How To Avoid Foot Numbness On The Stair Machine And Get Better Fat Loss Results
Question:
I have recently begun using a stair machine for fat loss. I have found that the front half of both feet and all my toes fall asleep and go completely numb after about 15 minutes! The shoes are new, the toe box seems wide enough, and the shoes are flexible. Any thoughts as to what the cause might be?
Answer:
While stair machine (and elliptical trainer) are both excellent for cardiovascular training and fat loss, numbness in the toes and feet is a very common problem with the stair machine and the elliptical trainer. It is basically a lack of circulation from the constant pressure on the feet and has nothing to do with your shoes.
You know how your arms falls asleep if you lean on it for too long? The same thing is happening in your feet and toes. I’ve actually encountered this problem myself before.
There are a few solutions to this problem.
1. Take a quick break every 10 minutes or so just to shake out your feet and get circulation going again. Step off the machine to do this then jump right back on.
Most stair machines have pause programming built in so when you’re not on the machine, it’ll actually stop the program and let you jump back on and pick up right where you left off.
2. Lift your feet off the pedals every now and then while you are using the machine. A few steps off the pedals every few minutes should do the trick. To do this, when you are pushing down with the right foot, lift the left foot off and wiggle your foot around and vice versa.
This is an easy way to keep that circulation going while still keeping yourself moving on the machine.
These two tricks should help you avoid the numbness in your feet and allow you to follow your fat loss goals.
Just as an aside, if losing fat fast is your main goal, I highly recommend interval training to be your main method of cardio.It’s more intense than steady cardio and will help solve your numbness problem by breaking up the pressure on your feet.
