Spinning

Are there any spinning guru's out there?  I have taken my first class today and absolutely LOVE IT!!  Is it good for burning calories and for improving indurance?  And is it something I can use to replace my treadmill HIIT workout twice a week?  I have plateaud and I am looking to change up my routine a bit.

I was able to do the full 50 minutes, but barely!!  Does it get easier over time? 

I love spinning too!  While I am very far away from deeming myself a guru, I can already say that in the last couple of months spinning has become one of my favorite classes at the gym.  It's fantastic for burning calories - I'm 5'6'', 138 lbs. and I burn between 550-600 calories per 45 minute class.  And yes, it does get easier!  Of course, once it gets easier, though, make sure to turn up that resistance and make it harder :)

If you like doing this sort of exercise for your HIIT workout, that's great - just remember that you might hit the same sort of plateau as you did with the treadmill, so alternating activities a bit might be good for you. 

happy spinning!

I LOVE spinning, i spin 2x week from 1200-1300, burning 700-800 calories according to my F11 HRM. of course i weigh 192 and am 5'3" so will burn more than nire00. It does get easier with time but all you have to do is turn up the resistance.

Wow - you loved it after the first time?  Most people feel like they are going to puke (unless they specifically take a beginners class) and start to like it only after coming back 3 times.  Finding an activity that you love certainly makes it much easier to drag yourself to the gym.  Just make sure you adjust your resistance so that you are always getting a good workout, because it definitely gets easier with time.  I went from (almost) puking, to going once a week, twice a week, and now I'm an instructor and can still burn 500-700 cals in a class.  That happened over the course of 3 years, so it is certainly an activity that you can sustain and keep seeing results.  To answer your question, YES, it does get easier, but you don't want it to get TOO easy, and you can control that.  A heartrate monitor is an excellent too to gauge your workout.

On a side note, after spinning, since you just finished a great cardio workout and did some legwork, it's a great idea to head to the weights and do 15 minutes of simple upper body and abs.  That way, you got the best of both worlds in one fun trip to the gym.

Keep it up!  Enjoy!
Ann

Hi I just joined the calorie count this morning. This is so cool. I love spinning too. My spin instructor is awesome! I do a 45 minute class twice a week too. I also do 30 minutes on the treadmill about 40 minutes before my spin class too. I just wanted to say hi to everybody

Thanks Anne,

Yes I LOVE IT!!  I have been on this journey for 2 years now.  I started at 437lbs and now weight 235lbs, I'm no little chicken yet...lol.  For the past 8 months I have been religiously working out 5-6 times a week.  I do alot of cardio and started HIIT, I think this is what has helped me woth the spinning and endurance.  I am going to buy a pair of spinning shoes though, my running sneakers arent cutting it. 

One question though...  How long does it take for my tush to stop hurting!!  .

Haha - that is funny you mention that.  I tell all the beginner classes that they are going to be walking odd in the morning.  Some say a gel seat helps, but personally, I not a fan of them.  That area hurts because there are muscles there, and you aren't used to sitting on a skinny seat for an hour at a time.  Once you get used to it (again...the "everything gets better after 3 classes"), you'll be able to clench that area so that you're not "draping" over the seat, for lack of a better description.  Also, if you spin bike seat adjusts, move the seat the whole way forward so that you are centered over the back wider part of the seat - just make sure when your pedals are at 3 and 9 (horizontal), that your front knee isn't over (out in front) of your ankle (kindof of the same correct position that you use for front lunges).  If your instructor does a nice combination of in and out of the saddle, the soreness will go away.  Also, if you do jumps, make sure that you lift with your core and legs and when going back in the saddle, don't slam yourself down, but slowly ease yourself back using your core.

Another thing I forgot to mention - with spinning, you'll notice your increased endurance.  That is one of the hardest classes at the gym, and you should be commended for trying it.  You'll notice that walking up stairs gets easier, you'll have increased energy, get less winded and have greater stamina.  It is something that you will notice....you'll have one of those "Aha" moments.

