Don't hold on. Vary the intensity. I change back and forth to change the muscles.

Personally I find it a good workout but I push myself. It's so much gentle on joints.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't tone on an elliptical because toning is not a thing. It's fat loss and muscle gain. THAT'S IT. You're not going to gain muscle on an elliptical.

Ok then what's the point? How is an elliptical the most effective?

Where did you hear/read that elliptical is the most effective?

I didn't say it is the most effective piece of equipment. I asked how to make using one most effective for the user.

Honestly? It's most effective for doing an easy warmup before a harder workout or a lifting session. I rarely see anyone using it for a workout that will actually have any effect on weight loss. Just my opinion.

I'm in this camp. Elliptical is basically what I do to warm up my whole body before I lift, sometimes as steady state cardio when I'm done with my workout and waiting on my husband to finish. But if it works for you, then use it. I don't know anyone that's seen results using an elliptical. Better to walk on a treadmill at an incline.

Why is this better?

Personally I have a harder time getting my heart rate up on the elliptical. A slow jog on an incline and my heart rate goes up quickly - then I can switch to walking at a pace to maintain my target heart rate.

Have you tried increasing the resistance?

No. I would rather just do something else. Treadmill on an incline, stairs, run outside, so many more options.

Resistance intervals on an elliptical are harder for me than incline intervals on the treadmill, even going up to 30 incline. It's like walking through a lake of molasses. I can incline walk all day, but resistance work on the elliptical will burn me out fast. It's hard.

But incline walking on the treadmill is still great, provided you aren't holding on like these people (which not only decrease difficulty dramatically, they're terrible for your form and posture!)

Do NOT do this, people!! Just because the handlebars are there, it does not mean they're meant to be used for the duration of your workout!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't tone on an elliptical because toning is not a thing. It's fat loss and muscle gain. THAT'S IT. You're not going to gain muscle on an elliptical.

Ok then what's the point? How is an elliptical the most effective?

Where did you hear/read that elliptical is the most effective?

I didn't say it is the most effective piece of equipment. I asked how to make using one most effective for the user.

Honestly? It's most effective for doing an easy warmup before a harder workout or a lifting session. I rarely see anyone using it for a workout that will actually have any effect on weight loss. Just my opinion.

I'm in this camp. Elliptical is basically what I do to warm up my whole body before I lift, sometimes as steady state cardio when I'm done with my workout and waiting on my husband to finish. But if it works for you, then use it. I don't know anyone that's seen results using an elliptical. Better to walk on a treadmill at an incline.

Why is this better?

Personally I have a harder time getting my heart rate up on the elliptical. A slow jog on an incline and my heart rate goes up quickly - then I can switch to walking at a pace to maintain my target heart rate.

Have you tried increasing the resistance?

No. I would rather just do something else. Treadmill on an incline, stairs, run outside, so many more options.

Same. To me, 20 minutes on a machine feels like eternity. Outside, I can run for an hour and it feels great. I can walk for even longer. I need changing terrain and scenery to not let boredom get the best of me. Even doing intervals on a machine--any machine--is boring to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't tone on an elliptical because toning is not a thing. It's fat loss and muscle gain. THAT'S IT. You're not going to gain muscle on an elliptical.

Ok then what's the point? How is an elliptical the most effective?

Where did you hear/read that elliptical is the most effective?

I didn't say it is the most effective piece of equipment. I asked how to make using one most effective for the user.

Honestly? It's most effective for doing an easy warmup before a harder workout or a lifting session. I rarely see anyone using it for a workout that will actually have any effect on weight loss. Just my opinion.

I'm in this camp. Elliptical is basically what I do to warm up my whole body before I lift, sometimes as steady state cardio when I'm done with my workout and waiting on my husband to finish. But if it works for you, then use it. I don't know anyone that's seen results using an elliptical. Better to walk on a treadmill at an incline.

Why is this better?

