cross trainers - the work of the devil?

[homeagainhomeagain]

I braved the gym for the first time today. I was quite pleased with myself until I climbed on the cross trainer - after 3.5 minutes (shocking), I had to stop. I was reading other posts where people seem to do 30 minutes quite happily. Am I dreadfully unfit? How do I get better at the cros trainer or should I just settle for the rowing machine and treadmill?

[NoWayNoHow]

I find cross trainers way easier than bikes/steps or any other cardio equipment - don't know why, I often feel like it's not doing anything though which is the downside.

[homeagainhomeagain]

Hi noway, I seemed to be the opposite, did a fast walk on the treadmill, quite happy, got on the crosstrainer, 3 minutes in on the lowest setting, I was done for. really have to improve my fitness.

[AnEcumenicalMatter]

I quite like the cross trainer. Much prefer it to the bikes. I usually keep it to 20-30 minutes bursts but can easily pass an hour or more on the cross trainer watching Formula One of a Sunday afternoon on the big screens in the gym. And I'm no svelte gym bunny by any means. I'll have to take it a bit easier this year when the F1 season starts as I'll be over 6 months pregnant.

Aim to increase your speed/time/resistance level very gradually.

[homeagainhomeagain]

will do, really bothered (unreasonably so) that I am so unfit and rubbish on this machine.

[NoWayNoHow]

I do'nt think you're unfit necessarily, I could NEVER do the treadmill, I find it exhausting in a matter of minutes. Maybe it's just different aptitudes for different machines that work in different ways?

[lovesadirtylie]

I think that the more you use a particular piece of equipment the more efficient you will be on it...I mean with practise it will seem easier @ any given level of cardio vascular fitness

[homeagainhomeagain]

true, I'll aim for 4 minutes next time I go... babysteps

[lovesadirtylie]

I wouldnt even worry too much about not getting on with a particular bit of kit homeagain the fact that you are in the gym doing it deserves congratulation!!

I tend to mix things up a bit with the cardio, bike, cross trainer, run, walk etc, always makes sure I have good music or an interesting podcast to listen to.
Whatever it takes to make the cardio enjoyable

[homeagainhomeagain]

Thanks loves, I was quite impressed with myself. It has taken me months to get my backside there!! I had a gym induction last week and made myself go when I found out my DH and friends were betting with each other I wouldn't return. I was nervous going in but fine once there. I'm actually considering booking some personal trainer sessions to try and get the most out of the gym but I don't think I could stick the pace for an hour yet...

[lovesadirtylie]

your level of fitness should increase quite quickly at first..you dont have to kill yourself to get fitter, just push yourself a little.

Generally the fitter you are the harder you have to work to make further gains, but by that time you'll be seeing all the other benefits of exercise, better mood, lower bodyfat etc.

Cardio equipment is pretty self explanatory but if you plan on doing some resistance training it might be a good idea to get a personal training session or two.

Ultimately do whatever it takes to keep you motivated!

[brighthair]

I am like that with the rower, 5 mins and I am knackered!!
Although I could do 20 mins on the x trainer and I thought I was fairly fit. Started bootcamp last week, first session nearly threw up thought I was dying
Now I am loving it and can't wait for each session

[brighthair]

Should add bootcamp have told us if we do cardio in-between sessions we should do intervals
So 45 seconds as hard/fast as you can go then 5 mins at steady pace, repeat

[homeagainhomeagain]

thanks, there is a bootcamp starting near where i work, might try, didn't get an exercise buzz when i went to the gym. not looking forward to the next session.

[lovesadirtylie]

you'll need to stick at it a bit before you get any sort of buzz or high :)

[OnlyANinja]

I much prefer the crosstrainer to running or anything else with impact. They are hard, but that's kind of the point.

[lovesadirtylie]

I used to hate running (still pretty rubbish at it)

However, I've been reading about how it helps with bone density (on account of the impact) so I'm going to persevere with it.

Swimming is my fave...but thats just pants for bones :(

[homeagainhomeagain]

I know, different way of working out I suppose, used to go to fitness (aerobic style) classes in the evening or swimming. I always came home in a good mood with a bit of a buzz. I struggle to get out at night though. That's why the gym, trying to go straight after work. Was suprised when I felt quite down after a 'workout'.

[AspirantPirate]

Sometimes it's just a question of co-ordination. It can take a few goes before your body sort of goes "Ohhhhhh, so THIS is what I am meant to be doing! Dur!". The cross-trainer does seem to be one of those machines that some people simply take a while to get the hang of.

Also, you are working arms and legs at the same time so it's bound to feel harder. Stick with it though, if you can bear to, because you will be amazed at how quickly you will improve.

Try not to get down about it - Rome wasn't built in a day, etc etc :)

[hazelnutlatte]

The first time I used the cross trainer at the gym I was terrible - I couldn't believe all the other people using them barely breaking a sweat!
I think it's just because I was using muscles I don't normally use in that way. It gets easier though, I built it up by 1 min a week, and also increased the resistance bit by bit - I did 1 min intervals at a higher resistance at first then built it up from there.
When I changed gyms the cross trainers were different - I found I was useless again until I got used to the new machines.

[notyummy]

A good point made to me by a fitness professional was that crosstrainers are notorious for oversetimating calorie burn (in comparison to ther machines) so don't think you have two mars bars after getting off - he reckoned you should take what the machine claims and half it! If you are finding it hard you should probably stick with it though, as it probably means it is doing you some good (in a kind of perverse, sadistic way.) If you are doing something that doesn't feel like bloody hard work at least part of the time, then you are noty going to be improving your fitness.

[lovesadirtylie]

the calorie burn figures given by all machines are only ever going to be approximate..the benefits of exercise extend so far beyond just calories burned during that I'd suggest ignoring them altogether:)