Cycle shoes without a doubt help - you'll notice a BIG difference!  Sneakers have flexible bottoms, which make you pedaling less efficient.  Cycle shoes are hard, so every stroke of the pedal is going 100% toward the cycling effort and nothing is lost in the bending of your foot.

I read your bio and you've been on quite a journey.  I know it is discouraging when you start going up and down and the ups comes SOOOO much easier than the going down.  But it sounds like you are on the right track now.  I'm 42 so I know how hard it can seem - the pounds certainly don't come off like they did in the 20's and 30's, but we are on the path to a healthier lifestyle and it will take time.  Just keep at it and go slowly.

Hope you don't mind - I added you to my friends list.  Hey...you're my first!

I really want to start spinning; however I am recovering from a hysterectomy in which I cleared my 6 week follow up only to have my stitches become compromised and needing a repair of the cuff. I am now in my 5 th week of recovery from that. My question is, how long do I need to wait before I begin the spin class.  Note, prior tot he surgery, I worked out 4-5 days a week. 

Any suggestions?

Cathy

Thanks so much for the great tips!!  I definately have to get the spin shoes.  The class is brutal, but I have to be honest, i feel great afterwards!

I added you as a buddy also.  If you are on aol, look me up.  My sn is armsofurangel.

Susan

Cathy,

I really dont know the answer to your question.  But I would love to know.  I am going to be having a tummy tuck and I know I wont be able to exercise for a while.

Susan

I have also been introduced to the spinning world and Love It!!  I started about two months ago going to two classes a week and now I am up to five times a week.  I have finally learned how to sit on the seat without hurting!!  I have a HRM coming in the mail tomorrow so I can know exactly how I am doing....I leave class drenched, and am panting through most of the workout so I hope the results on the HRM aren't disappointing but happy .  I am now saving for spinning shoes though.  My ankles and the balls of my feet get to hurting by the end of the week.  Can anyone recommend a good brand/pair of spinning shoes that aren't to costly?  Single mom of two...not alot of extra money these days, especially in this economy!

To all the spinners out there....keep up the good work!

What kind of pedals do they use at your class?   If they're platform pedals with toe straps, then just about anything will work--you just don't install any cleats.  If they're "clipless," then you need a shoe that accepts cleats.

Mountain bike shoes tend to be affordable, but they're heavy and not as stiff as road bike shoes.  Casual road shoes are also affordable, but are often SPD-only and they are also not as stiff as "real" road shoes.

If you can find a pair of Nike Altea or Altea II shoes, and if they fit you OK, they're an excellent value.  They have extremely rigid carbon fiber soles, can accept SPD or Look-style cleats (or run without if that works at your gym), and are very light and breathable.  Combine them with a pair of Specialized footbeds and you're in business.

The pedals have the toe straps so that is good to know that a ridgid shoe will work.  What is SPD and Specialized footbeds?  New to this so any info will help.  I will keep an eye on our local Big 5. They have pretty good shoe sales every now and then.

Thnx!

Just wanted to say I love spinning too. I remember I would tell people that I'm going to spin class and they'll ask me if I get dizzy. lol. Just thought I'd share that hilarious comment. Anyways, it does get easier and your butt will stop hurting. My boyfriend and I both spin. Its great!

Original Post by oceangirlsb301:

The pedals have the toe straps so that is good to know that a ridgid shoe will work. What is SPD and Specialized footbeds? New to this so any info will help. I will keep an eye on our local Big 5. They have pretty good shoe sales every now and then.

Thnx!

SPD is the common type of Shimano mountain bike pedal, that works kind of like ski bindings.  You push your foot down and the cleat on your shoe clicks in, and you twist to release to get your foot free.  Pedals of this sort aid in pedaling efficiency because you no longer have to worry about keeping your feet on the pedals.  They're easier than toe straps on the road because you just twist to release and push down to re-engage, without having to flip the pedal over because the weight of the strap made it flip upside-down.

