How long does it take to get in cycling shape?

Question

how long does it take to get lean and fit while spinning. Let say I spin for about an hour a day for four days a week. How long would it take for me to be all muscle and no or little fat. (Basically to be in shape).

I started doing it over the summer, so I already have alot of muscles in my legs, my stomach, my arms etc. But I still have existing fat around.I can see that I'm shedding something every week that I do it. However I was wondering, how exaclty should my diet be?I eat anything and almost anything, but I don't over do my calorie intake.

I try to keep it around or under 1500 daily.

Well the thing is regardless of what I do I will always have shape because I have a big butt. And yes if you haven't figured it out yet I am a black girl. At one point I use to be really skinny with no muscles and I still had a shape so I don't really have a problem in that area. I just want my legs to be toned all the way with more muscles than fat. As I mentioned before, I can see results already. I was just wondering how long it would take to have that full cycling body.

I cycled outdoor for about a month and a half during the summer. However, I've been spinning on and off during the months of fall and winter. I am serious about doing this and yes I also drink alot of water. I feel as if its taking a lot longer to lose the fat that I thought i would. I am not sure how to go about it.

Answer 1

Cycling is for pretty much everybody. The only limiting factors are general health and disabilities. (these can usually be worked with)

If I remember correctly you are the "legs" girl, your in plenty good enough shape for cycling now. The more you ride, the better you will be at it. I'm sure that if you joined up with a local cycling group you would fit straight in. But don't be to surprised if the guys spend most of their time just behind you.

Fat is one of your bodies ways of storing energy. You use fat to supply energy whilst you exercise. I'll grant you that many carry way more "energy" than they are likely to use, any time soon. It is healthy to keep some fat. It also makes you shapely.

Check this link it will give you a guide as to what you should be aiming at.
http://www.healthchecksystems.com/heightweightchart.htm

P.s.

There were a lot of things I knew about you, the last time I answered one of your questions. (that is why you got the answer you did) There are a lot more now.

Like any normal 19 year old girl you are questioning your self image and have boy friend problems. You spend a bit too much time analysing your stars,riding your exercise bike and asking questions on yahoo answers.

As a result somehow you think that losing another 10 pounds of fat, trying to achieve some look (in this case a cyclist) is going to change your life.

Well Babe the news is, your normal. My guess a little hotter than most, but normal.

If you want to look like a cyclist be a cyclist. Join a group and enjoy all the benefits that go along with that. Not only will you be getting exercise you will be socialising. Your might even stop worrying about what you look like and start really enjoying life. Try new things, meet new people and don't give a dam what other people are thinking. This is the best recipe for life I can give you.

Get out there and make the most of what you got. I'm sure your better equiped than most.

Answer 2

no exercise can compare with spending time on a bike. if you want to train for a cycling event, then ride your bike a lot in various conditions. go off road one day, do distance another day, and another do a lot of hill climbs. the combination will give a good workout to your legs and many other areas of your body. i cant really afford a stationary spinner, so i ride about an hour per day for at least 4 days a week. it took me a few months to build up some enough stamina and endurance to be competetive in XC racing. make sure you get a good rest after a hard workout too. your muscles regenerate when your resting and thats when they build the most.

TIP: you DO want to have some fat. to have no fat at all is a bad thing. i am about 8% body fat which is about where a healthy athlete should be. you dont want to go any lower than 7% body fat. you need some of that fat for survival, because energy is stored as fat. when you do a workout and dont have a food source available, your body burns fat to keep you going, so a little is good. there are calculators online that tell you your body fat percentage based on certain measurements of your body (weight, height, etc.).

good luck

Answer 3

depends on where you are now.

if you have a lot of body fat now, you may take a good long while to burn it off - much depends on your diet etc.

it's entirely possible to be really fit on the spin bike, but have a lot of blubber around the bod. I know because I've been there!

one way to look at it, is get a bodyfat % test done at your gym, then figure out how many pounds of fat are on your body. then (assuming you eat right and keep working out) you can safely lose 2-4lbs of fat per week... do the math, and there's your answer.

good luck, and take it from me, you'll love yourself when you've shed the fat and are lean and fit again.

Scott

Answer 4

As a former VERY AVID racer and road cyclist, doing hundreds of miles a week, and rides of 100 and 200 miles per day, let me tell you one key issue that you need to look at and I didn't see in your question. You talk about "spinning" and the summer, but you didn't specify whether you ride your bicycle outdoors or on a spinner indoors. That is a HUGE issue, especially if you're looking at reducing in "trouble" spots, because the amount of sweating you do will tremendously reduce the volume in any particular bodily area of concern. The road and the weather are harder elements to pedal against than some stress-roller indoors, so, if you're serious, ride outdoors!! Also, when you are targeting areas of fat, such as your "big butt" as you put it, you must realize that longer rides are the ones that will tax your fat stores in your body. Shorter rides only consume your carbs and take your water, but it's after a longer ride, when your body has used those primary elements, that it reaches into its stores of fat for the calories necessary for a good ride, so, increase your length of ride or time "in the saddle" so that you can tax those fat stores that you're interested in. Don't add on to your ride in any drastic levels, but do add on gently so you can tax those fat reserves you want to use up. Also, and this is as important if not more important than all else I or the others have said, DRINK PLENTY OF WATER!!!! The warmer seasons are coming up and you need PLENTY OF WATER. See that I emphasized WATER, as opposed to Gatorade and the likes. The body absorbs water faster than any other liquid, simply because your body is such a huge percentage water itself, so DRINK PLENTY OF WATER!!!!! Long ago we used to recommend one pint of water for every 10 miles. I found, as did some others, that that was excessive, but, you need to find a measure for yourself that readily supplies your body with water. Another old rule we used was, "If you wait till your thirsty to drink, you've waited too long!!" Trust me, THAT "old saying" is DEFINITELY TRUE!! You are subjecting your body to unhealthy stressors if you wait till your thirsty to drink. Make sure you carry water bottles with you, and I'd recommend the bigger size bottles instead of the small pint size ones. Water will help you ride longer, healthier, and your body can access that fat reserve the more water you give it. A good bike shop will know what I'm talking about if you don't. If I sound excited about your undertakings on a bicycle it's because I am very "in love" with bicycling. I recently lost my right leg, above the knee, on an on-the-job accident, and so my cycling days are over, but you're gonna look absolutely gorgeous when you're "in shape", and I just wish I was there to see your progress. Have a great time, and DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. Oh, I already said that didn't I? Oh well. God Bless you.