Question for our athletes: walking vs. stationary bike? (NVR)
Posted by yabbitgirl on Oct 14, 2007 · Member since Apr 2006 · 14266 posts
OK, so I don't have anyone else to ask, and I know there are a lot of athletic people on here. I'm supposed to walk, about an hr a day, but I can't always. I do have a stationary exercycle. What would be the equivalent of an hrs walk? Would it be the same, more time, or less time? Like, say if I do 30 min at level 3, would that be equivalent to an hour's walk?
With regards to what? Calories burned, or getting your heart rate up? If you walk an hour at a 16-minute mile, you'll burn about 300 calories, whereas if you do a stationary bike for about a half hour at moderate with a decent resistance, you'll burn slightly less (maybe 250-275). If you warm-up and cool down properly, you'll probably hit 300 cals or so. But the biking would definitely be good because you're going to get your heart rate up higher in a shorter amount of time.
Oh! How stupid of me! Of course. If I cover say 3 miles in an hour, then timing how long it takes to cycle three miles...stupid me.
It's because I need a) to lose weight b) to improve the circulation in my legs. But cycling makes me tired sooner, so I wondered if I could reasonably stop sooner...lazy critter! ;)
hmmmmmm......
I don't really know much about cycling/stationary biking, except that I sometimes ride the bike at the gym for cross-training! (I'm a runner.) I guess I would suggest starting out at a level/length of time at which you are comfortable......and then building up from there as you gain strength and endurance. The stationary bike can definitely give your legs a workout if you aren't used to it!
However, I wouldn't go mile for mile necessarily----I know that I bike A LOT faster than I run, so I generally go by equal TIME when I sub bike/elliptical/aquarunning/whatever for running. I guess walking is a little different cause you wouldn't go as fast......if you feel like 30 mins is a good workout, maybe start there and then pick it up as you see fit!
You could also try the elliptical trainer, which is sort of a cross betw x-country skiing and running, depending on the incline level......it's my favorite machine---I think it's more fun than the bike, but maybe you disagree? I know I have friends who HATE the elliptical....
You could also try the elliptical trainer, which is sort of a cross betw x-country skiing and running, depending on the incline level......it's my favorite machine---I think it's more fun than the bike, but maybe you disagree? I know I have friends who HATE the elliptical....
I don't dislike it but I don't actually own one. The bike is in a corner of my bedroom. We live in a tiny apartment and wouldn't have room for an elliptical even if we could afford it. I've used one, and it's OK, and probably a better allover workout than the bike.
Walking is a better form of exercise in many ways. It's weight bearing which means you use more energy and it's healthy for your bones. I also read that you begin to burn fat as soon as you start walking, whereas with running you burn carbs for the first 40 minutes. So I would suggest walking as much as possible, but if you can't use the bike. It's better than nothing! And hopefully your bike has resistance, that will help. You can do intervals of low resistance/high speed and high resistance/low speed. That should be better and more interesting that just staying the same throughout the workout.
what i have been told is that you burn fat only at lower heart rates, and when you get your rate really high it's only cardiovascular excersize (which is also important). it looks like closeyoureyestosee knows more about this though
Well... I'm pretty sure (hm...? maybe not) that any and all exercise would involve carbohydrate burn at first (it's the most readily available form of energy), and then fat. I don't see it as making much of a difference on the order, because burning all your carbs away will mean the body will have to convert your fat into energy for the rest of the day (same result). Any exercise will consume Calories, and "fatburn" on the machine's scale just means you're only doing "fatburn." If it's at "cardio," for sure you're burning more Calories, but you're also exercising your heart and lungs.
Now for me, I run. I walk a lot at home, but at school I don't have the time so I run on a treadmill. It's all fancy and tells me how many Calories I've burned, which is about 300 in a 38 minute warm-up, run, cool-down cycle (it's a lot of running just for those calories!). I injured my toe last semester (too much running!), and had to go to a less weight bearing exercise. I still wanted to do cardio, so I was pretty much stuck with the bike. It took longer to achieve the same amount of Calories as running, and my heart rate didn't get as high.
So, if it's just circulation you want, biking should be fine, but you'll burn more Calories overall by walking, since it's more of an all-over exercise. But do what you can!
I went out and bought a pedometer from an extremely unhelpful superstore, but they're the only place in town that sells them. I have to figure it out for myself, as the "salespeople" only know the phrase "Everything I've got's on that shelf" and "I don't know." But...I have it. I got the one with all the bells and whistles as it came with actual instructions...and a "panic alarm", whatever that's for!
I will walk when I can, a) for the exercise and b) as good anti-agoraphobia therapy (gets me out of the house), but mostly because c) I promised Diver-di's Cali. I can break a promise to myself easily; to another person, with difficulty--but to a dog? Never!! :) The bike is for the days when I can't go out due to time restrictions or if there's torrential rain or something.
EDIT: Found out what the panic button is! You remove the pin and it SCREAMS nonstop. I guess it's good if you get attacked in the park or something...not being stupid, I don't walk in our parks alone. The pin came out in the process of undoing the ungodly plastic packaging and scared the living daylights out of me!!
yabbit, If you are bored with the bike, read a book while you are on there!!! That's what I do. Now the bike is my favorite machine in the gym!
yabbit, If you are bored with the bike, read a book while you are on there!!! That's what I do. Now the bike is my favorite machine in the gym!
...
THAT'S INGENIOUS!
I'll have to remember that the next time I hurt my foot ;D
yabbit, If you are bored with the bike, read a book while you are on there!!! That's what I do. Now the bike is my favorite machine in the gym!
Even better, it's set in front of a TV with DVD player, so I can watch a film or documentary. Peddling across the Sahara...