How much weight can I lose over summer?

best exercise bikes in australia image

Brittany

The month of May is starting to roll around and I have finally became fed up with my weight. I start my junior year in high school in August and I would really love to lose some weight over the summer. I am almost 16 and I weigh about 280 lbs. I'm morbidly obese, obviously, and I really want to get my life together and change all of my habits. I have all of May, June, July, and August to really work on this. I know that I will need to continue to stay and eat healthy after August, but I want to know how much weight I could lose. Does anyone know the healthy amount? How much have you lost in 4 months? Do you have any exercise recommendations? Are there and healthy flushes or home remedies that have really helped you lose more weight fast? I could use all the help I can get! Thank you!

Answer
Fist of all, well done for getting your life on track and wanting to change something.
It's hard to say for sure how much weight you could lose within 4 months (i'm from aus so i'm not really familiar with lbs but you could perhaps be looking at at least 5-10 kg within that time!) anyway, to start with I would get a gym membership... if that's possible for you and if you have enough time and money to go. I'm currently losing weight for summer over here which starts in like december so I'm getting on it early haha! Anyway, at gym I do 45-50 minutes of high intensity cardio. I keep my heart rate high at around 195 through that time and it really helps to burn calories. Then I do various weights for about 20 minutes. If you're only looking to lose weight and not tone up, you don't need to do as high intensity in cardio and you shouldn't do weights. I'm just learning now (i've gone to the gym and done that^ 5-6 days a week and eaten ridiculously well for 2 weeks straight) that I have actually gained weight (in muscle)... i look smaller and I'm more toned but it's so annoying I've gained like a kilo. So yeah if all you want to do is get rid of some fat then just do high intensity exercise about 4 times a week. As well as this... eat REALLY well. I'm not talking like eat a healthy thing once in a while it has to be all the time. with the exception that you might be able to have a treat every week or something. Diet is 90% of weight loss and exercise is only 10% so there is no point exercising heaps if your diet is crap. Try to stay awake from bread and milk as much as possible and don't eat obvious fatty foods like chips and chocolate.
At the gym the 3 main exercise machines I use are the bike, tredmill and cross-trainer and they are really good and easy to use. On the tredmill I do interval training which means I run, then walk, then run etc... for about 10 mins. When I fist started I could barely run for 45 seconds but now I can run for about 6 minutes straight! So maybe start with 30 seconds running, a minute walking.
If you can't get to the gym... obviously you can still do running and you might have a bike but for home workouts try to mix it up so your body doesn't get used to what you are doing. . maybe invest in a skipping rope and some workout DVDs to help you!
As for the diet detox things I have heard of a good one called Skinny Me Tea (i'm not sure if they only sell it in australia or not) but I wouldn't advise that you do something like this unless you just want to lose weight short-term because people who do them usually end up gaining the weight they have lost plus more!!!
So I hope this helped and well done!! Keep going and don't give up and within a few months you'll be looking great :)

What can we all do about the world wide increase of obesity?

hungryhart

Diet and Obesity in the UK
This ESRC fact sheet gives an overview of diet and obesity in the UK. It is designed to introduce the topic rather than be a comprehensive summary.
During the last 25 years, the rate of obesity has quadrupled in the UK. In England alone, 22 per cent of men and 23 per cent of women were classified as clinically obese in 2002, while 43 per cent of men and 34 per cent of women were overweight. This means that over half of all adults weigh more than their recommended weight. In the USA obesity rates increased from 15 per cent of the population in 1980 to 31 per cent in 2000 [1]. In Canada, almost 50 per cent of the population is either overweight or obese [2]. Fifty-six per cent of adults and 27 per cent of children in Australia are either overweight or obese [3].
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) there has been a three-fold rise in obesity rates in many European countries since the 1980s [4], and if the prevalence of obesity continues to increase at the current rate, 150 million adults in Europe will be obese by 2010 [5].
Obesity is measured by Body Mass Index (BMI) scale. This takes into account a personâs weight and height [6]. A person is considered to be obese if they have a BMI of 30 or above, and overweight if their BMI is between 25-30 [7]. According to a report from 2002, Europe has one of the highest average BMIs (26.5) of all the WHO regions [8]. However, BMI is slightly confusing as athletes with a lot of muscle (which weighs more than fat) would also register a high BMI score.
kimmer - according to the WHO figures Americans are slightly more obese than people in the UK but are about the same as Canadians.
the study figures go across all racial boundries. I personally know many obese non-whites.
nibby - very good answer!

