Ellipticals - friend or foe?

I can't figure out how to use an elliptical machine.  There are these fantastic elliptical machines at my gym and every time I try to use one I end up having to get off of it in under 3 minutes with my legs burning like crazy.  I'm stuck jogging on the tred mill instead, jealous of the girls next to me on the ellipticals.  Is there some sort of posture that I need to adopt to be able to use this thing?  There is another woman I work with who has the same complaint about her ellipticals at her gym, so I know I'm not the only one.  I hate having shin splints, and I can feel the jarring in my legs and knees when I'm jogging, I'd really love to be able to use the ellipticals when my legs can't take jogging anymore. 

Someone share their elliptical secrets with me!  

There's really no secret to it.  Make sure that you set the tension to zero.  What I mean is that you can change the tensions for a harder workout.  Also, use a rocking motion.  Use your whole body to rock side to side so it's not JUST your legs doing the work.  Also, you might want to just go as long as you can and work your way up.  If you can only do 3 minutes, then just do 3 minutes.  Then the next time, make yourself go 4 minutes.....and so on.

Good luck!!

I love working out with the elliptical.  I get a better workout in my upper legs than I would if I just used the treadmill.

Stand up straight, and try to keep your shoulders down.  They will try to creep up when you use the bars. 

Also, I try not to let my heels lift off the machine.  A little lift may be unavoidable, but I try to focus on keeping them down as much as possible.  Focus on keeping your body over your feet.  And try not to jut out your booty :)  I've found this helps keep me from bouncing, and I get a better workout.  

If your going crazy fast, then up the resistance.   If you have too much momentum going then you aren't really burning what the machine says your burning. 

If your legs are burning after a few minutes, and you feel like quitting, then lower the resistance.  When you first start out your legs will burn... just try and work through it.  For me it usually goes away after a couple of minutes.

When I first got one for my home I could barely do 3 minutes. So I'd do something else for a bit (non-exercise) and do another 2 or 3 minutes. After a week I was doing 5 minutes. Then I made it a point to add 1 minute after a week. It wasn't long before I could add 2 or 3 minutes each week. Eventually I was on the thing listening to an entire music CD (30 to 40 minutes).

You're not alone. I've been there. Now I love mine because it's something I can do when it's too cold to get out and walk.

It took me a while to get used to the elliptical, too.  When I first tried it 2 years ago, it was totally kicking my @$$ for weeks, but I'd just go reallly slow on it.  It's definitely my favorite way to work out now though - I have supercrappy knees (yes, I'm only 22, but marching with an extra 60 pounds in the form of a sousaphone for 6 months will ruin your knees if you're genetically predisposed to have bad knees, apparently), and it doesn't hurt me at all!  Love it love it love it!
Hang in there, just ease into it, and you'll be in love with it, too!

I was in the same boat - when I first started going to the gym in January, I couldn't do more than 3 minutes on the elliptical.  So, I just decided not to use them, and I concentrated on the treadmill, bike, rowing machine, yoga, and weights.  Lost 9 lbs and toned up nicely.

One day in March, I got back on the elliptical, and found that I could now do a half hour, no problem!  So it's now part of my regular routine.  I've been in maintenance mode due to life getting in the way of my weight loss program, but the eliptical's done *great* things for my backside!  My boyfriend's definitely noticed a change!  :)

Elliptical is my best friend.  I lost more weight doing it than anything else.

i love the elliptical!! i burn 850 to 950 calories per workout. take your time and find the program that works for you. lower your resistance and try different types of ellipticals (my gym has 3) to find the movement you like

I'll try to shoulders down, booty tucked up tight, standing up straight, body over the legs method and see how long I can go.  

 I'll set myself of a goal of 3 minutes without jumping off. 

Thanks!  

I had the same exact problem when I got my elliptical machine. Your body will adjust in time if you keep at it.. but I found that if you DO lift your heel a tiny bit when your leg is on the way up, it takes some of the tension off that muscle above your knee so you can keep at it MUCH longer. As you get more and more used to that, you can begin to keep your heels down and get more of a workout, etc. Enjoy. :]

I have to wiggle my feet around a fair amount, or else they start to fall asleep around the 20 minute mark (as discussed elsewhere in the forums).  I'm hoping that goes away with time.

I have a elliptical at home I love and never had a bit of problems with.  I've used ellipticals at hotel gyms and hated most of those.  They were big bulky and hard to use and I'd been doing mine for months. 

I have shin splints too and the elliptical is a godsend. 

My trainer taught me that once you get past the first 6 minutes or so, you are capable of doing a half hour or more.  If your machine has a cross ramp .... raise it a little and I find that if I set the resistance to 2 or 3 and my legs are not going quite so fast I am able to get past that first 6 minutes.  It should only take you about 5-7 days to really get going.  Muscles have memory .... You can do it.  And it is the best ... I have lost 70 pounds and yes, everyone notices my backside.   

LOVE MINE!!!  I purchased one back in February and I am now up to where I can do 30 mins or more at a time..It took me time too.  Trust me.  At first I would go like 5 mins then get off and go another etc...I have found out if I use my exercise ball and do my sit-ups and things like that first it eases the workout on the elliptical...I still like to go for walks on nice days and sometimes I walk then do the elliptical or switch it around...

I love my elliptical so much I parked it right in my living room and I use it every day.

When I first got the machine, I has having a lot of trouble doing any more than 3-5 minutes no matter what resistance I set it at.  Seven minutes would absolute exhaust me.  Then I realized that the stride was set too long for me.  I adjusted the machine to shorten the stride and I was  immediately able to do 20 minutes and, within a couple days, I was doing 30 minutes no problem.

I love the elliptical.  I do it for 45 minutes 4-5 days a week.  I have lost 20 pounds in the past two months doing almost nothing but the elliptical and eating right.  I think the advice you have been given is great advice just keep at it.  2 months ago I couldn't do 45 minutes and now I could do it in my sleep.  I like to keep the resistance level low so I am doing more of a cardio workout than a leg work out because trust me.... when you have a high resistance level you are doing a huge lower body work out.  I think another good tip is, if your legs start hurting just slow it down and use your arms more to pull than you legs to push.  Or you can go backwards for a little while.  Just stick with it you will be fine.  My dad is a personal trainer (I know, How'd I get myself in this boat)  and he tells me that running on the tredmill or outdorrs is the one of the worste things you can do to your body.  It is hard on all your joints.  Be careful and good luck. 

Oh yeah, and don't get freaked out if your feet go numb at about the 30 minute mark... It just happens sometimes, the feeling will come back.

I also have the problem with my feet falling asleep, well only my right foot, actually. So, I asked my gym's fitness advisor about it, since I was concerned that it was some sign of a cardiovascular problem, and she said it happens to a lot of people, and to just pedal backwards for a few minutes. This helped me out, hope it helps you!