Elliptical machine

wildchick · #1 (**permalink**) January 8th, 2005, 11:46 AM

I just recently bought an elliptical trainer and am looking for some advice. I am pear shaped and my biggest issue is my lower body-thighs especially. How can I effectively work out on it to reshape my lower body? I'm confused on if I should be using a lot of resistance, or a little bit. I don't want to bulk up to look even bigger, but all of the programs have high resistance and are only 20 minutes long.

Help Please!!

fitski · #2 (**permalink**) January 9th, 2005, 09:14 AM

Hi Wildchick

Ok first things first, An Elliptical Trainer will NOT, I repeat NOT bulk you up!! I have no clue where this high resistance on an elliptical trainer will bulk you up urban legend started. Have you ever seen professional bodybuilders using elliptical trainers to increase muscle?? Nope!! me either!

So I would use the high resistance, and do at least 2 of those pre programmed programs to get a useful workout. I bought my elliptical in April of last year and its helped me drop almost 90 pounds, I use it 1 hour and 20 mins a day and trust me I have no muscle gains from it what so ever.

AllCdnBoy · #3 (**permalink**) January 9th, 2005, 03:31 PM

i think that myth is true ... i've only been using the elliptical trainer on high resistance for the last 6 months and i've put on about 2 1/2 inches to my legs ... j/k

... not sure what genius starts these myths ... you may notice a slight increase to your legs as you build up some muscle on high resistance because you do need more strength than endurance at the higher levels, but it's far from being considered adding 'bulk'. To add actual bulk, you need need to be doing more outdoor activities like hiking or mountain biking ... even at high resistance, gym equipment does a poor job in simulating real-world environments, so i wouldn't worry.

wildchick · #4 (**permalink**) January 9th, 2005, 08:12 PM

Thanks so much for the response! I am really enjoying this piece of equipment... and hope I get the results I am seeking!

Thanks AGain

amomono · #5 (**permalink**) January 21st, 2005, 06:42 PM

Alright everyone... i have a great cardiovascular workout that is very inexpensive and fairly quick... i have been doing it for about a week now, and I love it!

Jump rope for about three minutes (since i never pay attention, and i heard that once you get going you jump about 100/min I just count my jumps to 300)

Do about 30 ab crunches with your feet in the air (legs bent)

Jump Rope for three minutes or 300 jumps

Do 30 pushups

Jump Rope for three minutes or 300 jumps

Do 30 ab crunches with feet in air

(are you getting the idea?

I usually do 5 rounds of jumping with two sets each of the crunches and pushups... I feel amazing afterwards! and it feels pretty impressive to say that I jumped rope 1500 times!!! If you can't do all of that right away, start with 100 jumps and 10 crunches/pushups and work your way up. I'm trying to do this every morning.... but i haven't quite got the routine going yet.

sarahmarie0525 · #6 (**permalink**) January 21st, 2005, 07:44 PM

i jump rope every now and then with something like that, except i go from fast jumping to slower and then add in crunches and push ups.... also if you don't want to buy a jump rope or don't have the place to do it, you can just pretend you have one...then it's free!

errtu140 · #7 (**permalink**) January 22nd, 2005, 06:29 AM

just try to keep as little of a break as possible between excercises, it'll keep the heart moving/burn more fat.

AllCdnBoy · #8 (**permalink**) January 22nd, 2005, 01:10 PM

when i was in boxing, we also did movements while jump roping ... side-to-side, back-and-forth, etc ... once you get confortable ... add in doubles and crosses ... changing up the arm motion will work more muscle groups.

romanovictoria · #9 (**permalink**) October 4th, 2005, 07:58 AM

I have used the elliptical machine at my gym for the past three days. Before I was using the stationary bike LifeCycle machine. I am not sore in my thighs or butt, but am sore from the elliptical machine in the muscle on top of my shins. You know, that one you feel from walking a lot. So, I'm wondering if I'm using the machine wrong. I get on and move like it makes you, but hold on to the bars on the sides for balance. I see other people use it and not hold on but others hold on, too. So I don't know if that's hindering me from feeling it where I'm supposed to. I know if I try to do it without holding on that I do feel it more so in my thighs and butt. One thing my mom said it could've been was that I'm in better shape than I thought. But I don't feel it at all there. So if anyone knows, or can suggest something to me, let me know.

romanovictoria · #10 (**permalink**) October 4th, 2005, 08:35 AM

Okay well I didn't figure out why my thighs and butt Don't hurt the way I thought they should, but my shins hurt this way because of the way I position my feet!

AllCdnBoy · #11 (**permalink**) October 4th, 2005, 10:17 AM

your butt should hurt

... the first couple weeks you will find this to be quite normal and then it won't bother you anymore. Every time you get on to a machine that you are not used to, you will usually feel muscles get sore as they are being worked in a way that you aren't used to ... even if it is only a small difference.
As for using the handles, it's a personal preference. If you use them, you are reducing the load on your legs - as the arms help with the movement and increasing (by a very small amount) the work load on your arms. I normally just lightly hold the bar just below the grips with a couple fingers to keep my arms in proper form but not actually use much energy to move the bars themselves.

Harleygirl · #12 (**permalink**) October 10th, 2005, 12:57 PM

I have an elliptical trainer and if you position your body differently on it, you can feel it in different places. One exercise I do is squat down, almost like riding a bike, holding on to the stationary bars and another is to go backwards instead of forwards, this really works the back of the thighs.

skyler · #13 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2006, 12:46 PM

anybody know a good site that is accurate on how many calories you burn on an elliptical machine? my elliptical says one thing, sites say another. not sure where i'm at with this thing?

thanks.

wonderwoman · #14 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2006, 01:58 PM

www.caloriesperhour.com

my treadmill does same thing, but it is wayyy off. its obviously "set" for a heavier person. the less you weigh, the less you burn per hour and that means the longer you will have to work out. thats what really stinks for me right now being 115 pounds. i only burn 230 calories per hour on my treadmill going 3.5mph whereas a person weighing 200 pounds would burn 400 calories per hour!

skyler · #15 (**permalink**) January 3rd, 2006, 05:19 PM

thanks wonderwoman. that doesnt sound like a bad problem to have! i'd love to weigh 115 but i'm not going to get ahead of myself just yet! that site is great but it doesn't have an elliptical machine on it as a choice. strange. thanks for the help.
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