stair climber at gym

[Anonymous]

I need to lose a good bit of weight and have started using the stair climber at the gym for a few minutes before switching to the treadmill or elliptical. I'm planning to climb to the crown of the statue of liberty in June which is the motivating factor but I've found I kind of like it too. Today the display said I climbed 23 floors in ten minutes. How accurate is this? I wasn't moving all that fast so it seems improbable to me. The Statue of Liberty is 22 floors so I need to be able to do that many easily and the website says to plan on 30 min.

Does anyone know how accurate the display is on the stair climber at the gym? I want to make sure I'm adequately preparing myself.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that a lot of people hold on, lean on the stairmaster, thereby reducing the effort and making it easier - and not akin to walking up regular stairs.

Do you have access to a highrise? Tall hotel, or other tall building near you? Much better to climb those. Or, even an escalator (opposite direction!), if you're allowed to.

[Anonymous]

I competively tower race and they keep me on pace like real buildings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that a lot of people hold on, lean on the stairmaster, thereby reducing the effort and making it easier - and not akin to walking up regular stairs.

Do you have access to a highrise? Tall hotel, or other tall building near you? Much better to climb those. Or, even an escalator (opposite direction!), if you're allowed to.

I do this some. I am in very good shape--marathon, crossfit...even holding on 20 min on that thing at high pace/level and I am dripping sweat---total puddles. It is still good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I competively tower race and they keep me on pace like real buildings.

NP. I didn't even know this was a thing. Cool!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that a lot of people hold on, lean on the stairmaster, thereby reducing the effort and making it easier - and not akin to walking up regular stairs.

Do you have access to a highrise? Tall hotel, or other tall building near you? Much better to climb those. Or, even an escalator (opposite direction!), if you're allowed to.

She's talking about a stair climber not a stairmaster

[Anonymous]

OP, if you want to be precise, I would count the number of steps per "flight" on the stairmaster you use. The one I use has 17 steps per flight.

The Statute of Liberty climb is 354 steps, so maybe aim for at least 400 steps? The climb at the Statue of Liberty is said to be steep, but I bet you'll do great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you want to be precise, I would count the number of steps per "flight" on the stairmaster you use. The one I use has 17 steps per flight.

The Statute of Liberty climb is 354 steps, so maybe aim for at least 400 steps? The climb at the Statue of Liberty is said to be steep, but I bet you'll do great.

Thanks for the encouragement and good tip about counting the steps...not sure why I hadn't thought of that.

Thanks everyone for your feedback. It really helps and hopefully this will be a good catalyst for getting into better shape. (Though I did do a bunch of errands by bike and went about 9 miles so that's good. I like bike season.)

[Anonymous]

I did a cardio challenge at home using a flight of stairs as a measurement. I got 25 flights in 12 minutes (up + down = 1). I wouldn't consider myself particularly fit, either.