Stairmaster Question

Avatar for berly90
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2004
Stairmaster Question
11
Wed, 03-16-2005 - 11:29am

Ok, at my gym I would like to be able to use the Stairmaster for cardio, but my boyfriend and I can't figure out how to work it. Don't think I'm retarded! I've done the stairmaster at the gym before and normally you just get on and climb. The ones this gym has are Steppers, and even on level 1 i swear it's next to impossible to move the step all the way down and back up. Am I trying it wrong? Is there a secret - does anyone know?

Thanks!
Kim

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 03-16-2005 - 11:35am

Welcome to Gym Rats!






Avatar for berly90
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2004
Wed, 03-16-2005 - 11:43am
It looks a lot like the one you posted, just not the exact same model. I push start and do manual..on a level one, it should be super easy and i'm telling you, if I push the step all the way down to the floor, it's impossible to step back up! Am I doing this wrong - are you not supposed to step all the way down and all the way up?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2004
Wed, 03-16-2005 - 11:48am

If I am reading what you describe correctly, I've had the same problem as a bit of a gym newbie. Have you tried turning the level up to four or five? I've found that if the level is too low, I can't really push the pedal down to begin with, since there's so much resistance to make you slow down.

Good luck!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 03-16-2005 - 11:48am
It should be





iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 03-16-2005 - 11:53am
Thanks for jumping in!





iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 03-16-2005 - 12:18pm
You know what--now that I'm thinking of it, I think I might know what you mean. You mean, it goes to the bottom and then it feels like it's stuck down there? Don't let it hit the bottom, just keep it at a normal stride, up and down, like you're on stairs.





Avatar for berly90
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2004
Wed, 03-16-2005 - 1:35pm
I have tried to select a program and that didn't work. Next time I'm there, I will try to change the level to a 4 or 5 and maybe up the speed. My boyfriend is a personal trainer and can't figure it out. We've never had this problem! He however did tell me the pedal needs to go all the way up and down..otherwise you aren't doing anything really..I told him I though smaller steps were good and he said no...maybe I'll just ask someone at the gym. I've tried every stepper in the gym!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 03-16-2005 - 1:46pm
I use the stairmaster every day. But with mine the higher level you go the less resistance you have underneath you so you have to pump faster thus harder. At a level one, i can practically stand there for 30sec and the pedals hardly move, i generally set it at a 5or 6 and with this you have to keep pumping or your pedals will level out and hit the ground. I find that the little steps aren't as challenging for me. I take nice full extended strides, it forces my legs to work harder, but the pedals do not hit the ground. It sounds like you have a different model than me. We do have one machine that seems to be broken. Once in awhile i'll get on it and there is no way i can even get those darn pedals up off the ground. As soon as you step on them they are on the ground and no matter how hard or fast you pump you can't get them up. Perhaps this is what's happening on yours. Fortunately we have a few at the gym so i just switch machines. I always think, that someone that didn't know any different would go nuts trying to figure the machine out when that happens. Anyhow, i would ask someone at the gym and see what they say. HTH Suzanne
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 03-16-2005 - 2:04pm
Smaller steps aren't as good as big steps but you don't need the steps to hit the bottom to get a full stride in.





iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 03-16-2005 - 2:56pm
Sorry, I meant yellownumber not yellowjacket!





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