A lot of people swear by cycling for staying fit and keeping trim. Of course, it’s not just a case of cycling to and from work once or twice a week, if you want to use cycling to achieve your dream body, it will take more than that. Cycling can offer a great way to get in shape and stay looking good, but only if you take it seriously and understand what it takes to get the most out of your bike.
Below are some useful tips for achieving a slimmer and sleeker body through cycling (and eating healthily).
Invest in a good bike
Don’t already have a bike? Then you’re going to need to buy one. If you can’t afford to buy a good quality bike outright, consider getting it on finance. Yes, just like you can get electronics on finance, you can also get sports equipment. Whether you buy your bike outright or finance it, it’s important to ensure that it is properly protected. A lot of people don’t think twice about the concept of bicycle accident claims, until they’re in an accident, that is. If you’re going to be riding on the roads, it’s a good idea to protect your bike and yourself by taking out insurance.
Always eat breakfast before riding
Just like with any form of exercise, to get the most out of cycling, you need energy. If you don’t eat breakfast before heading out on a bike ride, you’ll lack energy and won’t be able to make the most of your workout. Plus, by skipping breakfast your body will hold onto fat stores instead of starting to burn them off. So, it’s crucial to have breakfast before heading off. Whether you opt to have a piece of fruit or a bowl of porridge, it doesn’t matter, just as long as you’re having something to eat.
Track your progress
To ensure that cycling is helping you to lose weight and get in shape, it’s a good idea to track your progress. This is important as if you don’t track how you’re doing, you won’t know whether cycling is having the desired effect. The best way to track your activity is by using a sports watch, such as a Fitbit, for instance, while cycling. Or, if you don’t have a sports watch, weighing yourself once a week and timing your bike rides can also work well.
Don’t overeat
A mistake that a lot of cyclists make is overeating. After exercising, they eat too much food to re-energize themselves. While it’s important to eat after working out to help with muscle recovery, it’s vital to be aware of how much you should be eating. You see, if you overeat, it will render your workout useless, because the fat that you just burnt will be going straight back into your body.
So there you have it, how to make the most of cycling and achieve a sleeker and slimmer body. Take note of the tips and advice above, and you can use cycling to tone up and slim down quickly and easily.
