I’m spinning right round baby, right round

Regular readers will know that just before we came back to the UK (did I mention that we’re back now? Wheeeee!) we bought a used spinning bike on Ebay. What’s spinning? I hear you ask. Spinning is a bit like cycling on speed. To loud dance music. Without going anywhere. Sound mad? Well it is I guess but it’s also fantastic. And, in my opinion*, great for getting fit and, hopefully, losing weight.

OH and I were spinning mad before we left for the Far East (I was spinning three times a week for an hour a time at one point) and my post-baby body has been itching to get back to some proper exercise again. Yoga is great, I love it and I won’t stop it, but it just doesn’t pump me full of adrenaline like spinning or running does. And with a toddler in tow going to the gym just isn’t an option. So I’ve launched my very own DIY spinning-from-home class. There’s one teacher (me) and one participant (me again). Ok, not much atmosphere I grant you, but I’ve got pumping tunes on OH’s Ipod and a good imagination.

It’s been three years since I did any serious exercise though, so with visions of an ambulance pulling up in the driveway and carting me off to A&E with self-inflicted exhaustion, I thought it best to break myself back into the saddle gently. I’ve done five sessions so far in the last two weeks and I’m feeling great. No aches or pains. No movement on the scales yet, but that will come in time (and the end of the mountain of cupcakes that we had for DD’s birthday).

My DIY spinning class 

Here’s my routine: each 30 minute session is split into six sections of five minutes each. These are short enough so I don’t get bored and have recovery periods built in while I’m building up my stamina.

Warm up: 3-5 mins gentle spinning on a low resistance (say 4 out of 10)
1 min standing up on high resistance (8-9 out of 10)
1 min recovery on medium resistance (6 out of 10)
2 mins seated climb on medium resistance (7 out of 10)
1 min recover on low resistance (4-5 out of ten)

Repeat six times for a full session. Sometimes I mix it up a bit by doubling the standing time and reducing the sitting time just to keep myself interested. It’s really important to cool down afterwards so I do about 5 mins gentle spinning again on a low resistance before stretching and heading for the shower.

Do you have an exercise bike at home? What routines do you use to keep fit? Share your tips in the comments section below.

*Please note: I am not, in any way, qualified as a spinning or exercise instructor. This is just my own routine, experiences and opinions. You should never start an exercise routine without consulting your doctor first.

Image: Chaiwat / FreeDigitalPhotos.net