Elliptical Question

[funwalker]

Elliptical – Question:

I am not sure I understand if there are benefits of doing the Elliptical for me, as a walker.

I know it is great for cardio, is easier on the knees- joints, but it shortens your stride. Is it possible for the shorten stride have a negative effect on my walking?

Can anyone explain this to me?

 

[disney_mommy]

While I am not a medical person or professional trainer, I can tell you from my personal experience that I find the elliptical stregthens my walking. I use it to break up my walking workouts and get a different kind of workout. It uses some different muscles that aren't always used when I walk. It's a nice change of pace and keeps me from getting bored while giving my knees a break. Also, I never have a problem adjusting my stride after using it. I just do it naturally.

Hope this helps.

 

[funwalker]

Yes, it helps!
Thanks So Much, disney_mommy.

 

[Steffwalks]

My 2 cents worth....I don't like the eliptical! Otherwise....

 

[windwalker]

I can't use the darn things because I can't get coordinated on it. But it's a good aerobic crosstraining. As you know I strongly believe in doing as many and as varied exercises as possible to keep all your muscle development balanced.

You still need to walk regularly but the other stuff with make you stronger.

Hi Margie

Walking Panda

 

[bubba73]

Personally, I love the elliptical machine. I use it for a calorie burn workout and to try to build up my endurance some. On the elliptical, since there is no jarring on the knees, I can go longer, harder and faster than I can go on the track. This helps me psychologically to know that my legs can move that fast so I can try to incorporate some speed drills on the track to improve my time. I don't know if it is right or wrong, good or bad for my walking/running but it has helped me.


Bryan

 

[funwalker]

Bryan,

I thought more people used the elliptical.

But seeing you use the elliptical-

I do not know if it is different for men & women but ...

What do you set the pounds at and why? Is it for difficulty or your weight?

What is your goal for the Steps?

Thanks!

 

[Hey Mickey]

Hi, Margie! I am also a fan of the elliptical for cross-training. Like Bryan, I find it gives me a psychological lift as well because I can go farther,faster,longer, etc. since it eliminates the pounding on my not-so-great knees. I tend to mix it up between the treadmill, the stationary bike, the elliptical, and the weight machine circuit to try to get various muscle group worked throughout the week.

Anyway, regarding your questions, I guess your elliptical has different setting than mine. When I start up, it asks for weight, and I input my actual weight. Than I can either choose a program (such as aerobic/random/fat burner/etc) or set it for manual. Then I choose a level. If I am doing a program, I usually set it for 8 or 9. If I am doing manual, I usually start around 7, then inch it up as I go, topping off at 10 or 11 (just so I can say "this one goes to 11" ), then cool back down. Mine doesn't have a steps option (at least not that I've noticed -- now I'll have to go take a look!)

Hope that helps.

 

[funwalker]

Thanks, Erica!

If it's our weight that we are to program in I have been setting it way too high...LOL But then I have no clue to what the setting should be - my half mile on the elliptical is way different than a half mile walking (?) am I not doing something correct. I just want to be doing the elliptical correctly doing it so it is an effective workout.

I do the gym at 5:AM Mon, Tues, Thurs, & Friday-15 miles on the bike, half mile on the elliptical, a workout (alternate with upper body, lower body, ABS, or TM) then my stretching. Walks on Wed & Sat and one night during the week.

 

[Hey Mickey]

Yes, the distance I cover on the elliptical feels very different from the same mileage on a treadmill. That is why I don't go by mileage -- instead I set the workout based on time and then play around with the levels (mine goes from 1 to 20, btw) until it feels like a challenging workout. I think the best way to judge whether you are working hard enough or too hard is just listen to your body and play around with the settings till you find the range where you are challenged without being over the top. When I am on the treadmill (or outside) I do run/walk intervals, so I just seek to mimic the exertion levels when I am on the elliptical. Don't know that that is "right," but it works for me.

Hope that helps!

 

[bubba73]

Hey Margie! Since the elliptical doesn't have any impact on your knee joints, it does make it where you can go faster on it than a tradtional treadmill. As for the levels, I usually adjust that according to how I feel. I don't do any of the presets on any machine that I use when I am on it.I always do the quick start and adjust it on my own. It has helped build my endurance a lot seeing how I can go on that thing for an hour at a time and most of the members at the gym only stay on it for about 30 minutes.

But I totally agree with Erica. Listen to your body while doing your adjustments. And if you have questions about how to set it to make sure that you are getting the most out of it, ask someone. I have found that most people at a gym are very willing to help if they can.

I do hope that it helps your training and I look forward to hearing about your success!

Bryan

 

[wdw4us]

I love my elliptical. I usually do the pre-programmed settings. Mine has 3 aerobic and 3 weigh loss. Depending on my mood I"ll pick one of them.

Funny story, we have 3 settings on ours besides the 3 programs. We can adjust the incline on the machine to low, med and high. Well a few weeks ago I got on the machine and after about 5 min, I was sweating like crazy, working hard and thought I was terribly out of shape. Turns out my son had adjusted the machine for him on a med setting so in addition to being high I was also working 2x as hard.

denise