Biking
So here's a little about me:
I am 20 years old and am a bit over weight. I have recently just bought myself a bike that I plan on riding daily with weather permitting. I'd love to get my strength back in my legs. I'm also looking to loose weight around my thighs, hips, and belly. But here is the other twist, I am on a birth control that has me at a steady weight and won't allow me to loose it very easily. Will biking a few miles a day help that? Will it at least help me loose some body baggage?
I will say now that I have been dieting for about the last 2 months. I have a good breakfast, a lunch that consists of fruit and protein and then a small but healthy dinner and I try to stay away from sweets as much as possible but you have to admit, you cave in once and a while. There still has not been any weight loss with my dieting so I am hoping with the vigorous exercise of biking and my dieting it will help.
Any advice?
Hi Winged! Congrats on geting started biking. My advice would be to start with a short daily ride, maybe 20-30 minutes moderate exertion and then increase that as you get used to it. Your diet sounds pretty good as-is, just don't fall into the tendency to increase calories as your exercise level goes up.
Guess the main thing is starting. Good for you! Good luck, hun. Let us know how it goes.
Pat
I agree with p3375.
Definitely go for a ride everyday. Like p said 20-30 minutes. Also, try to ride it anyway you would drive that you can, grocery store, work, school, etc. I've been riding my bike for transportation for the last few months and found that it's just as fast as driving so there's really no point in getting in the car.
Each week add some distance on to your exercise rides and try to find some hills as well. Try to resist shifting it to an easy gear, when you get to a hill- push harder, this will help with the strength part and you'll burn more calories if you're working harder.
Enjoy, it's fun!
It is such a great exercise, I think you are going to love it! I know I do!
Start out at a comfortable pace for yourself, 30 minutes or so on the bike, as you get comfortable with your new bike and your skill, increase your time and intensity. You might want to think about buying a bike computer that will give you an idea of your speed so you know how much you're exherting yourself..
Another must have, if you plan on spending an hour or longer on a bike is a pair of bike shorts - the ones with the sewn in chamois (cushion)... if you're not keen on wearing tight bike shorts, throw a pair of baggy shorts over them, but trust me - your booty will thank you for the extra cushion during your ride!! No saddle butt later
Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I will say that right now, I don't have the strength to get up hills. Going downhill is a favorite of mine.
Yesterday my fiance, myself and his younger brother all went riding. I believe we went on a good 3-4 mile ride. Today we had planned about the same sort of ride.
I used to ride all the time when I was younger, one of my favorite things to do and then my parents got rid of my bike and I haven't had one for about 3 years. Got myself up and got one the other day from Walmart and I haven't been able to stay off the thing!
I will say my butt is quite sore. My seat honestly sucks but I'm getting used to it and it doesn't hurt as bad anymore. I don't really wear anything particular. I just wear either jeans or Capris when I am out riding since it's fairly hot out currently. I always have to bring a change of shoes though if I'm wearing capris that day since it's hard to ride in flip flops lol
Of course going down hill is fun, you're just cruising. But if you honestly want to get exercise and lose weight you're going to have to work hard and do some little hills.
When I go for rides, I don't even factor in the time or distance going downhill because all I'm doing is sitting on my bike, I may as well be here on the computer, it's about the same.
Little hills are no big deal for me really, I can do them but it takes me a bit to get up them. Extremely big hills I can't do very well right now. I honestly have no leg strength at all so it's a bit of a challenge for me right now but I'll get there.
Where we go riding, there is only real one big hill that we cruise down. All the rest is pretty much straight aways and small hills.
Should I be able to loose some weight though with this method even on birth control?
I've been doing everything I possibly can to loose weight these last few months and nothing seems to be helping.
The hills will get easier for you as you keep biking - it takes some time. I was in the same boat, I had to walk my bike up the big hills, but after you ride more, increase your speed and intesity, those hills will be managable.
You can lose weight by biking as it is a good exercise, but it needs to be more than a casual ride here or there to see any significant results in weight loss - multiple times a week for at least 30 minutes each time, moderate to high intensity. A casual 3 mile ride here and there done without much of a sweat or heavy breathing will not give you much of a burn so you won't see much loss.
Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I sweat and breathe hard every ride we go on.
Yesterday was a 3-4 mile ride, it'll be the same today and we plan on going every day as the weather permits.
I have to walk my bike up hills pretty much all the time, even when I was biking when I was younger. We go around areas where there are hills but not massive ones and I can get up those just fine even though I'm a bit slow lol
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