Eliptical Trainers

[chefmom_4]

Hi,
I am contemplating buying a Precor EFX Eliptical Trainer for my home. Does anyone have experience with these machines? Any pros or cons would be greatly appreciated. I am selling a top of the line treadmill that I like very much, but shortly after purchase I injured my knee. Now, a year later, if I walk too much my knee hurts. Supposedly, the eliptical trainers are easier on knees than a treadmill. They are also supposed to burn about twice the number of calories as walking on a treadmill. What have your experiences been?
Thanks so much for any information. : )
Kelly

[sage]

Hi---

I don't know what type of injury you had to your knee - but I dislocated by kneecap several years ago. A couple months after it happened, I was still having some pain and the Ortho Dr. I saw said I needed to strengthen my quadricep muscles as these muscles are important in providing support for your knee. Right after the incident, I had started walking about 5 miles/day. Unfortunately, the Dr. said I needed to either bike, use a stairmaster, and there was a third thing that I can't remember - apparently these types of activities will work the old quads specifically. I did not want to do any of these things http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif! I kept saying "but I walk 5 miles per day!" and he just looked at me. So when I eventually decided to get in shape I started using the stairmaster at the gym. I've learned to like it and my quads are definitely alot stronger than they were. I guess the point of all this is that before you sell your treadmill that you like so well, you may want to check with your Dr. (maybe you have already) and find out what types of excercises you could do that would provide a cardio workout and help your knee. They have elliptical trainers at my gym also. They look like they would really work the quads also. I haven't tried one yet as they look like they require more coordination than the stair-master - I'm doing good to stay on as it is. If you haven't used an elliptical machine before, you may want to see if a gym near you that has some might offer a weekly pass or something so you could try one out a few times before you invest.

Good Luck, S. Sage.

[food girl]

You may want to go to a local gym and try out the elliptical trainer first. I have done the trainer and the stair machine both. I do think the trainer is much easier on the knees than running and you can program it to work several muscle groups, whereas the stairmachine is more of a quad "stomp". I know that the elliptical trainers at my gym are the big thing because the calorie counter says that you burn 600 calories and hour. I think this is totally bogus. I know that I don't feel nearly the exertion on the trainer as I do on the stairmachine or bike for that matter. Biking might be another option if it doesn't hurt your knee.

[MrsReber]

Hi, I too have knee problems and I found that the elliptical trainer was so much better than running. (my knees have a tendency to dislocate due to weak ligaments to I have to keep my quads strong). I have never like the stair masters at all. I find, after using the Precor for a while that my legs have become much more toned. It does seem like the calorie count is a bit high, but I think it's a great workout. I use the ones they have at my gym, which are the Precor EFX. They seem really good and I just love it. Of course, having the benefit of all the gym equipment, I can switch around and do the treadmill one day and the precor the next. I notice a little bit of knee pain on the treadmill, but none on the precor.

[chefmom_4]

Hi,
Thank you for your input. I will definitely try the elipitical's out at my local gym before I invest. I am just trying to sort out the reality from the sales brochures claims. It is hard to tell the first few times you use a new machine how it will be after months of use.
I appreciate your comments. Thank you!

[This message has been edited by chefmom_4 (edited 08-04-2000).]

[skylarc]

Originally posted by food girl:
I know that the elliptical trainers at my gym are the big thing because the calorie counter says that you burn 600 calories and hour. I think this is totally bogus. I know that I don't feel nearly the exertion on the trainer as I do on the stairmachine or bike for that matter.

I don't know about the calorie counts, but I wear a heart rate monitor when I exercise -- I'm usually looking for the maximum cardio workout in the minimum amount of time, not so much to burn calories. It's remarkable how quickly I can get in my target zone on the elliptical trainer & not feel nearly the exertion that I would on other machines. Of course, there's something satisfying about working 'til the sweat pours off you on the stairs! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[BeckyM]

I too am a big fan of the Elliptical Trainers at my gym (I'm pretty sure they're Precor). I too have knee problems, and I've found the Elliptical Trainers to be much easier on my knees than the stair climbers or running. And I still feel like I'm getting a good workout on the Elliptical Trainer. Our gym just recently got some new ones too -- with arm movement. Those seem to burn even MORE calories and tone your arms as well.

[cookgirl]

Originally posted by chefmom_4:
Hi,
I am contemplating buying a Precor EFX Eliptical Trainer for my home. Does anyone have experience with these machines? Any pros or cons would be greatly appreciated. I am selling a top of the line treadmill that I like very much, but shortly after purchase I injured my knee. Now, a year later, if I walk too much my knee hurts. Supposedly, the eliptical trainers are easier on knees than a treadmill. They are also supposed to burn about twice the number of calories as walking on a treadmill. What have your experiences been?
Thanks so much for any information. : )
Kelly
I just read an article in Fitness magazine about this very topic. It says that elliptical trainers prevent shock damage to the major knee and hip joints, seem easier than the treadmill and yet burn almost the exact SAME number of calories as walking on the treadmill at the same pace.

