Feet falling asleep while on eliptical

[gadgetlady 4]

I bought an eliptical a few weeks ago and have worked up to 15 minutes (which is HUGE for me -- I hate exercise), but the last two days I discovered at about 12 minutes that my toes started to tingle and my feet are falling asleep. Anyone else had this happen?

[S@ssen@ch 745]

First, WOW I'm impressed with the at the 15 min. I got my eliptical and it took me 2 months to work up to 7 minutes. :faint:

I don't have the tingling in my toes, yet when I use the eliptical. But, it sounds like maybe a mild circulatory problem. It's kind of the same thing that happens if you'd sit on your leg for a while or sit indian-style for too long. I've had tingling in my toes if I tie my shoes a little too tight and walk on the treadmill too long or ride my bike a little too long. It's all in the positioning and how the blood gets to where it's supposed to go. If the circulation is poor, you may get some tingling. That's not to say this won't get better. Just make sure your shoes are fitting well and not tied too tight.

The other thing this could be is a neurological thing. If it's related to the nerves, it's harder to treat. But try the shoes, first.

[gadgetlady 4]

I haven't been paying much attention to my shoes; I've been wearing soled slippers, so they're definitely not too tight. If anything, they're too lose. Would that be an issue?

I don't know about circulatory problems, but I'm consistently colder than everybody around me. My body temp is always low, rarely reaching 98.6. I've had thyroid checks up the ying-yang and they're always normal, though.

My extremeties do fall asleep in various weird positions -- sometimes sleeping, sitting on the ground, etc. I just never thought it'd happen when I was exercising!!! :paranoid

[TexasRose 0]

This happens to me when I am on the stepper for more than 10 to 15 minutes. My chiropractor said that it is the overstimulation of the nerves in your lower back because of the repetitive motion. He said to take a one minute break until the feeling comes back and then start again. He said that there should be no permanent damage. Perhaps you should check with your own doctor though. Congrats on building up your exercise!!! )

[BeacheeGirl 0]

This happens to me to while on the eliptical, I'll try the one minute break..

[Jachut 487]

Happens to me too, no matter what I do. I prefer to run on a treadmill for this reason, but that takes a bit of working up to. Running to me is a natural motion whereas on the elliptical I find I have to be conscious of it all the time, same with a stepper, so I just dont enjoy those activities as much.

The elliptical is a godsend when your body cant take the pounding though. I built up a lot of fitness on the elliptical before I switched to running.

[MelAnne 0]

This happens to me - when I Jazzercised for two years, and when I started working out again after surgery in April.

When I am on the eliptical, if I focus and shift my weight to my heels like you are supposed too, it doesn't happen.

When I walk on the treadmill, it happens too.

So - this is what I discovered and it sounds WEIRD - there is a little pad of toe fat on my baby toe and my toe next to my pinly toe. Those little pads tend to naturally fold under the toes to the inside of the foot next to them.

I am thinking I am cutting my circulation off and this is what is causing my numbness/tingeling.

I could be WAY off, but for it to be happening on both machines, treadmill and Eliptical - not to mention the days I have rode the bike in Spin class.... and I shift my feet as I have been told too. (the trainer and the Spin class instructor told me to move my feet, and shift weight to heels)

On the eliptical you want your foot in the middle of the peddle, and I tend to move my forwards, and then work out on my toes.

I could only do 5 mins on the eliptical - now I do an hour and think I am going to die the days I do not get to work out on it, as I am supposed to change up my workout to keep my body challeneged and not hit platues.

I am working up to being able to run on the treadmill, and can not wait until I can run one day, eliptical another day and Spin class another day, and rotate.

[gadgetlady 4]

Well, I'm glad I'm not alone LOL! I feel better :-) Thanks.

[JulieNYC 4]

I have exactly the same problem. At about minute 12 on the elliptical, my right foot falls asleep. I go to 15, then I stop and do my weight training for 15 minutes, then I go back to the elliptical for 15, then I finish with 15 more of weight training. I'm going to try shifting my weight to my heels and I'll report back!

[MelAnne 0]

This happens to me when I am on the stepper for more than 10 to 15 minutes.

TexasRose,

The stepper? Is that a good work out? Do you burn a good amount of calories on it?

I attend 24 Hour fitness, and it has the stepper machines as well as these huge machines that look like rotating escalators, stairs.

I see ppl on them all the time and have wondered if it is such an great workout or just a good standard workout.

I can burn a seriously sick amount of calories on the eliptical machine and would love to find another workout that lets me do that as well!

[sheryl 3]

My toes do the same on the recumbant bike after 30-40 minutes.. I just have to remember to wiggle my toes every now and then, or reposition my feet...

[TexasRose 0]

Melanie, The stepper that I use is at Curves and it is an up/down motion with resistance. It helps to get my heartrate up but it is not a strenuous workout. I try to do it at a jog rate on the most resistance.

Stairmaster would be an incredible workout....I certainly cannot do it at this point.

You could always ask on of the trainers at your facility to work with you on them and see if it is something that you like. Try this site to calcuate burn rate: http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calories_burned.htm

Best of luck!!

[gadgetlady 4]

I used a stairmaster years and years ago -- those things rock! They're also very difficult

I tried shifting my weight to my heels today and it helped a little. Of course I also increased my time by 5 minutes and resistence by one level, so by the time I was finished I was still toe-tingly. I don't want to take a break in the middle because I might never go back.

[niki 1]

I just LOVE the elliptical (great calories burner) and when I first started doing it I had to do it during little periods, but now I feel good with 30 or 40 minutes but I do have to reposition my feet frequently or shift weight from toes to heel every now and then or will feel numb after 15 or 20 minutes exercising.

niki

[live2canoe 1]

Melanie -

The machine that looks like a big rotating escalator is a very demanding machine. I call it the gauntlet of death. I can do an hour, at a very good pace, on the elliptical machine, no problem. I can barely squeak out 10 minutes on the gauntlet, at the very lowest setting.

Oh sure - it looks easy, but believe me the thing is a KILLER!