Advice needed for use of elliptical trainers

Dude, just set a fan up near you and go to work for 1- 1 1/2 hours. It'll be boring, and you'll hate stepping on it every day, but it's worth it. I recommend just going as hard as you feel like every day. If you have one that has various programs, do those. They will provide variety and a kind of "interval" format to some of the workouts. Once you return to running, you will notice significant improvement in a very short period of time. Good luck!

this device is great for hanging clothes that I need to dry.

The elliptical trainer is what I use when I am injured. Unfortunately, I use it more than I would like to. I believe that the exercise from this machine more closely resembles running than anything else I have ever used. I get calf injuries so this non-impact type of machine is ideal for me.

Here are my tips when using the ET:

Try to use the machine called “ Precor EFX 546”. I have found it to be the best one. If this one is not available then use another one but STAY AWAY from the ones with the moving handles.

It is important NOT to hold the side rails but to swing your arms as if your were running. In order to enhance my workout I hold 12oz. Fishing weights in each hand ( wrapped in athletic tape). I recommend you try this.

When I get on the machine I push “Quick start” and set the resistance to 12. (Depending on your fitness, you may need to go higher or lower). This will automatically set the workout time for 1 hour. I usually workout for an hour with a 5 min cool down. I usually get in a little more than 9 miles during this time.

Getting creative and mixing it up a bit helps with the boredom that you will experience. Some ideas are wearing your running watch and taking splits of each mile. Increase and decrease the resistance to simulate tempo runs, hills, farlek, or interval training. I am sure that using an IPOD would also help.

Record your progress and set PR’s for various workouts. As an example, my PR for 10 miles is 1:02:15 and the best for a mile, at the end of a workout, is 5:47.

An hour on this machine is a VERY good workout, assuming you use a decent resistance level.

Be prepared to massively sweat!

Good luck!

I disagree...I use only the ellipticals with the arm handles...provide an additional cardio stress and help keep the upper body toned. If you'd like to add the dimension of lower body balance, let the handles swing free,..no big deal. I use it when injured...not a super fast guy, but I've broken 31:00 and 15:00.

Do you guys keep heels on the machine?

ALso is this a good machine for peopel with ITBS?

I did earlye with heels getting off the ground giving my knees trouble.Maybe that was the reason?

Also a good thing to know for the first poster maybe

I am building up to higher mileage and am using the elliptical until it gets to the 70s (right now i am only low 40s). How high should i let my heart rate get? i am wary of working too hard on the ellipitcal and then feeling tired on my runs.

If you're getting one, definitely go with a commercial-grade one. You should be able to scout one out from the used section of Craigslist.

Absolutely DO NOT NEVER EVER use the swinging arms. You will not be able to do enough revs per minute to simulate running. (Unless you just want to do a hobbyliptical workout)

Luckily I haven't been on an elliptical in 3 or 4 years. One year I was in sub 18 shape and strained a muscle in my arch. I did elliptical for 4 weeks and ran a half marathon. Took 2 more weeks off and started racing 5ks each weekend. I did that for 3 months consistently running 1840 without running any the rest of the week. I treated my elliptical just like training with tempos, easy days, and all out efforts.

I always just held on to the bars in front of me as I would watch my heart rate go up on my max effort days.

My heels would come off the footpads some and the bottom of my feet would ache at times. I have been on elliptical where I had to put my heel up on the back ridge of the footrest because the angle of the pedal wasn't right and made you lean back instead of forward.