Notice that the title proclaims "the fun way", not "the easy way", as so many diet/exercise/fitness/dance/workout modalities do. Losing weight is NOT easy! But it can be fun, and the most fun way I know is riding the bicycle. I have included before and after photos for your perusal as testimony to this method: IT WORKS! Why do I say it is fun? Let me count the ways. Number one, losing weight is good for your health, no doubt about that. Next, riding bikes triggers all sorts of good results, such as increased metabolism, so that you continue to burn calories long after you have gotten of the bike for the day. It increases your stamina and endurance for all the other things you want to do during your day. If you are like me at all, there are simply not enough hours in the day to do/accomplish all the things we want to or need to do. Of course, your appearance will improve. For me, one of the biggest thrills was being able to get into jeans that I had not worn for many years....if you've lost weight, you can relate to what I am saying here. Is that enough? Oh, the compliments you will get are great for your ego and eggs you on to bigger and bigger goals to reach. All of this adds up to alot of FUN!
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I had ridden a bike off and on in recent years, but got discouraged after a few minor injuries. After a few years off the bike, my weight had gotten up to around 215 lbs. I am short, but this was simply too much weight to be carrying around. So in August of last year, 2011, I made up my mind to start riding again with the view of losing as much weight as I could.
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Just try it you will see.
But remember you won't succeed if you don't want to. ;)
Naturally the article advocates avoiding high fat, high sugar, high carbohydrate foods in favor of more fruits and vegetables. It also argues home athletes defeat themselves by trying to do too much too intensely. Rest and recovery are important parts of training, too. The article advised 16 weeks of easy riding to get ready for the more intense workouts. Then ride two to three times a week at around 45 minutes to an hour per session. The ride intensity is about the place where breathing through one's nose is about to become breathing through one's mouth. (That is what I discovered by using a heart rate monitor watch to follow the recommendations.) On the weekends add a ride about 90 minutes in length at the same intensity.
The researchers found it takes about 30 minutes of riding at the suggested pace to begin converting stored fat to energy.
Cycling does not train all of the body, so some resistance exercises with stretch bands were encouraged by the Selle Royal study.
I lost quite a bit of weight with a bicycle, too. Weight loss was not as fast as when I was younger, and there were frustrating plateaus. The one big mistake I made was not using sun protection. An event with a skin cancer means I now need to cover up if I cycle during daylight hours.
The problem is that he is adept at age 60 the vegetarian way of life and a habit of many years of cycling, my region (interior of sao paulo) is very favorable for the practice of cycling because it is very flat roads and climate good the whole year (about 25 to 30o.Celsius).
Result: I took a tremendous earful from my way of life wrong.
From now on I will concientizar and seek ways to improve.
Congratulations ...
Sorry for the mistakes in grammar, because not mastered the English language and still use the feature translator online.
I dont think it is bad taking the dog out twice a day. As long as you dont try to run faster than the dog it cannot be considered as a real exercise, more as some healthy movements.
Anyway congrats on your achievement and glad to see the positive effects!
Used to have a terrific 12-speed Diamondback, but it got stolen...and I still have the bike computer head I used to use.
Guess I gotta spend some money, then....
Your story is an inspiration to us all. Thank you for sharing with us and I hope my story will be as successful as yours is.
Same here, Ive been biking seriously for the last 25 years.
- Do all of my local shopping by bike, anything within 5mi
- Ride ~2K mi / yr
- Cut calories down to ~1K a day
- Am 95% vegetarian, except for occasional party food
- 5' 9", 145 lbs, BMI 18
- Switched to a recumbent Bikee in 95, even more fun!
- No skeletal issues any more
Its The way to go!
Next came physical activity. For me, my predominant activity is Bikram Yoga. I also ride a bicycle, mostly to and from yoga.
As important as exercise is, it's only part of the equation. The most dominant factor is food. Checkout durienrider at 30bananasaday.com ...not sure if the comments screen out domains, but it's the number thirty - 30 - followed by bananas a day dotcom. I have no ties or interest in promoting the site other than I think the message of what you eat is even more important than physical activity.
Again, congratulations, and I hope you'll look at the info on what to eat
I started my lifestyle change in the late part of September. I stopped eating junk (except small splurges on Friday afternoons) and became a vegetarian. I started going to the gym regularly and joined a yoga class several times a week. I even ran in my first 5k!
Exercise and diet changed my life. I have lost 35 pounds and feel so much better about myself. It has never once been easy, but it has been fun like you said. I'm glad that you wrote this Instructable and hope this is an inspiration to a lot of other people.
As a side note I bought a bike a few days ago and plan to replace my commute to and from work with a nice ride.