The elliptical is nice for catching up on Netflix while you think you’re working out.[/quote]
You’re doing it wrong.
Like any other exercise, it can be effective or not, depending on how you do it. I went from 21% body fat to 12% body fat over about a year, and have stayed there for 8 years, with no lifestyle changes other than exercising on the elliptical. I have more muscle and my resting heart rate went from 63 to 51.
It’s hard (or it was for me, anyway) to get your heart rate to your maximum heart rate at first, because the muscles you use aren’t built up enough. My muscles tired before I could get the aerobic/anaerobic exercise I wanted. After a couple months, that was no longer the case. I am able to train at maximum intensity (using intervals), and 37 minutes every other day is all I need to keep the weight off/muscle on/heart rate down.
And, as a bonus, no injuries in 9 years of doing the workout.
