What do you recommend for elliptical trainer time?

pussycat626
pussycat626 Posts: 129 Member
edited October 6 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm pretty much sedentary as of right now. I weigh about 300 lbs give or take and I just bought an elliptical tonight. What would you think would be a good jumping off point? 10-15 minutes? 30 minutes? Or just what I feel I can handle for now? I did it for a couple minutes tonight and pooped out so I took a very short break and went back at it and continued that way for a few times. What would you recommend for a starter?

Replies

  • galvodka
    galvodka Posts: 102
    I started elliptical at 285 lbs and I could only do 5 minutes at a time and had to build up from there. I would say start off going as long as you can and then try to build a few minutes on that every day.
  • pussycat626
    pussycat626 Posts: 129 Member
    Thank you :)
  • Jazzyjules71
    Jazzyjules71 Posts: 150 Member
    I would say listen to your body- I wouldn't aim for 30 minutes if you're sedentary right now. Start with 5-10 minutes, and if you have to give yourself 30 second breaks or something to keep going, well that's better than stopping. I think that it's better to do enough to still be able to do it 5 times a week, and get into the habit of frequent exercise. Then build up your time from there. In otherwords, don't overdue it with 30 minutes then not be able to workout for a week.

    But most importantly, everyone is different so listen to your body. Push it to it's limit, comfortably, and stop when you know you've had enough...
  • pussycat626
    pussycat626 Posts: 129 Member
    I would say listen to your body- I wouldn't aim for 30 minutes if you're sedentary right now. Start with 5-10 minutes, and if you have to give yourself 30 second breaks or something to keep going, well that's better than stopping. I think that it's better to do enough to still be able to do it 5 times a week, and get into the habit of frequent exercise. Then build up your time from there. In otherwords, don't overdue it with 30 minutes then not be able to workout for a week.

    But most importantly, everyone is different so listen to your body. Push it to it's limit, comfortably, and stop when you know you've had enough...


    Well said thank you for your reply :)
  • Wilmingtonbelle
    Wilmingtonbelle Posts: 255 Member
    I started doing 10 minutes, no program and gradually increased the resistance. I was 275 when I started and after 5 minutes I thought I was going to die! I kept at it and now I do 50 minutes, just made it to the highest level personal trainer program on my elliptical! It is tough but I do it and I'm seeing great results. I do elliptical 4 days per week, weights 2 days per week. Stick with it, get some great music and you'll be rocking your elliptical in no time. You can do it!!! :flowerforyou:

    Sláinte
  • Sd0510
    Sd0510 Posts: 295 Member
    When I started, I wasn't able to do even 3 minutes. Now, I am able to do 20-25 minutes, but I am extremely exhausted afterwards. Aim low at first.
  • kybrandyb
    kybrandyb Posts: 52 Member
    I just got one too!!!! I did 3 min and then 7 min this morning. I do tred mill and bike combination every day for at least 30 min but that elliptical got me!
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    The first time I stepped on the thing, I was DAMNED happy with myself for doing 15 minutes (at a resistance of 10).

    I set a goal of adding 5 minutes every week week, and actually did a bit better than that. On December 20th I met my goal of 45 minutes (same resistance--10), and then on December 22nd did a full 60 minutes just to challenge myself!

    It definitely got easier after about the first three weeks when all the weird little muscle soreness went away, and I was focused just on cardio endurance!
  • marcobenavides
    marcobenavides Posts: 2 Member
    Hi, you may try intervals of 1 minute as fast as you can and 2 minutes walking... you can try this sequence 3 times preceeded by 3 minutes warm-up and 3 minutes cool-down...

    This will give you a 15 minute routine (3warm+1fast+2slow*3+3cool) to improve your heart rate and burn fat real quick.

    Hope it helps...
  • curiositycat
    curiositycat Posts: 111 Member
    Hi, you may try intervals of 1 minute as fast as you can and 2 minutes walking... you can try this sequence 3 times preceeded by 3 minutes warm-up and 3 minutes cool-down...

    This will give you a 15 minute routine (3warm+1fast+2slow*3+3cool) to improve your heart rate and burn fat real quick.

    Hope it helps...
  • curiositycat
    curiositycat Posts: 111 Member
    Yes, go for the intervals. The time will go by much faster that way, and you'll increase your fitness level more quickly, too.
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