Elliptical?

What the heck is an elliptical? Inquiring minds want to know...

(obviously I've never visited a gym)

ooh, how to describe it... um... ok.  it's sort of like a bike, but instead of pedals you have these big paddles, and you don't sit down, there's nothing to sit on.  hence "elliptical" cause your feet move in elliptical paths.  it's a lot like running, but easier on the knees.

here are some people who look way too excited to be running in place.

well whaddya know? that is so not how i'd imagined it, i thought it looked more like a stair stepper... with moving arm thingys.

clearly i don't go to the gym either!

What they are is buttkicking hard, at least for me.

hey, chill, you know if you run "backward" on an elliptical it gives you an awesome butt? not that i'm implying your butt isn't awesome already, i haven't seen a picture of it :)

I went on one for like the second time in my life thursday. I went to the gym for the first time since high school - in high school everyone was always using the ellipticals. I'm in love with that machine because I suck at running and it lets me feel like I can run better. 

Hubby bought me one for my birthday...I hate it.  I use it six days a week...but it is HARD!  I do not look like the happy people in ads when I use it.  It is in my bedroom along with the treadmill and bike (I collect exercise equipment like normal people collect stamps or coins) and the first thing I see when I open my eyes in the morning.  I think it has a personality..and it is evil.  Kind of like the car...Christine???  15 minutes is pretty much the longest I can use it.  Still hopeful it will get easier over time.

I've tried one a couple of times, and it bothers my right knee. The stride feels very short to me. (I'm tall.) Works the muscles, and HOW, but it was really uncomfortable. If I'm doing something wrong or there's an adjustment for stride, I'd love to hear about it!

athena-tavener, Hi. I did see a Proform elliptical where you could adjust the stride.  I can't remember how much it was, but it was on the HSN channel. I only saw that part as I was just flipping through the channels. Not sure how good the brand is. I have a Nordic Trac and it was free from my mom. She said her knees hurt when she used it too. I love it though. Maybe someone else knows of another adjustable stride brand. This is the only one I know of.

I love the elliptical. I use it everyday almost. I have lost alot of inches from it. Also, it tones up your abs, yes believer it or not even though you are mostly using your legs. I use it for 30mins and burn 300+ calories. I really enjoy it and the gym ones are better then the ones they sale on for example Sears/Walmart etc.

Hope you like it! : )

I can't say I LOVE the elliptical...but it definitely gives you more bang! You burn like, 3 times as much as you would on just a treadmill or bike. Granted, it's harder, but you just burn so many more calories.

My problem with it is that my feet fall asleep about 5 minutes in and it's really bothersome. I get past the first few minutes where I feel like I'm going to die and then start feeling really good and am bopping along to my ipod, and then my feet fall asleep! It's so annoying. I have to stop every couple minutes to wake them up.

Anyone else have this happen to them?

I love the elliptical machine, I had an Orbitrek, but sold it to my aunt, the ellipticals at the gym are awesome, for a home model the Orbitrek is good, but like it was said earlier nothing compares to the gym ellipticals. Will have to try the backwards mode, haven't done that yet. If you get a chance try one out.

The elliptical is my life!  And it completely blasts calories.  Try it out and you will fall in love.  Start out slow your first time on the elliptical can be challenging

Try the arc trainer in your gym - it looks like an elliptical but with much longer strides!