Elliptical Trainer

I'm 61 years old and recently purchased an elliptical trainer and can barely do 4.5 minutes without getting extremely red-faced and extremely warm. The Medtronic tech adjusted my upper heart rate to 140 as it was only at 130. Has anyone else had problems with an elliptical? I know that it is a much harder work out than what I'm used to but I feel ridiculous to not be able to stay on it for more than 4.5 mnutes.

5 Comments

Thank you!

by trish4851 - 2012-03-07 02:03:27

Thanks so much Tatoo Man and HURTHEART! To answer Tatoo Man's questions, I used to walk daily and then had some foot problems and had to stop. My doctor doesn't have any problems with me using the elliptical. Fortunately for me, I don't have heart disease but rather sick sinus syndrome. At one time, many years ago, I was walking 6 miles a day at a 15 minute mile rate.

I'll just keep going and remember not to push myself. My husband is already up to 10 minutes without any problems. He backed off teasing me when he realized I was doing the very best I could. Many have told me that the elliptical is a challenge even for the fittest. Thanks!

is your rate response tirned on?

by biceps72 - 2012-03-07 07:03:25

Obviously the most important thing is that you get your MD ok to use the elleptical.

1. start slow get warmed up
2. use thw easiest program
3, gradually incease your time on the eleptical.

I had my revo metronic rate response turned on with a high upper limit (160 bpm).

I love my life fitness eleptical-- use it for 40 mins every other day.


Lets start at the beginning

by Tattoo Man - 2012-03-07 11:03:34

Hi Trish, firstly, good on you for wanting to get fitter. Now one or two questions:

1 Is your Doc ok with you using this machine ?

2 When did you last do excercise that took you to breathlessness?

3 What sort of activities did/do you participate in ?

4 Do you have a history of sport/exercise ?

Meanwhile cut back to a max of 4 minutes, this is about getting fit not beating Usain Bolt !!

Get back
Tattoo Man

Wise Words

by Tattoo Man - 2012-03-08 03:03:44

Hi Trish, HH and biceps are spot-on .You sound a bit competitive..not a bad thing in itself, except when you push too hard, too soon and end up ticked-off or injured or just so frustrated that the damn thing ends up gathering dust in the spare room or chucked in the garage leaving you feeling that youve just wasted money.

HH's" baby steps "idea is the only way to go. It will be difficult sometimes to resist 'going for broke' on the thing, but please dont...not yet anyhow !

All excercise on indoor equipment, be it Turbos, X-Trainers, Rowing Machines..will see a lot of heat being generated + a lot of sweat even in a short exercise session. Try one of those floor standing fans, they make a real difference. Also keep water or Isotonic drink to hand. Bicep is right ..warm up and also warm down...could be a brisk walk straight after...it would surprise me if you didnt feel a million dollars (other currencies also apply) after a good session.

Keep in touch

Tattoo Man

Thanks for the good advice

by Tania SA - 2012-05-08 04:05:40

I had a baby 2 years ago and gained 16 kg's in this time. I used my elliptical runner pre-pregnancy and averaged 20 minutes every day without any problems. Falling pregnant after 10 years of invitro's etc., all exercising came to a halt.

Since my son's birth (and the huge weight-gain) I could not make it to 5 minutes on the elliptical without feeling like I was about to die. I have been trying on and of for months now, being discouraged every time.

I am going to start with two minutes tomorrow and work it up from there. Two minutes is better than nothing and it did take me more or less 3 years to get into such an unfit state. So what if it takes me a year to get fit (and lose the weight) again, who's counting? At least I'm getting the blood pumping.

Keep well!

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