Elliptical and exercise bike every day, but weak walking (muscles, reduce, fast)

[Sand&Salt]

I am just so mystified about this conundrum. In my house, I have an elliptical and an exercise bike. I do half an hour on both every day. I adjust it to as difficult as I'm able.

We don't generally take walks like we used to because I've developed a sun allergy and it's too hot to cover up.

Now we are vacationing where it's cooler so we are walking. It's .7 mile to the train station and I get so winded and weak I can barely make it. My joints and muscles hurt. Slightest uphill and I'm gasping. I used to walk and hike for miles so this is a real shock to me, and so discouraging because I do my exercises without fail.

How can the 2 machines not translate to walking? I don't get it. So frustrated!

What professional could I ask about this? A sports medicine person, or what. This is just so weird.

[Returning2USA]

I’m not sure of what your asking or detailing.

[Sand&Salt]

Originally Posted by Returning2USA

I’m not sure of what your asking or detailing.

I'm asking why I am weak walking when I do those 2 machines for an hour every single day. Are they not at least the equivalent of walking?

[ihatetodust]

I would not think a bike is because it isn't weight bearing.

But if you are weak and gasping you need to see a doctor for a checkup. That sounds quite serious to me.

Are you vacationing in a place with high altitude?

[bpollen]

Altitude can make a difference.. Were you vacationing at a higher altitude?

[Sand&Salt]

No, we are at the beach.

I just don't see how I can be this out of shape considering my one-hour-a-day exercise every day. I get it that the bike is not weight-bearing, but the elliptical is. Both are cardio.

I shouldn't have said "gasping"...just breathing harder than normal for just walking....

Does walking use specific muscles that those 2 machines would not address?

[ihatetodust]

nevermind

[winterbird]

I personally find walking/running on the beach to be very tiring compared to other surfaces.
I would def see a doctor asap. My dad started getting winded when walking briskly (he always walks very fast naturally).

Turns out he needed a stent and is back to walking briskly with no problems.

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by Sand&Salt

No, we are at the beach.

I just don't see how I can be this out of shape considering my one-hour-a-day exercise every day. I get it that the bike is not weight-bearing, but the elliptical is. Both are cardio...

You haven't done much walking in awhile, apparently, so this relatively "new" exercise is bound to be a bit more difficult at first.

Besides:

"..The researchers found that compared to the other three aerobic activities, the elliptical machine exercise “significantly reduces weight bearing as compared to other common functional and sporting activities. (Including walking) These findings may assist the rehabilitation team when considering returning individuals back to early activity following certain bony or soft tissue pathologies or lower-limb surgical procedures."

https://melioguide.com/osteoporosis-...ring-exercise/

[rabbit33]

Originally Posted by Sand&Salt

I am just so mystified about this conundrum. In my house, I have an elliptical and an exercise bike. I do half an hour on both every day. I adjust it to as difficult as I'm able....

I suspect this may be the issue, right here.

Heaving away at the pedals at 30 rpm as hard as you can doesn't do much for your aerobic fitness. You need to reduce the resistance and increase the cadence. For an experienced cyclist something in the 80-90 rpm on the cycle, maybe 60-70 on the elliptical. Then after you're warmed up and going for say 15 minutes, check heart rate. The usual target for base fitness would be something like 60-75% of your age-determined "max" rate, which is generally considered 220 minus your age. So for me, at age 60, my theoretical max heart rate would be 160 bpm, and my target heart rate range for base fitness would be in the range of 96-120 bpm. And, interestingly enough, when I do long slow distance work on the bike or jogging, that's pretty much where "enough intensity to breathe hard but still be able to carry on a conversation" lands me.

Obviously, if you have cardiac issues, or if you're on beta-blockers that limit your max heart rate, or you have a pacemaker, then that's out of the scope of my recommendation. I'm only talking about otherwise healthy people who just need to improve base fitness level.