wawajelly
or will I have to go out on my bike? I would like to have firmer and more shapely legs and I was told cycling was the best for this. I have an exercise bike - will that do the trick or will I have to ride outside on my bike? I kind of live in a rough area so I'm not especially fond of riding my bright pink bicycle around on the streets.
Answer
Exercise bikes are great for losing weight. I suggest getting a heart rate monitor and keeping your heart rate in the "fat burning zone" (which will depend on your age and other factors. I am 35 and keep mine in the 125-135 bpm range). Many researchers suggest that in this range, your body burns about 85% fat, while at higher heart rates it burns less. An excercise bike is a great way to go for long periods at a constant level like this -- tough to do on the road. If you are training for something other than weight loss, the above suggestion is not the best way to train. If you don't want to buy a heart rate monitor, I suggest taking your heart rate manually (checking your pulse against a clock) and trying to pinpoint the cadence (how many pedal rotations per minute) at which you maintain that heart rate. That should get you pretty close.
As far as shaping your legs, an exercise bike will help, but going at the above levels will not do as much as really pushing your muscles to the limit (which usually takes you out of the fat burning zone, though). In addition, I have found that nothing builds muscle and cardiovascular endurance like hitting the road on a real bike. Increasing the tension on an exercise bike and actually going up a steep hill are two entirely different things. Both are good for you, however, and if you don't have a bike that is fun to ride outside, you aren't as likely to stick with it. So go with what works.
Good luck!
Exercise bikes are great for losing weight. I suggest getting a heart rate monitor and keeping your heart rate in the "fat burning zone" (which will depend on your age and other factors. I am 35 and keep mine in the 125-135 bpm range). Many researchers suggest that in this range, your body burns about 85% fat, while at higher heart rates it burns less. An excercise bike is a great way to go for long periods at a constant level like this -- tough to do on the road. If you are training for something other than weight loss, the above suggestion is not the best way to train. If you don't want to buy a heart rate monitor, I suggest taking your heart rate manually (checking your pulse against a clock) and trying to pinpoint the cadence (how many pedal rotations per minute) at which you maintain that heart rate. That should get you pretty close.
As far as shaping your legs, an exercise bike will help, but going at the above levels will not do as much as really pushing your muscles to the limit (which usually takes you out of the fat burning zone, though). In addition, I have found that nothing builds muscle and cardiovascular endurance like hitting the road on a real bike. Increasing the tension on an exercise bike and actually going up a steep hill are two entirely different things. Both are good for you, however, and if you don't have a bike that is fun to ride outside, you aren't as likely to stick with it. So go with what works.
Good luck!
Exercise Bike?
coder
Dose the Exercise bike help to lose wight from the upper side of the body? if yes, is it as the same level as the lower side, more, or less?
Answer
Depends on the bike. Some bikes engage the arms, however, most do not. The bike isn't for toning up, really, it's a cardio exercise primarily. If you want to tone up, the best way to do that is to do some sort of strength training (our club calls it "Sculpt" class...there's also "body pump" or just working out on the machines, OR it's entirely possibly to do a strength routine at home with a set of handheld weights, and possibly an exercise ball). Strength training should be done 3 days per week, taking a day off in between to let the muscles repair.
Of course the bike helps to tone your legs, but honestly when I do spin, my upper body doesn't get any true toning at all.
Depends on the bike. Some bikes engage the arms, however, most do not. The bike isn't for toning up, really, it's a cardio exercise primarily. If you want to tone up, the best way to do that is to do some sort of strength training (our club calls it "Sculpt" class...there's also "body pump" or just working out on the machines, OR it's entirely possibly to do a strength routine at home with a set of handheld weights, and possibly an exercise ball). Strength training should be done 3 days per week, taking a day off in between to let the muscles repair.
Of course the bike helps to tone your legs, but honestly when I do spin, my upper body doesn't get any true toning at all.
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