Spinning

kippy

Hi all,
I've recently done a few spinning classes and found them useful, feel good after them etc.
Is this a good workout, would it assist in weight loss with a balanced diet?
I've also been thinking of buying a bike for use at home to do this exercise (would obviously require strict motivation)
Would any "normal" exercise bike be okay for this and can anyone recommend a decent bike or seller?
Thanks and regards,
Kippy

roosterman71

How good are spinning classes? I was thinking of going doing some myself. What areas get the work out? I have a beer and chip belly that I'd like to reduce. Is spinning helpful?

Sowra

well im a reasonably fit gym user for a while now, went to my first spinning class and i couldnt stand up after i got off the bike, legs were shaking!

it was really tiring compared to say, the treadmill so id say its pretty good aerobic exercise, and you could get really good at it if you went regularly.

kippy

roosterman71 wrote: »

How good are spinning classes? I was thinking of going doing some myself. What areas get the work out? I have a beer and chip belly that I'd like to reduce. Is spinning helpful?

Those are my aims as well to be honest as well as a bit of fitness.
I was wrecked after the classes and my legs were like jelly, but I cant say how effective they are over time in achiving my aims which is why I was wondering had someone more info here.
I would be delighted if people thought spinning could be as effective at home with the right attitude.

danburke

As afar as I'm aware for basic fittness spinning classes are great.

Look here

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055460277

Shelka

Seems to me that spinning (cause its intensive cycling) is good for the legs and good for breathing/lung capacity too. But overall, not too great if you want to drop weight cause it builds muscle...
Running is the best thing that I've found to just get fit and lose some weight.
Its a cardio (cardiac) exercise so its good for the heart too!

danburke

Shelka wrote: »

Seems to me that spinning (cause its intensive cycling) is good for the legs and good for breathing/lung capacity too. But overall, not too great if you want to drop weight cause it builds muscle...
Running is the best thing that I've found to just get fit and lose some weight.
Its a cardio (cardiac) exercise so its good for the heart too!

Ah does running not build muscle?

Spinning classes are an aerobic (cardio) and sometimes anaerobic workout.

Lossing weight (fat i presume), building muscle and getting fit are all linked..

Using your muscles is the most effective way to burn off calories and a side effect of this is you build muscle. You then burn more calories not only maintaining this new muscle but also using it!

kippy

danburke wrote: »

Ah does running not build muscle?

Spinning classes are an aerobic (cardio) and sometimes anaerobic workout.

Lossing weight (fat i presume), building muscle and getting fit are all linked..

Using your muscles is the most effective way to burn off calories and a side effect of this is you build muscle. You then burn more calories not only maintaining this new muscle but also using it!

Thanks Dan,
Running, at the moment, is something I dont like and it does put a fair bit of pressure on the leg joints (where I am not the strongest, I must admit)

Would doing classes on ones own in a house with a standard exercise bike be similiar to classes in a gym (I guess thats my main query)
Kippy

danburke

To be honest i get alot more out of spinning classes than on a home trainer.

Simply because you have a trainer to guide/abuse you

I can't say much about exercise bikes as I have a road bike that I use on rollars.

flywheel

have a read of this thread (maybe the mods could find the merge button?) - covers your question too:

Is spinning good for weight loss?

kippy

kippy wrote: »

Would doing classes on ones own in a house with a standard exercise bike be similiar to classes in a gym (I guess thats my main query)
Kippy

Thanks Dub,
Would you have any comments on the above question?
From what I can see, the only benefit of a class is "motivation", at the end of the day you need to decide for yourself if you want to push harder. If that decision is made and you can follow a gernic format given at classes, would spinning on an excerise bike in your own home be as good?
Kippy

NanoNano

Hi Kippy,

You burn more calories in a spinning class than running on a treadmill. In the long run it's also less stressful on the knees. Spinning is better for people who are overweight than jogging as long as they stay in the saddle and don't do the jumps. You mainly use the leg and the core muscles (especially cycling standing with no hands;))
I'm a big fan of spinning because (when taught properly) you don't see any difference between a novice and an experienced cyclist in the class. You cycle to the rhythm of the music and the resistance knob dictates how hard you're working. Which is a big plus for every newbie who wants to join a gym as aerobic/step classes can be quite intimidating.

IMO Schwinn bikes are the best. Unfortunately also the most expensive. See www.spinning.com.

digitalage

"You burn more calories in a spinning class than running on a treadmill" thats crap, 30 minutes intense spinning versus 30 minutes intense running you will burn more calories running.

Shelka

I have to agree with Digitalage. Treadmill beats spinning for me...
But it really depends what you're into and what part of you body/fitness you want to improve.
I know a good few people that can't stand running and they are really great at findingother ways (swimming, cycling etc) to get the exercise they need.

NanoNano

I stand corrected. I assumed that Kippy was a beginner. Spinning classes are 45 minutes and I don't know many beginners that can run for 45 minutes but they can stay on a bike for 45 min hence I said you would burn more calories.
Interesting article about the same discussion.


copied from http://davesbikeblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/running-vs-cycling-burning-calories.html

Running will give you a more intense workout in less time. However, a person would need to be at a reasonable fitness level to run 4.8 miles without causing themselves distress. Whereas, it would be easier to ride 20 miles on a bicycle, at 10 mph, to burn the same amount of calories. There would also be far less stress on the body’s joints.
It is also quite possible that a very fit athlete running at top speed may burn more calories.

kippy

Thanks everyone for the comments and advice.
Regards,
Kippy

flywheel

kippy wrote: »

kippy wrote: »

Would doing classes on ones own in a house with a standard exercise bike be similiar to classes in a gym (I guess thats my main query)
Kippy

Thanks Dub,
Would you have any comments on the above question?
From what I can see, the only benefit of a class is "motivation", at the end of the day you need to decide for yourself if you want to push harder. If that decision is made and you can follow a gernic format given at classes, would spinning on an excerise bike in your own home be as good?
Kippy

no worries, well a spinning instructor should work on new playlists to keep music fresh, route planning, delivering the goal of the class/session, safety (and bike checks/maintenance)... and of course motivation

you can get a load of instructor resources and PDFs on the www.spinning.com website:
Instructor Resources - Handouts

i wouldn't recommend using an exercise bike, only a proper spinner bike for spinning due to the adjustments and bike construction... the 'official' spinner bike is made by Star-Trac which are the one's i prefer / use

...and if you want to get into "real" (Johnny G) spinning a Heart Rate monitor and managing Cadence is key...

j@utis

I don't know if it's just me but I find those spinning bicycles being very uncomfortable...

NanoNano

Invest in a cycle short and for the ladies don't wear any underwear especially a string. It feels very uncomfortable when you come of the saddle.
That should help.