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Damn Eliptical machine

BILL06 Posts: 755 Joined: 2006/08/08	2008/03/15, 10:00 PM Does anyone else hate this thing as much as i do ????? Im good for about 3 minutes, thats pushing myself, and end up smoking the lower thigh muscles beyond belief, i mean like 4 days of frankenstein walking, even after extra protein and trying to work it out on the treadmill ? Am i doing something wrong ? Ive always thought of my legs to be very strong and capable of taking a beating, i guess not... -------------- How do you feel? That is the question But I forget.. you dont expect an easy answer When something like a soul becomes Initialized and folded up like paper dolls and little notes You cant expect a bit of hope So while youre outside looking in Describing what you see Remember what youre staring at is me. ---------- Get busy living or get busy dying. Bill
Carivan Posts: 8,542 Joined: 2002/01/20	2008/03/15, 10:29 PM Are you adjusting the ramp? The more incline the more the quads are used. -------------- Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success. Ivan Montreal Canada (City of Festivals)
Speeder Posts: 226 Joined: 2003/03/14	2008/03/16, 06:15 AM I don't think elipitcal's have Ramps? At least not the ones at the gym's Ive been too. I know that steppers usually do...anyways maybe some do? bill, the more you do, the better you will become, most elipitcals are an unnatural movement, so that could be why your having some problems with it. I personally love it, I have had knee issue's in the past, and find other than running, its the best cardio workout I can get.
BILL06 Posts: 755 Joined: 2006/08/08	2008/03/16, 10:15 AM no ramps ivan, just steps with a motion similar to cross country skiing...... yea speeder you may be right about the unnatural movements, its just my outer quad muscles near the knees that take the brunt of it. Im pretty impaitent when it comes to results, so ill settle down and add a little more to each trip to the gym..... Thanks guys... -------------- How do you feel? That is the question But I forget.. you dont expect an easy answer When something like a soul becomes Initialized and folded up like paper dolls and little notes You cant expect a bit of hope So while youre outside looking in Describing what you see Remember what youre staring at is me. ---------- Get busy living or get busy dying. Bill
Carivan Posts: 8,542 Joined: 2002/01/20	2008/03/16, 12:12 PM The machine I have and have used for the last 4 years has a crossramp on it, which emulates different challenges to the body while training. One can do a program with different goals with the same machine. These machines can target certain muscles when needed. You might want to look up Precor.com Bill, have you looked at your stance? -------------- Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success. Ivan Montreal Canada (City of Festivals)
BILL06 Posts: 755 Joined: 2006/08/08	2008/03/16, 06:49 PM ahhhh, i see now about the ramp. Ill check it in the am and let ya know. -------------- How do you feel? That is the question But I forget.. you dont expect an easy answer When something like a soul becomes Initialized and folded up like paper dolls and little notes You cant expect a bit of hope So while youre outside looking in Describing what you see Remember what youre staring at is me. ---------- Get busy living or get busy dying. Bill
momwithattitude Posts: 51 Joined: 2008/03/11	2008/03/17, 12:12 AM The one I use has resistant levels and raises and lowers to whatever program you've chosen and muscle group you've targeted. I honestly like this machine due to the fact that it puts less stress on my knees and ankles but still raises the heartbeat and brings about that sweat! Oh yeah and I have found that NOT holding onto the rails helps the intensity of the workout and also my chiropractic advised against holding on because you will or can misalign or tweek your upper torso and/or back. :)
amyksmith76 Posts: 601 Joined: 2005/07/26	2008/03/17, 02:17 PM I was checking out elipticals at the sporting good store over the weekend. They had ones with inclines and where the foot pedals could change position and so on. I personally hate doing the eliptical and just refuse to do it, but that could be due to my lack of coordination. Do whatever makes you happy!
momwithattitude Posts: 51 Joined: 2008/03/11	2008/03/17, 03:23 PM Well girl I can tell ya. I'll stick to the eliptical rather than jump roping! UGGHH TALK ABOUT LACK OF COORDINATION..........I'd bust my hump LOL ============ Quoting from amyksmith76: I was checking out elipticals at the sporting good store over the weekend. They had ones with inclines and where the foot pedals could change position and so on. I personally hate doing the eliptical and just refuse to do it, but that could be due to my lack of coordination. Do whatever makes you happy! =============
momwithattitude Posts: 51 Joined: 2008/03/11	2008/03/18, 11:17 PM Well Bill how goes it? Any better??:)
BILL06 Posts: 755 Joined: 2006/08/08	2008/03/19, 08:02 AM Its getting better, must be those muscles are way outta shape, Ill feel/know tomorrow in the am, and ill keep yas posted :) -------------- How do you feel? That is the question But I forget.. you dont expect an easy answer When something like a soul becomes Initialized and folded up like paper dolls and little notes You cant expect a bit of hope So while youre outside looking in Describing what you see Remember what youre staring at is me. ---------- Get busy living or get busy dying. Bill
momwithattitude Posts: 51 Joined: 2008/03/11	2008/03/19, 10:58 AM Good pair of shoes and good form and you'll have it whipped in no time! :love: And yeah they just suck. Kind of like the stair climber. It's a love/hate thang
London Posts: 176 Joined: 2003/01/10	2008/03/26, 04:20 PM Try doing the quick start option instead of a program. Then you can set your resistance level. I started using the one at the gym a few months ago at level 10 at about 6mph for 15-20 min and I was pooped. Now I'm at level 16 at 6mph for 1/2 an hour a day and that gets me pooped. Just keep at it, start in your range, and work up to it. It shouldn't be difficult to move your feet.
