Ellipticals suck

trixie549 · January 2012

There were no treadmills available at the gym last night so rather than waste time waiting for one to open up, I decided to hop on an elliptical instead. I was immediately reminded of how much I dislike these machines:

- the stride is incredibly awkward and not at all close to the natural stride of running (my cardio of choice)
- my right foot went numb after about 15 minutes
- my upper body barely got any workout at all (I could only get a machine without swinging arm bars)
- even with adjusting the resistance and incline, I still didn't feel like it was that challenging

I stuck it out for 30 minutes but really didn't feel like I got the same intensity of a workout as I would from running on a treadmill. Honestly, they seem like a total half-ass workout. Anybody else feel this way about ellipticals...or am I just being crazy and judgemental?

meg65 · January 2012

I've never had a problem, but I'm not a runner. It's not supposed to be like running because running is high impact, and the elliptical is not, which is better for some people.

I don't know why your foot would go numb, that seems weird. Are your shoes too tight?

Does your upper body usually get a work out when you run? Seems like you would get more upper body from elliptical than just running because of the bars, but even if you didn't have the bars you could have tried doing the same motion?

At least now you know the elliptical isn't for you! Maybe next time do some lifting or the bike or something while you wait for a treadmill

bblouin · January 2012

I use AMt's. Much more difficult then the ellipitcals. I love ellipticals, hate treadmills

http://www.precor.com/products/en/home/amt/amtr-835-adaptive-motion-trainer

lbarr088 · January 2012

My toes go numb when I use the eliptical, and my shoes aren't too tight.... so I hear you there.

I'm a runner so I know it can be hard going from the treadmill to the elliptical. You just have to make the best of it (still make arm movements, etc.). Hopefully next time you go the treadmills will be open

laurynq16 · January 2012

My toes used to go numb when I used the elliptical as well, and a trainer told me that I needed to balance myself more on the balls of my feet opposed to my toes for proper form, to work the right muscles, and to stop that from happeneing.

I hate running so I love the elliptical, but to each his own! I also work out at night at my gym around 9pm when NOBODY is there, so I used little hand weights to work my arms at the same time because I don't feel the arm bars do that much.

Just my opinion and my personal experiences.

em01092 · January 2012

My toes used to go numb on the elliptical and bike, and I think it's because your foot isn't moving. it is, but it isn't. you know? It's more of you knees and upper legs doing the work and your foot stays in the same position, where as when you run, your foot actually bends as it strikes the ground. Does this make sense?

Shoes being too tight and poor circulation could also be a problem. I would just always change machines when this happened. It has never happend since I stopped going to a gym and just running around the park/neighborhood.

freebread03 · January 2012

HATE HATE HATE the elliptical--my toes go numb too! However, sometimes I'll do it and take hand weights on it and actually do arm lifts while I run (shoulder press, or punches with the weights).

My go-to if I don't feel like running outside (I also hate the treadmill) is the Stairmill--the stairmaster thing with the rotating stairs. That thing is a BEAST and super intense--it's the closest I can get to a running workout (and is usually harder than an easy run).

sara814 · January 2012

I can't stand the elliptical! I love the treadmill!

I feel like I'm totally uncoordinated on an elliptical. I can't seem to find the correct stride for myself, and it doesn't really feel like I'm doing anything. I can stay on the treadmill all day (although I do get that weird numbness in my right foot on it...) but if there is no treadmill available, I'll do some free weights or something until they are ready.

I'm totally with you on this!

tdmaus · January 2012

I actually like both! Hahaa... i love running, but i have bad ankles and knees, so i can't run as much as i want to... e.g. if i run consecutive days, my ankles and knee hurts the next day... so i switch it up...elliptical is not as high-impact as treadmill, but you can still get a good sweat out of it... you can switch the pace every 2 minutes like i do... i would go at a normal pace for 2 min, then speed up as much as i can (without holding on the bars) for 2 min, you can also change the direction of the spinning and spin backwards at a faster pace to mix it up, etc ... dont hold on to the bars, since that's a bit of cheating your workout... and I can do the elliptical as many days as i want to, since it doesnt bother my ankles or knees afterwards...

melfacto · January 2012

I am a runner... though I hate treadmill I only run outside, if the weather is terrible than I use my elliptical at home which I love!! I have a knee injury from playing soccer my whole life, and I find the elliptical is great on my knees!

foxybritches · January 2012

I don't like ellipticals because I'm so tiny in frame. I'm 4'11" and I feel like they're really made for someone who is at least 5'5", I don't know how to explain it, I just feel like the stride is GIANT and the arm bars almost pull me off the machine. I get no workout and usually end up with a pulled muscle.

maribeth721 · January 2012

I have major issues with shin splints and my heel cords so the treadmill is almost always a no go for me unless im walking. I have found the elliptical to be a nice alternative.

entropicbeauty · January 2012

I love the elliptical because I have joint problems that would make it impossible to do something high-impact (or at the very least not a smart life choice for me).

My feet also fall asleep on the elliptical and it's actually VERY common (I thought something was wrong with me, so I did a bit of research on it). Varying the direction you're moving (forward vs. backward) during your workout can help with this, tying your shoes looser can help (doesn't cut off circulation), and every once in a whle slightly lifting your feet while moving can help too. I do a combo of all these things and it has significantly reduced how quickly my feet fall asleep (used to be 10-15 minutes in my feet were asleep, now I can get up to 35 minutes before they start getting a little tingly)

MerAndTrick · January 2012

I thought I was the ONLY one who's toes go numb on an elliptical... whew...

therabbitsmith · January 2012

My feel used to go numb working out, I had to start tying my shoes looser and it stopped. Maybe give that a shot!

Ellipticals suck

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