Want better results???? Ditch the elliptical and......
Replies
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Don't get discouraged. The elliptical machine has many benefits. Keep doing what you are doing. What the OP is doing is the equivalent of bashing marathon runners because a triathlon is so much harder. Well, just because something is harder doesn't make it necessarily better. If it's so hard that a person of modest fitness gets on the machine for five minutes and gets discouraged, then that's a horrible machine for that person.I guess I am fat and old, then, because the elliptical works great for me. I don't wimp out. I work hard. I sweat. I burn. I lose weight. I feel good. My knees don't grind (like they do on a step or Arc machine). Thanks for your support.
Nice commercial for the other thing. Good luck with that. You're a distributor, right?
When you become a fitness trainer and have earned the right to tell everyone that you know better than us, please, please do let us know. I'm glad the stair thing works for you. That doesn't mean it's the best exercise for everybody. Even us fat, old people.0 -
(1) Cannot afford gym fees; (2) Cost of one of those machines is OVER $2,000 and up to around $5,000; 3) I moved from my lovely home to this nice two story apt. building for those over age 55. I'm on the 2nd floor and our building has an elevator BUT... I'm taking the stairs a lot more these days & wearing my FitBit.
(4) Climbing the stairs, regularly, for fitness is FREE
(5) I keep my car in the parking garage under the building. Now, when I come in with groceries, I don't use the elevator to haul them upstairs in one trip. I carry them up and make as many trips with the bags as necessary. To begin with, carrying a heavier load up the stairs helps burn more calories AND.... I'm getting my flights of stairs in for fitness for the day.
(6) I'll be 75 in early December this year. What's your excuse?
I LOVE YOU0 -
hit the step mill instead. Non jarring, more effective, actually simiuates USABLE REALISTIC movement. When I used to train, I slowly converted many a soccer mom to the step mill. I can't tell you how many of those women would brag about how they could go for an hour on the elliptical and burn SOOOO many calories....um hmmmmm.
5 minutes on the step mill at a level 5 and they were panting and DONE.
Elliptical is a great start for poeple who are unfit or elderly. Once you're past the "newbie" phase of exercise however, it's time to step it up..literally!!
I know I'm gonna get a hundred replies of offended people who just swear by the elliptical. For some reason that machine has a cult following (probalby because it's easy and shows huge calorie burns..which are false..but that is another thread). But...there is a reason that very few trainers actually use them THEMSELVES. It's unnatural movement, it's too easy to wimp out on it, and it's just simply not enough once you hit a more advanced level of fitness.
Flame away...most trainers are on board with me on this one. Step mill. GO THERE...
seriously though, you are completely ignorant. you can make any exercise hard with intervals and resistance.
as my post shows above you can get an AWESOME workout on the elliptical that is LOW IMPACT. even young people can have back, hip, knee issues. Personally, I have hip issues that messes with my knees and back as well. Extra running ALONG with stair leads to shin splints or injuries (I was a college swimmer that was forced to run stairs and run around a track, PTs explained that it is a one way track to shin splints and injuries-->which I had in a BAD way)
PLUS, there is a HUGE difference between messing around on elliptical for an hour on 1 resistance and doing intervals or putting it on a high resistance.0 -
I lost almost 200 lbs on the elliptical.............I wish someone had told me sooner it didnt work0
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I thought the weights vs. cardio fanboyism was silly. Now we are getting people who are fanboys of a specific cardio machine bashing people who use a different cardio machine. Beyond silly.hit the step mill instead. Non jarring, more effective, actually simiuates USABLE REALISTIC movement. When I used to train, I slowly converted many a soccer mom to the step mill. I can't tell you how many of those women would brag about how they could go for an hour on the elliptical and burn SOOOO many calories....um hmmmmm.
5 minutes on the step mill at a level 5 and they were panting and DONE.
Elliptical is a great start for poeple who are unfit or elderly. Once you're past the "newbie" phase of exercise however, it's time to step it up..literally!!
I know I'm gonna get a hundred replies of offended people who just swear by the elliptical. For some reason that machine has a cult following (probalby because it's easy and shows huge calorie burns..which are false..but that is another thread). But...there is a reason that very few trainers actually use them THEMSELVES. It's unnatural movement, it's too easy to wimp out on it, and it's just simply not enough once you hit a more advanced level of fitness.
