Is Spinning a Good Way to Lose Weight?

If you are currently in the process of trying to lose weight or just live healthier, exercising is one thing that you have to incorporate into your daily activities. Not only does it help you shed the excess fat, but it also makes you fit, improving your overall health. With the rapid improvement in technology, there is a variety of equipment used for working out, but the one that has proven to be effective over time is the spin cycle. Although you might look at spin bikes like simple gadgets, there is more than what meets the eye when you get on them. Unlike a regular bicycle, you stand a chance to lose a considerable amount of calories (read about losing weight with exercise bikes) while also toning your muscles to provide sufficient strength throughout your exercises. Furthermore, if you have limited room at home (see Tips for Working Out in Apartments), spin bikes are excellent space-savers!

Below are some tips to get the most out of your spin workout and lose those unwanted pounds.

Gradually Increase Workout Difficulty

When you first get on the spin bike, you should start at a slower pace to allow your body to cope with new activities. However, as you proceed, keep increasing the rate and resistance until you establish a comfortable activity level. Once you reach this level, get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself by increasing the speed or resistance. You will burn more calories by pushing yourself to exceed your limits. A side effect of a solid workout is that it increases your metabolism and continues to burn calories, even after you’ve finished!

If you’re looking to get into spinning from home and don’t want to spend too much money, take a look at our comparison of the best spin bikes for under $500.

Check Your Diet

Spinning is only successful if you watch what you eat. Junk food and other poor diet choices can quickly reduce or eliminate the benefits of all your hard work exercising. You will keep working continuously while achieving nothing, and in the worst-case scenario, you end up adding weight. Therefore as you stay determined on channeling all your energy on spinning, exercise some discipline, and cut off all the foods that can derail your journey. Specialists are helpful for setting you on a strict diet that will work with your exercise routine to provide all the energy you need, without the fat.

Split Your Workouts

Between going to work, coming back home to clear any other household activities, and wanting to relax, you might realize you do not have sufficient time to complete one long round of spinning as per your expectations. The best way to approach such a situation is locating when you have breaks between errands and splitting the workout into two or three equal rounds. Although your worry might be not achieving your goal, having shorter spinning sessions between chores can motivate you to work even harder to beat the time. You may realize that you surpass your target when working this way. Also, you achieve two or three after-burn effects in a day instead of one.

Related: Read our review of the Yosuda spin bike

Incorporate Resistance Bands

One effect of spinning is the building of muscles, which results in a higher resting metabolic rate; hence you lose more calories. Therefore, any other method of building muscles will help speed up this process. Incorporating resistance band training into your normal routine is a good way to enhance your muscle tone. You can spare time to use them two or three times a week, and within a short period, you will start to see the difference. There are many types of resistance bands; therefore, when selecting, ensure that you talk to your supplier about your needs to get the right one. Furthermore, you can involve an expert to guide you in choosing the best resistance bands exercises.

Don’t Starve Yourself

One assumption that most people make is that working on an empty stomach yields better results, but it is wrong in all kinds of ways. Spinning is a very intensive activity that requires the right amount of energy, which can only come from food. Therefore, before you sit on that saddle, ensure you eat well a few minutes before working out so that you can go through the process without any difficulties. This way, your body benefits a lot since you do not overwork it. Also, after working out, take something light to replenish the lost energy as your system will still be working out minutes later. Furthermore, intake of water before, during, and after your workout provides the right environment for your metabolism.

Spin bikes are an excellent way to lose weight, either quickly or over time. The strenous workouts afforded by spin bikes can burn calories faster than most other common exercises. It is a low-impact workout and something that can be done on a consistent basis without taxing the body to a great extent. Ensure that you maintain a healthy diet, split your workouts if possible, and incorporate additional training to get the most out of your exercise routine.