Thread: Got a new elliptical today, need encouragement

Hello everyone,

Today I got my new elliptical. Well, I already have a vision of better me with a better body. I want to get ripped LOL well not really ripped, but at least look nicer than I am now.

I used to hate my body alot, and not I somehow grew to like it just a bit. It is not my goal to be size 0, but I want to feel better about myself and lose weight. What did work for you guys. Do any of you own an exercise machine at home? How well did it work for you?

Hugs,
Amani

Butting in here to ask what kind you got. My daughter wants one for her birthday, so I've been trying to decide which one to buy.

Ohhhh, practice shimmys whilst elipticaling!!!

Originally Posted by Michelle75

Ohhhh, practice shimmys whilst elipticaling!!!

Hi Michelle,

Interesting idea with the elliptical and shimmies. Well even when I am doing regular exercise I listen to ME music. Not just pop, but also some nice pieces played by Hossam Ramzy or something from Abdelwahab.

Hugs,
Amani

I have a new eliptical too (one from Canaidan Tire - not a bad investment) but I'm with Angelina - now what?!
I can barely layer with shimmies - I think trying to shimmy while on there i'll break my hip or worse!
:D

Originally Posted by Shalimah

Butting in here to ask what kind you got. My daughter wants one for her birthday, so I've been trying to decide which one to buy.

Hi Shalimah,

My husband bought it and supposedly it is one of the newer models. It is a "commercial" grade elliptical as small ones for the house are not that strong and don't flow right. This one is called: Head X-Fit-E500 Elliptical Trainer.

Oh pls butt in anytime ..g.:

Well, like anything else, start with a small amount of time and then build. Try it three times the first week for 10 mins. If you are feeling guilty, on the other days, do 5. At the end of the week evaluate how that went. Increase time, etc. Remember that more reps builds endurance, more tension builds strength.

When you find your sweet spot, work it for 30 days and see what happens!

{{HUGS}}}

I use one at the gym. "Exercise" tends to be hugely boring to me, so I listen to upbeat ME music on my MP3 player and imagine dancing to it as I cycle away. It helps me choreograph!

Please don't make the mistake, though, of thinking this will make you lose weight, even if you do it regularly for 30 or more minutes 4-5 times a week. You need to cut back on your calorie consumption as well.

Still, exercise is good for our hearts and our blood pressure, so have at it!

Ellipticals are WONDERFUL!!! They exercise and tone equally almost ever part of your body while burning a lot more calories without realizing it. But like Taj said, exercise can be boring so hopefully you can watch television while doing it.

And also as Taj said, you still have to cut down on calorie consumption. But anytime I've been on an elliptical kick, I did lose weight.

I bought myself an elliptical almost two years ago for my birthday. I use it about 5 or 6 times a week. I've gone a week without using it, but never more. I bought a flatscreen TV that's mounted on the wall in front of it and I just watch TV and do my 36 minutes. Before I know it, it's over. It has improved my cardio endurance and health. It also helped me lose some pounds along with the calorie reduction I've done. I love mine. It's an Octane Q45. I too recommend getting a gym grade machine. They're worth the extra money.

I love the eliptical my BF bought when I was having foot surgery. . . it was one of the few things my doc ok'd me getting back into right away.

Unfortunately, with my work being crazy right now, and trying to get in as much 'practice' driving a stick as I can, I dont have time to use it. But when I did, I would do as Taj said and plot out dances while I worked out or I would take the time to listed to books on tape while exercising.

Its good that you are taking this approach to your health :) Getting unhealthy is so much easier (and funner!!) than getting healthy IMO. I just bought a treadmill...it will live near my TV and I will definetly be doing some miles on it!! Work and other parts of my life have really taken over the healthier lifestyle I had at the beginning of the year. I knew I needed to change some priorities when I put on a costume last weekend and needed to move the hooks out a bit-was DEVO!! Good luck to you :)

the trick is to do it every day. Every. Day. if you don't feel like it, do it anyway "for 5 minutes". once you're on, you'll think "oh heck i'll just keep going.".

Awesome. Yeah totally agree with Taj as well. Calorie reduction is definitely a must. I will be watching what I eat. Here in the Gulf it is so hard to watch what you eat as here our cook does rice almost everyday. However the good thing is that he can do for me a special order of vegetables without oil and stuff like that. I think I will be able to manage with chicken breast and salads with lemon salt and pepper.

When I lived in the US I used to go to the gym where I also taught bellydancing. I had free membership as an employee and it helped me alot. Did elliptical on there and while I listened to music I also did some choreographies in my mind, then the next day I would do them physically.

Hugs,
Amani

I'll be honest my biggest foe is a Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi. I know I really gotta stop drinking those.

Originally Posted by monsoondancer

Its good that you are taking this approach to your health :) Getting unhealthy is so much easier (and funner!!) than getting healthy IMO. I just bought a treadmill...it will live near my TV and I will definetly be doing some miles on it!! Work and other parts of my life have really taken over the healthier lifestyle I had at the beginning of the year. I knew I needed to change some priorities when I put on a costume last weekend and needed to move the hooks out a bit-was DEVO!! Good luck to you :)

OMG you are so right! It is so easy to let go and then everything else takes over. I figure if I don't stop now I will look at myself later and scold myself why I have let go to the way it is. My husband is thinking to get a TV there too as he is also doing exercise. I think it would work. I also have mp3 player with my ME music. It would definitely help. When I moved from the US my lifestyle became more unhealthy. Now I have a maid to clean and cook as opposed to in the US I have been doing things by myself plus taught classes and all that. I will push myself to get off my butt, I think it is time I did that ..l;,