My Favorite Cardio...Spinning!

So, I thought I would talk a little bit about my favorite way to do cardio. I want to start off by saying, I am by no means and expert in indoor cycling, but I am just a fan. I started spinning almost a year ago and I haven't stopped since. Well, I did take a little break when I had my little breast procedure BUT I'm back at it 3 weeks later. 

Spinning, for me, is awesome because I can do it during work and it's easy on my bad knees. I did almost 15 years of ballet and cheerleading. Needless to say, my knees hate me pretty hard. I can't run or I'm in pain. I can't even treadmill or I'm in pain. Indoor biking is pretty much the only thing that will get me high calorie burn with the least amount of pain. Now, I am not going to lie and say that there is no pain. How can you gain without pain?! The only way spinning works for you is if you put a lot into it. You have to push yourself to the very brink and push passed that. 

I mentioned that I spin at work. We have several spinning classes offered to us throughout the day for FREE! I mean, I can't pass that up. We have a gorgeous spinning studio- which if you follow me on Snapchat (SZIZZY12184) you get peeps of it often. My wonderful husband also bought me a spinning bike for my birthday. On my good streak, I was spinning 6 days a week. I've been lacking lately, but I am serious about getting back into it. 

So, how does spinning work? You get your own bike and they look very different than a regular bike. Usually have you 1 wheel either in the back or front. You also have a set of handle bars that let you stand and hold on safety. The peddles can be strapped onto your shoe or if you have special spinning shoes, you can clip them on. This bike will also have some sort of resistance control. Either a knob or lever that you can control how hard you can pedal. Your seat and handlebars should also be adjustable. 

My class usually goes from 45 minutes to 60 minutes. It is high intensity and you get to listen to kick ass music the whole time. Well, if you instructor likes kick ass music you get to listen to it. During an average class, I burn anywhere from 380-500 calories. You sweat like you are a faucet and your legs may feel like jello afterwards. Also, the seat. I should talk real quick about the seat. Many people try spin and then never do it again because the seat hurts. Yes, it hurts the first like 2 times and then you get used to it. 

Once you get going, you will be enjoying things such as jumps, climbs, sprints and more. Take your time to love this machine. If you put 130% into it, your body will show it. Trust me! I lost over 50 lbs with a combination or spin and diet change. I also recommend taking different instructors throughout your week. Most instructors have their own technique and to work different parts of your body and get a different burn, it's better to switch it up. I have a different instructor on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays then I do on Tuesday and Thursday. The weekends, I just find something on YouTube and go with my own music. 

Overall, I love this exercise. If you have a chance to take a class, grab and friend and try it. I highly recommend it for ladies that have sore knees and want a good cardio workout. Don't forget to check my Snaps because I will be snapping live from my class today. If you have any questions, please ask below and I will do my best to answer.