Is doing cardio on the elliptical pointless? page

[VeggieLover]

I am so used to conventional wisdom that you have to do 45 minutes of cardio in order to burn calories and get in shape. I have always been a huge runner until I got an injury that has prevented me from running.

So in the meantime I have been doing the mountain climber elliptical 5-6 times a week 45 minutes, but honestly have not noticed ANY change in my body composition.

I know mark talks about steady cardio, but I haven't exercised in two months due to an injury so I thought doing cardio would start to help me get in shape.

Should I be doing weight training/resistance training instead?

i'm 5'6 112 pounds, a little skinny/fat right now. Am not necessarily looking to lose weight, but would like lower fat percentage, more definition in stomach and arms.

[sbhikes]

You can't add muscle without giving it a reason to grow. The only reason it will grow is if you ask more of it than you did before. Just hopping up and down on an elliptical doesn't really ask it for more. It just gives it what it's always gotten and then it adapts and nothing happens.

[paleo-bunny]

Muscle will shrink if you chronically restrict calories because it's high maintenance.

Exercising will give your body a reason to maintain muscle provided you are not on a low calorie diet.

[Nick the Destroyer]

I'd say the way you are doing it is pointless. I use ellyptical a lot for cardio because it is easy on my knees and lower back, but I do it at a high intensity for 15-20 minutes. When I was losing weight when I first started the primal lifestyle, sprint intervals on the ellyptical helped me drop 60 pounds. Intensity is the key.

On the other hand, yes, you do need strength training as well. Combining the two is a very powerful prescription for fat loss.

[ecole66]

I do Sprint 8 on a recumbent bike and I feel like it does wonders. I agree 100% with the comment above. High intensity, low volume is the key to all exercise whether it is "cardio" or strength training.

[Kingofturtles]

The eliptical is one of the most useless things in the gym. I hate people going on that thing trying to lose fat. Mite as well go sit on the sitdown recumbant bike and go at a snails pace while you read your kindle.

[ecole66]

The eliptical is one of the most useless things in the gym. I hate people going on that thing trying to lose fat. Mite as well go sit on the sitdown recumbant bike and go at a snails pace while you read your kindle.

An elliptical is just a tool. It can be a great tool if you use it correctly. Same for a bike, recumbent bike, treadmill, stair stepper or any other piece of equipment.

[Six String Strength]

Try some moderate barbell complexes to keep your HR up

[Scott F]

Math: the average man burns about 100-125 calories per mile. Women even less. There are ~3500 calories in a pound of fat. Assuming 100 calories per mile a person would have to walk 35 miles to burn off the calories equivalent to 1 pound. To burn off 20 pound would mean walking 700 miles.

It not efficient to try and loose weight through doing exercise. I actually know a couple of fat postal workers that get paid to walk a daily route. An hour of daily walking is nothing for them.

While having more muscle burns more calories even at reast diet is still the most important factor

[jakey]

it's not totally pointless, but is sure does suck. as for body composition, no chance of gaining lean mass through 45 minutes of cardio, 5 days a week. you'll burn calories, but don't expect to look particularly good from it.