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When I first started exercising I starting walking on a treadmill....it took me at least 6 weeks to go at least a half hour on an elliptical but the treadmill I was able to stay on right away without a struggle (gradually adding in inclines and different speeds etc. My friend who is out of shape has started on an elliptical and can’t last 5 minutes as of yet. I told her to start on the treadmill. Walk 3.0 mph for a half hour for a few weeks and then start pushing it to 3.5 and inclines etc....then add in the elliptical. I think starting on an elliptical when you haven’t exercised in many years is too hard and could be discouraging? Any input?
I know you want to add in strength training also.
I use both, and both are great for cal burning, but I find the elliptical to be really effective, especially if you use the poles and adjust the crossramp/resistence. It's also great if you have knee issues as the fluid motion is better. I use two different types of machines (elliptical plus treadmill or stairclimber) during each cardio session to change things up and not get bored.
Seems like the elliptical is more intensive. But a newbie to exercise would be best to start off w/ the least intensive and work his way up in intensity, imo. Don't over-tax the body early - more likely to quit exercising, imo.
If you are walking on the treadmill it is okay but when you start running then the elliptical is lower impact and easier on the joints.
I have a gym membership and alternate my machines to decrease risk of injury and give myself some variation, so I do both of these plus the stairmaster and the spin class.
If you really have not worked out for a while, walking is something you do anyway, so maybe the treadmill is easier.
I remember when I wanted to get my brother on the elliptical, he was afraid he is going to fall, now he has learned to use it and likes it.
The ellipitical is one of my favorite machines to use, and yes, while it is easier on my joints than running, I do find it can be quite challenging if you never used one before particularly on the higher settings.
There are many resources for beginner's on using elliptical machines, and I would refer to those instead of trying to do other things. Start small and work up.
The elliptical is akin to the stairclimber. Both can get beginners winded pretty quickly. Remember how people used to (and still do) hug the handrails of a stairmaster? Start slowly. What I did was sets of 10 minutes. You don't have to do things all at once. As you gain more stamina (your body will tell you), then you extend the time. Your friend should set some goals. Try and do 10 minutes, at a moderate incline/pace. Then increase the time when things seem easier. If he wants to get an effective workout, you can't let things get easy. Doesn't mean you should be dying either. It's like a fine line...you need to challenge yourself but if you are utterly exhausted then you're not going to go the distance.
I've found stairclimbers/ellipticals to be really good for me. I never lean on the console, or prop myself up using the rails. When you use the machines as intended and use proper form EVEN IF YOU CAN'T KEEP UP (lower the level!), you get the benefits.
I started off on a treadmill and haven't really looked back. But that was a good few years back, and I remember those first few days and weeks were quite tough especially when applying the inclines and mixing intense running with brisk walking speeds in one 40 minute session.
But I found it much easier to get into the fitness zone compared to an elliptical. And to be fair, any intense exercise is better than none at all, even the relatively easier treadmill will be sufficient to give your body a good work out.
i still use a treadmill at home, but only if its too cold/wet to go out for my daily 10-15 mile run; ellipticals have their own benefits but I still rarely bother with them
Slightly off-topic, but anyone else has a problem that ellipticals have unnaturally small step-sizes making the movement really tip-toe awkward? (I'm 6'4 with a slight bit over over-representation from the legs when it comes to my height)
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