We all live a hectic life, struggling through each day, in and out to follow our passion, earn for our family or to study and grow. There are days when we even forget, or rather don’t have time to look at ourselves properly in the mirror.
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In between all this, incorporating time for exercising and going out to the gym remains a farfetched dream. But do you know that an hour full of exercise can increase your lifespan and bring you happiness and lift your mood? If you think hitting the gym every day is not your cup of tea, how about cycling?
Let’s find out how cycling can be a one-stop-solution for you to get back into shape and look healthy and stunning. We will make sure that well-researched studies and observations support all the claims that we put across.
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A Step towards Healthily Living
Did you know that people who ride cycles are likely to be less exposed to the harmful fumes released in the air as compared to those who travel by car?
The Healthy Air Campaign, Kings College London, and Camden Council measured the air pollution caused by various modes of transport. They fitted air pollution detectors to a car driver, a bus user, a pedestrian, and a cyclist. In their study, they found out that cyclist was least exposed as opposed to the car driver who experienced five times higher.
Also, cycling to work is one of a great way of cutting down your chances of developing heart-related illnesses and cancer too. The University of Glasgow conducted a study wherein they studied over 260,000 individuals for five years and found out that cycling to work every day reduces the risk of heart disease or cancer in half. That is one big reason for you to switch to cycling. Isn’t it?
And you can track all the cycling stats that will keep you motivated for regular cycling, and you can also track your small improvements as well, there are hundreds of trackers out there, but which one to buy? There is an article by Fit Territory that can help you in finding the best fitness tracker for cycling, they covered everything about how to pick a fitness tracker.
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Increased Productivity at Work
Cycling improves your heart rate and allows the blood to be pumped all around the body. It helps burns calories and prevents the chances of you being overweight. A recent study by the YMCA revealed that people who live an active lifestyle have a 32 percent higher wellbeing score than inactive individuals.
Researchers questioned almost 1000 individuals based on various factors such as how do they feel about their future, how optimistic are they, and then compared their answers to their lifestyle.
The results were that those who exercised regularly or lived an active lifestyle had increased wellbeing scores by an average of 13 percent. They claimed to have felt more productive and relaxed at work after cycling.
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Well-toned Muscles
Cycling is one form of exercise that takes into practice all the muscles of the body and helps you burn more calories. One more study suggested that exercising for four to five days in a week was effective at improving the muscle mass and strength inactive and aging adults.
You can also try changing your diet plan to see visible results in less time. You need to cycle slow and steady and for long stretches to achieve a toned and defined look.
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Enhanced Mood
Cycling releases endorphins, the happy hormones that will lift your mood instantly and give you the confidence to do better. The feeling of achieving something that you felt was impossible at the start will motivate you and help build your competitive spirit. You will feel the adrenaline rush through your blood as you overcome obstacles and conquer your goal or destination.
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Better Brain Functioning
Cycling can also improve your brain health. You will be able to grasp better and will improve your concentration. It will reduce the chances of cognitive changes that can lead to dementia or Alzheimer’s later in life.
The study conducted in 2013 found out that the blood flow to the brain rose by 28 percent in cyclists and up to 70 percent in specific areas. Along with this, they also found out that the blood flow remained up by 40 perfect in some areas of the brain. It concluded to tell us those 45 to 60 minutes of cycling for four to five days a week can help us be healthy and in shape.
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Sleep Better
With weight gain, you may face problems like anxiety and sleep dysfunction. Cycling is a great way to keep your body active. Your body will be tired, and you will sleep better. The researchers at the University of Georgia studied men and women in the age range of 25 to 85 years for 35 years to understand that a drop in fitness by 4 percent in women and 2 percent in men can cause sleep problems.
Cycling improves your sleep duration and quality. You will wake up fresh every day, and this will, in turn, also keep you motivated and fresh for the rest of the day.
What is the best time to cycle is one question that pops in the minds of everyone. My answer will be anytime. Time should never be a constraint that stops you from achieving your health goals. But if I want to be more specific and give you my answer based on a firm scientific reason, I’ll recommend the morning time.
Cycling on an empty stomach has more advantages than exercising later in the day. Your levels of muscle and liver glycogen, i.e., the stored carbohydrates, are low in the morning before you have your breakfast.
If you have your dinner at 7 in the evening and your breakfast at 7 in the morning, it means that for 12 hours you have had nothing. Your body provides glucose to all those parts that function even when you go to sleep. It is the reason why the glycogen levels slowly decline during the 12 hours overnight fast that we each go through.
So, when you wake up in the morning with depleted glycogen and low blood sugar levels, it is an optimum environment for you to burn your fat and not carbohydrates.
Conclusion
Cycling is the easiest way to reduce weight and stay fit. It will keep your immune system healthy and will reduce your chances of catching a common cold. With a slim and flexible body, sex will be more fun too.
You can travel with ease, save time and fuel too. It eliminates the need to use public transport frequently.
You can widen your social circle. You can join a cycling club where you will meet new and interesting people. You can join groups that go on treks, hiking, and other adventurous rides. You will find people who will guide you into more professional techniques and advise you on the maintenance and performance of your cycle.
Resources:
Cyclists exposed to five times less air pollution than those in cars, experiment suggests by Cycling Weekly
Best Fitness Tracker For Biking: Best value for your buck by Fit Territory
It’s official: cycling makes you happier: Cycling Weekly
Chronic exercise preserves lean muscle mass in masters athletes by NCBI
Cycling can improve brain health by Cycling Weekly