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Thread: the eliptical

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    Featured Member OJenni!'s Avatar
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    Default the eliptical

    I have heard from some trainers that this isn't the best piece of equipment to work. Heck the tenant that lives downstairs from me is a personal trainer and even said, "only fat people use the eliptical".

    Well as I have mentioned in another thread I do alot of running. However this is hard on the joints so I started using the eliptical at the gym too. I find the eliptical is fairly low impact on the joints. not sure if it really does much to improve endurance and my running ability, but IMO it is a low impact way to burn a ton of calories and maybe tone some butt muscle?

    What are your thoughts on this machine?



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    Featured Member Christany's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    I wonder if the trainer was referring to people who only use the elliptical. I've seen some people who do that, they'll go the gym, get on the elliptical, and don't even bother with any of the weights or circuit machines. I actually like it though as my warm-up for cardio. I'll trade between the treadmill, the stationary bikes, and the elliptical. The thing I like about the elliptical is that it gets your whole body involved, and it helps me with toning my obliques too (outside of my other exercises). I think some people have issues with their form though, like tensing up their shoulders and neck too much, and pull with that area of their body, you know? Even when I'm on the treadmill, I'll bring my dumb bells so I can emulate some of the movements from the elliptical.
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    Veteran Member luckischalk's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    I agree with Christany, I don't think that's necessarily the case. I love the elliptical!

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    Veteran Member AngelKing's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    Quote Originally Posted by OJenni! View Post
    I have heard from some trainers that this isn't the best piece of equipment to work. Heck the tenant that lives downstairs from me is a personal trainer and even said, "only fat people use the eliptical".

    Well as I have mentioned in another thread I do alot of running. However this is hard on the joints so I started using the eliptical at the gym too. I find the eliptical is fairly low impact on the joints. not sure if it really does much to improve endurance and my running ability, but IMO it is a low impact way to burn a ton of calories and maybe tone some butt muscle?

    What are your thoughts on this machine?
    I think your downstairs neighbor needs to reassess their opinion. It does not matter what machine or cardio exercise you use/do. What is important is your intensity, starting with steady state then later intervals. To say that any machine is for use by any specific body type is a facile and stupid statement.

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    Veteran Member XxAmber89xX's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    I love the elliptical, but I've found that I can work myself alot more intense on a treadmill. I use the elliptical to give my body a rest from the impact on the treadmill or running outside- I alternate each day...as I now do cardio every day/ weights 4x's / week.
    Oh Canada, we stand on cars and freeze...

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    Veteran Member lexXe's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    I hate the elliptical. I have very strong quads and it seems to make them bigger. To keep my legs nice and lean I stick to running 3-4 days a week.

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    God/dess papillonluvr's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    I use the elliptical almost as my only cardio machine because I have bad joints. However, some days during the month I also use the step mill and stationary bike. I am not fat-not skinny, but not fat. I also do weights though, and some dance classes.
    '
    I used to run, and since pretty much only using the elliptical, I noticed I can hardly run for 15 minutes straight now. That sucks, but having my knees and ankles give out sucks more.
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    Member SalsaDancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    Somebody told me once that using an elliptical only and not incorporating weight training into your workouts will actually deplete your muscle mass. You burn calories very quickly and burn muscle because the workout is so low impact.

    Not sure how true this is, but it's an interesting idea. I love ellipticals.
    "The worst pain a man can suffer: to have insight into much and power over nothing." -- Herodotus

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    Featured Member laurcon's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    I've been really considering getting an elliptical for my apt. My main issue is getting it up the stairs however...

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    ^My elliptical came in a box and I had to assemble it. It was pretty easy though; I'm a complete doofus but I still managed to put it together!

    I love the elliptical. I DO think running is more effective, but my knees suck and running causes them to get really sore. The elliptical is great for my joints. I've lost a lot of weight this month with the elliptical as my only cardio.

