What do you think of adding a weighted vest (up to 20lbs) for when I use the eliptical?

For example

Has anyone ever used one?

Will it help me lose weight?

By using a weighted vest your body will burn extra calories due to the demand placed on your body from the extra weight. However your joints may not be too pleased with you for it.

I have personally only used a weighted vest for adding extra weight when performing chins or dips.

In principle it may help you lose those extra pounds but an alternative would be to build up the intensity and save the money

That sounds like a great idea to turn up the intensity. I usually run for just 30 minutes. Maybe I could reset it when I'm halfway through so that I go longer, too.

What do you think?

Or you could go for 45 minutes... wouldn't that be the same thing?

Weighted vests are great tools if you are training for something specific. However, if you are just using them to try to burn extra calories, you are setting yourself up to hurt yourself by putting extra unnecessary pressure on your joints when you could have accomplished the same thing by just going a little harder.

$.02: Save your tendons, ligaments, and money, and don't buy a weighted vest, if all you are looking for is to burn extra calories in your workouts.

Exactly what James says. You have 2 options. Increase your time of training or if short on time increase the intensity. Try and add in a few intervals into your sessions (even if its just for 10-30 seconds) it can make the difference.