Cycling Keeps You Fit But Are You Doing Enough to Stay Healthy?
Cycling Keeps You Fit But Are You Doing Enough to Stay Healthy?Cycling is a great way to keep you fit but are you doing enough to stay healthy? It burns calories, helps prevent weight gain and can help lower your risk of several diseases.
Cycling is an easy exercise to incorporate into your lifestyle. It’s also a great way to get outdoors, socialise and discover new views.
- Cycling is a low-impact form of exercise
If you are a fan of a challenge then cycling may be the perfect exercise for you. It is a low-impact form of exercise that can help you achieve the 150 minutes of physical activity recommended by many health guidelines.
It is also a great way to get around as it is relatively easy to start and is suitable for most fitness levels. This means that it can be a great addition to your daily routine, especially when you consider that cycling can save you money on travel costs and also helps the environment.
One study found that people who cycled to work or school were more likely to achieve their weekly target of 150 minutes of physical activity. They also found that cycling improved their time and workload management, boosted their motivation, and made them feel more relaxed.
Regular cyclists report a feeling of well-being that is similar to the “runner’s high” and this can improve your mood and promote positive mental health. This makes it a particularly good activity for those with anxiety or depression.
Another benefit of cycling is that it can increase your stamina. This is important as it can help you to get the most out of your workouts by increasing your ability to train for longer or at a higher intensity.
It can also be a great form of resistance training for your lower body, as your glutes, quads, and hamstrings are all activated when you are cycling. This makes it a fantastic option for anyone who is looking to build up their strength but does not want to spend a lot of time in the gym.
Finally, it can help improve your lung function and protect you from respiratory diseases. This is because the air you exhale during cycling can stimulate your lungs and encourage them to work harder, which can reduce the risk of infection from bacterial or viral diseases.
It is also an ideal form of exercise if you have any health issues such as arthritis or osteoarthritis, as it does not put a lot of stress on your joints. This can be a big relief for sufferers as it can help to reduce pain and fatigue during treatment.
- It is a great way to get around
Cycling is a great way to get around and it’s easy to fit into your life. It’s a perfect way to avoid traffic, save time and get a fresh perspective of your city. It’s also a sustainable way to get your errands done and it will help the environment.
It’s a low-impact form of exercise and it doesn’t require special clothing or expensive equipment. You can start with short rides on a road bike in traffic-free areas, and build up to longer or more intense routes if you want to.
If you’re new to cycling, it’s important to practice safe riding techniques. This will help to keep you and other cyclists safe. Remember to follow the law, stay on the road and don’t ride in front of cars or pedestrians.
You should also check your tyre pressures. This is usually written on the sidewall of the tyre and you should adjust them accordingly. Keeping your tyres properly inflated can make a big difference to how smoothly you cycle and how efficiently your ride is.
A bike is also much more environmentally friendly than a car. It uses around 5 per cent less energy to make, produces zero pollution and takes up just as little space.
It is also more socially friendly than driving. It’s much easier to cycle in a group and it can be a good way to meet new people.
Cycling is also a great way to get active and it’s a fun activity for families. Children love to ride their bikes and it can help them to develop their fitness and coordination.
In fact, the British Heart Foundation says that cycling 20 miles a week can reduce your risk of heart disease by half and it has been shown to improve sleep in older people.
It can also help you feel more energetic throughout the day, because it burns calories and gets your body working harder. It can also improve your mood and help you deal with stress.
It is also a great way to get more exercise, so you can achieve the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity each week. You can start by taking a walk or cycling to work some days. If you are feeling confident and have the equipment, you can even try cycling to the shops or park or school.
- It is a great way to burn calories
Cycling keeps you fit but are you doing enough to stay healthy?
Regular exercise has been linked to lower risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and heart attacks. It strengthens your heart muscles, increases circulation and reduces blood fat levels. In addition, it improves lung function and helps you lose weight.
If you ride at a constant speed for 30 minutes, you’re likely to burn more calories than if you did the same routine for an hour. However, cyclists who perform interval training have an even greater calorie-burning advantage.
For example, cyclists who go out for a high-intensity interval session burn more than three times as many calories in one hour as people who do steady rides. The reason is that fast intervals challenge your body’s ability to turn fat into energy.
It also stimulates muscle growth. Muscle is leaner than fat and, as a result, burns more calories than fat.
You can burn up to 650 kilojoules (kcal) per hour while riding. This is similar to the amount of kilojoules burnt by a professional athlete during a race or endurance event like the Tour de France.
Calories are calculated by multiplying the distance you cycled by your average speed in miles per minute. If you’re a 150-pound person, cycling an hour at 5 mph will burn about 250 calories.
The best way to burn calories while cycling is to choose a distance and terrain that you’re comfortable with. You’ll want to do something that you can keep up with on a regular basis, otherwise you’re more likely to get bored and quit.
As you become more confident, you can start doing intervals to help you burn even more calories. It’s also a good idea to alternate between riding long and short distances in order to prevent plateauing.
Another benefit of cycling for weight loss is that it will strengthen your immune system, helping to fight infections. A study found that individuals who biked an hour a day were about 40 percent less likely to contract illnesses than those who didn’t.
In addition, cyclists have a lower resting pulse than those who walk or run, so they’re less susceptible to conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. They’re also able to breathe more deeply and have better oxygen supply for the brain, heart and muscles, so they’re less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke.
- It is a great way to socialise
Riding a bike is a great way to socialise but are you doing enough to stay healthy? It can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life, but taking a little time out to get outdoors and enjoy nature is not only beneficial for your health, but it can also improve your mental state.
Cycling is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities, and it is not only great for your physical wellbeing but for your social life as well. It is an activity that is not only fun but can also help to strengthen relationships with friends and family members, and it is a fantastic way to spend quality time together.
If you are a beginner cyclist, joining a group ride is a great way to socialise with other cyclists and learn new skills. For example, you can learn how to draft behind other cyclists and make your journey faster by doing this.
There are many different types of cycling groups available online so it is important to look for one that suits your personal needs and fitness level. You can also ask around and see if there are any local groups that are close to you so that you can join them on your next ride.
A recent study found that people who exercise with friends and family are much more likely to keep up their regular routines than those who do so on their own. This is because combining exercise and socialising helps to create accountability for your health and fitness goals, which can be a major motivator for getting out there and keeping up with your regular workouts.
Another study from the University of California found that socialising with other people releases a happy hormone called oxytocin, which is known to be good for your overall mental health. This hormone is responsible for calming your body and mind.
It is also a good idea to take part in a cycling event or festival if you are looking for ways to get involved with your community and meet new people. There are a number of different cycling events and festivals across the country, so it is definitely worth checking out your local ones to find something suitable for you.
