Bicycling... benefits... weight loss!

VasylP
VasylP Posts: 136 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Just recently, like two weeks ago I got back out on my bike. It has probably been about 15 years or more that I did any riding at all, so it was kind of nice to get back on the iron steed that rode from Vancouver, BC to Montreal, QC back in 1986.

Since February I have been going to the gym three days a week and on off days I would so strength work at home mainly isometric exercises and band stuff for biceps and triceps.
In adding my bike back into my new lifestyle, I have discovered a couple of things:

First, I really do push myself more when I am out on the road as opposed to being on a stationary bike at the gym, in addition, there is astuteness one has to have when riding on the cruddy roads here in Quebec, not to mention dealing with drivers, cats, dogs and squirrels.

Second, those little inclines of even 3-5 % gradient force you to work harder in a number of ways. First by understanding the gearing of your bike and using it and secondly once you have selected a gear to push yourself to crest the rise.

Third, when you are biking you can burn a hell of a lot of calories, because you are using some of the biggest muscles in your body.

These were things I always knew, from my years of experience on a bike throughout the 1980s. I'm glad I'm back to it, and I know that during the summer it will help me reaching my goal of my ideal body weight or not far from it from by mid October of this year.

While these are things I knew, just recently there was an article in Bicycling Magazine that affirmed some of my past knowledge which I would like to share with you all. The article was called "6 Reasons Biking Boosts Weight Loss" And you guys can read it here: http://tinyurl.com/bg25j73

Replies

  • sh0emann
    sh0emann Posts: 46
    Great article, thanks for sharing.
  • VasylP
    VasylP Posts: 136 Member
    Shoemann, no problem we are in similar boats.. I am not trying to conjure up the knowledge of my previously healthier self in this journey. At times there are things that are coming back naturally, hopefully within a few weeks I will be getting in the pool a few times a week as well. I swam competitively for many years and some of my classmates in high school used to say I must have been born in a ocean somewhere. I suggest doing what comes natural and you don't find tedious.
  • biswas
    biswas Posts: 5
    I enjoyed your article! THANKS
  • DesignGuy
    DesignGuy Posts: 457 Member
    That's awesome. I started running in the desert recently and on G+ I joined some bike groups because I want to do some biking later this year.

    I can't workout in a gym at all. I'm a play outside kind of guy. If I am forced into a gym, I'll just quit. It's so boring! When you go outside, you get to experience life, you get to feel the differences in terrain and you can change your routes, explore and keep things fresh.

    Only downside to biking for me is my *kitten* doesn't like the seat. :)
  • JamBlaze
    JamBlaze Posts: 90 Member
    I recently bought a bike after having not gone near one for fifteen years. I live in London, and cycling on the busy roads can be quite scary, but I'm enjoying it! One thing I've noticed though is there's a big disparity between what my bike tracker app tells me I've burnt (calorie-wise) and what MFP estimates - MFP always estimates lower.

    On one hand, I usually veer on the side of caution and enter in a lower number into my calorie log. On the other, my tracker app takes into account things like speed and incline changes, which surely makes it more accurate than MFP...?

    Curious to know if anyone else has found this!
  • anaconda469
    anaconda469 Posts: 3,474 Member
    I recently bought a bike after having not gone near one for fifteen years. I live in London, and cycling on the busy roads can be quite scary, but I'm enjoying it! One thing I've noticed though is there's a big disparity between what my bike tracker app tells me I've burnt (calorie-wise) and what MFP estimates - MFP always estimates lower.

    On one hand, I usually veer on the side of caution and enter in a lower number into my calorie log. On the other, my tracker app takes into account things like speed and incline changes, which surely makes it more accurate than MFP...?

    Curious to know if anyone else has found this!

    I use a heart rate monitor, give you a way more accurate calorie burn. MFP way over estimates biking calories burned.

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