6am cycling class - what was I thinking?!?!?!

I joined Gold's Gym about 2 weeks ago.  It's been great so far.  There so much variety as far as ways to work out (like any other gym) but they also have TONS of group exercise classes.  I've glanced in on a couple of them and my friend and I have planned out a couple of weeks some of the classes we want to go to.

This morning at 6am they had a cycling class.  Seems easy enough (as far as hopefully I'll be able to walk when I'm done).  I say this because last week we did a 6am PiYo class and I literally could barely walk...hint: be sure to check the fitness level of classes before you go.  (advanced isn't for beginners) :).

So anyways, I drag my butt out of bed this morning at 5:20!!! AHhhhhh the humanity! I'm telling you right now it was miserable, especially with no coffee or food but I'm determined to get used to it. 10 minutes in my quads are killing me, my butt hurts BAD from that seat and I'm sweating like a pig.  Now I'm in pretty decent shape, and I'm only 26 yrs old, but everyone else in the class - minus one guy - was I would say between 40 and 70  - seriously! and they were moving; I on the other hand was possibly dying.  20 minutes felt like 2 hours.  Increase resistance! Pedal faster! Go Go GO! We were going up fake hills, through mud, etc etc with the change in resistance and standing/sitting/back and forth.  Phew but I made it through, burned over 500 calories in 45 minutes in the process - woohooo! BUT every part of my body (you know what I mean) that was touching that seat - HURTS! The bony part of your butt, the chaffing that goes on down there, its just all uncomfortable HAHA . No wonder those 'real bikers' wear those big ol' padded pants. I want need some!! I'm skipping tomorrow to get some Yoga action, or maybe an aerobics class; even kickboxing would be less painful. My butt needs some healing time :)

 Anyone else out there had these issues w/ bikes/cycling/any other crazy class you've attempted while trying to burn off that gut!?!? 

Lying on the couch all morning wrapped up in a blanket watching the Today show never felt better!

That's funny! I am a veteren of cycling classes and just yesterday I decided to try a 6:30 AM class. Now I am NOT a morning person, much less a morning exerciser. It felt so much harder at 6:30 AM! I was huffing and puffing away. I may stick to my usual 5:30 pm class from now on, but it was nice to get it over with so early in the day.

About the cycling though- the first class is always the hardest! After a few more classes, your butt won't get so sore anymore and the time won't move as slowly, I promise. The reason why those other people are moving along is probably because they attend regularly- you'll be moving along and fitter than ever if you stick with it.

That is true - i go to spin every Mond and Wed at 6am - it does get way easier after a few classes and i find it a very invigorating way to start the day!

I used to not eat before and would feel sick and starving after - i don't like to eat when i first wake up, but am now eating a special k bar or a yogurt on the way to the gym. i know that it is not much, but i do feel better.

Good for you, for getting in a variety of types of exercises. 

 

Ours start at 545! :( The first few times my legs felt like overcooked noodles, and yeah, I hurt.  The feeling of smugness that lasted throughout the day was so worth it, though.

thx girls!!! i think it's crazy now, but i could definitely get used to getting up that early more consistently. i DID feel sooo blah all day but fine today.  about to head to the gym now even.  good idea about eating a bite before going, even being so early.  i was staaaarving on the way back and even during so that should help up my energy.  ...and 5:45 ohhh my!! even worse :)

ps my butt still hurts today hahaha, i guess it was muscles that saw no use :)

I just finished a spin class! I never found a problem with my legs... but my crotch is always sore afterwards! Sorry to be so blunt but I don't understand why they can't make the seats more comfortable. For my first class ever, I didn't wear bike shorts and I'm surprised I could even finish! I bought padded shorts for the others and they help a bit but at the end, I'm done with sitting on that bike seat!

I don't think I could do a 6 am class. Mine is at lunchtime on Fridays and that works out great. I can just go home after work instead of to the gym!

I take the 6am classes all the time now.  I used to work out at night, but it breaks up my day too much and I don't like taking two showers (hair, make-up.. who wants to do that twice?).  Also I find that I eat less for some reason, and I like knowing I kick start my metabolism early in the day.  The spinning def gets easier and the pain from the seat goes away, if it doesn't for you, and you don't want to walk around in those bulky shorts, you can buy a padded bike seat, I have one made of a gel material, it was pretty cheap and def makes it much more comfortable.

You should def eat before you go!  I drink a protein shake that I love from worldwide nutrition called pure protein.  It has 110cals, 21 grams of protein and 2 carbs.  Perfect preworkout boost that will make sure you aren't starving and then overeating when you are done.

enjoy spinning! 

