Cycling as a Form of Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic exercises are very important especially if you're trying to lose weight. It helps you burn calories much faster than most of your daily activities unless your daily routines consist of heavy physical work. There are lots of different types of aerobic exercises. You can dance, jump around, run, walk, kick box and so on. As long as your heart rate goes up, you exert physical effort and you break a sweat, it'll help you burn those calories and promote an active lifestyle.

One common form of exercise is cycling. Since cycling is an outdoor activity, unless you're on a stationary bike in your home or at a gym, you can always choose to go to different places and go sightseeing while you're at it.

Apart from that, you can go cycling with your family and friends. As most would agree, exercising in a group is much more exciting and fun compared to when you're working out or exercising alone. And there are lots of things to do. Take a long cycling trip in the woods or a park. Eat at stopovers or diners and so on. It's a great experience to share with.

There isn't much of a problem when it comes to equipment. You can buy those mid-range bikes that cost around $75. Well, that's at least how much they are here in Manila. Or you can invest on better bicycles such as lightweight performance mountain bikes or racers.

When it comes to weight loss, cycling can burn lots of calories especially if you do sprints or if you go uphill or on an incline. What I usually do is sprint for around a minute or so and I pedal as hard and go as fast as I can. A word of caution, make sure you have enough room to brake and if you're not used to cycling at high speeds, do it gradually or you may be risking having an accident.

Safety should be considered. There's a much lesser risk of having an accident when you're doing home or gym aerobic exercises. Cycling outdoors can be risky especially if you need to traverse busy streets and uneven or rugged terrain. Be aware of your surroundings and do it as safely as possible.

It may also lead to severe injuries especially if you have problems with your knees or ankles. I would suggest that you visit your physician just to make sure that you are fine. This goes the same if you have a medical condition such as hypertension or a heart problem.

Recently, my family and I went to Quezon City Circle, a famous landmark and a huge park, and we went cycling for an hour or so. We rode on bicycles for rent and had a pretty good time. The path is quite straightforward and can get too crowded. Aside from other bikes, there are also people walking or running around. After cycling, there are a couple of restaurants and fast food chains. We ate burgers and then went home. It was really fun.

In any case, cycling is a fun and effective way of burning calories and can definitely help you in your weight loss program. It's a great alternative to the usual aerobics sessions at a gym or at home. Just make sure you have safety equipments such as a helmet, a pair of knee and arm pads. And before you head out, make sure your bike is in good condition. But most importantly, have fun.