Help me plan an program on elliptical trainer

[thegman]

Hi

Wife is buying an elliptical trainer. Am considering trying to use this as my primary excercise during the winter. Key goals are body shape (get rid of paunch) and general level of energy/fitness. Can you recommend the best way to use the machine - I have heard that regular (daily), short HI sessions are better than a plodding hour a couple of times a week. What would people recommend.

Thanks

[Xerstead]

thegman said:

Hi

Wife is buying an elliptical trainer. Am considering trying to use this as my primary excercise during the winter. Key goals are body shape (get rid of paunch) and general level of energy/fitness. Can you recommend the best way to use the machine - I have heard that regular (daily), short HI sessions are better than a plodding hour a couple of times a week. What would people recommend.

Thanks

Rtfm?
The Eliptical/Crosstrainers are the main equipment I use at the gym. I've found the 'Random' setting works well for me this gives peaks where you need to work harder and enough time to recover for the next. Start out easy and turn the up difficulty to a point where you can manage 15-30mins. Using your arms to push/pull assisting your legs, (or working against them at lower difficulty settings) definetly make a difference to your upper body and arms
I aim for 15min on a high setting by which time I really need to stop/cool-down.
On a different note, I think I'm the only person at the gym that turns the difficilty above '1' The only other people on them seem to be women just plodding along. Is this not seen as a 'manly' piece of equipment? I've found it great for cardio and strength/toning/conditioning all in one.

[dirty doug]

Great piece of equipment imho. You can vary speed, resistance & direction. My preference is the hill program on level 12 - I do use above level 1 .

I vary 10 minute sessions maximum attack going up to 60 minute steady sessions.

It also gives a great view of the gym floor area for talent spotting seeing if anyone you know is in.