Personally I have a harder time getting my heart rate up on the elliptical. A slow jog on an incline and my heart rate goes up quickly - then I can switch to walking at a pace to maintain my target heart rate.

Have you tried increasing the resistance?

No. I would rather just do something else. Treadmill on an incline, stairs, run outside, so many more options.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't tone on an elliptical because toning is not a thing. It's fat loss and muscle gain. THAT'S IT. You're not going to gain muscle on an elliptical.

Ok then what's the point? How is an elliptical the most effective?

Where did you hear/read that elliptical is the most effective?

I didn't say it is the most effective piece of equipment. I asked how to make using one most effective for the user.

Honestly? It's most effective for doing an easy warmup before a harder workout or a lifting session. I rarely see anyone using it for a workout that will actually have any effect on weight loss. Just my opinion.

I'm in this camp. Elliptical is basically what I do to warm up my whole body before I lift, sometimes as steady state cardio when I'm done with my workout and waiting on my husband to finish. But if it works for you, then use it. I don't know anyone that's seen results using an elliptical. Better to walk on a treadmill at an incline.

Why is this better?

Personally I have a harder time getting my heart rate up on the elliptical. A slow jog on an incline and my heart rate goes up quickly - then I can switch to walking at a pace to maintain my target heart rate.

Have you tried increasing the resistance?

I love the elliptical and always lose weight using it. Currently lost 20 lbs. In past two months doing it 5 days week. I would encourage intervals be it speed, incline or intensity by varying these throughout workout you will definitely up the calories burned. If your recovery day I would up workout time, I.e. do it for an hour, but more steady pace/less intensity(resistance). I try to do the elliptical equivalent of "fartlek" training.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't tone on an elliptical because toning is not a thing. It's fat loss and muscle gain. THAT'S IT. You're not going to gain muscle on an elliptical.

Ok then what's the point? How is an elliptical the most effective?

Where did you hear/read that elliptical is the most effective?

I didn't say it is the most effective piece of equipment. I asked how to make using one most effective for the user.

Honestly? It's most effective for doing an easy warmup before a harder workout or a lifting session. I rarely see anyone using it for a workout that will actually have any effect on weight loss. Just my opinion.

I'm in this camp. Elliptical is basically what I do to warm up my whole body before I lift, sometimes as steady state cardio when I'm done with my workout and waiting on my husband to finish. But if it works for you, then use it. I don't know anyone that's seen results using an elliptical. Better to walk on a treadmill at an incline.

Why is this better?

Personally I have a harder time getting my heart rate up on the elliptical. A slow jog on an incline and my heart rate goes up quickly - then I can switch to walking at a pace to maintain my target heart rate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't tone on an elliptical because toning is not a thing. It's fat loss and muscle gain. THAT'S IT. You're not going to gain muscle on an elliptical.

Ok then what's the point? How is an elliptical the most effective?

Where did you hear/read that elliptical is the most effective?

I didn't say it is the most effective piece of equipment. I asked how to make using one most effective for the user.

Honestly? It's most effective for doing an easy warmup before a harder workout or a lifting session. I rarely see anyone using it for a workout that will actually have any effect on weight loss. Just my opinion.

I'm in this camp. Elliptical is basically what I do to warm up my whole body before I lift, sometimes as steady state cardio when I'm done with my workout and waiting on my husband to finish. But if it works for you, then use it. I don't know anyone that's seen results using an elliptical. Better to walk on a treadmill at an incline.

Why is this better?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't tone on an elliptical because toning is not a thing. It's fat loss and muscle gain. THAT'S IT. You're not going to gain muscle on an elliptical.

Ok then what's the point? How is an elliptical the most effective?

Where did you hear/read that elliptical is the most effective?

I didn't say it is the most effective piece of equipment. I asked how to make using one most effective for the user.

Honestly? It's most effective for doing an easy warmup before a harder workout or a lifting session. I rarely see anyone using it for a workout that will actually have any effect on weight loss. Just my opinion.

