Just starting
 

I recently bought an elliptical machine and have tried it several times. My problem is that I can't stay on it for more than 5 minutes and the front of my legs start to hurt. Should I just gradual work my minutes up? Some people stay on them for an hour. I can't, is that normal just starting out?:confused:

Hey there...that's not unusual. Congrats on getting started! Yes, just work on building up a little at a time, and ice your muscles if you need to :).

I have an elliptical, LOVE IT, and I'm on it every morning for an hour. But I didn't start out that way, I had to work up to it. Even still sometimes that last 4-5 minutes is VERY VERY LONG, if you know what I'm saying. I would suggest that you warm up and stretch for 5-10 minutes, then interval between 5 minutes on the elliptical and 5-10 minutes of other exercises, and maybe go for 2 or 3 rounds of the interval. And gradually increase the time on the elliptical by a minute or so every other day. I think it took me about 3-4 months of hopping on it every day to get to an hour. A word to the wise, my particular elliptical has very heavily padded foot pedals, and the directions actually recommended to use it in stocking feet. So read the users manual. If you go an hour on mine wearing shoes, you'll have numb feet to go along with your aching legs.

You might try streching your lower legs by standing on a step (or something similar) on the balls of your feet and stretching your heals toward the floor. I do this before I run to eliminate what sounds like similar pain.

Stretch and try to work up your time. Nothing says you have to get on and stay on for an hour. Do what you can, get off and stretch, walk off the pain, get back on and repeat as many times as it takes to get the time you want.

You might also try some ibuprofen to help with the pain.