Flame away...most trainers are on board with me on this one. Step mill. GO THERE...
seriously though, you are completely ignorant. you can make any exercise hard with intervals and resistance.
as my post shows above you can get an AWESOME workout on the elliptical that is LOW IMPACT. even young people can have back, hip, knee issues
PLUS, there is a HUGE difference between messing around on elliptical for an hour on 1 resistance and doing intervals or putting it on a high resistance.0 -
I just ride a real bicycle, all over the place. A lot...0
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I thought the weights vs. cardio fanboyism was silly. Now we are getting people who are fanboys of a specific cardio machine bashing people who use a different cardio machine. Beyond silly.hit the step mill instead. Non jarring, more effective, actually simiuates USABLE REALISTIC movement. When I used to train, I slowly converted many a soccer mom to the step mill. I can't tell you how many of those women would brag about how they could go for an hour on the elliptical and burn SOOOO many calories....um hmmmmm.
5 minutes on the step mill at a level 5 and they were panting and DONE.
Elliptical is a great start for poeple who are unfit or elderly. Once you're past the "newbie" phase of exercise however, it's time to step it up..literally!!
I know I'm gonna get a hundred replies of offended people who just swear by the elliptical. For some reason that machine has a cult following (probalby because it's easy and shows huge calorie burns..which are false..but that is another thread). But...there is a reason that very few trainers actually use them THEMSELVES. It's unnatural movement, it's too easy to wimp out on it, and it's just simply not enough once you hit a more advanced level of fitness.
Flame away...most trainers are on board with me on this one. Step mill. GO THERE...
seriously though, you are completely ignorant. you can make any exercise hard with intervals and resistance.
as my post shows above you can get an AWESOME workout on the elliptical that is LOW IMPACT. even young people can have back, hip, knee issues
PLUS, there is a HUGE difference between messing around on elliptical for an hour on 1 resistance and doing intervals or putting it on a high resistance.
not trashing the stair master. have no way of doing it. just complaining about the fact that people think you can't get a good workout on the elliptical. You can get a good workout on ANY machine depending on how you do it. I know I don't look perfect yet, but my body got where it is now partly from these HIIT elliptical workouts.
Just don't like people discounting a machine because they don't know how to use it. ANYTHING can be made harder. Interval training on an elliptical is low impact but has the same calorie burn as interval workouts on the treadmill.
I run, lift, do yoga, swim and the elliptical. PERSONALLY, I think the body has the best weight loss results on variety.
ANY EXERCISE, REGARDLESS OF THE MACHINE, CAN BE MADE HARDER BY HIGHER RESISTANCE.
the end.0 -
I have to disagree here. I have been getting most of my cardio work out on an elliptical, and I can see a huge difference in my legs and butt! But I dont think fine sculpting is going to come from your cardio workout. That will come from weight resistance. When I work out on the elliptical I do 60 second shifts of high resistance as fast as I can push, then 60 seconds of low resistance to slow my heart rate. then crank it back up for another 60 seconds...on and off like this for 20 minutes. If you dont think the elliptical can kick your butt try it like that. I promise you wont think it is a wimpy machine any more!
But as far as I can tell, cardio is cardio, it is about getting your heart rate up, and sustaining. How you do it shouldn't matter. If you want to sculpt that is a different thing all together.
Yeah I completely agree
I wiped out my knees a while ago in the 7th grade and then a second time after being in ballet. ever since then they haven't been the same. I can go bike riding and run a bit, but after doing the stairs I'm knocked out for a week at least. The elliptical really works for me in conjunction with lifting weights, doing ab workouts and such.0 -
I lost almost 200 lbs on the elliptical.............I wish someone had told me sooner it didnt work
That's so awesome!!!0 -
I wasn't talking about you. I was talking about the OP. All the machines have value. You can go hard or light on all of them.
I thought the weights vs. cardio fanboyism was silly. Now we are getting people who are fanboys of a specific cardio machine bashing people who use a different cardio machine. Beyond silly.hit the step mill instead. Non jarring, more effective, actually simiuates USABLE REALISTIC movement. When I used to train, I slowly converted many a soccer mom to the step mill. I can't tell you how many of those women would brag about how they could go for an hour on the elliptical and burn SOOOO many calories....um hmmmmm.
5 minutes on the step mill at a level 5 and they were panting and DONE.
Elliptical is a great start for poeple who are unfit or elderly. Once you're past the "newbie" phase of exercise however, it's time to step it up..literally!!
I know I'm gonna get a hundred replies of offended people who just swear by the elliptical. For some reason that machine has a cult following (probalby because it's easy and shows huge calorie burns..which are false..but that is another thread). But...there is a reason that very few trainers actually use them THEMSELVES. It's unnatural movement, it's too easy to wimp out on it, and it's just simply not enough once you hit a more advanced level of fitness.
