So, at the gym this week, I have done lots of new stuff! I used some new weight machine thingies, even though the main weights room (the one with free weights, and not the cute little machines) is mostly full of guys.
AND, yesterday when I went to the gym for a good 45 minutes elliptical workout (staying below 140 bpm) all the elliptical machines were busy. So, I saw this other machine. That looked almost like an elliptical, and I thought – I’ll just get on that – it’s just a funny looking one.
So – it was this. This is not an elliptical, I don’t care what any website says. This thing is CRAZY! In the 32 minutes I was on it, I went 3 miles & burned over 325 calories. Also, when I took my heart rate at the end, I was at 165. Which is a bit much for my easy cardio day.
After, my legs felt like jelly! I wobbled all the way back home (but did manage to stay upright). Has anyone else used one of these so-called “ellipticals” (Precor AMT 100, I think)? Am I a pansy?
I have and they are much harder than the standard ones but still not as hard as the arc trainers which the gym doesn’t have here but they do at home. Whoa!
gazelle reply on November 17th, 2009:
I think there’s one of those, too. If I am ever super brave (read: if all the other machines in the gym are taken), I will give that one a try.
Definitely a pansy.
Just kidding — I haven’t been on an elliptical in years so I’m impressed by anyone using one at all. What makes this different from a regular elliptical? I can’t tell from the picture. Is it the — I don’t know how to describe this — choo choo pedals? It looks like they would make the arms (the machine’s, not yours) go round and round like on a train.
I’m definitely going to look for this one at my gym, though.
gazelle reply on November 17th, 2009:
It’s a very different motion from the regular elliptical – and instead of there being a fixed stride like the regular elliptical, there are variations in stride. According to the little stride illustration on the machine, they go from climbing stairs to sprinting like you’re being chased on an evil chainsaw-wielding clown from hell. (That may have been redundant – all clowns are from hell, right?) It was a MUCH harder workout than just the regular elliptical, although I think I may have looked a little dumb at the beginning, trying to make it work – it took me a bit to get the rhythm down.
I feel like I tried that thing once and it hurt my knees, so if you’re a pansy, I’m Super Pansy Girl.
gazelle reply on November 17th, 2009:
I feel like that might deserve a cape! Or at least a cute pair of tights.
I love going in the “boy” weight room and making my presence known. Girls can be strong, too
gazelle reply on November 17th, 2009:
I just hate looking like I don’t know what I’m doing in front of all the muscled gym rats. As soon as I’m more confident, I will stride around there like I own the place.
The choo choos pedals! I LOVE it, CilleyGirl. I have not seen that one, but the normal elliptical is a challenge for me – so, Go Gazelles Go! (BTW – haven’t seen a weeble in many decades! Do they still make them?!)
gazelle reply on November 17th, 2009:
they do still make them, but they are super lame now. Do an amazon search & you’ll see what I mean. LAME! I had to search for an old-school image.
yea my gym calls them “suspension ellipticals”. i call the horsefeathers. and i’m due for a hard workout on one tonight. i love the hill interval routine b/c i can’t figure out how they actually make your feet rise higher. it’s freaky.
gazelle reply on November 18th, 2009:
I’ll have to try the hill routine next time (although I’m still a little scared of it – once bitten, twice shy you know).
Yes I’ve tried it. It’s bizzare! And fun. Nice job!
gazelle reply on November 18th, 2009:
Thanks.
I know you leave tomorrow for the big trip. GOOD LUCK! You are going to be so awesome!
i have and they re CRAZY. i got out of breath just pedaling enough to change to change tv channels (it was one of those gyms where you have to be using the machine to turn on the tv). i didn’t last very long before ditching. props for staying on so long!
gazelle reply on November 18th, 2009:
I was trying for a 45 minute workout, but decided that 30 would be okay, just this once.
OMG I was dying when I read your headline. we make this joke about David’s grandma every time she walks in a room…ahhh
gazelle reply on November 18th, 2009:
I’m just glad that the architect nicknamed me the gazelle on crack and not a weeble – the weeble tattoo wouldn’t be nearly as cool
I try to stay away from all the machinery. Too complicated. Sounds like you got a killer workout though!
gazelle reply on November 18th, 2009:
I’m cool with the machines that have diagrams on them. It’s the others that frighten me!