[Mango683]

Yes. I said it. I've just begun a program with a personal trainer, and part of my cardio warm-up is 10 minutes on the Stairmaster. I thought, "No big deal! The other days I warm up 20 mins on the Elliptical, so this will be a breeze!" I couldn't have misjudged it more! I barely made it to 6 minutes on manual, and my bootie was KICKED! My legs were giving way and cramped and I just couldn't pull out the last four.

How many of you have experience with this machine? How long has it taken to build up your endurance? Or- will it always be like this for me? I have a feeling this is the machine that's going to be my nemesis. After I got off sweaty and winded, I walked over to the elliptical and cranked out a quick mile and was satisfied, but I felt like the stairs were just looking at me and laughing. Please tell me it will get better!

[mypinkpolkadot]

I love that machine. Mainly because I know when I get off of it I just did an awesome work out. (During I'm yelling and screaming bad words in my head)

My only suggestion (although I'm not sure what your personal trainer had in mind for you) is to start with level 1 or 2 speeds.. and pace yourself.. Alot of people get on there and go crazy, and 1-2 minutes into have to get off.

I did 22 minutes on it the other day...at level 2. May not be the quickest speed.. but I was able to substain it and do the full 22 minutes.

And trust me.. I looked like a little red apple afterwards.. hehe

[brn2bthn]

It will get easier the more you use and like the other poster said it also depends on what level you're using. I am now up to barely doing 30 min at level 3 and level 4 is kicking my butt but I also alternate between the two for the 30 min and I absolutely love it...good cardio and leg work out in..it will get easier with consistent use.

[fromthebox]

I love that I can "feel" this workout. Now I bet that the perceived exertion level is higher than actual but I feel so good and proud when I make it through, and I know it has done tons for my legs.

I agree with the others, consistency is the most important part of moving up in level. I have to be using it 3x a week to progress to a higher level. I think it's a great warm up machine but anything longer than 20 minutes and I'll take the treadmill. I don't know how the sorority girls at my gym read their textbooks and just kill it on the stairmaster at the same time.

[pink sparkle]

Yes, it will get easier. Easier but definitely not easy LOL. You just have to keep working at it. I've been doing the stairmaster consistently for maybe a couple of months or so. At first, a few minutes was pure ****. Now I'm able to do about 30 minutes alternating between levels 5 and 10. It's done wonders for my butt!

[Mango683]

Thanks for the words of advice! I'm sure it'll get better, but I just can't even imagine being at the point where 30 minutes is a standard workout- OY! But even after I stepped off after those 6 minutes, I knew I had "worked it." I'll tackle it, because it's not like me to give up, but I'm not going to like it much!

[dominodreams]

Ok, this is an old thread, but I just have to say this:

I've only been working out intermittently for about a month and I've done a few sessions on the stairs. The first time my friend was like "don't go above 26!" (That's steps per minute.) I started out and was like "seriously?" It was ridiculously slow and it was boring! So I jacked it up to 40 steps/min. That lasted for about 2 minutes before I started cranking it back down...

Now I do intervals and I start at 30/60 for rest/work. By the end I'm down to 26/35, lol. I can do 22 minutes, though.

It's only been a few weeks, but my bf already says my butt is looking better!

[Beverage10]

But I pace myself, 5mins at 35, 10mins at 40, 10 mins at 45 and 5 mins back at 35. Havent seen real weight loss yet, so I need to incorporate more.