Flame away...most trainers are on board with me on this one. Step mill. GO THERE...
seriously though, you are completely ignorant. you can make any exercise hard with intervals and resistance.
as my post shows above you can get an AWESOME workout on the elliptical that is LOW IMPACT. even young people can have back, hip, knee issues
PLUS, there is a HUGE difference between messing around on elliptical for an hour on 1 resistance and doing intervals or putting it on a high resistance.
not trashing the stair master. have no way of doing it. just complaining about the fact that people think you can't get a good workout on the elliptical. I know I don't look perfect yet, but my body got where it is now partly from these HIIT elliptical workouts.
Just don't like people discounting a machine because they don't know how to use it. ANYTHING can be made harder. Interval training on an elliptical is low impact but has the same calorie burn as interval workouts on the treadmill.
I run, lift, do yoga, swim and the elliptical. PERSONALLY, I think the body has the best weight loss results on variety.
ANY EXERCISE, REGARDLESS OF THE MACHINE, CAN BE MADE HARDER BY HIGHER RESISTANCE.
the end.
Elliptical machines have become popular for two reasons: 1. They are low impact 2. They have a lowered perceived exertion for the same amount of work as other machines.
Sorry for the confusion.0 -
I lost almost 200 lbs on the elliptical.............I wish someone had told me sooner it didnt work
LOL! You poor thing! You've been doing it wrong this WHOLE time!
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Have to laugh about this thread....I tried the stair mill and I was so bad at it that the trainer actually laughed. Somehow, I just couldn't crack it. Felt like a total klutz. So, for me the elliptical would be a better burn. But I don't use that either - I'm using the treadmill or rowing machine, at least I can actually burn a few calories 0
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once again. There is no ONE way. Sometimes I use the ecliptical, sometimes I use the step. Sometimes I do 20 mins on both in one work out. whatever. Just use your HRM to make sure you are measuring your calories correctly.0
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Ok. lol. I think people should just do what they want to do. If you don't enjoy it, you most likely aren't going to stick with it.0
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I didn't read the whole thread so maybe someone already asked this. I don't go to a gym so I'm not familiar with this machine. Is there anything about it that would be different from just climbing a lot of stairs? I don't want to buy a gym membership just to use one machine, but I do have access to a lot of tall buildings...0
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I too think the stairmaster is a much better work out. I believe it is a gift from the devil : )
this... when I first started using it I could barely do 10-15 minutes... but last week for a challenge we had stairs... do I did the stairmaster... and I was able to stay on for 45-50 minutes at lvl 5 ... but man was I tired!0 -
once again. There is no ONE way. Sometimes I use the ecliptical, sometimes I use the step. Sometimes I do 20 mins on both in one work out. whatever. Just use your HRM to make sure you are measuring your calories correctly.
just started a thread on this topic. so sick of this "size fits all" mentality to weight loss and physical ability0 -
Different horses for different courses. The elliptical burns more for me than the treadmill, because on the treadmill I have to WALK. If I run, chances are I won't be able to walk again for a very long time. You must be lucky to be blessed with healthy bones and joints, but not everybody is.Ellipticals are actually good for people with bad knees, I burn and have lost a lot of weight using one, it does over estimate calories burned but with a HRM I still burn twice as much in the same time as the treadmill. So "ditching" the elliptical doesn't work for everyone...
The readouts are bs. elliptical does not burn more than treadmill..unnless you're walking on the treadmill and not really running. It's all about exertion. If you're on an elliptical and barely breaking a sweat, then run on treadmill and pour sweat and are panting with exertion..I don't care what the 'readouts" say...you're burning more when you exert more.
I know the stepmill doesn't work for me. Want to know why? I don't enjoy it, it bores me and my bung knee will play up. Not enjoying it is the main part, though, because if I don't enjoy a workout I'll be out of there in 10 minutes. I'll burn maybe 150 calories in that 10 minutes on the stepmill. However if I stay for an hour on the elliptical, I'll burn close to 600, a minimum of 500.
You're not a child, you should understand by now that what suits you is not necessarily what is best for everybody.0 -
Here here. There's way too many absolutes thrown around.once again. There is no ONE way. Sometimes I use the ecliptical, sometimes I use the step. Sometimes I do 20 mins on both in one work out. whatever. Just use your HRM to make sure you are measuring your calories correctly.
just started a thread on this topic. so sick of this "size fits all" mentality to weight loss and physical ability0 -
I like it all, except for indoor bikes. I ride a real bike, run outdoors, treadmill and on a track, elliptical and arc trainer. And I go for long leisurely walks on rest days. I agree that the step mill (though I've never heard that term before today) is challenging. I wish my gym had one! They all have their place. I used to ONLY run, but due to a recurring knee issue, I now switch it up constantly to properly cross train all the various supportive muscles and reduce overall impact (vs running only) on my knee. It works for me. (For the record I also lift weights and I have nothing against the indoor bike, it's just not my preference)
BUT what you're missing is that PEOPLE LIKE THE ELLIPTICAL! It's fun! If a person who hates cardio can get on an elliptical and get in a cardio workout that they like and would not get another way, why make them feel less than?
