What is an elliptical trainer?

[Janet]

This past weekend, my friend was going on and on about how much she loves working out on her elliptical trainer. I had no idea what she was talking about and tried to ask her to describe it to me, but she was too buy raving about the machine to actually provide me with any useful details. Can anyone enlighten me as to what exactly this machine is? All I know is that it’s not a treadmill lol.

[Bethie]

an elliptical trainer is a type of gym equipment that is meant to be easier on your joints because it uses the shape of an ellipse (a kind of oval-like shape) instead of a straight line. So instead of the continual strain on your joints from a treadmill, for example, your feet stay in the elliptical and do a kind of pedaling sort of motion, instead.

[ChefMel]

it's like a cross between a stair climber and an exercise bike

[Janet]

Thanks. I think I know what it is now. I didn't realize that's what those machines were called hahaha.