Cycling and Your Heart
Did you know cycling is gentler on your body than running? While running burns more calories, cycling doesn’t cause as much wear and tear on your joints. And, unsurprisingly, most people are able to cycle longer than they can run.
Spinning promotes a healthy lifestyle and shouldn’t go overlooked. During the pandemic, many Americans have turned to bike riding as a form of exercise. 2020 may have been the biggest year for cycling since the 70s.
What Are The Benefits of Cycling?
Many people living in today’s society experience a sense of overload. There’s so much work to do and little time to complete it all. This is why it’s essential to take time for yourself.
A great way to do that is with exercise, such as spinning. Some of the health benefits of cycling include:
- Weight loss
- Heart health
- Reduced risk of cancer
- Improved mental health
Riding a bike or cycling on a stationary bicycle is a fun activity you can do with your whole family. You can also bike to school or work to reduce traffic on the roads.
Cycling is Better than Running
If you’re debating between running or cycling for better health, do your research. Running on pavement can hurt, but can be pretty fantastic for the heart and slow twitch skeletal muscles. Trail running removes the pain of pounding on the pavement, while adding some extra difficulty.
Cycling, however doesn’t put as much strain on your joints. If you have debilitating joint pain, cycling may be the best option for you.
Consider the the cost of the footwear. Usually, it is recommended to buy new running shoes every six months or few hundred miles, whereas cycle shoes last far longer. Most gyms even have cycles readily available, so you might not even need to buy anything more than the shoes to get going.
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How Long Should you Bike for a Good Workout?
According to Livestrong, cycling for 300 minutes a week is a good goal to work toward. That’s around 5 hours of cycling per week, but don’t cycle for 5 hours straight. At least, not at first, especially if you want to walk the next day.
Just like other forms of cardio, spin class duration varies based on goal. A Tabata ride can be as short as 10 minutes, while a climb ride could last an hour or longer. You can cycle for any amount of time, but intensity is the key guideline.
If you want to lose weight through cycling, you’ll have to put in the effort. To lose a single pound, you need to burn 3,500 calories more than you consume. Most people aim to spread that 3500 calories over the course of a week, rather than attempt it in a day or two for multiple reasons.
Depending on the intensity and duration of your spin session, you can burn anywhere from less than 100 to over a thousand calories. Of course, if you hit one thousand calories on a ride, you should compensate by eating a bit more on those days. Avoid such large deficits if you want to stay healthy, and, instead, aim for a 500 calorie deficit.
Spinning is a Great Form of Exercise
Spinning is a great way to keep up an active and healthy lifestyle, especially during these challenging times. It is a reliable form of exercise that can help improve your mental health.
Set goals, start cycling, and take it slow. Remember not to overwork yourself or push too hard. Biking with friends or family is a great way to start out.
If you’re looking for specific workout routines, look online or drop us a message. Tons of resources available, you just need to ask.
Let Us help You Out
At CONDITIONerd we are here to help you achieve better physical and mental health through exercise. Check out the plans we offer to our customers and see if you could benefit from working with our team. And if you have questions, you can always contact a CONDITIONerd team member.
Personal trainers, like those found here, can help guide you on your pathway towards reaching your fitness goals, whether that is getting bigger, stronger, faster, more lean, or just generally feeling better.
We can get you setup with a periodized workout plan, supplement information, and advice on nutrition to help you reach your goals.
The only thing you need is some motivation and a willingness to change some old habits.
Get into contact with us to find out what membership is right for you. In a CONDITIONerd program, you’ll be surrounded by others who can help you to get where you want to be.
Generally, our clients start to see some pretty awesome changes in 2-3 months time, some sooner.