An exercise provides exactly ZERO benefit if a person won't do it. Also, WTF is sculpting? You say the stepper won't build up your butt and quads, but you also say that it uses those muscles therefore sculpting them? By my understanding sculpting would be similar to "toning" which describes a condition where your muscles become more defined and visible, which is only possible by building muscle and reducing the overall body fat that covers the muscles. And what about the hamstrings? Poor hammies, all forgotten back there. :sad:0 -
what a silly thread. I shouldn't post but I have nothing better to do
. I agree, cardio is cardio, and the workout is dependent on who is on the machine. I can make any machine hard or easy, great burn or poor burn. As a doctor I will tell you the elliptical should NOT be discounted. It's much safer on your joints when used properly compared to just about any machine you will find, and you can adjust the resistance to get the workout you want. I regularly did HIIT on it and held my HR between 150s and 180s, now that I'm pregnant I do 150-160s by adjusting my resistance and speed. It's nice to use a machine that just does cardio, protects my joints, and lets me move my legs and arms.
I've tried the stairmill when I had access to other than my apartment gym and it's a great workout, I just found it a little boring. But that's a personal feeling. As for toning butt and thighs, I'll stick with squats and lifting for muscle tone. 0 -
agreed. I did it for months and probably would have lost more doing something else (like walking lol). Plus, it makes my feet fall asleep!0
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I use my elliptical all the time, no newbie or elderly here, LOL! Love it and burns alot of calories......
Same here...I Love the elliptical...sprints, and resistance makes a difference....inclines hit different areas.....Won't knock it....I also like the Stair Master....it works the legs very well and lift the booty!! So I would say use them both...All machines help!0 -
After 20 min on the elliptical I am sweating my butt off....If the elliptical is not effective I hate to see what is. According to my HRM I burn 1000 cals in about 50-55 min......MFP is no where near that in their estimate.0
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Swimming is a lot better for me than either. But then others prefer running some like the bike. If there was a one size fits all solution then the gym would be a lot smaller place.0
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Using one machine to loose weight is not a good way to be encouraged. At the local gym, I do 3-20 minute circuits: 20 minute warmup on exercise bike, 20 minutes on elliptical, and 20 minutes on the treadmill going all out. I do have an exercise bike at home and an elliptical that I use on non-gym days.
I do 8-10 exercise sessions a week over 6 days. 45 total lbs down in 4 months so far.0 -
any exercise is good, and well done for anyone who puts themselves through a daily workout in the gym !!!!
too many negatives about stuff that does you good in my opinion0 -
One size does not fit all. Do you. Do whatever cardio machine gives you the best results and that you will actually work. I incorporate the elliptical as well as the step master, among others, in my overall cardio plan.0
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Not going to flame you lol, but honestly it depends on the elliptical. I have one that kicks my *kitten*. It's a solid beast which takes two full grown men to move! It uses a HRM and has a very reasonable burn. It has up to 25 levels of resistance and a stride which is adjustable from 18" to 24? I think inches (I don't know I'm short) I am only currently able to keep up a good pace where I'm breathing heavy and sweating buckets on a level 6. It also has multiple programs like hills and intervals, and mixed body workouts, and it also is built where you can stand on the sides and work your arms only if you want. When you have the resistance cranked up, trust me, that is a great arm workout. But it's way different than the similar models I've seen at the gym...my machine will NOT propel itself through force of motion like some of the other ones I've been on. You have to really push to keep it moving. And honestly, I've noticed a major difference in my inner thighs since I regularly started using this machine who I have lovingly nicknamed "Summer" lol.
I
my elliptical. I'm not going to depend on it for ALL of my results, but it is a FABULOUS piece of cardio equipment for me and probably the best thing I've spent money on in years. My performance is increasing significantly 0 -
Ditch the elliptical. Ditch the gym. Get some kettlebells, a jump rope, and a bike. But if you are going to keep wasting money on monthly gym dues, then yes; the stair mill will kick your buttocks.
when I try to do this at home, I fail. too many excuses to not work out. when I have the gym environment, and the knowledge that I am paying for that environment so I'd best use it, I keep going and keep going routinely. so definitely not a waste of money. not in the least. I mean, if I can't invest some money in getting healthy, what's the point?
as far as elliptical? I love it. if you don't get a good burn from that machine, you aren't doing it right. intervals. hills. racked up angle and intensity. there are lots of options to make it a calorie killer.
I'm with this poster. I exert a lot of energy on the elliptical and burn tons of calories. You get out of it what you put into it. Use the equipment right and bump up the resistence and it will kick your butt. The elliptical is a good low impact burn.0
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