Getting Fit – Riding Your Bike
Seems like every where you look there is an emphasis on health and fitness. It may be because so many Americans are now considered obese and are suffering the health related issues that come with that. However, as most of us have discovered it is easy to want to get fit, but actually doing something about it is much harder. The first step in you journey to fitness is to recognize that there is no easy, overnight solution to the problem. Regardless what the TV commercials tell you, there is no magic pill or program that will instantly make you slimmer. It takes a while to get out of shape and it likewise takes a while to get in shape. If there is a secret it is, are you ready for this? You have to eat less and move more! There, now you have the key to success!
Seriously though, there are some easy things that you can do to help you in your quest. One of the best non impacting exercises you can do is riding a bicycle. So we can look at a few ways to incorporate those rides into your overall program:
Establish a routine: is has been shown over and over that we humans are creatures of habit. So, you need to create some healthy habits. Consider creating a plan with goals and timelines keep it in a prominent place for motivation (on the refrigerator or on an office file cabinet). You can choose miles ridden per week as a good staring point.
Track your Training: logging your training is an excellent motivator, too. It’s rewarding to look back and see how much you’ve accomplished, and it fuels your desire to do more. All that’s required is a notebook. For each ride, jot the date, distance, time and a brief description of the ride with any details you feel like tracking such as the weather or who you rode with. Details like these will make the ride come alive when you’re reviewing your workouts, later.
Track the Data Details: you can also enter specifics such as your resting morning heart rate, how you felt, your average speed, body weight, any foods you tried on the ride, even new bike equipment. The data can be as detailed and specific or as casual as you like. The more detailed it is, though, the easier it’ll be to interpret the data to determine why you felt good or bad on given days/rides.
Eating: be sure to follow a sensible diet with your riding regimen, too. Eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day will keep your energy levels high and your metabolism going. Many cyclists find that snacking on energy bars is a great way to get a boost during the day. And they drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Set Reasonable Expectations: don’t rush fitness gains, either. As stated earlier, it took a while to get out of shape so let your body gradually get in shape. And keep it fun because the more fun you have, the more likely it is that you’ll achieve your goals.
Find a Partner: finding a partner or two with similar abilities and goals can be a big help in enjoying your riding. And committing to ride with someone else serves as a strong motivator. If you don’t have a ride partner, check with a local bike shop to find out about the group rides in our area.
So, remember eat less, ride more! Soon you’ll be enjoying new rides, making friends and getting healthier, all while having a ton of fun!
Alan is an emarketer for an online bike shop that carries over 30,000
bike parts and bike
accessories for road bikes, mountain bikes, commuters and
cruisers. Visit us at bikepartsexpress.com
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