Lack of progress using elliptical trainer

In article <1111686690.103785.230820.DeleteThis@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>,
dgmoore.DeleteThis@erols.com writes:
[snip]
>
> I have been following this regimen faithfully for 6 months, yet I see
> no evidence of improved leg function. When I walk my legs feel stiff
> and sore,

Have you been doing any stretching exercises? I do--two or three
times a day. (My wife swears by "Stretch & Strengthen," by Judy
Alter.) Are you eating a balanced diet? Drinking enough water? Are
you taking any supplements? Are you getting enough sleep? Fitness
is a holistic thing. Exercise alone is not enough.

> and I seem to have no more stamina now than I did 6 months
> ago. I tire just as easily and become short of breath just as quickly
> as before.
>
> Can anybody suggest why I don't seem to be seeing signs of improvement?

What kind of workout are you doing on that elliptical trainer? If
all you're doing is staying in a certain zone that's shy of, or even
just into, good cardio workouts, of course your stammina isn't
(much?) improving.

When you wrote "with your doctor's approval," just what did your
doctor approve of? Have you had a heart stress test recently? Do
you know what your maximum heart rate is and whether it's safe for
you to approach it? Do you own a heart-rate monitor so you can track
it?

Disclaimer: I am neither a health professional nor a fitness expert.
I am no more than an amateur, and a fairly recent one at that,
seeking better fitness, himself.

--
Jim Seymour | "It is wrong always, everywhere and
WARNING: The "From:" address is a | for everyone to believe anything upon
spam trap. DON'T USE IT! Use: | insufficient evidence."
jseymour.DeleteThis@LinxNet.com | - W. K. Clifford, ca. 1876
 >> Stay informed about: Lack of progress using elliptical trainer 

<dgmoore.RemoveThis@erols.com> wrote in message
news:1111686690.103785.230820@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
>I am 61 and in reasonbly good condition - trying to improve through
> regular exercise with my dr's concurrence.
>
> In addition to regular workouts on my Total Gym I spend 45 minutes
> daily on my elliptical trainer (Precor EFX) using variable resistance
> and pedaling backwards about half the time.
>
> I have been following this regimen faithfully for 6 months, yet I see
> no evidence of improved leg function. When I walk my legs feel stiff
> and sore, and I seem to have no more stamina now than I did 6 months
> ago. I tire just as easily and become short of breath just as quickly
> as before.
>
> Can anybody suggest why I don't seem to be seeing signs of
> improvement?

We are each an experiment of one - try changing some things and see if
the changes help. Specifically:

You may need more recovery time - try adding more rest days.

You need shorter bouts of exercise - if you want to exercise every day,
try cutting the volume in half.

You may need more variety - try varying the length of your workout.

You may need a periodic rest - many people do best on a cycle of three
weeks of increasing effort followed by one week at 50% effort.

You may need to vary the intensity of your workouts as well.

In short, try different combinations, keep what works, throw away what
doesn't.

Last but not least, no program works forever, so be prepared for your
progress to plateau from time to time and, when that happens, take a few
days off before heading off in at least a slightly different direction.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com
 >> Stay informed about: Lack of progress using elliptical trainer 

the reply by steve is the most helpful. i am 71. i find that you need more
rest. do your running, cycling, eliptical, etc. every other day or 3 times
a week. do upper body on off days.

<dgmoore.RemoveThis@erols.com> wrote in message
news:1111686690.103785.230820@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
>I am 61 and in reasonbly good condition - trying to improve through
> regular exercise with my dr's concurrence.
>
> In addition to regular workouts on my Total Gym I spend 45 minutes
> daily on my elliptical trainer (Precor EFX) using variable resistance
> and pedaling backwards about half the time.
>
> I have been following this regimen faithfully for 6 months, yet I see
> no evidence of improved leg function. When I walk my legs feel stiff
> and sore, and I seem to have no more stamina now than I did 6 months
> ago. I tire just as easily and become short of breath just as quickly
> as before.
>
> Can anybody suggest why I don't seem to be seeing signs of improvement?
>
> Thanks
> Dave
>
 >> Stay informed about: Lack of progress using elliptical trainer 

Frank, Steve -
Thanks for the insights. In my zeal to improve I may just be overdoing
it. I'll try alternating days and activities for a while and see what
happens.

Cheers
Dave

frank wrote:
> the reply by steve is the most helpful. i am 71. i find that you
need more
> rest. do your running, cycling, eliptical, etc. every other day or 3
times
> a week. do upper body on off days.
>
> <dgmoore.TakeThisOut@erols.com> wrote in message
> news:1111686690.103785.230820@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> >I am 61 and in reasonbly good condition - trying to improve through
> > regular exercise with my dr's concurrence.
> >
> > In addition to regular workouts on my Total Gym I spend 45 minutes
> > daily on my elliptical trainer (Precor EFX) using variable
resistance
> > and pedaling backwards about half the time.
> >
> > I have been following this regimen faithfully for 6 months, yet I
see
> > no evidence of improved leg function. When I walk my legs feel
stiff
> > and sore, and I seem to have no more stamina now than I did 6
months
> > ago. I tire just as easily and become short of breath just as
quickly
> > as before.
> >
> > Can anybody suggest why I don't seem to be seeing signs of
improvement?
> >
> > Thanks
> > Dave
> >
 >> Stay informed about: Lack of progress using elliptical trainer 

> In addition to regular workouts on my Total Gym I spend 45 minutes
> daily on my elliptical trainer (Precor EFX) using variable resistance
> and pedaling backwards about half the time.

How much work (kilocalories / kilojoules) are you inputing into machine
during session?
When I run a distance of 4 kilometers on my elliptical, it consumes about
900 kilojoules = 214 kilocalories from me in 26 minutes, and I am completely
rowed out at the finish line.
10 months ago, at the beginning of my exercises, I was able to run
continously only for 3 minutes!
I will add a kilometer (to a total distance of 5 kilometers) next month.
BTW, load in my machine is controlled by the computer, through Heart Rate
Control. It limits my heart rate to about 125 bpm.
I am 61, also.
Regards
Tadeusz
 >> Stay informed about: Lack of progress using elliptical trainer