Time to Get Back on the Trusty Stationary Bike

By Jeska @WandererJeska

Cycling outdoors is a great way to exercise. You get to enjoy fresh air and sunshine while you burn off calories. It is also an efficient and thrifty way to commute while you build your muscles. You get connected to the environment and your neighbors as well. Cycling provides you the energy to start the day right, helps you to age well and it can be a lot of fun. But not everyone can go cycling outside the home. If you are one of those people who love to exercise and cycling is something that you miss, don’t fret because the trusty stationary bike can once again be your best friend. You can moderate your activity with a stationary bike if you are a beginner or increase the intensity for a more demanding workout if you are fitter.

Fun and Easy to do

Your day can be crazy and hectic most of the time, giving you little opportunity to exercise properly – something that most people think. In reality, you do not have to always go to the gym to exercise because there are still many things you can do, at work or at home, that will keep you moving to keep you fit.

If you haven’t been exercising regularly and wants to start a new exercise program, try to find something easy to do and enjoyable. A good choice if you’re a novice or starting anew or if you suffer from joint, knee or back problem that make walking or running difficult, is a stationary bike.

A stationary bike is easier to use than an elliptical machine or a treadmill. It is indoors so you do not have to worry about bad weather, giving you more opportunities to exercise. You do not have to find the time to go to the gym and spend hours on the road traveling to and fro. There are other benefits as well because you can use your stationary bike while watching television, so you get entertained while burning fat and calories. You’ll have a good supply of oxygen into your blood stream, too.

Using a stationary bike at home prevents you from worrying about your exercise wear as well. You can don your old gym clothes or exercise in your house clothes for all you care. You do not have to spend your hard-earned cash for flashy gym outfits that are quite expensive. A stationary bike costs cheaper than a treadmill or an elliptical machine. It also takes up less room and easier to store.

Several Benefits

Burn more calories daily by spending around 30 minutes on a stationary bike. This will help you manage your weight easier. You can burn around 260 calories if you weigh 155 pounds and go at a moderate pace for half an hour. If you increase the intensity, you can burn more.

Using a stationary bike is good for your joints. It provides you with aerobic activity to get your heart pumping without putting stress on your joints. It is recommended for persons who are 50 or more pounds overweight because the risk of injury is lower. It reduces the stress on the ankles, knees, hips and back for overweight persons, compared to walking.

Riding a stationary bike provides you with cardio benefits as well. It is actually considered as a cardiovascular exercise that can help regulate your blood sugar, lower high blood pressure and in some cases, even prevent heart attacks. Consider riding a stationary bike five times a week for half an hour each day.

If you want a more organized indoor cycling activity using a stationary bike, there are exercise classes that are available online and onsite, where the focus is on group fitness. It’s a combination of strength, endurance and HIIT training that gives you something similar to a road bike experience.