[xJennJennx]

Ok so I've been exercising with free weights a little bit each day since it's really hard for me to get to the track and walk with my husbands work hours and dragging the kids out into this heat isn't a good idea.....so today I bought an elliptical machine. Am I just really out of shape or are these things tough!?!?! 12 minutes-207 calories burned-and half a mile (with small breaks to let my legs rest) Anyone else get their butt kicked by an elliptical? I love how it made me feel afterwards but wow was it hard work!

[RocknRoll]

I did 51 minutes on the elliptical today- 5.05 miles and it was on resistance level 5. I first hopped on one 2 years ago? It gets easier! Just don't forget to put resistance on it because thats a huge mistake people make with the machines. People go 200 strides a minute when you can go 170 strides per minutes with resistance AND get a better workout!

PS I am SUPER JEALOUS OF YOU!! (I want my own but the gym is too convenient)

[gina1221]

I started on the elliptical about 5 weeks ago... I could only do 7 minutes, now I'm up to 20 minutes so it does get easier.

Congrats on getting your own elliptical. I love mine!

[charolastra00]

I don't have access to an elliptical for the next month until I'm back at school, but about a year ago when I was at home I tried the elliptical at the Y and fell off! I have NO balance on those things! The guy next to me was chugging along too and I get competitive (I know, bad Allie!) and tried to go faster than my body could handle. I lasted about 5 minutes. :P

Like anything though, I'm sure it will get easier!

[noleschick92]

It DOES get easier! Like RocknRoll said, you need to make sure you have some resistance set on the machine. The best way is to do the interval training programs. Does your machine come with the preset programs? If not, you can create the schedule manually by increasing/decreasing the resistance every 3 or so minutes. When I want a effective workout but need it FAST - that's what I do.... warm-up, increase a little bit, pop the resistance pretty high, lower it and catch my breath, increase my speed to a sprint, slow down and catch my breath, pop the resistance again, lower it.... well, I think you get it!

Have Fun!

[lavidasofa]

Yes, the first time I got on an elliptical all I could do was level 1 for 15 minutes. Slowly but surely I've been able to gradually increase and beat the elliptical's butt I've been working out 3-4 times a week at level 9 for 45 minutes and that has been one of the main reasons I've been able to lose 40lbs in the past 14 months.

[xJennJennx]

Mine doesn't have the preset programs, but i find my thighs hurt like **** after just a few minutes, I'm hoping after a week or so doing it every other day they won't get so sore? I actually do the intervals where I put the resistance to medium and let my heart rate get at a good pace...do that for a few minutes then put it back on low to give myself a little rest.....do that several times and by the end of my workout I'm soaked! It felt great to get in a workout before getting my daughter off to school this morning, and drinking a cup of coffee before working out really seemed to boost it and I didn't get as tired.

[Christina7806]

When I first started on mine, I thought I was doing it wrong. My quads hurt like crazy, right above my knee. I couldn't get past level 2 and I was feeling like I was going to die. I now realize that, even with all my walking and weights, my knees were still weak. Over time, I have built up endurance. It does get easier but, for me, it still is not "easy".