I have the same problem Juju with my elliptical. My feet almost burn or hurt, it is so bad some times that I can't decide which it is. I would prefer to do my time on the machine all at once but I've had to break it up some. Ive tried all different sneakers and found that I can stay on the longest if I change to a pair of nursing clogs that I wear for good things, like going to the mall, etc. I've tried calling Nordic Trak about this and if I chose to replace my peddals with a more cushioned bed it was going to be like 150.00 plus an outragous ship/handling fee. I have yet to find something to replace the foot bed with as of yet. I am slowly getting so the pain is outweighing the benefit and my elliptical could fall in a heap and I would't shed a tear. I would cry over the amount of money that was invested but not over the piece of equipment. I can go from my treadmill to the elliptical and back to the treadmill (of course, changing shoes each time) and not experience any further pain once I am off the elliptical. I do not lean on the handles at all, I find it awkward, and I do not use the arm lever things either that move. Neither one is comfortable to me.