Elliptical machine = good work out?!
Question: (I'm a girl)
If I work out on an elliptical machine everyday for half an hour, will my calves get bigger? Lol, that's my biggest fear. I want to cut down body fat and tone my legs, not get huge bulging leg muscles.
Also, I'm guessing stretching after working out tones your muscles. Does anyone know if there's a necessary "stretch time" (like 5 min. or 10 min.) so your muscles don't get all tightened and bulgy?
Answers: (I'm a girl)
If I work out on an elliptical machine everyday for half an hour, will my calves get bigger? Lol, that's my biggest fear. I want to cut down body fat and tone my legs, not get huge bulging leg muscles.
Also, I'm guessing stretching after working out tones your muscles. Does anyone know if there's a necessary "stretch time" (like 5 min. or 10 min.) so your muscles don't get all tightened and bulgy?
First off, you're calves won't get bigger unless you do this A LOT. And I mean a lot. If you think about it, your calves are used to supporting your entire body weight and lifting it up constantly every day. It is absolutely the toughest muscle in the body to build up, so you really have to want huge calves to get them. They will most likely get toned, but don't expect them to get much bigger. The huge calves you see on bodybuilders is through years of training with massive amounts of weight - Arnold Schwarzenegger used to do calf raises with three people sitting across his back!
And yes, ellipticals are a great workout. It's one of my favorite ways to do cardio. In reference to above as well, depending on how you do them, the calves dont always get worked as much as the quads, hamstrings, and hip flexors. Even with the calves, everything is working in unison, so you're not isolating them, which is again how bodbuilders make them huge.
As far as stretching, usually about 5-10 minutes is fine. Any more and you risk pulling. Muscles really don't need to be stretched as much as some people believe. Sometimes just walking around a bit after a workout like elliptical is ok.
Elliptical machines are a great lower body workout, plus an excellent cardio workout. I wouldn't say that your calves would get huge, but definitely your thigh and hamstring muscles will get more defined. I'm just talking from experience. Everyone is different. But I think running and jogging probably makes your calves bigger than the elliptical machine would.
ellipticals are great of you wanna lose weight...and getting your heart rate up...wear a heart band that will tell you your heart rate while working out...as far as getting toned on a elliptical...no...your gonna need to do some weights...thats what i do....squats for my legs,i get on a bosu ball and do abs...its great because it will support your back...then i do 12lb dumbells for my arms and back...then i do about 20-30min cardio on a lifefitness elliptical...but you are going to need to incorporate strength training if you want to get toned..do squats!...no your legs wont get huge!...they dont get big over night...you just watch your workout and when you start to see the way you want your body to be...then dont stop...just be consistant so you dont lose the muscle...its gonna take work and time..as far as stretching...i get on one of those big inflatable balls that they have all over the gym...and roll on that...it stretches my abs and back out alot...stretching your legs...sit on the floor and stretch them out and massage them a little so you dont get cramps or stiffness...good luck!!!
p.s...stretch for about 10mins...i dont stretch before i work out tho...you can be more prone to injuries...
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