Question for all the elliptical users...

[irishrose]

I recently got an elliptical machine for Christmas, and I LOVE it. I've been using some iTrain and Cardio Coach workouts with it and they're so much fun. However, I've noticed that my quads look a little bigger and my butt looks lifted. This would generally be a good thing, right? Admittedly, I have five or ten pounds to lose, and I'm not seeing the scale budge just yet. So, in light of that, I'm just looking and feeling bigger right now. My questions is, have any of you felt the need to reduce the amount of leg work you do when you're consistently using the elliptical for cardio? I also got a Bowflex for Christmas and I've been doing my leg work on that. I do one heavy leg workout a week. Would it make a huge difference if I did an endurance style workout for my legs? Obviously, I need to burn off some fat. I just feel like the resistance of the elliptical machine is endurance training in itself. Am I just being incredibly impatient? Any input from you educated ladies is appreciated.

Jen

 

[Flyweight]

I use the elliptical for cardio reasons only, so I like to get my heart rate up. It's not really a muscle building exercise. I haven't noticed any changes in my legs with the elliptical machine. But using a lot of resistance should raise your heart rate.

If you want to burn off fat, you'll have to do more carido and burn more calories.

 

[singinggoddess]

Jen,
I recently have slimmed my legs and I do the elliptical 3-4 times a week and only endurance based leg work now. I have had GREAT results with butts and gutts. I also like legs and glutes. I used to have a lot more strength in my legs, but they were a lot bulkier. I think it just depends on what your body responds to.

But, no I don't think that the elliptical would make your legs bulky,unless maybe the resistance was super high all the time.

susan

 

[JAFitMama]

Jen-
I think you have to play around with your workouts and your diet to find what works for you. Clean eating, endurance legs including floor legs and running and the elliptical work for me. Kick boxing and step get trowm in with less frquency but for nice variety. The biggest in slimming my legs for me were from 1. clean eating 2. no heavy leg workouts 3. running then adding in EXT ( Elliptical Cross Training)

Do you keep a journal of your workouts and eating ? This might be helpful.

One more thing, I would not suggest leaving out leg workouts all toegther Keeping quads strong but not big has helped my knees be happy. Similarly I work my outer thighs and inner thighs and butt to avoid any imbalance.


Judy "Likes2bfit"


If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.



http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5ce27b3127cce94279e1404fa00000016108AatHLZo3buN

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=9978144&uid=4817615&members=1

 

[Miss Lee]

I have to agree with the other posters. I've definitely noticed a slimming in my hips, thighs, and abs since using my elliptical. As for other workouts, well, I'm not the most disciplined person on the forums, that's for sure, and I rarely stick with any one workout long enough to know how my body will respond. I am easily bored and constantly switching things up, but this much I can tell you, I don't use heavy weights for my legs. I often just use my own body weight. I never hoist a barbell up and across my shoulders.

 

[irishrose]

Thank you all for your responses! I do keep a food and workout journal and I try to follow the Body for Life diet, though I admit I need to discipline myself more. I also workout with Cathe's dvds, but since I got the elliptical I have kind of been addicted to that. I'm using it consistently 4-6 times a week. My diet is definitely cleaner now than it was over the holidays, so I didn't really expect to see an increase in my leg size. If anything, I guess I expected to see little change at all. But I've gone up about a half inch in each thigh. I was blaming the elliptical (seeing I use it so much), but judging by your responses, I'm now wondering if maybe it's the heavy leg work. Maybe I should try lighter weights and more reps for my legs? Guess it's worth a shot. I do enjoy running and will try and throw that into my rotation more often.

Thank you all again for your help.

Jen

 

[Flyweight]

Personally, I get a better cardio workout with the elliptical than with any of Cathe's dvds, except maybe the circuit ones. You could easily substitute the elliptical for any of Cathe's kickboxing or stepping workouts and have a better cardio and fat loss effect. I find my heart rate gets much higher on the elliptical.