Sam295 Posts: 23 Joined: 2008/03/19	2008/03/28, 08:45 AM My wife and I bought a brand new eliptical trainer and it is awesome! I did have the same problem as you at first though. I just assumed I wanted to do some cardio so I set it on the cardio program. After my warmup the program automatically increases the resistance gradually until my heartrate would get up to the level I set it at, Which is 175bpm. It turns out there was nothing I could do on THAT program. My heart rate wasn't moving up fast enough and the resistance kept rising, getting to level 20. It was like a full bore quad workout and most times I'd actually stall out, maybe because I was only 145lbs? If I did make it long enough my heart rate would actually catch up and of course the resistance would start dropping off rapidly as my heart rate was now through the roof. I'd end up down to level 1, talk about a rollercoaster ride, but I'd still be out of breath. Now I just do my own program where I can manually adjust the levels on my own and it works amazing. You quickly get an idea of how fast you want to start moving up to the next level. Right off the bat I go and move up 2 levels every 30secs. until I am closer to the level I want to be on, which is around 10, than I'll go for 5-10 mins in the 175 range. I think on most elipticals you can creat your own programs if you have the drive, but you have to read the manual... I hate instructions!
warren3224 Posts: 49 Joined: 2008/04/13	2008/04/13, 03:50 PM I love using the elliptical! It doesn't make my knee's or shins hurt like running on the damn treadmill does! Plus Im hands down the work jump ropper in the world so the elliptical is by far the best way for me to do cardio
momwithattitude Posts: 51 Joined: 2008/03/11	2008/04/13, 08:58 PM Well Love is a strong word!! hehee. But I do agree, it is much kinder on your knees,angles and overall joints warren!!!:):):)
warren3224 Posts: 49 Joined: 2008/04/13	2008/04/14, 02:24 PM Yeah your right that would be a strong word, except if I would be comparing it to the treadmill. Because I despise the treadmill!!!:angry:
Carivan Posts: 8,542 Joined: 2002/01/20	2008/04/14, 06:30 PM Treadmill is awful for me. especially with my flat feet! -------------- Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success. Ivan (GO HABS GO!) Montreal Canada (City of Festivals)
momwithattitude Posts: 51 Joined: 2008/03/11	2008/04/14, 10:58 PM So being flat footed in a problem? Because of shin splints or just over all jarring? I am flat footed as well. ============ Quoting from carivan: Treadmill is awful for me. especially with my flat feet! =============
ReptilianFeline Posts: 187 Joined: 2007/08/28	2008/04/16, 06:52 AM I don't like the elliptical... it feels as if I'm running backwards... wearing a diaper. Could be the particular model, though... -------------- ----------------------------------- Getting there... one kg at a time... -----------------------------------
foss4 Posts: 9 Joined: 2008/03/21	2008/04/23, 10:10 PM I like the eliptical but after about 10 min my feet start to tingle.any one else have that problem? ============ Quoting from ReptilianFeline: I don't like the elliptical... it feels as if I'm running backwards... wearing a diaper. Could be the particular model, though... =============
Carivan Posts: 8,542 Joined: 2002/01/20	2008/04/23, 10:18 PM It's hard on my heels and ankles. I do wear supports in my every day shoes but can't in the gym shoe due to the suppleness of the shoe. ============ Quoting from momwithattitude: So being flat footed in a problem? Because of shin splints or just over all jarring? I am flat footed as well. ============= -------------- Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success. Ivan (GO HABS GO!) Montreal Canada (City of Festivals)
Big-Paul Posts: 10 Joined: 2008/03/23	2008/04/26, 01:41 AM I get a really bad burn in the thigh or quad area when using the elipticle machine too at my gym most equipment is life fitness/hammer strength but we do have some precore without the moving hand holds I suffer just to get to a slow 20 minutes but can do the treadmill for over 2 hours at a faster pace it really bothers me to see people do an hour at a fast pace and hardly look tired on these elipticles but I keep charging forward.
crow001 Posts: 2 Joined: 2008/01/24	2008/04/27, 10:43 PM Check on your resistance settings. The higher settings will often hit you with very sore legs in the area you describe.