Answer
I think the problem has to be handled from two angles. We need to be more active in our lives. Today, very few people get enough exercise. We drive everywhere and we spend many hours sitting, whether in front of a computer screen or in front of the TV. From a very early age, we should instill in our children the importance of active play time and participation in sports and other physical activities. Everyday, we should get 30-60 minutes of physical activity. It would be good if we could get out of the habit of driving everywhere and sometimes walking or biking to places not so far away.

We also need to watch what we eat. My rule of thumb has always been that if I treat my plate like a pie chart, 50% of the plate should be vegetables, 25% protein and the remaining 25% should be starches like potatoes and pasta. I try not to skip breakfast so that I don't end up making poor choices at lunch and dinner time. I also keep healthy snacks like fruits and cheese sticks around during the day so that I end up eating less at dinner time. I think too many people starve themselves during the day and end up overdoing it at dinner time.

So, stay active and eat right. Sounds simple but it is so hard to do with all the conveniences of the age we live in. We live very sedentary lives compared to people living 100 years ago.

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How many calories from exercising should I lose a day?

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Q. I have an exercise bike and i'm think of burning 500 calories a day 7 days a week is that enough?

Answer
Enough for what?

Health guidelines say you should exercise for at least 30 minutes, five times a week. You're obviously doing enough in that respect.

To lose weight, you need to burn 3500 extra calories to lose 1lb (or eat 3500 calories less). So if you burn 500 cals a day you should in theory (losing weight is never an exact science) lose 1lb a week. If you burn that much AND eat 500 less calories a day, you'd lose 2lbs a week!

(You shouldn't try to lose any more than 2lbs per week, as it can mess with your metabolism and put your body into starvation mode.)

BUT if that's a built-in calorie counter on the exercise bike, beware - those things are notoriously inaccurate, and the number of calories you burn depends on your fitness level and weight too. No idea how much you weigh, but for someone 140lbs, it should take around 70 minutes to burn 500 calories on an exercise bike at a moderate level of effort, or 50 minutes at a vigorous level.

How accurate inaccurate are the calorie counters on exercise bikes?

MSI Magus

Every day I hope on an exercise bike for about an hour or so. It usually says I burn somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 calories. I am wondering how close to this number I actually might be hitting. Are these bikes often off by a small amount like 100-200 calories.....or are they frequently off by 100s of calories?

Answer
totally inaccurate, they are a rough estimate based on a certain gender of a certain height and weight of a certain age all of which probably dont apply to you unless you are mr or mrs average, i take absolutely no notice of them at all, i would say that on average someone would be burning off approx 600-1000 calories per hour but you would have to be really putting some effort in to get anywhere near that amount of calories burnt.

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Anyone know of a web site with a recliner bike designs?

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Lipiew

I would like to make a recliner bike for my girl friend. Her father is a welder and i do design. Does anyone know of any good sites which have plans for recliner bikes.

Answer
Are you talking bike or trike?

If a bike try the grounghugger it is available as plans
http://www.rqriley.com/bike.html

If your talking trike you will need to get familiar with the terms ackerman compensation and brake steer. See this link for some details and basic plans.
http://www.ihpva.org/people/tstrike/trike.htm

You should find a heap of info if you do a general search on recumbent bike/trike plans. (throw in a few more specifics to narrow down the search.

I recently went through the exercise of designing a recumbent . The hassle came when sourcing and costing out of the project. It cost way more than I could buy one ready made. ( I also doubt I would have got it right the first time ).

If you are keen on design at least have a look at some of the ready mades to get some ideas from. I enjoyed the exercise and learnt heaps from it. I don't own one yet but I'm working on it.

