Originally published on medium.com
Exercise is necessary for everyone, regardless of age, physical fitness, or situation. But, as a fitness coach and triathlon trainer Walter Keating Jr. explains, many exercise routines prove to be too boring or too hard for people to try.
Luckily, there is a physical activity that is easy to do while being fun and rewarding at the same time. It’s cycling, and it’s something the entire family should consider. Below, Walter Keating Jr. shares five reasons why cycling is the perfect exercise for everyone.
#1. It Burns Calories
If you want to get in better shape, you might need to lose some weight. Burning calories is an essential part of doing this, and cycling is a highly effective exercise for burning calories.
Depending on your weight and the intensity of your cycling routine, you could burn anywhere from 400 to 1,000 calories per hour cycling. This makes it one of the most efficient forms of exercise when considering how many calories you can burn in a short amount of time.
#2. It Builds Muscle
Some exercises will only burn calories and won’t do much to build muscle. On the other hand, cycling involves resistance, which in turn helps you build your muscles.
Your hamstrings, glutes, calves, and quads get a great workout when you’re cycling, which will help you build muscle over time. There are residual effects of this, too.
People who have more muscle will burn more calories, even if sitting still. So, as you build more muscle cycling, you’ll eventually start burning even more calories.
#3. It’s Low Impact
You may not think of it this way, but cycling is a very low-impact physical activity, especially when compared to an activity such as running. Rates of injury are much higher with running because that activity is considered weight-bearing. Cycling, on the other hand, is not.
Compared to cyclists, runners have been found to suffer 256% more inflammation and 144% more damage to muscles, according to a recent study. The lower-impact nature of cycling allows you to cycle for longer periods of time in a session and keep your body healthy as well.
#4. It Helps You Get Around Easily
A major benefit of cycling is that it helps you travel long distances in a short amount of time. This means that you can integrate fun outings and excursions into your fitness routine.
Whereas you may only be able to run a mile or two, you could easily cycle 10 miles or more in the same amount of time while exerting the same amount of energy. As such, you can take a bike ride to a local park, lake, or downtown area.
Getting around and seeing the area will keep your exercise routine fresh and keep you excited about what you’ll see and do on your trip.
#5. It Prevents Certain Diseases
Walter Keating Jr. explains that cycling has been proven to prevent certain diseases and medical conditions. It reduces the likelihood that you’ll suffer a heart attack, stroke, or have high blood pressure. It can also help you prevent getting type 2 diabetes.
Cycling has even been proven to reduce the side effects that people suffering from cancer often experience with treatments.
About Walter Keating Jr.
Walter Keating Jr. is a Toronto-based fitness coach specializing in triathlon coaching and corrective exercise training. He graduated from the Fitness and Lifestyle Management Program at George Brown College and immediately started his professional career. Mr. Keating has worked as an endurance coach, personal trainer, spinning instructor, and corrective exercise trainer.
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