I have both a treadmill and an elliptical cross trainer.
I prefer the elliptical as it is less stressful on the joints and I burn more calories, but use the treadmill at least once a week.
After my wife’s transplant last year she was doing cardio on the hospital treadmill. She continues using our one at home, and I have just updated it for her.
I like I use a variable workout (2 minutes warmup, 2
Minutes alternating between jogging and walking every 30’seconds, a recovery out to the 30 Minute mark and then a 3 minute “run” before recovery to the 40 minute mark) I advise her that it is better to maintain a steady pace and go for slightly longer times than to speed up.
We both play music through our cell phones while exercising. I used to watch TV or concert videos but find I put more effort into
it if I sing along with the music. (If I can sing the song comfortably I’m not working hard enough). Although I do have a reasonable singing voice.
My wife’s workout is different to mine. She does 30 minutes 5 days a week on a 0 incline at 4 km/h (just under 3 mph). She is now at the point she is still breathing easily but her muscles are tired.
While fitness trainers will tell you to work out with a heart rate in the mid 130’s, most experts agree for weight loss the heart rate should be under 120. I use an Apple Watch rather than the machines built in HR monitor, but you can get one of those chest band HR monitors very cheap now.
To help keep a food diary. You will be surprised just what you eat in a day. And like eggs were for a few decades, fat is not all bad in your diet. Sugar is worse. Try reducing and then cutting out sugar in coffee, on cereal etc. after a while sweet foods will be something you don’t like.
Good luck with the program, and remember if you find yourself flagging a few days just “get back on the horse”.
