Ellipticals - are they as effective as running?

[dinny]

Or do you have to work much harder to make it similar workout? tia, Dinny

[spursmum]

From what the instructors at my gym say, it's a similar workout to running, upper arm workout if you use the 'arms', cardio workout, tones the thighs, bums, calves etc but a lot less pressure on the joints which is great for me as my knees are b*ggered!!

[dinny]

thank you, Spursmum
just feels soooo much easier am suspicious....

[expatinscotland]

depends.

i cannot run anymore as have serious knee issues.

[ComeOVeneer]

Not when they are being stored in the loft .

[abacus]

I use mine for about 20 mins 5x per week and certainly get out of breath and feel I'm working out. However when I started running, I couldn't go for more than about a minute without turning beetroot and gasping like a woman of 95 (which I'm not!). I gave up running ( too much like hard work+ it bu**ered up my knees) but can't help wondering if the cross-trainer/elliptical thing is a cop out - but I'm still using it 2yrs later, I'm still a size 12, and I can watch the telly when I do it.Hope that helps