Can I get a good aerobic workout with an exercise bike? I am looking into something inexpensive to workout with in my home. I have found space saving exercise bike that had some good reviews. Do you have any thoughts on this type of exercise? Or any suggestions as the best way to use it?
My sister had an exercise bike and loved it. She had it set up in her spare room so she could pedal and watch TV or read, whatever. She rode it in the morning and then when she got off work while dinner was in the oven. She got her metabolism up before eating and it really made a difference.
Exercise bikes are only good if you use them.
You may find you really enjoy it.
Best wishes.
You can IF you challenge yourself. Before you buy, take a spin class and note the techniques used to get a good work out. Its a matter of watching your revolutions per minute, compared to the Watts you are using, and monitoring your heart rate. You Have to push it. Not every second mind you, but every two minutes you need to push yourself until you feel like you are going to die, then do a recovery, push it, then recover and so on. If you just set it to a certain resistance and mindlessly spin while watching the TV. it will burn some extra calories, but it won't be a work out.
If you want to challenge yourself without having to be so deliberate about it, get an elliptical or treadmill. Most home stationary bike users don't know a darn about how to get a good work out on the thing and I say that as someone who's been there and done that.
I guess it depends on how many calories you want to burn and your ultimate goal. When I used to go to the gym I wouldn't use it all that often because it didn't burn as many calories as the elliptical machine. I really need to lose some pounds now and get into better shape so we just bought a gym quality elliptical, I just need to get into the habit of using it daily, LOL. We got it from a second hand sports store.
I bought a recumbent bike and an eliptical machine a couple of months ago. I use the bike everyday. Haven't used the eliptical in a month. You don't burn as many calories on the bike but I actually enjoy it. I watch Netflix while riding and I have a rule that if I want to watch Netflix I must be on the bike. I go about 30 - 40 miles everyday 1 1/2 - 2 hours per day split into 2 or 3 workouts. BTW it is a great aerobic workout. I am truly disgusting after my workout:). Also, I have an upright bike that I hate. Not a comfortable seat at all. I am all about slow and steady winning the race;). The eliptical truly kicks my but and I think the longest I ever did it was 20 minutes.
