Biggest Loser has kicked off!! Anyone else?

Emilia6909

Day 2 of BL and I'm stoked that my fitness level is much better than I thought it would be. My stomach muscles were screaming for help this morning....
I have a spinning class to look forward to tomorrow morning! Never done spinning before - any tips on how to stay ON bike would be much appreciated!!

fatpoppy

What is a spinning class?:noway:

Emilia6909

Spinning is 45 minutes of high impact cycling.... I'm definitely going to make an *kitten* of myself tomorrow LOL

blondishandbookish

Tips for spinning

Take water (in fact take 2 bottles of water). Take a towel. You are going to sweat. You are going to want water.

Personally I don't wear cycling shorts and wear bog standard trainers - other people in my class wear cleats and cycling shorts. However, if you haven't cycled on a regular basis, then you may feel saddle sore.

Get the instructor to show you how to set up the bike. If like me, you listen closely but forget the following week having used my memory for more important things, then ask again. After a bit, you will learn how you like it setting up - handlebars level or slightly higher.

Tell them you haven't done it before. If like me, you struggle to hear people over loud music, then go to the front - I end up just guessing most of the time.

Most important thing to remember - spinning is essentially an individual activity done in a group. Turning up your resistance only affects your bike - therefore keep going, but also take it slightly easy on your first couple of times. Good instructors will notice if a) you aren't doing enough b) doing too much. The bike is unlikely to break/ fall over/ hurt you in this class. You will probably go through the phase of absolutely hating the instructor, wishing various torments on them during this class. Afterwards, you are likely to feel noble, virtous and very very wobbly. The wobblingness is a temporary affliction and normally wears off after the shower. If you haven't worked these muscles, then you may ache the following day. Again, temporary.

Finally, always keep the legs going round; for some reason, stopping means its really hard to restart. IF this does happen, just pedal backwards to get it moving.
Depending on the class, they will tell you to change your posture/ stance - just follow everyone else.

The really good thing - it lasts 45 mins/ an hour, burns loads of cals and is over relatively quickly. Fitness wise, I restarted spinning after a very long time not doing it (over a year) and would say it took about 2/3 weeks of going twice a week to get back into it. The body does get used to it quite fast. Finally, different instructors run the classes in different styles/music so don't necessarily write it off on the first time.

Emilia6909

Thanks for your time to reply with all the useful tips.

I did it... the full SIXTY minutes of it!! Was hectic and yes, my behind is SO sore, I can't sit down without moaning when I cough or move. Going to invest in a gel seat cover. Keeping me usual trainers.

Workout was awesome. Tough and just like you say.... I had some awful thoughts on how to take the instructor down! LOL
It looked like I had stepped out of a shower afterwards.... worth it though!! Will definitely do again!!