Elliptical Trainers

Usually when I work out at the gym I use the elliptical trainers that don't have the "arm exercise" features. At the gym at my hotel this week I used an elliptical stepper with arm exercise. Maybe it was the nice view from the hotel windows, but it seemed like I burned more calories with the same amount of effort. Any thoughts? Are your arms actually getting a workout? My arms weren't tired, but my legs were.

the elliptical i use doesnt have arms..ther are 2 with arms, and seems like the one with arms, do make you work out more...but it might just be the elliptical cause im not use to that one...i prefer the one without arms ....hard enough to keep focused the way it is...lol...

The ecliptical at my gym has an option to do with the arm or without. I find it takes more effort for me to go without the arm.

I would love to own an eliptical. But I already have a bike and a Nordic Track. And they are not very well used right now. Hopefully once I lose more weight they will be utilized more. The eliptical is really my fave though. My club house has one without the arm feature. That is mostly what I am used to. If I want arm action I will get back on my Nordic Track. It took me forever to learn it because I am not very co-ordinated. LOL.

I'm sure you're burning something extra using the arm motion, but how much depends on what you're doing. Myself; I tend to just kind of hold onto the thing and let the bars swinging back and forth move my arms...I doubt I'm doing much. But if you're actually tightening your arm muscles and pushing and pulling, you probably are burning more calories.

Everyone works differently on different machines. Myself, I don't feel like stationary bikes give me any workout at all, but a lot of people get really good workouts on them, so it's all relative.

The eliptical I work out on at the gym is called a cross trainer wo/arms, and like the treadmill it elevates for different programs you choose. I've been on both elipticals, and wo arms, is by far the better workout for me.

I have a question. Do the bars make it easier to jog on the pedal? (the same way like a lever?) Or is it there just for grip and movement?