Did the title of this months tip peak your curiosity?
I hoped it would. With the new year comes many new
questions, just what is cycling anyway? Well as
you continue you will find out just how it will benefit
you and make losing weight and getting into shape much
easier.
When most people start an exercise program one of the
main reasons they will stop is due to a lack of
motivation. Looking at this further we often find that
most people find their program too strenuous and
overwhelming. This is perfectly understandable. But
is there a solution to this problem? You bet!
As you probably know, when someone hasn't exercised in
awhile and is used to a generally sedentary lifestyle
the last thing a person should do is just 'jump' into a
program like that. Only a select few can handle that.
These are usually the people who either have very
strong will power or who have exercised in the past.
But for those who aren't in the above group let me
introduce you to cycling.
The best way to start an exercise program is to start
with a lesser volume. That way your body has time to
adapt and you won't feel so inclined to give up. Let
me show you an example of this in terms of a cardio
program. The times can be adjusted to your needs:
Weeks 1 and 2 - 20 minutes 3 times a week
Weeks 3 to 6 - 30 minutes 3 times a week
Weeks 7 to 10 - 30 minutes 5 times a week
Weeks 11 to 12 - 20 minutes 3 times a week
See how this works? The first few weeks will give your
body and mind the time it needs to adjust to this
new activity you are providing. Then as you progress
you introduce greater levels of activity. You will
then be better prepared to take these requirements on,
whatever they may be. Then once you reach your peak
the activity then trails off in order to avoid burnout.
Looking at this long range you can also get a bigger
picture. Since those 12 weeks will help you quite a
lot you can maintain for awhile doing weeks 11 and 12.
Then when you are ready to go at it again just repeat
the cycle until you are happy with your results.
The same thing applies to your eating habits. If you
are used to eating sweets quite frequently don't just
cut them off, you'll go crazy! Instead just cut the
portions down in half for example, then as you are
ready you can move to the next step.
Most experts will agree that people generally set goals
that are too far out of reach for themselves. This
often leads to discouragement. While opinions vary try
for a steady loss of two pounds per week and adjust
accordingly. Take it all the way!
