Elliptical machines

[Formerly SK]

Due to bad knees, my main cardio is an elliptical machine. I have no idea how accurate the digital display is, but I'm assuming 4 miles on an elliptical is somewhat comparable to 4 miles on a treadmill. The one thing I've noticed though is there is quite a bit of momentum in the wheel of an elliptical machine, which would (I assume) mean I'm getting "helped" in that 4 miles and it isn't 100% my effort.

I'd like to negate the effect of the wheel momentum by increasing the resistance. Anyone know what I would need to increase it to to zero it out?

Does my question even make sense?

[chiver78]

your question makes perfect sense to me, but I have no idea. I can't hold my balance on a treadmill unless I'm holding on for dear life....which isn't all that conducive to running fast enough to break a sweat.

I wanted to suggest asking that in addition to here, you post that question on a bodybuilding (or running) message board as well, if you haven't already. just a broader audience, that's all.

[Artemis Windsong]

That sounds fun (after you are done).

[Formerly SK]

Margarita, I've done workouts like that too but at the moment I really want to focus on distance. I have too many friends who run and I'm tired of listening to "I ran X miles yesterday" without being able to chime in my distance too. I also like the idea of keeping a log and aiming to "run" from city A to city B in a summer, etc. Or maybe running a marathon/month (nine 3-mile runs...though that seems easy to do). I dunno...I just need a goal that is easily communicable to others.

[pig]

Does my question even make sense?

Yes and no. It makes sense in the fact that I know what you're asking. However, the very question is meaningless as it can't be answered exactly.

I'd like to negate the effect of the wheel momentum by increasing the resistance. Anyone know what I would need to increase it to to zero it out?

First, there is very little momentum in the machine. When you stop it stops. It's kind of like asking how much faster you have to jog to counter your body's forward momentum.......senseless right?

What you might be experiencing is what's known as your body's "rate of perceived exertion". The term applies to how much effort you think you put into something. So, while you and I curl 10 pounds say 100 times my rate of perceived exertion would be low while yours would be high even though we both did the same amount of work requiring the same amount of energy all things being equal.

Studies have shown that the elliptical has a very low rate of perceived exertion. That might be why you are thinking there is a lot of momentum. Your mind is saying "boy I moved a lot I should be tired there must be something helping me like momentum". Best answer I can give you is to just put on an incline or increase resistance until you achieve a challenging level of exertion.

[Formerly SK]

Hmmm....interesting. I thought it had momentum because when I stop moving, there is are a few seconds where the pedals want to keep going on their own and I always have to brace my legs to stop them. It also seems like I should be more fatigued doing the distances I'm doing...which made me wonder if I was being "helped" by the machine.

Maybe I'm overthinking this just a tad.

I think I'll do as you said though and find a resistance that works for me. I'd like to do some friendly competitions with DH where we see who runs the most in a given time period. I just want to make sure we are comparing apples to apples since he will be running outside while I do the elliptical.

[pig]

"Studies show that working out on an elliptical also tends to fool your body into thinking that it is working easier than it actually is. Scientists refer to this phenomenon as the "Rate of Perceived Exertion." So, although you can achieve faster results with elliptical equipment, you are also more apt to not feel quite as fatigued when your workout is completed."

You're mind is just playing tricks on you.

[Artemis Windsong]

That is what I need is a mind trick that will have me working harder than what I think I am.

What's the phenomenon called when a tiny person trotts along side of a taller heavier person in a marathon. One woman said it was like racing Tinkerbell.