[chefmom_4]

Originally posted by cookgirl:
Originally posted by chefmom_4:
Hi,
I am contemplating buying a Precor EFX Eliptical Trainer for my home. Does anyone have experience with these machines? Any pros or cons would be greatly appreciated. I am selling a top of the line treadmill that I like very much, but shortly after purchase I injured my knee. Now, a year later, if I walk too much my knee hurts. Supposedly, the eliptical trainers are easier on knees than a treadmill. They are also supposed to burn about twice the number of calories as walking on a treadmill. What have your experiences been?
Thanks so much for any information. : )
Kelly
I just read an article in Fitness magazine about this very topic. It says that elliptical trainers prevent shock damage to the major knee and hip joints, seem easier than the treadmill and yet burn almost the exact SAME number of calories as walking on the treadmill at the same pace.


Thanks for the information. Was the article in Fitness Magazine this month's issue? I would like to read it. It is interesting that they say a person burns the SAME number of calories. My hunch was that double the calories was too much to hope for. : ) Thanks again for letting me know about the article.

[chefmom_4]

Becky,
Thanks for your input on the machines. As far as I know, the ones with the arm movement haven't become available for home use yet. But, I may just wait to buy one until they are. I need to call my local Busybody store and ask when they will be in the store. That is the only place I have found to purchase them...Busybody Home Fitness. They are a chain and have locations all over. I suggest you go to the Precor.com site and they have a link to help you find a dealer near you. As far as buying them cheap, I haven't found any great deals. Sometimes they are for sale on e-bay but not always. Good luck! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
Kelly

[BeckyM]

Kelly,

Have you already looked into WHERE to get an elliptical trainer? I already mentioned I use them at the gym, but I was thinking I ought to get some piece of exercise equipment for home, and that's definitely what I'd prefer. Have you found somewhere to get one inexpensively? If you've researched this at all, I'd appreciate your thoughts! Thanks!

Becky

[BeckyM]

Kelly,

Thanks for the info on where to buy an elliptical trainer. I'll definitely visit the Precor web site. Then I'll just have to convince my (frugal :rolleyes http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif husband it's worth the investment. He really likes the elliptical trainers too though, so maybe that won't be as hard as I think. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Becky

[BeckyM]

OOPS!!!

My "smilie" didn't turn out as I intended. I was trying to make a http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/rolleyes.gif next to my statement about my husband being frugal. I'll be more careful next time!

[chefmom_4]

Hello,
Does anyone have any information about the article in Fitness Magazine mentioned above (by Cookgirl) regarding the elipitcal trainers? I have been searching the bookstores for Fitness Magazine and have been unable to find an issue. I am wondering if it was in the August issue? and if anyone has a copy of the article they could send me. I would be happy to pay for the costs involved.
Thank you for your help. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[cookgirl]

Originally posted by chefmom_4:
Hello,
Does anyone have any information about the article in Fitness Magazine mentioned above (by Cookgirl) regarding the elipitcal trainers? I have been searching the bookstores for Fitness Magazine and have been unable to find an issue. I am wondering if it was in the August issue? and if anyone has a copy of the article they could send me. I would be happy to pay for the costs involved.
Thank you for your help. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

SORRY CHEFMOM! I haven't been on this board in a while! I will look for that article tonight. Unfortunately, I can't remeber which issue it was.
I'll get back to you tomorrow!

[cookgirl]

Chefmom:
The information I got was from the Fitness Q&A section of the September 2000 Fitness magazine (Girl with a blue shirt/bathing suit on Front Cover)

[chefmom_4]

Thank you Cookgirl. I will keep looking for that issue. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Beth]

We have been looking at buying an elliptical trainer and have been looking at a Reebok. We were about to buy one the other night at Oshmans and found out it had no warranty and only a 30 day Oshman's return policy. We were a little hesitant to pay $500 for something that the manufacturer thought was that disposable. Is anyone familiar with the Reebok?

[Beth]

Last week, Oshman's opened a new store near us (the other one we had looked at was about 30 mi away). We bought a ProForm 465e trainer there over the weekend. The box had a regular price of $499, but the grand opening sale price was $299. That's the best buy I've seen on one. I liked the fact that this one had a flatter action than some of the others that a more like a stair or climbing action (that was also the reason we were looking at the Reebok -- it was closer to a walking action). I have a neck problem that requires non-impact exercise, and my husband has a bad knee. This is also MUCH quieter than a treadmill, and no plug-in required!

[hshaner]

How does the ProForm compare to the elliptical trainers that you've used at the gym? I looked it up online at Oshmans, but it looks different than what I am used to.

[SandyM]

I have a ProForm elliptical trainer (from Sears), which does have the "bars" for arm movement (think cross-country ski poles). I love it.

[Beth]

Originally posted by hshaner:
How does the ProForm compare to the elliptical trainers that you've used at the gym? I looked it up online at Oshmans, but it looks different than what I am used to.

Although I don't get here too often, I wasn't ignoring your question. I just can't answer it. Because of a disk problem, I have only used the recumbent bikes and sometimes the treadmills at our Y. I had never used an elliptical trainer until I went looking at something to have at home for days I can't make it to the Y (or know in advance that 10-15 minutes might be all I can handle, and an hour back and forth-ing might keep me from going). This seemed like a good way to address my neck and arm limitations and give my husband the knee help he needs. We are thinking of adding a recumbent bike later and then using the Y for treadmills, weights and classes.