Eliptical Trainers: Yay or Nay??

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Monze1
Monze1 Posts: 52 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Okay so I'm looking into purchasing one of theses suckers. Would one be a wise investment?
I also weight train, and use a stationary bike religiously, and this has been working really well for me, but I'm looking to do something different.
Does an elliptical leave you sweating buckets and feeling as though you've given it a fair crack? I know it boils down to the effort you put in, and I know I will be, but how does everyone else feel about these machines?
Thanks in advance! :smile:

Replies

  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,616 Member
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    Delete. Stick. Wrong end.
  • MellowGa
    MellowGa Posts: 1,305 Member
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    I have one, I use it all the time, I have the Livestrong one and got a good deal on it, go for quality over cost.
  • Skinnymunkii
    Skinnymunkii Posts: 191 Member
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    I absolutely adore ellipticals, but if you want something that will make you really sweat, try a "Tread Climber" They have two little treadmills, one for each foot. It's kind of like a treadmill/elliptical/stepper hybrid. I think it's by BowFlex. I've never had a better workout on a machine.
  • Serenstar75
    Serenstar75 Posts: 258 Member
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    My favorite machine in the entire, whole wide world.

    Now, I use ones in gyms, so I don't know how they are as home machines. I know in the gym you can vary it up and challenge yourself as needed to change your routine.
  • bacamacho
    bacamacho Posts: 306 Member
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    You get out of it what you put into it. I can get a serious sweat going on one of those. I work it! I up the resistance and go hard. I went so hard one time trying to maintain an 8min/mile pace my calves hurt for days after, and I'm a runner/soccer player. I've got strong calves! I think it'd be a great investment. Cheaper than a treadmill (though I'd get a treadmill if I could afford one).
  • Hastie1981
    Hastie1981 Posts: 10
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    I've got one use it,everyday. Normally burn about 300 calories for,30 minutes on it.

    Definitely leaves you sweating.

    Especially in this heat...
  • alsatty
    alsatty Posts: 28
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    Yes, a great burn, different programs on the one I have. Leaves you sweating
  • dirtydmvkid
    dirtydmvkid Posts: 184
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    I use it mainly because my knees are feeling the abuse of the military. Good way to get your heart rate way up. Put it on a setting you know you can do, then move up from there. Never put the settings lower or easier halfway through the workout (unless doing intervals).
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,606 Member
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    i love some of the ones at the gym.. others not so much, but i forget which brand I like. I only do things at the gym I can't do anywhere else-no treadmill because I can walk outside. no ebike because i have one... and now,, the thought of spending that much money in a lump sum isn't on my radar any more. I'm kinda shocked to find out how much I enjoy having a gym membership. strange for me..
  • meglynne1987
    meglynne1987 Posts: 382 Member
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    Love mine, and i get a great work out with it!
  • knightreader
    knightreader Posts: 813 Member
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    love mine. did a lot of research, then purchased it second hand b/c i couldn't afford a new one. not all are the same so look around...

    good luck.
  • TrimAnew
    TrimAnew Posts: 127 Member
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    I purchased a treadmill instead, but I did consider an elliptical.

    Maybe it's all those years of marching band in my youth, but my natural stride is one foot exactly in front of the other like walking a balance beam. Treadmill lets me do that. Elliptical and tread climbers, etc force me to keep my feet apart, which for me is unnatural.

    I used the elliptical in college because they had personal TVs and the treadmills did not, but for my own home, I went the treadmill route instead and bought a small cheap TV for a nearby wall just in case. I find myself just listening to my ipod now though, because it lets me get a good beat to match my pace.

    I'm also very short, about 5 foot 1 inch, so it seemed easier to find a home treadmill that could fit my stride and also accommodate my then-fiance-now-husband who is closer to 6 foot. I think he would have preferred an elliptical because they are supposedly better on the knees, but this purchase was essentially mine.

    He was kind enough to help me assemble it though. (FYI: When they say "14 easy" assembly steps, it's a lie. Some of those steps had 5 steps of their own, and big warnings about how if you screw up you can ruin the machine, void your warranty, or electrocute yourself. We completed the assembly with no problems, but I wouldn't exactly agree with the "14 easy" steps marketing claim. ) It definitely takes two people to assemble that monster.

    Plus the treadmill was cheaper. I got mine (a Nordic Track) on sale through a Sears store just before Thanksgiving. They went on "sale" again for Black Friday, but the sale price I paid was still less than the Black Friday "sale."

    I had researched the recommendations (belt length, motor power) so that I knew what specs I needed to suit both me and my guy (without paying for features that didn't really matter, aka at some point maximum mph, incline and power is just overkill), knew I wanted a name brand and new for the warranty just in case, and then set a price that I was willing to buy at. When the Sears sale flier showed one that met my needs at the price I wanted I ordered it. Haven't regretted it yet.
  • iLoveMyPitbull1225
    iLoveMyPitbull1225 Posts: 1,691 Member
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    love the ones at PF. I do level 9 for 45 minutes and i sweat buckets, plus my legs are ridiculous.
  • Whiskybelly
    Whiskybelly Posts: 197 Member
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    Maybe it's just me, but I feel that I can push myself alot more on a cross trainer than a treadmill. When I get tired on a treadmill I find myself swaying from side to side, occasionally misstepping a little, which isn't giving me any benifits. But with the eliptical, I can go past this point and keep going for another 20 minutes at least, and it's great because you're able to do pretty much the same fluid movement without putting too much weight on one side of your body.

    Keep on it for about 45 minutes, and if you've got the resistance up a fair bit then you'll definitely feel it at the end!
  • Monze1
    Monze1 Posts: 52 Member
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    Thanks for all the replies everyone, I really appreciate it!
    The elliptical I'm looking at is an Infiniti (not sure if that's a known brand for all parts of the world), but in Australia it is a well known, good quality fitness equipment. My stationary bike is of the same brand and it is amazing. Anyway, the elliptical machine I'm interested in, the sales bloke is happy to knock a bit of money off the price, which is good for me! And the machine has, I think 16 different resistance levels, and 12 per-programed workouts. That's a good thing I'm hoping!
  • 55tolose
    55tolose Posts: 510 Member
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    I have a cheapie 200 dollar walmart one that never did have adjustable resistance...or maybe it did??? I don't remember since the electrical parts have long since broken but I Have owened the thing for 5 years and used it on and off here and there. I used it for 6 weeks after my son was born and lost 20 or so pounds and I am currently using it 5 days a week : ) I love it! I do sweat a ton on it

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