Stick with it, you'll get used to it, I promise.  And, incidentally, I TEACH the 5:30am class at my gym several times a week ;)

Oh, and make sure you eat within 45 minutes with a 4:1 carb to protein ratio so you get the most out of your workout!

teach?!?! woa!  i bet you're one peppy person :) the instructors for all those early classes are full of energy.  i have started eating before, its helping.  i went to a couple of other classes and another cycling class...getting better! i brought a seat cover too. butt hurts less :)

Brook--glad you're sticking with it.  Pretty soon you won't even need the seat cover anymore.  I'm definitely not one of the overly peppy ones.  My class can always figure out my mood based on the kind of music I use that day.  This morning they got my hard rock mix with lots of hills and speedwork.  I hate Mondays!

So funny!  I am going to a class tomorrow, couldn't do it today b/c I killed myself last night doing cardio and legs.  My legs couldn't take it today.  Hey everyone hates Mondays!! :) I think I'm getting a seat cover for Christmas (my mom always looks for little extra things to buy so I figured ahhh just have her buy it for me).  I haven't seen her since Thanksgiving - when she sees me she'll understand why I want one.  Take care!!

I went to my first spin class on Tuesday night, I also went last night.  I enjoyed it.  But my rear end does hurt.  My shoulders were a little sore too.  The instructer kept reminding us to relax our shoulders, but I couldn't.  I am going to work on that.  Is it ok to go to a spin class several days in a row?  Or should you space it out, like every other day?  The instructer insists that after 5 times I will develop what she calls bikersbutt.  Meaning it won't hurt anymore.  So should I really go 5 times in a row?  Thanks!

As a former Spinning instructor, I totally understand that discomfort!  Take heart, however, because you will adjust and your body will acclimate in about two weeks.  In the meantime (and ever after to ensure maximum comfort), I offer the following tips:  (1) use a gel seat cover if you don't have a pair of padded cycling shorts.  They are available from bike supply stores or even at Wal-Mart and cost anywhere from $10.00 to $20.00.  They will literally save your butt.  (2) When you decide that you love Spinning (and I think you will), invest in a good pair of women's cycling shorts -- buy women specific -- the padding in generic male/female shorts is generally too big for most women.  Terry and Sugoi make women specific cycling gear that is wonderful. (3) As with anything else, give your body time to recover between intense cycling rides.  If you have been spinning evey day, make sure that at least every other day you take it down a notch regardless of what the class is doing.  Recovery is just as important as hard work.  Welcome to the world of indoor cycling :).

Ha!! My roommate went to a 6 am spin class yesterday and she was saying she is never doing that again -- going in the morning that is. I am going to go to an evening spin class with her next week I think.

I have some padded bike shorts and I will wear them. But I can tell you that my butt and (ahem!!) other areas still hurt even when I wear them!!! I've never done a spin class before but I bike once in a while outside. My family and some of my friends are fairly hardcore cyclists.

I think I will look into getting a pair of those shorts.  Thanks for the advice!  I do think I am going to enjoy spinning.  Although I think it will be a while before I am hooting and hollaring with the rest of the class! Heck, I can hardly breathe!  I forgot my water last night, and trust me, that will NEVER happen again!

 

I used to do quite a lot of spinning the first time I lost a lot of weight.  I LOVED it.  My legs and butt were like steel!

Other then the fact that you will just need to get used to it, the one thing you need to remember is that you do need to eat before working out.  20 minutes will always feel like an hour if you haven't given your body any fuel to run on.  Even a bowl of oatmeal will do the trick, and you will more then burn it off by the time you finish that class.  Also, keep in mind that the more energy you have, the harder you can work during the class.  Try getting up an extra 10 min. early to eat that breakfast! 

For folk who do spinning classes and outdoor cycling, does the spinning help with your outdoor cycling? (speed, hills, other)?

Thanks. I cycle outside, have pretty good endurance but I'm slow, and wondering if spinning would help with speed.

- Adina 

My mom told me that she has callouses sort of on her (ahem!) places from biking... she doesn't do spin classes but outdoors. She is a triathlete. And as of last weekend, a marathoner too. WOOT WOOT go mama!! (She will be 60 years young in February.)

I go to uni in oxford and bike everywhere there but not at all at home. Getting on my bike the first day after the holidays hurts like hell but I get used to it in a couple of days. I started spinning last term too. I can't imagine what going back to ox and getting on a spin bike is going to be like after not being in any kind of saddle for 2 months!