Confession: I’ve always avoided the elliptical machine at the gym. Something about those giant moving handles and the skiing action just never appealed to me. But this month I decided to give it a shot. Thirty days of hopping on the elliptical to see what all the hype is about. Spoiler: it’s way less scary than it looks, and my body hasn’t complained once.
Day one on the elliptical was… confusing. Do I move my arms? Do I not? Am I supposed to look like I’m cross-country skiing through the apocalypse? The coordination took a few minutes, but once I got the rhythm, it was surprisingly smooth.
What I noticed right away: zero pounding on my knees. Compared to running(I use that term loosely), it felt like floating. Turns out, that’s the whole point—ellipticals are low-impact, meaning they’re easier on joints while still delivering a solid cardio workout. My joints were thrilled.
By the second week, I was going longer without realizing it. Ten minutes became twenty, then thirty. The machine tricked me into working harder because I wasn’t feeling the usual “my shins are on fire” running pain.
I also discovered resistance levels. Crank that up and suddenly it’s not just cardio—it’s a full-on leg day. My quads were sore in the best possible way. Bonus: those moving handlebars sneak in an upper-body workout, too. I wasn’t expecting my arms and shoulders to feel it, but they did.
Week 3, the elliptical turned into my stress-relief station. I’d hop on after work, throw on some music, and zone out while sweating buckets. Endorphins kicked in, stress melted away, and I’d step off in a way better mood than I started.
Science backs that up—research shows elliptical workouts improve cardiovascular health, boost endurance, and even help reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. And because it’s easier on the joints, people tend to stick with it longer than high-impact exercise.
By the final week, I noticed two things:
- My stamina improved—I could go 45 minutes without collapsing.
- My legs and core felt stronger. Holding steady on those pedals works your abs more than you’d think, especially when you go hands-free (carefully).
Incline training was another game-changer. Just like walking uphill on a treadmill, bumping up the incline activated my glutes and hamstrings big time. It was basically a stair climb disguised as cardio.
Final thoughts
Would I recommend trying the elliptical? 100%. Here’s the breakdown:
- Low impact, high reward: Great cardio without wrecking your joints.
- Full-body workout: Legs, arms, and core all get in on the action.
- Customizable: Adjust incline, resistance, speed—make it as easy or brutal as you want.
- Mental health boost: Endorphins, stress relief, better sleep—it’s all there.
- Boredom buster: Music, podcasts, TV—it pairs with anything.
Do you look a little goofy doing it? Absolutely. But honestly, so does running(Again, I use the word “running” loosely). Look you may look a little goofy, but so does everyone else. Go for it. You may find you enjoy it more than you thought you would. Especially by the third week or so.
And if you are looking for an elliptical you can use at home, here ya go: elliptical machine
Or if you are looking to join a gym, here is a referral for only $1 down at Planet Fitness
Sources
- Mayo Clinic – Aerobic exercise: Top 10 reasons to get moving
- Cleveland Clinic – The Benefits of Elliptical Workouts
- Harvard Health – The many benefits of elliptical training
- American Council on Exercise – Elliptical trainers and cross-training benefits
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