{"id":8301,"date":"2022-07-08T12:21:22","date_gmt":"2022-07-08T16:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brooklynfixedgear.com\/?p=8301"},"modified":"2024-02-05T22:41:44","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T03:41:44","slug":"cycling-and-weightloss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brooklynfixedgear.com\/health-and-wellness\/cycling-and-weightloss\/","title":{"rendered":"Cycling and Weight Loss: 6 Tips to Help You Lose the Pounds (Fast)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cycling can be a fantastic way to add some extra activity to your schedule while simultaneously losing weight. It’s not only a terrific form of cardio, but it’s also a great opportunity to see your city from a different angle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article will cover cycling for weight loss, if weight loss can negatively affect cycling, and how to lose weight while biking<\/strong> so you can cycle the pounds away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cycling can help you lose weight. Riding can increase your activity level, burn calories, enhance your heart health, and make you more fit. However, cycling must be combined with a healthy diet to be successful.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor’s note: This article was updated on July 5, 2022<\/strong>, to include additional information about whe<\/em>ther cycling is good for weight loss.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before learning more about cycling and weight loss, let’s first understand whether cycling is good for weight loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is Cycling Good for Weight Loss?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes! Cycling has various advantages. Riding can help you get more active, burn calories, and enhance your heart health<\/strong>. Aside from these advantages, riding a bike is enjoyable! However, cycling isn’t the only way to lose weight. A balanced diet combined with cycling is essential for success. Adaptive Training: With training that adapts to you, you’ll always get the proper workout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, biking is frequently promoted as a low-impact cardio workout. However, as opposed to running or jogging, it helps you raise your heart rate while putting less strain on your knees, ankles, and other joints. It’s also a wonderful way to help you lose weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image of a medical scale. Source: samuel ramos, unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Five Tip for Losing Weight While Biking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cycling can burn many calories, especially if you go faster than at a leisurely pace<\/strong>. Here are four crucial weight-loss tactics to drop a few pounds with your biking routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Start with a goal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When trying to lose weight, it is common for the focus to shift to the number on the scale. But you should also have a clear goal other than a number. When developing your goal, connect it to an event. By linking your goal to an event, you may make it measurable and timely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Aim for consistency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It takes time and effort to lose weight healthily. Your best ally is consistency. A consistent approach will assist you in analyzing what works and what does not to establish beneficial new habits. Maintain consistency in your diet choices and training through several months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Increase the intensity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pedaling along at a leisurely speed is unlikely to help you lose weight. You will, however, make greater progress toward your weight loss target if you push yourself to work harder and increase the intensity of your ride. The faster you cycle, the more calories you’ll burn in general. This is because your body expends more energy when cycling faster. And the more calories you burn, the more likely you will lose weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cycling at a steady, moderate pace burns about 300 calories in 60 minutes, but you can burn more if you increase the intensity. For example, according to the Harvard Health Letter<\/a>, a 155-pound person can burn up to 298 calories in a 30-minute bike ride if they pedal at a 12-to-13.9 mile per hour. Cycling at this speed will burn 355 calories for a person weighing 185 pounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, a 155-pound person can burn up to 372 calories in 30 minutes at a quicker pace of 14 to 15.9 miles per hour, while a 185-pound person can burn 444 calories in that time frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Opt for high-intensity interval training (HIIT)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you want to lose fat and lose weight, HIIT can be a wonderful approach to pushing your body. In HIIT, short bursts of intensive activity are alternated with intervals of low-intensity exercise. For example, a HIIT workout with a bike might look like this: For 30 to 60 seconds, cycle as rapidly as you can against high resistance. Then, do 2 to 3 minutes of low-resistance cycling. Continue in this manner for the next 20 to 30 minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This workout can help you burn more calories in less time while improving your aerobic fitness and weight loss. According to a 2017 study, HIIT and moderate-intensity continuous training reduced fat mass by 10% after a 12-week program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The advantages do not end there. When you stop cycling, and your workout is finished, your metabolism continues to function. This means that even after your workout and your body return to its normal resting state, it still burns calories faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image of a man working out at the gym. Source: anastase maragos, unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

5. Go further<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Try to go a bit further. This is the concept of endurance training. According to research, endurance training may assist in burning fat, aiding in weight loss. When aiming to improve endurance, it’s best to start slowly. So, if you start with 10 to 15 minutes of cycling in one session, you can gradually add a few minutes to each session until you reach at least 150 minutes of riding every week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Determine your success<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Keeping track of your statistics allows you to measure your progress, but it also allows you to celebrate your successes. That meant weighing in daily and tracking your weekly weight and body composition trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skinfold calipers<\/a> and a body composition scale are simple tools for measuring body composition. Utilize a Tanita Body Fat Scale. Using one of these scales every day was quite effective. Just make sure you measure in similar conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always measure under the same conditions for the best results. Check that the time of day is consistent, that you are not wearing any clothing, and that your nutrition and hydration before the measurement are accounted for if not regulated. Below are a few products that can help you measure your results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n[azonpress template=”grid” asin=”B00B2MIDFY,B078HHZ7GV,B000FYZMYK”]\n\n\n\n

How far should you ride?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When biking to lose weight, duration is more important than distance. You don’t have to cycle the Tour de France to lose weight. Start with a basic test if you’re new to biking. Track 30 minutes of biking using your odometer (a GPS watch or smartphone app). Note the time in your workout record and strive to lower it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’ll run farther and burn more calories as your fitness level rises. Schedule longer rides as you gain confidence. Three times per week, take one short (30-minute) bike ride, one moderate (45-minute) ride, and one long (60-120-minute) ride.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How fast should you cycle?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Workout intensity is more important than speed. A more intense ride will burn more calories than a less intense one. Your intensity (how hard you work) and speed will be affected by the sort of bike you ride and the trail you choose (how fast you travel). For example, if you’re riding a big mountain bike at 12 miles per hour on muddy off-road tracks, you’ll undoubtedly have to work quite hard. However, riding a road bike down a hill can almost attain that speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider learning to understand how to utilize a heart rate monitor. The device accurately determines how hard you are working. Aim to work at 70 to 75 percent of your maximum heart rate for most rides.<\/strong> Use the perceived exertion scale if you don’t want to invest in a monitor. For example, you should feel like you’re working at level 7 on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being maximal exertion). It would help if you inhale deeply but are not tired or out of breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can weight loss negatively affect cycling?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rapid weight loss<\/a> frequently results in muscle loss. So if you want to lose weight by cycling, don’t forget to hit the gym as well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want even more tips, watch this video called “How to Lose Weight with Cycling (with an expert Sports Dietitian)”<\/em> from the Cam Nicholls YouTube Channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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