Specialized is a bicycle company that, in addition to bicycles, makes a lot of biomechanically-influenced garments (most notably gloves and shoes) with a lot of input from bicycle sportsmedicine guru Dr. Andy Pruitt.  Their "body geometry" line is very good, but the shoes are very expensive.  As a compromise, one can get a less expensive set of cycling shoes and a pair of Specialized footbeds to put into the shoes.  The footbeds come with a set of varus wedges to adjust the angle of your foot inside the shoe, so that your knees and hips don't get torqued the wrong way during the pedal stroke.

I use a pair of Nike Altea shoes (with carbon fiber outsoles) that I got on closeout and a pair of Specialized footbeds inside them.  That's about half the price, combined, as a good set of Specialized shoes.  These shoes are as comfortable as a pair of slippers and are super light and super stiff.

If you're using platform pedals and toe straps, then you don't need a shoe that is quite as rigid as you would if you were using clipless pedals.  The platform on the gym bike pedals gives you a larger area of support, so you could probably get away with an inexpensive pair of casual road shoes.  Just don't remove the plug that covers where the recessed SPD cleat would go.  These shoes won't be as absolutely stiff as hard-core road shoes, but they will still be noticeably stiffer than sneakers or running shoes.

This link shows pictures of different clipless pedal systems, with a description of how they work:

http://www.caree.org/bike101cliplesspedals.ht m

I am actually starting the spin class again at my gym. A yr ago I was going 2x's a week and then stopped but the went a couple times in the summer. I love the class's we have 3-4 different instructors. The one female instructor is pretty much the beginners class. Im just not looking forward to my butt hurting for a few days. lol. I also have a HRM this yr so Im excited to see how many cals I burn.

Thank you for all the information.  I love the spin class and I am figuring out I would probably love it even more with the proper equipment and attire.  I don't want to injure my ankles/feet and not be able to work out at all.  I appreciate all your help and information.

Hi, I am new to this, was doing a search on spinning classes - do they get easier .  I did my first class today and thought I was going to pass out! I really really hated it.  Everyone else was standing in the class and I was the only one sitting on the bike.  The other ladies were really nice saying the first is always the worst.  I am normally quite fit (walking up to six miles a couple of times a week (weather permitting)). However I have made a pig of myself over the last few months so have joined a gym, with the aim to increase my stamina and tone up.  Did the Dublin Ladies Mini-marathon a couple of years ago and felt fantastic and fit! Its only 10km (a mighty marathon for me!) so part walked and part run.  I have set myself a goal of been able to run it next year. Help! Had a look on youtube at some of the HIIT demonstrations, so looking forward to putting it into practice.  Should I keep up with the spinning.  I didnt have anything to eat before going to the class this morning, is this correct and to have breakfast afterwards eg. a weetabix and brown toast.  I serioiusly thought I was going to either faint or throw up. Please tell me that part subsides over the next '2' classes (cant last any longer, if I still feel that ill after my 3rd class). Thanks. Debbie

Hello, I just wanted to tell you that it does get easier. Don't give up. I take a 45 min spin class two times a week. I started a year ago. The first few classes I couldn't even get through a whole class.  It seemed like the longest 45 minutes of my life. Now my endurance is great and the 45 minutes fly by and I feel great afterwards!  Keep going and tell yourself you can do it!!!!!!

doblush - spinning does get easier. I went to the half hr beginners lesson at my gym so I got the 411. They didnt say anything about eating but make sure you drink alot of water before. I go at 6pm so thats not a problem for me but make sure your properly hydrated. Dont turn the tension up all the way if your just starting. Its going to be too much untill you build up your stamina. good luck though. Spinning is such a great way to burn cals.

Eating something light, that you know agrees with you (rice cake, toast, whatever, but make it *something*) 20-30 minutes before the workout will really help with the nausea and fainting.  Have something afterwards, too.