how do you use a Elliptical correctly???

I have been wondering the same thing, and are you suppose to do it forwards and backwards?

I normally had to get above 200/minute to get in a good workout. It is subjective to the user though. Some may like to have more resistence at a slower speed. Others may like less resistence at a greater speed. I tried to find the combination that allowed me to burn the most calories (do the most work) within a certain amount of time.

If you are a male you shouldn't be using the Elliptical. That is very homosexual...unless you really are homosexual, then thats ok.

if we're supposed to run at 180 strides/minute, why not do the same on the elliptical?

AN**** Elliptical

Carolyn B. wrote:

If you are a male you shouldn't be using the Elliptical. That is very homosexual...unless you really are homosexual, then thats ok.

Thanks for the go ahead.

The ET will not replace running. Forget about the stride per minute crap and concentrate on getting your heart rate up.

When I use one I start with zero resistance for the first five minutes as a warmup. From there I crank up the resistance knob three turns every five minutes. I usually go for 60 mins when I want a kick ass workout. I'm working at +36 resistance by the time I am done. Try this and you'll see where your heart rate falls at each five minute interval. If you've never used an ET before I strongly suggest you start with something far less than 60 minutes and a lot less resistance. Guage for yourself how hard you can push yourself using your heart rate as your guide.

Are you gay?

When I was injured and on the elliptical, I liked to make all of my cross training sessions into fartleks. I would do 90 minute sessions made up of 10 minute warm up, 70 minutes of any fartlek with at least 3 minutes hard and no more than 1 minute easy, and 10 minute cool down. It can get pretty mind numbing to be on the elliptical for an extended period of time, but doing a fartlek can break it up enough to make it bearable. Also, I go by heart rate to determine effort on the hard parts.

The first 2 posts are by the same guy. Nobody else would write "suppose to"...at least I hope not. Dude, dont worry about being a homo, you can bump your own post without changing your name.

This is one of the rare instances where a HRM may be useful. I usually try to keep my stride rate around 180 and vary the resistance to keep my heart rate in the desired training range.

Questshon wrote:

The first 2 posts are by the same guy. Nobody else would write "suppose to"...at least I hope not. Dude, dont worry about being a homo, you can bump your own post without changing your name.

Good catch!

Good post...thank you.

I have some knee problems that the elliptycal

doesn't aggravate; so I go for about 60 minutes

now usually getting heart rate to about 125. I read

a year ago somewhere that an American marathoner

with an injury went like 4 months or something using

the ellipt; he then did 2 or 3 weeks of real running

and did very well at the Olympic trials. If that is

true, then the machine in not bad as a cross trainer.

I guess you need to be creative the longer you use

the machine?