Is a Spin Bike Good for Losing Weight? That’s a Hard Yes!
The short answer is, yes! Spin bikes are fantastic for burning fat and losing weight. Spinning allows you to ride at various intensities, which is ideal for weight loss. There are many other benefits to spin bikes. They offer low impact training, which is great for anybody with joint problems. Spinning is also convenient because you can train in the comfort of your own home. You can also avoid the dangers of riding on the road.
Let’s take a look at what makes a spin bike the preferred stationary bike for losing weight.
What Is a Spin Bike?
It’s like a stationary road bicycle but with different components. A spin bike has an external flywheel with a fixed cog which means that you can’t “freewheel” like you could on an upright bike. The heavier the flywheel the better it is for cadence. The pedals, seat and resistance options also differ. A bike’s components help people achieve their different fitness goals.
If you are not a cyclist and looking to spend a lot of time in the saddle then an upright bike will be best suited for you. But, if you want to simulate being on a road bike, then a spin bike is the best option. They easily allow you to increase your workout intensity by increasing your resistance and allowing you to stand and cycle. Upright bikes are not designed to stand and cycle.
How a Spin Bike Can Help You Lose Weight?
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts are popular because they’re effective for weight loss. If you’re trying to lose weight, you need to burn fat and build lean muscle. HIIT depletes the oxygen available to the muscles while training. This forces your body to burn fat for energy instead of carbs. The added lean muscle you get from spinning also helps you to burn more fat.
High-intensity training also elevates your heart rate, which enables you to burn more calories. Studies have shown that you burn up to 40% more calories when you train at a high intensity compared to a moderate pace for a longer period.
It’s not healthy nor possible to train at a high intensity throughout your work out though, which is why we suggest interval training. Interval training means you’ll train with repeated spurts of high intensity followed by varied recovery times.
Muscles Get Used During a Spin Session
The body’s position on a spin bike works all the major muscle groups.
- Core Muscles
You need to balance, which means that your body requires stabilisation. You need to activate your core muscles while spinning. The more you stand the more you’ll use your core.
- Back & Upper Body Muscles
You need to support yourself when you’re on a spin bike. To do this you use your back muscles to keep good form and you use your arms rested on the handlebars to keep your position on a bike. This requires you to use your back and arm muscles.
- Lower Body Muscles
Glutes work on all stationary bikes but even more so when you stand on a spin bike. Quadriceps will be doing a lot of the work no matter, which stationary bike you are on. Hamstrings mostly only get used on a stationary bike when you pull the pedals up after pushing down with your quads. Spin bikes come with pedals that allow cyclists to clip in their cleats. Cyclists can then simulate a bike by being able to push and pull.
Spin bikes are designed to enable HIIT, making them ideal for weight loss. Training on a spin bike also works for all the major muscle groups. Call our trained fitness consultants to find out which spin bike is ideal for your home.
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