I'm in this camp. Elliptical is basically what I do to warm up my whole body before I lift, sometimes as steady state cardio when I'm done with my workout and waiting on my husband to finish. But if it works for you, then use it. I don't know anyone that's seen results using an elliptical. Better to walk on a treadmill at an incline.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't tone on an elliptical because toning is not a thing. It's fat loss and muscle gain. THAT'S IT. You're not going to gain muscle on an elliptical.

Ok then what's the point? How is an elliptical the most effective?

Where did you hear/read that elliptical is the most effective?

I didn't say it is the most effective piece of equipment. I asked how to make using one most effective for the user.

That's not at all what you wrote, but okay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't tone on an elliptical because toning is not a thing. It's fat loss and muscle gain. THAT'S IT. You're not going to gain muscle on an elliptical.

Ok then what's the point? How is an elliptical the most effective?

Where did you hear/read that elliptical is the most effective?

I didn't say it is the most effective piece of equipment. I asked how to make using one most effective for the user.

Honestly? It's most effective for doing an easy warmup before a harder workout or a lifting session. I rarely see anyone using it for a workout that will actually have any effect on weight loss. Just my opinion.

08:01 here - I lost weight on the elliptical doing intervals. Doing a slow 20 minutes won't accomplish much, but if you're breathless during the hard parts of the intervals, you will get a great workout. If you ramp up the resistance so you're basically trudging through mud, you will also get a great leg workout.

Intervals.Intervals.Intervals. That's the best use of time. It should doable, but very challenging during the hard parts - like you can't last more than a minute or two before a recovery level.

This, when I do it, I do hard intervals. I'm breathless, I'm sweaty, I'm red. It's done wonders for my behind, too. A nice lift. It's easy on my knees and I combine it with weights some days and do it alone others. No less than 20 minutes. No easy routines.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't tone on an elliptical because toning is not a thing. It's fat loss and muscle gain. THAT'S IT. You're not going to gain muscle on an elliptical.

Ok then what's the point? How is an elliptical the most effective?

Where did you hear/read that elliptical is the most effective?

I didn't say it is the most effective piece of equipment. I asked how to make using one most effective for the user.

Honestly? It's most effective for doing an easy warmup before a harder workout or a lifting session. I rarely see anyone using it for a workout that will actually have any effect on weight loss. Just my opinion.

08:01 here - I lost weight on the elliptical doing intervals. Doing a slow 20 minutes won't accomplish much, but if you're breathless during the hard parts of the intervals, you will get a great workout. If you ramp up the resistance so you're basically trudging through mud, you will also get a great leg workout.

Intervals.Intervals.Intervals. That's the best use of time. It should doable, but very challenging during the hard parts - like you can't last more than a minute or two before a recovery level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't tone on an elliptical because toning is not a thing. It's fat loss and muscle gain. THAT'S IT. You're not going to gain muscle on an elliptical.

Ok then what's the point? How is an elliptical the most effective?

Where did you hear/read that elliptical is the most effective?

I didn't say it is the most effective piece of equipment. I asked how to make using one most effective for the user.

Honestly? It's most effective for doing an easy warmup before a harder workout or a lifting session. I rarely see anyone using it for a workout that will actually have any effect on weight loss. Just my opinion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't tone on an elliptical because toning is not a thing. It's fat loss and muscle gain. THAT'S IT. You're not going to gain muscle on an elliptical.

Ok then what's the point? How is an elliptical the most effective?

Where did you hear/read that elliptical is the most effective?

I didn't say it is the most effective piece of equipment. I asked how to make using one most effective for the user.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't tone on an elliptical because toning is not a thing. It's fat loss and muscle gain. THAT'S IT. You're not going to gain muscle on an elliptical.

Ok then what's the point? How is an elliptical the most effective?

Where did you hear/read that elliptical is the most effective?