Elliptical/cross trainer speed and heart rate support

[carrottopper]

I'm trying to shift a stone and a half and get healthier. I've had a cross trainer for around a year. Just getting back into the habit of using it. I'm trying to watch a programme whilst on it as it bores me. How many times a week would be best? I've been doing 30 minutes and trying to do 3k (managing in 35 minutes). I can't really maintain a speed of more than 65 so keep pushing intervals of 70/80 but generally 60s where I am. I use an Apple Watch too. What heart rate should I be aiming for please?

I'd ignore the distance it gives you on a cross-trainer, in my experience they vary widely between different brands of machines and bear very little relation to the distance you'd cover walking or running outside!
Your fat burning zone is around 70% of your max heart rate which you can calculate here: www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/fat-burning-heart-rate It's only a rough guide as people who are fitter tend to have higher max HR than the calculation gives them but it should give you a range to aim for.
I'd also do some sessions on higher resistance to help build muscle.

I’m not sure what the numbers mean, as different machines have different ways of showing the resistance. Personally I like to exercise at the higher resistance levels as I find it works my muscles more and more muscles = more fat burning. Intervals is great for maximising calories burnt too, so keep doing that!

Re. heart rate, I agree with the advice above about making sure your heart rate is at least in the fat burning zone. Having said that, I’ve lost more than 4 stone, but tend to exercise in the cardio zone, which is higher than that. It’s not done me any harm! 🙂

Just be aware that the fat burning zone doesn't actually burn body fat!!

I'm 43 so would that be 122-125 beats per minute I'm aiming for to lose weight?

When I'm doing my workout on the cross trainer my heart beat is usually about 145-153

Honestly looking at what your heart rate is doing on an elliptical is not how you're going to lose weight. Exercise for health benefits, physical and mental. To lose weight/fat you need to look at your diet.

agree, exercise is great for health but for losing weight you need to look at your diet, i.e. calorie intake.

as a crosstrainer is low impact you can do it every day if you want. try to mix up intensity a bit- a longer session with a lower intenity one day and a shorter session going harder a couple of days a week.

try also to add some strength training (pilates style or weights) a couple of times a week.

the 'fat burning' heart rate thing is bullshit unless you exercise more than 2 hours...