Spinning – Indoor Cycling

To update you on my sugar finding: Since my last post, I’ve taken my advice and cut out all extra sugar intake and I’ve lost 6 pounds and broke through my plateau level of 191. I’m now at 188 and going lower.

Indoor cycling is a form of exercise that involves using a stationary exercise bicycle in a classroom setting. The concept was created in the 1980s by ultra-endurance athlete Jonathan Goldberg (“Johnny G.”). Participants set goals based on their heart rate, which can be measured by hand or using a heart rate monitor. You will burn 500 calories or more in one 45 minute session!
A typical class involves a single instructor at the front of the class who leads the participants in a number of different types of cycling. The routines are designed to simulate terrain and situations encountered in actual bicycle rides, including hill climbs, sprints and interval training. Coasting downhill, however, is not simulated. The instructor uses music and enthusiastic coaching to motivate the students to work harder.

Each person in the class can choose his/her own goals for the session. Some participants choose to maintain a moderate, aerobic intensity level, while others drive their heart rates higher in intervals of anaerobic activity.

Here’s the official spinning website: http://www.spinning.com/

Since joining Gold’s gym, I’ve been going to the spin class and it is the best cardio workout I’ve ever done. I was a little scared at first, thinking “can I make it through the class without embarrassment?” So it took some determination for me to finally walk into the class the first time and I’m glad I did. Fortunately for me the instructor, Coreen put me at ease when she started the class. She always looks for new people and helps them setup, learns their name and adjust the bike properly. It’s important to have the seat and the handlebars adjusted to the correct height. Once I was ready to start, she starts the class by announcing this class is for you, you decide how much you want to get out of the class by adjusting the tension knob higher for a stronger workout or lower if you want a lighter workout. If you start huffing and puffing you are working too hard. That’s what I appreciate most about this class. You get to decide what level of intensity to use. Its best to try to match the instructor’s requests that way you will maximize the workout in your favor. Also the class routinely employs background music and low lighting so you get a rhythmic cadence going in sync with the beat of the music.

I strongly suggest you locate a spin class near you and start going. Its fun, healthy and once you start you will never be out of breath the next time you exert yourself.

Another fact, since I started spinning I’ve noticed an enhanced mental state and I just found an article that explains why. Here it is: According to an article by medical journalist Susan Aldridge, Ph.D., reporting from the American Psychological Association meeting of August 11th, 2006, scientists at the University of Illinois have found that regular exercise reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s and other degenerative mental diseases, even in those with a genetic predisposition toward these ailments. One study examining 62-70 year olds showed that those who exercised as little as 15-30 minutes per day just three times a week, or remained otherwise physically active following retirement, exhibited increased blood flow to the brain and improved cognitive functioning.