Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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My husband brings me home a cross-trainer tomorrow. I have not really used one other than once or twice when I had a gym membership. With my restrictions it is one thing I am allowed to do to lean out.

So do any of you have suggestions on how I should use it? How long etc...

flag	asked Jun 10 2011 at 15:48 Uggla 1,774●5●16

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I dont even know what a cross trainer is. I thought it was a shoe – ben61820 Jun 10 2011 at 17:34

Ha ha! Ben.. It's like a cross country skiing machine but better. It works the entire body without impact or straining. Something I am really looking forward to. – Uggla Jun 10 2011 at 18:37

Remember that a cross-trainer (just like any other machine) forces you into a mechanical position and movement and leaves no room for you to control your body and movements, making it rather unnatural and not very functional (the movement itself that is). – Dirk-Jan Jun 11 2011 at 7:42

@Uggla, hey are you the one who has a number of restrictions on the types of physical activity you might undertake? I think you mentioned something like that a while back. Cool that you're still researching and giving it a go with the ski machine. I think maybe the machine youre talking about was marketed here in the US as the "Nordic Track" years ago. – ben61820 Jun 11 2011 at 12:47

Yes I am she with the restrictions. Not all things but impact and straining just is the main things I need to look out for.Walking biking and swimming have been most of what I focus on but I need more options. I now have the cross-trainer here. I feel even if it is not a natural movement that in my case having more options to my routine is a good thing. I don't plan on over training with it trust me. I will however use it to boost my activity levels. I cant Swim a lot because I just don't have the time to travel to a swim hole everyday. In fact not often at all. Walking and biking have been it – Uggla Jun 11 2011 at 20:32

Eric · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-11 07:33:33Z UTC

For an eliptical cross trainer. I would start out at 20-25 minutes and add 3 min a week until you reach 40 minutes.

Then you can lower the duration back down to 30 by alternating resistance so that you have one minute high resistance. three minutes low. Eventually working into 40 second sprints at high intensity and 2-3 minute breaks inbetween (This would be after three months).

What are your restrictions?

EDIT based off comment:

So the cross country ski machine will be great. You might consider getting a basic heart rate monitor after awhile... Nothing fancy... make sure it has a chest strap though... Polar and Suunto and others make nice ones...

It will tell you your heart rate of course. That can be very useful to see how hard you are working.

Find the setting that is easy to start but not too easy. You probably want to start out at 20-30% and see how that is...

I would probably pass on the 40 sec sprints I was refering too... They are very intense.

So start out at 20-25 minutes and add three minutes a week until you get to 40min. Increase intensity a little when things get to easy.

Intervals are the next step after a few weeks. Go for one minute high and three low. build up over time and enjoy your new machine!!!

Of course do not go any longer than your body lets you...

You are going to do great!

Cross-trainer Question.

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