I spent all weekend reading all these great forums and started my workout at 5AM this morning before work. I had seen so many people speak so highly of the eliptical machine so I headed there first.

After 3 minutes I was almost passed out on the floor choking for breath. I did manual and level 1. Am I doing something wrong? Maybe I will just stick to the treadmill until I lose a little bit more weight for now.

I then went to the pool and did 45 mins of Water aerobics, but my legs are still wobbly from that eliptical machine.

Hi:

I had the same experience with my eliptical. It was alot harder than I expected. I did end up working up to a half hour, but I never really liked doing the eliptical. I prefer walking on my hills where I live instead of doing the eliptical. I also found another exercise that I love - trikking. Check it on on www.trikketalk.com. I have the T8 Air model. Lots of fun. Check it out if you have a chance.

Sue

I felt the same way...you lasted longer than I did for the first time. I see so many people on that machine but I could never do it. Last week while I was at the gym I told myself I was gonna give it another try. I did my entire workout and as I was leaving i said what the heck. I didn't think I was gonna make it, my legs felt like they were gonna give out...but I kept at it and after a few minutes it was ok. I only did about 5 minutes, but that was becuase I had already worked out for 45 minutes. So I would suggest that you give a few more tries before you write if off completely.

It takes more than one attempt to love the elliptical. It's pretty easy to let the machine go too fast for you... weird since you're the one propelling it. But you have to command your own pace, sometimes telling yourself out loud to slow down. I view it as an endurance machine and a huge cardio aid... I do the interval mode for thirty minutes. I find that I burn more calories than on "weight loss", also strange, haha!

The first time I got on one it was two years ago at a YMCA and I hated that hunk of metal :biggrin:. Now it's my best friend. Go figure.

When I first started working out I was 330 lbs and I started on the elliptical too. I thought I would die after about 3 minutes too! I kept at it and eventually worked up to a full hour on the elliptical. It was hard to do, but I just kept adding a couple of minutes each time.

Keep at it! It's hard, but it will get easier!!

I think I managed 10 minutes the first time and my legs were like wet noodles and I needed help walking. LOL

Now I do an hour with the crossramp up at 20 (top level) for 45 minutes of that and could do another hour if I needed/wanted to.

It's just about building up endurance. Keep trying - you'll get there!

You sound like me when I first started I only lasted about 3 min. now I workout on the elliptical for an hour, 5-6 days a week. I also found that if you go forward for a few min and then go back-wards for while that it helps work different muscles in your legs (so your not feeling the pain in the same spot). It makes it a little bit easier when you first start out on it.

I have an elliptical in the corner of my bedroom staring at me. I guess I should take my clothes off of it huh?

I have an elliptical in the corner of my bedroom staring at me. I guess I should take my clothes off of it huh?

I went to sears 10 or 11 days post op and did the elliptical for 10 min with no problem. I was amazed. I really liked it. I then walked around the mall for a couple of hours.... but then again I have been riding my bicycle (not since surgery) around 3-4 miles at a time, up small inclines so that probably helped me out.

Oh that's a great idea HappyHome! I will start out on the bike, maybe that will help build my legs up.

You would think after walking around for 20 years with 200+ lbs of extra weight that they would be strong already.....

Oh that's a great idea HappyHome! I will start out on the bike, maybe that will help build my legs up.

You would think after walking around for 20 years with 200+ lbs of extra weight that they would be strong already.....

they are but we don't have the cardio capabilities to go with! I can leg press a lot... I can pick a grownup and put them a cross my shoulders and do leg squats. but cardio is what I need more building on. Not that any adult appreciates me doing that and my back doesn' t either. but I do it occasionally just to prove a point.

You really have no comprehension of just how hard your body has to work to move itself when you're heavy and just how much oxygen that takes.

Exercise becomes so much easier when you've lost weight. I was always "fit" and could do 40 minutes on the elliptical right from the start, but I could never ever move like I do now. Running a couple of kilometres is easier than walking them used to be.

You really have no comprehension of just how hard your body has to work to move itself when you're heavy and just how much oxygen that takes.

Exercise becomes so much easier when you've lost weight. I was always "fit" and could do 40 minutes on the elliptical right from the start, but I could never ever move like I do now. Running a couple of kilometres is easier than walking them used to be.

Very true Jachut.... I couldn't run up a flight of stairs much less 2 that I can do now without gasping for breath and feeling my legs would give out. And this is only a few months difference. My bike rides have increased too. I am happy with the progress and looking forward to more.

This sounds so familiar! A few weeks ago I tried the eliptical at my gym. I started on the treadmill, they're located right behind the elipticals. I wanted to watch the people using them to see how it worked so I wouldn't look stupid. Finally, I worked up the nerve and got on one. I didn't know what level to pick so I mashed some buttons and started peddling.

OMG!!! I had to force myself to last 5 minutes. I felt really uncoordinated on that thing. When i jumped off I had those "light legs". For 3 days afterwards I could hardly walk, especially on stairs. Oh the pain. My gym friends laughed and said I need to keep working on it and it would hurt less the next time :-)

I bought an inexpensive elliptical off Craigslist and could only do about 5 mins (and that was on the lowest setting and with resting every minute or so!). Now I'm up to 15 mins, but it's harder than heck. I'm not thrilled with the machine, but I figure if I can keep at it, it will definitely help the weight loss.

it just means you arent used to it. i was exactly the same in the beginning. in a way its good because you are making yourself adapt fast and that usually means weightloss. after a while you will notice when you bend over and pick stuff up easier as well as getting up from a seated position cos your legs/thighs will be heaps stronger.