Elliptical - questions
- Thread starter nancy324
- Start date
acatalina
Cathlete
Does the elipitical have the arms that go.Mine kills me . I like the workout , but my feet get numb, so i stick to an elevated treadmill.
Anne
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=8227804&uid=3969941
Anne
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=8227804&uid=3969941
Nancy:
I do NOT keep track of my heart rate - not sure I know how to!
I seem to be more concerned about the "resistance levels" because the harder the resistance the better your workout. About 6 weeks ago, I thought level 4 was beyond my reach, yet by introducing it into my workout "very gradually" - I am now doing 48 minutes at level 4 and 2 minutes at level 5.
Pointer #1: I HAVE to listen to FAST music because it pushes me and takes my mind off the boring routine. My first 4 songs take up 20 minutes - so it makes my 50 minutes go by very fast.
Pointer #2: I do NOT HOLD ON! I read somewhere that by holding on, you decrease the effectiveness of your workout by 25%.
Hope this helps!!!
Elln
I do NOT keep track of my heart rate - not sure I know how to!
I seem to be more concerned about the "resistance levels" because the harder the resistance the better your workout. About 6 weeks ago, I thought level 4 was beyond my reach, yet by introducing it into my workout "very gradually" - I am now doing 48 minutes at level 4 and 2 minutes at level 5.
Pointer #1: I HAVE to listen to FAST music because it pushes me and takes my mind off the boring routine. My first 4 songs take up 20 minutes - so it makes my 50 minutes go by very fast.
Pointer #2: I do NOT HOLD ON! I read somewhere that by holding on, you decrease the effectiveness of your workout by 25%.
Hope this helps!!!
Elln
nancy324
Cathlete
Elln-
Although it is unlikely, it is possible that you are not getting a cardio workout on the elliptical if you don't know your heart rate.
Calories burned and resistance levels won't tell you whether your heart and lungs are getting healthier. Have you tried a heart rate monitor? I've been using Polar heart rate monitors now for as long as I can remember, and they are very easy to use. That's how I discovered that the elliptical wasn't giving me a cardio workout. Without the heart rate monitor, I don't think I would have known because my perceived exertion was very high.
-Nancy
Although it is unlikely, it is possible that you are not getting a cardio workout on the elliptical if you don't know your heart rate.
Calories burned and resistance levels won't tell you whether your heart and lungs are getting healthier. Have you tried a heart rate monitor? I've been using Polar heart rate monitors now for as long as I can remember, and they are very easy to use. That's how I discovered that the elliptical wasn't giving me a cardio workout. Without the heart rate monitor, I don't think I would have known because my perceived exertion was very high.
-Nancy
Me2
Cathlete
Nancy,
I usually run on the treadmill or do Cathe for cardio. I have a Precor EFX elliptical trainer and spinning bike that I use once in a while to do something different.
I use my heartrate monitor with all of my workouts, and I have found that my heartrate is definitely comparable to running on the treadmill. I usually vary the incline and the resistance on the elliptical trainer. I start with the incline as high as it will go with the resistance in the mid-range. Then switch it around to get my heartrate where I want it and to keep it there. Sometimes I will lower the resistance a little and go at a faster speed. It has a display that counts strides per minute and the total number of strides, etc. That is how I measure how fast I am going :+ It doesn't show a mph display or distance.
Anyway...when I have the resistance in the middle or lower end my strides are anywhere from 160 to 200 per minute. My heartrate is definitely up there and my legs aren't on fire. I am able to keep my heartrate at around 150 to 170bpm. (I am 46)
Linda
I usually run on the treadmill or do Cathe for cardio. I have a Precor EFX elliptical trainer and spinning bike that I use once in a while to do something different.
I use my heartrate monitor with all of my workouts, and I have found that my heartrate is definitely comparable to running on the treadmill. I usually vary the incline and the resistance on the elliptical trainer. I start with the incline as high as it will go with the resistance in the mid-range. Then switch it around to get my heartrate where I want it and to keep it there. Sometimes I will lower the resistance a little and go at a faster speed. It has a display that counts strides per minute and the total number of strides, etc. That is how I measure how fast I am going :+ It doesn't show a mph display or distance.
Anyway...when I have the resistance in the middle or lower end my strides are anywhere from 160 to 200 per minute. My heartrate is definitely up there and my legs aren't on fire. I am able to keep my heartrate at around 150 to 170bpm. (I am 46)
Linda
ivorygorgon
Cathlete
Nancy, according to Cathe, arm movements add 12% to your workout. They help increase the cardio.
I wear a HRM when I do elliptical and my HR, when I am doing intervals, can go as high as I want it to. 170 is the anaerobic threshold for me, so that is pushing pretty hard.
I usually go about 70rpm on a resistance level of 9. I use the arm handles and really push and pull when I want to increase how fast I am going.
I think the poster above who said she is working hard and sweating IS getting her HR up. You would have to be hardly going at all to NOT get your HR up. JMHO.
I wear a HRM when I do elliptical and my HR, when I am doing intervals, can go as high as I want it to. 170 is the anaerobic threshold for me, so that is pushing pretty hard.
I usually go about 70rpm on a resistance level of 9. I use the arm handles and really push and pull when I want to increase how fast I am going.
I think the poster above who said she is working hard and sweating IS getting her HR up. You would have to be hardly going at all to NOT get your HR up. JMHO.
Me2
Cathlete
Ivory, I never use the resistance at a 9! I need to try it, though! I usually go faster and use a less resistance. But..I am going to try the "9" and go slower. That will be a good way for me to mix it up. I am sure my heartrate will be up with that. 170 is pushing it for me, too and I try not to stay there for a long period of time! ;-)
Linda
Linda
nancy324
Cathlete
Ivory- it didn't mean that her heartrate isn't up. I just meant that she won't know if she's in her optimal target zone. She may well be above it, which would not be good. Here's as good of an explanation and calculator as any:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/moser9.htm
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/moser9.htm
I also do intervals on my elliptical. I can also get my HR up as high as 160. It always kills my legs though. When I do intervals, I go as hard as I can and put the resistance up and then lower it for recovery. Recovery...I usually go from 120-140 and intervals 160-170. I love my ellipitcal because it doesn't bother my back. I have difficulty on the treadmill running due to low back problems. I also have problems with too much high impact. I agree with the arm movement thing. I pump my handles hard and put a lot of effort into the Elliptical.