I use random on the bikes. I feel like it simulates hills and helps me for my actual daily biking.

I use manual to get a somewhat accurate calorie count. It doesn't take that much longer than QuickStart, but I have more control over speed, incline, and time.

It depends on the piece of equipment. I always do manual on the treadmill, but sometimes random or intervals on the stairmill or elliptical.

I use random as well, especially on the bike as I think it is better than the hill workout and I like to vary the resistance level. On the Treadmill, I set the incline to 1.0 and just pay attention to time and speed.

Quick start, then I manually increase the speed and incline.

I do three rounds on the elliptical -- first one interval, second one cross country (big hills), third back to interval, but I pedal backwards on the higher level.

I switch between cardio and interval on the arc trainer. I usually pick manual on the lifecycle and elliptical, because I like to read while I work out, and the cardio mode requires you grip the handles the entire time.

I use random or one of the hill settings (around the world is pretty fun)

i do the gluteal functions when available and then jack the resistance up. otherwise, i do the fat burn.

Quick start, random, level 8, enter weight. i could do it in my sleep.

Any of the pre-programed modes never seem to have enough speed or resistance for me so I go with manual, do a five minute warm-up then put it at a speed I am comfortable with and don't feel like I am "dragging" along.

My first choice is always random, but if it's not there I'll do intervals. Treadmills are another story--always manual.

manual or interval.

It depends, I like to do interval for hills or manual to monitor my calorie count, but i used to always hit quick start because i didn't want to spend the extra minute typing in my weight/time/program.

I go outside to jog, walk, or run... all seasons all weather. And I live in Minnesota! It's all about layers!

I choose Manual and then do my own "interval" workout on the treadmill. This allows me to increase and decrease the speed and incline at my own pace...although it does take a lot of initiative to actually push myself to keep with the faster pace!!

manual

I enter my weight, age, workout time, then speed and incline.

Always manual. I don't even know what the other buttons stand for.

I rotate between interval, cardio and fat burn. I often manually adjust the levels so incline and speed are challenging. Fat burn is hard for me as it seems too slow (and yes I've entered weight, age, time) and I kinda go crazy as I generally am bursting with too much energy to maintain this slow pace.

I agree with Sweet Potato. I use manual function, because I can control the speed, incline, weight, age, and time.

I always use manual. All of my instructors told me to use this function so I haven't ever really strayed from it!

I did try Personal Trainer on the Cross Trainer, once. It was OK but I can control the level and resistance much better when using manual.

I don't even understand why somebody would press quick start, what kind of a workout is that going to be?

I do cardio. I'm not really sure what else to do or if it would be better for me.

A friend of mine does intervals the whole time, but I don't know that he has any better idea of why he's doing it than I do for mine.

I think I'll try intervals next time...

I usually do interval b/c I've read so many articles about the benefits of this type of exercise. Quicker fat burn, higher metabolism boost, and quicker results for cardiovascular fitness. Besides, I'm a goal-oriented person, and basically every 2 minutes I'm working toward another goal - to make it through the current level. Sometimes, however, I'll set my machine to 10K which takes me about an hour and has built in hils. (I use an Octane Fitness Elliptical) Either program burns similar amounts of calories for me.

I do manual because I like to be in control of the machine.

I do manual to reach my calorie target in the alloted time.

i used to do fatburn but it got kind of annoying because it will yell at you if you dont do what it wants. My pace is always dictated by the beat of the song im listening to. So if suddenly a reallly fast song comes on, like salsa or merengue, then Ill start going fast and the machine will start beeping at me to slow down. And I really can't . . it's kind of weird. So now I just quickstart and now and then change the incline and resistance.

random..takes away the thinking.

It depends on the machine. I like manual for the treadmill since I speed up and slowdown on my own, intervals on the arc trainer, hills on the elliptical, and either the new virtual trail rides or a distance race on the bike.

I mix it up, but I never use quick start. It doesn't get your age or weight that way.

I usually do a cross-training or hill-climbing program. On the elliptical that's one that cycles through the different crossramps and on the bike it cycles through different resistances.