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Over the past few years, elliptical training has skyrocketed in popularity among my clients for several compelling reasons. It’s gentle on the body due to its low-impact nature and serves as an efficient way to engage in cardiovascular exercise, aiding in weight loss efforts. I always emphasize to my clients the importance of the length and intensity of their elliptical sessions in meeting their weight loss targets. Hence, I’ll outline the advantages of elliptical exercises and provide guidance on the optimal speed and duration for weight loss.
Including elliptical workouts in your exercise plan and varying the intensity can help boost calorie expenditure and facilitate the reduction of excess weight. It’s crucial to pay attention to your body and make any necessary adjustments to the intensity of your exercises. To effectively see results, it’s important to stay consistent, maintain a calorie deficit, and ensure a high protein diet. Incorporating elliptical workouts into your weekly routine, monitoring your caloric intake, and increasing protein consumption can greatly enhance weight loss outcomes.
Continue reading to discover the recommended duration and pace for elliptical workouts to lose weight, as well as the numerous benefits of using this exercise equipment. Afterwards, don’t forget to look into the 6 Best Pilates Exercises to Improve Your Balance & Coordination.
The benefits of working out on an elliptical for weight loss:

Before delving into the specifics of how long and fast to elliptical for weight loss, it’s crucial to understand the benefits of incorporating this exercise into your routine.
1. It’s a low-impact workout. Elliptical trainers offer a smooth, fluid motion that reduces stress on the joints, making them suitable for individuals of all fitness levels, including those with joint issues or injuries.
2. It burns calories. Elliptical workouts engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously, resulting in a higher calorie burn compared to traditional cardio exercises like walking or cycling.
3. It’s versatile. Most elliptical machines come with adjustable resistance levels and incline settings, allowing you to customize your workout intensity to match your fitness goals.
4. It boosts your cardiovascular health. Regular elliptical workouts improve cardiovascular endurance, leading to a healthier heart and improved overall fitness.
How fast should you elliptical for weight loss?

The ideal elliptical workout pace for weight loss varies from person to person based on factors such as fitness level, age, and individual goals. However, a general guideline is to aim for a moderate to high-intensity workout.
1. Moderate intensity: Maintain a steady pace where you can comfortably carry on a conversation but still feel challenged. This intensity level allows you to sustain the workout for a longer duration, resulting in increased calorie burn.
2. High intensity: Incorporating intervals of high-intensity effort followed by periods of rest or lower intensity can maximize calorie expenditure and boost metabolism post-workout. Alternate between periods of increased resistance or speed and recovery intervals to keep the body guessing and prevent plateauing.
A sample elliptical routine for weight loss:
Here’s an elliptical workout routine designed to help you achieve your weight-loss goals. The entire routine should take 30 minutes.
1. Warm Up (5 minutes)
Start with a five-minute warm-up at a comfortable pace to prepare your muscles and joints for the workout ahead.
2. Interval Training (20 minutes)
- Interval 1 (5 minutes): Increase resistance or incline to a challenging level, and pedal at a high intensity for one minute.
- Recovery (2 minutes): Lower the resistance, and pedal at a moderate pace for two minutes to recover.
- Interval 2 (5 minutes): Repeat interval 1.
- Recovery (2 minutes): Repeat the recovery phase.
- Interval 3 (5 minutes): Repeat interval 1.
- Cool-down (3 minutes): Gradually decrease the resistance, and pedal at an easy pace for three minutes to cool down.
3. Cool Down (5 minutes)
Finish your workout with a five-minute cooldown, gradually decreasing the intensity until your heart rate returns to normal.
Tyler Read