Tag: Body Toning

Are Spin Bikes Really Effective for Toning Body..

Bicycling can be beneficial when adding it to your normal workout routine. However stationary bikes can only tone up your body. If you want both the benefit of a cardio workout and the ability to tone muscles then you should consider looking into Spin Bikes.

Some people have a misconception when it comes to biking. Many believe that biking solely focuses on endurance, that however is not the case. Recumbent and spin bikes work to both increase endurance and build lower and core muscles simultaneously, making it the perfect pick for people who want to double up on their workouts.

What are spin bikes?

Spinning bikes are built different than traditional stationary bikes. Instead of sitting upright, its build is slightly angled, putting your body in a position that has to use its muscles to support you while cycling.

Other stationary bikes position your body to sit upright, hence leading to less effectiveness on toning muscles. The slightly bent angle will help tighten your core, leading to an increased workout for your core muscles including your abdominal muscles.

Spin bikes will usually be less comfortable than stationary bikes because their main focus isn’t to let you leisurely stroll along, it’s to build muscle while also focusing on endurance training.

Why should I choose a spin bike?

Traditionally stationary/recumbent bikes don’t tone your body and can lead to lower back pain. The support built into normal bikes don’t give you the best form when cycling. If you’re looking for a great cardio workout that maximizes its effectiveness while also fitting in the ability to tone your core muscles, then a spin bike is going to be a good fit for your individual needs.

Spin bikes will help you tone a handful of different muscle groups. Because of the angle of the seating, spin bikes will help you tone your core, upper and lower back, and all of your leg muscles. Pumping up the resistance on your bike can also lead to more muscle gain in your lower body, providing you with maximization of both lower and upper body strengthening.

Spinning bikes also give high impact training. When you’re focused on pedaling at faster rates you’re going to find that your abdomen will automatically contract and expand. Hence making it perfect for toning your abs.

Another extra feature that individuals tend to overlook is that you can use spin bikes to workout your upper body as well. You can do this by switching the position of your arms and practice with using one hand at a time.

What features should I expect?

Most spinning bikes are going to have a few core features different from traditional bikes or stationary bikes. Spin bikes tend to offer higher resistance than most other bikes, making it more ideal for muscle training. They will also usually have more extensive and physically challenging training programs, however they still offer beginner options.

The resistance will usually end up ranging from minimal to expert, giving you many options to either tone down or drive your workout to be even more intense. Extra features can be included in some spinning bikes, however these are not necessary. The main features you want on your spin bike is a good pedaling system, right size for your body (as some spin bikes do not support shorter or taller people), and a decent range in customization (personal profile input, program settings, etc).

As mentioned above, other bikes tend to force you to sit upright and will allow you to more leisurely workout. Spin bikes however do not give you the opportunity to slack and sit back, instead they will help force you to keep your own body supported.

Most of the good spin bikes fall under $500. You need not to consider any high-end bikes, provided if you are not planning for intense cycling and training for cycling leagues.

In conclusion

Spin bikes may slightly start to sound scary, as these features tend to seem like they are more suited for experts, that is not the case. These bikes are great for experts and beginners as well.

The extra benefit of muscle toning will also seem to frighten individuals away. You should not let the seemingly “lack of support” scare you. Because of how these bikes are built you will automatically be strengthening your core muscles, thus leading your body to become stronger and lead to more muscle growth. The extra force will also help you have better posture, more stability, and help balance.

 

This post is written by Paul Schoff from FitnessAbout.com. He is a vegan bodybuilder and a passionate blogger. He believes in holistic development and cuts the BS promoted my media about health.

Ten Tips for a More Positive Body Image

Many women around the world struggle with their confidence. Whether you just ended a relationship and feel unwanted and unloved, or just want to feel better about yourself, you will definitely benefit from a confidence boost. Remember that how you see yourself is not the same how others see you. Make sure that you learn how to show your most positive side in every situation, and your body image will become much healthier. Read our tips below.

1. Update Your Wardrobe

Retail therapy is one of the best ways of getting rid of the blues. You must update your wardrobe and stop wearing the clothes that don’t bring out the best of your figure. Looking trendy is the first step towards being liked and respected. Find your personal style and look for inspiration from others.

2. Try a New Hair Color

It might be that you are not happy with your hair color or style. Does the haircut you have had for many years still suit your body size and personality? If not, it is time for a change. Get some ideas from hair stylists in your neighborhood for free, and decide which adventurous style you are going to try.

3. Play with Online Makeover Tools

If you are not quite brave and confident enough to take a leap, you can start playing with some of the online styling and makeover tools. They are fun, entertaining, and help you decide on hair color, style, makeup, and accessories.

4. Ask Your Friends for Advice

You might not be confident enough to try new things, and could need advice. Your friends will be more than happy to give you feedback on how you walk, hold yourself, wear different clothes, and style your hair. Ask for complete honesty, but be prepared to deal with it.

5. Get Fit

While most people start exercising to lose weight, getting fit has several additional benefits, too. Going for a walk, for example, reduces the level of anxiety hormones in your body, so you stop worrying about your looks and how others see you. Simple lifestyle changes, such as walking to the shops instead of driving and taking the stairs instead of the elevator can go a long way.

6. Learn How to Wear Heels

High heels make your legs look longer and leaner. If you rarely wear them, you should start practicing. Every dress looks much better with a stiletto, and looking taller improves your confidence, too.

7. Sign Up for a Makeup Course

If you have no idea what colors and styles suit you, there is something to be done about this. Why don’t you sign up for a makeup course and learn how to make blemishes disappear and how to highlight your best features. If you need makeup to feel good walking out of the door, let it be.

“Makeup” by SAN_DRINO is licensed under CC BY 2.0

8. Tone Up and Lose Weight

Often the reason why people have a negative body image is the way they look in their tight clothes. If you are fed up with being unhappy and want to get rid of your bat flaps, you can create a personal training schedule for only a few minutes a day to get toned up. If you tend to comfort eat, find a diet shake company that offers nutritious desserts. Alternatively, eliminate sugar and fat to lose weight from the right areas.

9. Start Dating

Dating is one of the best ways of getting positive confirmation and building up your confidence. If you get to take a nice photo and register on one of the sites, as soon as the responses come in your confidence level starts increasing. Even if you are not serious about meeting anyone, you will benefit from guys expressing their interest in you.

10. Learn to Accept Compliments

One of the common traits of women with low confidence and negative body image is that they don’t take compliments seriously. They simply say thanks, but don’t think that the other person meant the positive comment they made. Learn to accept the fact that others notice your looks and try to believe that they genuinely like you.

“a little wardrobe update” by Geneva Vanderzeil apairandasparediy.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Low confidence is an issue that is often associated with negative body image. If you want to feel better in your skin, ask for help and start trying new things. Losing weight and becoming healthier is only the first step; you must keep on working on your confidence and appearance until you are satisfied and get enough compliments each day to keep you going.

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