elliptical

How do you count a workout on the elliptical? As there is no place for it? I have been counting it as skiing- but its more intense then that.

does your elliptical give you a calorie burned count? if so just input that amount in the "add activity" part yourself... if it doesn't then maybe up the time a little so the calories go up somewhat?

I go into running and just enter the time it takes to burn the amount of calories the elliptical tells me I burned. Hopefully it's right!

The best thing is to go to your local sporting goods store and buy a heart monitor. It's just a little band you wrap around your chest and then you wear a watch that tells you not only your heart rate but also how many calories you are burning. It's the most accurate way to tell the exact number of calories you burn because it takes into effect your age, weight, sex, height,and heart rate. I can not work out without mine, I love it!!!

I agree with moonsky, I LOVE my heart rate monitor (a Polar F11). Mine communicates with the Polar trainer website to keep a diary of my workouts and calorie loss.

It knows what my optimal heart rate range and beeps at me if I it's too high or too low.

thanks moonsky - I didn't even know they were available!

It is under the conditioning in activities.

If you search the word elliptical after clicking on the activity log, it will pull up three intensity choices for you. You just choose one, input the time you spent on the elliptical and it calculates the calories for you. It looks like this:

1. Elliptical Trainer - Light Effort
2. Elliptical Trainer - Moderate Effort
3. Elliptical Trainer - Vigorous Effort

The elliptical is under conditioning in the activty log area.

Any ideas as to where to get one of those hart monitors cheap?  i went to Dicks Sporting goods and the Polar one that was mentioned was like $150.  Way more than I thought for some thing that basiclly measures your hart rate and calculates some #'s

I picked up a lower model Polar at Target for $50.00

Walmart has a basic model that only gives heart rate for about $45

Does anyone know what constitutes moderate or vigorous as far as the elliptical goes on Calorie Count?

usually I just add my cals. manually and tag it elliptical.  But I think vigorous is when you up your level and the resistance is higher.  I go a speed of about 75-78 and my cals. usually match up with a moderate effort and I think that is becasue I ususally do a quick start and only go up to level 3-4 on the machine.

If you can't get the number of cals. to match it really is just easier to put it in where is says "add"

When I calculate my "effort" I go by my HRM but if you don't have one - Low is your fat burning zone - moderate is the middle rate and vigourous is pushing your 90% zone  at least that is how I calculate it.  So its 60- 70% light 70- 80& moderate and 80-90% for vigourous. This is of your target heart rate.  So for me  being 47yo - light 105-121  moderate 122-139 vigourous 140-156