So I jump on the elliptical every other day if not every day for a little while now and I feel like I can do 30 minutes fairly easily, but I'm only burning about 230 cals. What is a good setting for a higher intensity workout on that thing? I've been setting it at 10 and 6. What do you put yours at?

Ha -- I put mine super low because I am getting over a bad knee injury... but for a great workout - you should set it to intervals!  It will go for 2 minutes on a super high intensity -- and then slower for 2 minutes and keep repeating!  Great for burning calories!  Just make sure the higher level is HARD for you!

on a standard elliptical, i usually do high/low intervals setting it at 12 for high and either 6 or 8 for low and will burn a minimum of 300 cals per 30 mins (according to the machine). but lately, i've been using the kind of elliptical that you can adjust the incline as well as the resistance, and i feel like i get a much better workout. another way you can up the intensity is to speed up during the high intervals, like doing sprints. that will definitely get your heart rate up!

Can't really trust the calories on the machines, but you may need to start doing more! Sad but true, as you get more efficient at an exercise, you'll need to push yourself more!

i agree. def cannot rely on the calorie counting on the machines. but setting the workout at higher intensity, incline or doing more reps per min will def incr the calorie counter. OR you can really just do your workout without "bouncing" and you'll feel the difference... i learned that during my one session with a trainer...keep ur head steady, isolate ur core and concentrate on ur other movements...was tiring. i have my setting at between 5-8 in the "random" or "crosstrainer" mode.

Different machine brands have different scale and different definition of level 8, for example. It also depends on the speed you going with. I try not to do less then 6 miles per hour and less then level 8. During sprints I go up to 12-13 miles per hour at 10 or 12. And for climbing I go at 6 mikes per hour on up to level 20 - insreasing it from 12 like every 30 sec

Does it have a reverse setting? A guy at the gym was doing reverse the other day and pouring sweat. He looked like he was getting a good work out!