Treadmill & Elliptical

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-1999
Treadmill & Elliptical
6
Sun, 03-07-2004 - 5:44pm
As I've said before...for the month of March I decided to TREAT myself and buy a gym pass. I've never been to this gym before because I've previously gone to the co-ed Curves.

All you ladies who have talked about the Elliptical machine are absolutely incredible! I tried that thing out for the first time and nearly killed me. I can't believe how much that machine makes you WORK!!

Second of all...the treadmill. This has only been the 2nd time I've stepped foot on a treadmill. When everyone (those of you that use one) started using it were they a little discouraged? I can only go 3.0mph @ 3% incline. I get pooped! I can do it for almost an hour but I only burn 402 calories and that number is discouraging. It just feels like I spend an hour on that thing and by the time I'm done, I've only burnt enough calories for one meal. I was going once before work and then once after work but I feel like I live there...maybe that's what I have to keep doing?? Or try and work my way up so I'm only doing my cardio on the Elliptical machine seeing as that seems to burn calories faster than the treadmill.

I feel so discouraged but I know I have to keep going and hopefully before I know it I'll see an improvement!

I won't be able to post my exercise minutes and my water tomorrow because I have to travel half way across the province to the Childrens Hospital to take my daughter to a specialist. Have a good Monday!

~Dana

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2004
Sun, 03-07-2004 - 5:59pm
The first time I hopped on the good old elliptical I only lasted 8 mins on random and when I got off my legs nearly buckled every step I took. It's a lot harder than it looks IMO. As far as the treadmill I think what you're doing now it great. I was walking 60 mins at 2.5 on a hill cycle
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-07-2004
Sun, 03-07-2004 - 5:59pm
Dana,

I joined a gym (Rivieria- a ladies' only gym) a little over a month ago, and I second all of your feelings about it. The elliptical training still kills me- I've yet to do more than 15 minutes at a time on it. As far as the treadmill goes, when I first started, I could only walk at 2.5 mph at a slight incline. Now, I've worked up to 3.0-3.3. So, if you started at 3.0, you've done better than me. And, finally, it was a rude awakening for me to watch the calorie count while on the machines. It is really disapointing to be on a machine for 30 min- 1 hour only to find that you've burned a couple hundred calories. I have started taking some of the classes my gym offers- stp and kickboxing- and I find that the hour classes burn closer to 800 calories (which gives me a pretty saticified feeling).

Don't get discouraged. It's just fantastic that you're going to the gym so faithfully, and the rewards of your going are far greater than the number of calories burned.

~BrookeLyn

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2004
Sun, 03-07-2004 - 6:04pm
Hi Dana,

I just bought a treadmill a couple of weeks ago, and I can only sustain a speed of 2.5 mph right now. I can go up to about 3.0 for a few minutes at a time, but I can't sustain that speed. Plus I can only do it for about a half hour right now. So you're doing great! And don't worry too much about the calories burned, like Susan said, 400 calories is great and your metabolism is revved up and burning more calories even after you've finished. Keep up the good work and you'll see results fast.

~~Linda

~~Linda

 

Avatar for jess9802
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Sun, 03-07-2004 - 6:41pm
"I can only go 3.0mph @ 3% incline. I get pooped! I can do it for almost an hour . . . ."

LOL. Dana, you're doing a lot better than I am! When I use a treadmill, I go about 3.0-3.2 mph, and never go much above a 2% incline (and even then, only for a minute at a time). And I only walk for about 30 minutes.

It's been so long since I first used an elliptical (three years, I think) that I can't really remember how I felt afterward. I think it killed my legs and butt for a couple of days afterwards. You will adjust to the elliptical very quickly. One thing you may want to try is doing a manual program and setting the resistance low. Some of the hill climbing and random programs are difficult, esp. for beginners.

Don't worry about how many calories you're burning. Besides, the calorie counters on most gym equipment are inaccurate. The most important thing is that you're getting exercise and building muscle, as well as eating better.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-02-2003
Sun, 03-07-2004 - 7:04pm
Hi Dana

I HATED the treadmill at first for that very reason- I felt like a slug and didn't seem to make any progress at it. I did 10 mins when I started on the elliptical and I LOVED it because I felt like I was DOING something, and the calories racked up faster. But it kicked my butt, too.

You'll get used to it, I promise.

Avatar for angelinoh
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2003
Mon, 03-08-2004 - 11:33am
i haven't done the elliptical. When i go to the Y i do the treadmill for 40-45 min. and weight machines for 20-25 min. I will add the bike and elliptical later.

I never look at the calories section when i work out caus i don't care..lol..I just want a good workout, when i sweat i know it's a good one =)

don't overdo it caus if you do you'll either be too sore or burned out to want to work out the next day or 2 and ya don't want that =)

Have fun at the gym.