Fitness

I started working out in a gym 2 weeks ago. I go 3 times a week and usually do from 30 to 40 minutes on the elliptical and 10 minutes on the rowing machine.

I always choose the "weight loss" option on the elliptical and increase the resistance a bit (to level 5-6) and I go like crazy for the whole workout, bringing my heart rate up to 180. I like the intensity, but I'm wondering if it would be better for me to add resistance instead. Any thoughts?

Well, on my elliptical I set the workout for basically 2 minute intervals from low resistance to high resistance.  The switch up keeps your heart rate going good, and gives you a recovery period as well, and then hikes the hr back up again to pump it during higher resistance!  I do thi son the tredmill too sometimes, with running and walking though.  I'll run at 6.5mph, then walk at 4.2mph, and od that for about 40 min.  I've played around a bit for different ways to add interval training or resistance, and i like the fact that i burn a bit more doing the intervals because your heart rate is normally working harder to adapt the changes rather than being a steady pace the whole way out.  At least for me it works well and I find i enjoy the work out a bit more.  Just play around with it a little to find which reisstance or speed, work for you, and you'd be surprised how many different routines you come up with!

you get good at what you do.

and doing a variety of things helps protect you from yourself, lest you choose to do the wrong thing.

you can do research on what is best or what and this and that, but if what you do works for you, and you're curious about doing something else, just switch it up and try both :)  as long as you are practicing safe exercise with proper form, of course.