    I think the comment about fat people and the elliptical is based on the observation that a lot of people think the elliptical is some sort of magical machine. I know when I've gone to the gym, the "fat people" using it are on there for 15 minutes tops, at its lowest resistance, going a mile an hour.

    I do HIIT on the elliptical, and I burn between 500-600 calories in an hour, as evidenced by my weight loss!

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    Default Re: the eliptical

    i love it. i used to run cross country, but i have so many problems between knees, ankles, shin splints that wont disappear that running is no longer the best option.

    i find the elliptical is great as long as you dont slack off. if you have it on a low resistance setting and are moving at the pace of a walk, then yes, its not going to get you into shape.

    i typically do interval training on it. ill keep it on a medium resistance for a mintue and move at a fairly quick pace, then ill up it to a high resistance and move fast for a min, then repeat. i usually could burn a lot of calories doing this. i was pretty intense about it, i usually burned about 450 +/- 50 calories in a half hr.

    when i consistently used the elliptical for a half hr of interval training and lifted weights, i was approaching the same shape i was in back when i ran cross country. then finals week hit and then i moved and im now trying to get back to where i was.

    i def dont think its for fat people.
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    Veteran Member Camillian's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    I loved the elliptical at my old gym. I used to do the high intensity setting and could get to my target heart rate while still being gentle on my already very f-ed up knees. I'm guessing if it raises your heart rate, it's doing it's job.

    I used to alternate it with the stair machine. Which I also like a lot.

    Man I miss my gym membership. Thinking about getting a home elliptical myself.

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    Featured Member laurcon's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    Quote Originally Posted by kandie_kitten View Post
    ^My elliptical came in a box and I had to assemble it. It was pretty easy though; I'm a complete doofus but I still managed to put it together!
    wow really? would you mind telling me what kind you got and what you think of it? do you find it to be noisy? does it take up a lot of room? thanks!

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    I bought this one at Walmart...it was $150 when I bought it. I had a little place, so I wanted a small cheap one so it wouldn't take up room and would be easy to move for when I get a bigger place.
    http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5230642

    I love it. I've had it for a few years now, and it's great. It's very quiet, is pretty small. When I had it on carpet, it rocked a little bit (but not enough to be dangerous or anything), but when I put it on hardwood, it's very stable.

    It has lots of different resistance levels, so it's good to change up your workout and challenge yourself.

    I stopped using it for a bit when I was lazy, but I've been using it 4 or 5 days a week now, and I've lost a lot of weight using it. I highly recommend!

    The same company has higher end ellipticals if you wanted something more hard-wearing, though mine's been great since I bought it.

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    Featured Member Christany's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    Quote Originally Posted by laurcon View Post
    wow really? would you mind telling me what kind you got and what you think of it? do you find it to be noisy? does it take up a lot of room? thanks!
    Helpful tip if you live in an apartment or condo building..... set your machine on a section of cork flooring. It really helps with the floor noise. Plus it's naturally anti-allergenic. Cork rocks.

    http://homerepair.about.com/od/interiorhomerepair/ss/cork_flooring_3.htm
    Quote Originally Posted by markx View Post
    I'd have to have a "4 simease twin strippers gave me head and then lite themselves on fire" story to blow anybody's mind here.

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    Default Re: the eliptical

    A lot of personal trainers are stupid. Trust me. I used to manage them. Low impact cardio is fine. Actually probably a better idea for dancers than running. We've messed up our joints enough already.

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    Veteran Member Camillian's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    Quote Originally Posted by Jessie_tinydancer View Post
    A lot of personal trainers are stupid. Trust me. I used to manage them. Low impact cardio is fine. Actually probably a better idea for dancers than running. We've messed up our joints enough already.
    Yeah, the only way I'm runnin' is if someone's chasing me, ha ha.

    Running f-s up my knees bad. Plus I have huge boobs.

