Getting fit and physically active can be done in various ways, depending on your desired outcome or a particular change, you want your body to achieve. If you want a free from any equipment physical activity, you can simply jog, or go out for a hiking or trekking. Besides following a meal plan or a strict nutritious diet, being active physically compliments a healthier body.
Cycling is another simple yet effective and easy way of maintaining fitness and wellness. If you’re looking for a sign to start considering cycling to improve your health as well as your quality of life, perhaps, this is it!
Cycling has attracted more and more people of different types and ages. Cycling comes in various styles such as road racing, track racing, cyclocross, or only just a form of relaxation and exercise. As an aerobic exercise, it gives more health benefits than your typical workouts do.
Here are some of the health and fitness benefits that you can earn from cycling.
Easy breezy
Cycling is such a low-impact activity that almost anyone with a good sense of commitment can do it. Unlike other sports that require heavy physical (and sometimes special) skills, cycling does less, allowing you to enjoy it at the intensity of your choice.
Cycling shreds your ‘unwanted fats’
If you plan to lose weight, cycling could be your perfect choice. According to research, steady cycling could burn about 300 calories per hour, which means that when you ride your bike for at least an hour a day for a week, you’ll burn more or less 2,100 calories. Coupled with a proper diet and daily routine, it will not be too soon to see the improvement in your physique.
More than burning fat…
Consistent cycling does more miracles in your body that you might not notice at first. As you pedal, you use most of your major muscle groups, allowing them to stretch. Daily cycling will help these muscles reach their optimal shape. This will help you deal with more strenuous activities in the future as your muscles are prepped and ready.
A good cardiovascular exercise
When you are riding your bike, it’s not only your leg and upper body muscles that are working. Cycling also strengthens your lungs and heart muscles. Each pedal lets you breathe deeper and perspire more, which is a healthy way to improve blood circulation and stabilize resting pulse. Studies also concluded that cycling helps you decrease the risk of having heart and lung-related diseases such as ischemic heart disease, commonly known as coronary heart disease.
A natural spatial training
Balance and body coordination are both necessary not only in cycling but basically in one’s daily life. However, even if you are sort of stiff and clumsy (yep, everybody’s born differently), you can still manage to ride your bike and improve in that area. Cycling offers you a lot of opportunities to hone your spatial intelligence. When cycling, you become aware of your surroundings – the space – of when and where to turn, use the brake, or accelerate. This awareness entails your balance, coordination, and reflex. If you are a beginning rider, you may use your pals’ help until you can manage on your own.
Cycling and Mental Health
Cycling is more than just a physical activity that helps the body and an excellent way to make your mental health in good shape.
Cycling can also help improve one’s mental health. Through cycling, you can form unexpected bonds with your fellow riders. This gets rid of the feeling of loneliness and lack of companionship that most of us silently suffer from. Venturing never-before reached destinations lets you see the beauty of the world, and it frees you from the confines of your room. Also, the travel provides you a strong sense of achievement – that after a long ride, you have finally reached your goal.
These are but some of the benefits that you can gain from cycling. No matter who you are, whatever you do, how old you are, if you have the passion and commitment, there is no such thing as “it’s too late for me.” You can always pick up a bicycle and pedal your journey towards self-improvement and a healthy lifestyle. If you’re looking for a sign, this is definitely it.