just flapping your arms and legs around and not really working out at all. Too many people at the gym jump on them (same thing on exercise bikes), set resistance at the minimum, and start. If you look as fresh at the end of your workout as you did at the beginning then it wasn't a workout. Up the resistance and get a sweat going.

Try using it while in a slight crouch or leaning back a bit. And you can use more arm movement to push and pull. Your muscles will be screaming.