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    God/dess papillonluvr's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    Quote Originally Posted by Camillian View Post
    Yeah, the only way I'm runnin' is if someone's chasing me, ha ha.

    Running f-s up my knees bad. Plus I have huge boobs.
    Have you tried Less Bounce sports bras? My boobs also are uncomfortable when I run, unless I wear those sports bras. I still don't enjoy running though
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    ^^^ That's why I have to wear doubled-up spandex athletic bras when I use my treadmill. Without them I have actually had my boobs smack my chin if my running rhythm happens to accidentally syncronize with the 'resonant frequency' of my bouncing boobs !!!


    I love the elliptical, but I've found that I can work myself alot more intense on a treadmill.
    Yup total agreement. An elliptical machine is targeted to burn calories fast ... but is NOT targeted to specifically develop any particular ( combination of ) body areas. As a result, people who use ellipticals exclusively can wind up with an unnatural imbalance between butt, thighs and calves. A treadmill provides for much better focus on these body areas individually, mostly based on the incline setting and the speed setting.

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    God/dess Will's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    Quote Originally Posted by OJenni! View Post
    I have heard from some trainers that this isn't the best piece of equipment to work. Heck the tenant that lives downstairs from me is a personal trainer and even said, "only fat people use the eliptical".

    Well as I have mentioned in another thread I do alot of running. However this is hard on the joints so I started using the eliptical at the gym too. I find the eliptical is fairly low impact on the joints. not sure if it really does much to improve endurance and my running ability, but IMO it is a low impact way to burn a ton of calories and maybe tone some butt muscle?

    What are your thoughts on this machine?
    Is it a true elliptical or one of the newer hybrid machines that's more like a stair stepper that goes in an elliptical type movement? The older elliptical machines, or the true elliptical machines that only allowed you to swing back and forth were pretty worthless. However, the newer machines that allow a full natural ROM can be very productive, and low impcat on the joints, but it's up to you to make it difficult or hard in terms of energy output intensity. Any "trainer" who says they are easy has never done a HIIT session on one. Try the HIIT session I outline here for example:

    http://www.stripperweb.com/forum/sho...highlight=HIIT
    A cunning linguist...

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    Default Re: the eliptical

    Quote Originally Posted by Melonie View Post
    ^^^ That's why I have to wear doubled-up spandex athletic bras when I use my treadmill. Without them I have actually had my boobs smack my chin if my running rhythm happens to accidentally syncronize with the 'resonant frequency' of my bouncing boobs !!!
    Hahahaha I'm surprised they didn't knock you out Melonie.

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    Veteran Member Camillian's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    Quote Originally Posted by papillonluvr View Post
    Have you tried Less Bounce sports bras? My boobs also are uncomfortable when I run, unless I wear those sports bras. I still don't enjoy running though

    I haven't, but my knees hurt SO bad when I run. My Dr said it had to do with my hips being so wide, so my weight is distributed to my outer knee. I'd rather just use a stair machine or elliptical. Plus, that way I can stay dry, it's cold and rainy 9 mos out out of the year where I live.

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    God/dess papillonluvr's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    ugh...this thread got me thinking how much time I spend on the elliptical. So today I spent 30 minutes on the elliptical going steady, then 20 minutes doing intervals on the treadmill.

    What I discovered? I need to run more cause the elliptical doesn't do enough...I was so out of breath after the intervals!
    "You can close your eyes to reality but not to memories -Stainslaw J. Lec

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: the eliptical

    ^Why not do intervals on the elliptical? It kicks my ass.

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    Default Re: the eliptical

    You know what's even 1000x harder than the treadmill? Les Mills Body Attack. My instructor always says, "you could run on a treadmill for 2 hours orrrr you could just do a body attack class". I am addicted. I don't even get winded anymore at all. It's almost too easy. My cardio is unreal from this class...easily the best ever. Not sure if Les Mills is big in the states yet. It started in new zealand, is huge in Australia and getting bigger in Canada I know.

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