Friday, June 6, 2008

For Better Fitness, Why Not Give Cycling A Whirl?

By Caleb Lee

Here's something most weight lifting trainees don't realize: there is far more to fitness than merely building muscle mass. For trainees who are less serious about bodybuilding, or for bodybuilders who are interested in incorporating some other activities into their overall fitness routine, cycling can be a great idea if you're willing to give it a whirl (pun intended!).

Running, while it is a great cardio workout can be HARD on the runner's joints -- something a bodybuilder can't afford. Cycling offers many of the health benefits offered by running, but without the downsides. Therefore, a lot of bodybuilders would do well to eschew running and/or jogging in favor of more low impact cardio workouts like cycling.

The best thing about cycling is it's an activity which gives you a cardio workout AND is fun to do. It can be just the thing for the bodybuilder looking to take it east on their knee and ankle joints (as well as the layperson concerned with fitness in general). Best of all, it can be enjoyed outside - for many bodybuilders it seems like we spend our entire lives at the gym!

One of the advantages of cycling as opposed to running or jogging is that it can be incorporated into your daily routine. It is feasible for many to get in a good amount of exercise simply by bicycling to work!

If bike commuting is not an option for you (and you'd like to find a way to save some gas money -- a good idea considering the price of gas nowadays!), you can also try running your errands around the neighborhood on a bike rather than driving.

Because you still have all the time you're going to be spending in the gym to think about -- the idea here is to work cycling into your daily life so that you don't have to make time for yet another exercise plan. The truth is: you don't need to spend all day, every day on a bike to get the benefits.

Experts say to get between 1-4 hours of vigorous cycling each week for your cardio needs. If you can work cycling into your daily routine -- especially if biking to work is an option for you -- you should be able to hit these numbers without feeling like you've even worked out at all... and yet you'll still be getting all the healthy benefits and rewards from this type of activity.

I'd have to say that the best part about cycling is it is FUN, which makes it seem more like a treat and less like a trip to the gym (although for lots of trainees, myself included, also would count a a gym trip as enjoyable) while providing a great workout. After all, even if building muscle is your priority (as it is for many bodybuilders), you shouldn't neglect to maintain a general fitness routine which should include cardio.

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