Check out this link to find your nearest dealer. And check their prices.
http://www.twbents.com.tw/HTM/link.htm

More up market manufacturers.
M5,Optima, Bacchetta, Challenge, Azub, Velokraft, Volae, Greenspeed,Carbent,Trisled, Go one,Twike

Has anyone bought a recumbent bike from Walmart (the one for around $110 or so)?

Leena

I need to know if it works well or how it worked out for you. I'm looking for an affordable recumbent bike to work out on. Thanks!!

Answer
I know this goes beyond the scope of your question but I think it is important that you are informed.

As a general rule, when the machines you see at WalMart are designed it is assumed that you will buy it, use it once or twice, then store it in the basement or garage never to see the light of day again. You'll also see these lower priced machines in other places to satisfy the person who wants to do "something" to exercise and not spend too much money.

Buying a bike- any bike, including exercise bikes- from WalMart is a bad idea.

Recumbents are very complex machines and as a result they tend to be verrry picky about how they are made on the inside- where nobody pays any attention. They also tend to have less-than-optimum components

When selling exercise machines I relay these rules of thumb to my customers:

1) If the product costs less than $500, expect it to last approximately 100 hours.. that is 1/2 hour a day, 5 days a week for 1 year. Most of these units have a 90 day warranty. In order to use the warranty you need to contact the manufacturer (not the dealer) and fix it yourself with new parts supplied... many retailers (including WalMart to my knowledge) will not accept returns on items like this;
2) if it costs between $500 and $1000, expect it to last approximately 500 hours... 1 hour a day, 5 days a week for 2 years. Usually includes an in-home warranty of up to a year and occasionally has some dealer support;
2) If it costs over $1000 chances are there is an extended warranty and the machine is made for long term use, perhaps 5 years or more. This usually includes in home service at no extra charge. In the time you wear this machine out it is likely that a $500 machine would be replaced at least 3 times.

So, what do I suggest? Save your money, buy a nice sweatsuit and a good heart rate monitor, then go walking outside. If you have a munchkin or 2 to watch, buy a jogging stroller. Walk or jog 30 minutes a day outside.

If you choose to go ahead and get the recumbent, thats cool. Just print this answer out, fold it up, and tape it to the machine in an inconspicuous place. Once you start having problems and need to fix it, read this answer again.

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Where can i get an exercise bike with a battery charger?

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Aaron

At the Minnesota State Fair WCCO news has had people ride on these bikes which power some sort of generator or something which charges batteries and when they have enough batteries they use them to power a news casting. Where could i get something like this?

Answer
Try craigslist!

Where can i find the old type exercises bike? without all the fancy bells and whistles?

lovie m st

I'm trying to find the old type execises bike to help build the muscle in my legs.I have osteoarthritist in both knees .And i know it will help to toughen up the muscles in my thigh. Please can anyone help.

Answer
the new bikes are just as good,maybe even better because you can adjust resistance more easily. if you still want an old school bike, I doubt that you can find a new one. A very viable option is to try garage sales, craigslist or just post an ad that you're looking for one- a lot of people still have bikes that are in mint condition and have been used as a clothes hanger, so you could get one really cheap

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what is a good palce to stay in san francisco on the weekend?

exercise bikes san francisco image

svalen24

i would like to see art galleries, museums, get a feel for the town and find a good restaurants or bar to hang out that night. i want to be able to take public transportation back to the airport. I want to see the golden gate bridge. Where should I stay?
thank you man, actually ill be there 2 days. nut this helps

Answer
The BART (subway) station at SFO is located near Concourse G in the International Terminal. Any hotel near Union Square, SoMa, or along the Embarcadero is fine for BART riders.

One night is practically no time at all.

Realistically, you have time for a quick glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge, a walk around the historic core, and perhaps one more attraction or nighttime show. Even that requires a frantic pace that is very, well, atypical of the San Francisco lifestyle (especially on a Sunday). Although the City is quite busy, the vibe is laid back and relaxed. In this respect, San Franciscans are culturally more in line with Paris or Amsterdam than, say, New York.

Definitely grab a map and start walking. It is the best way to experience Downtown San Francisco. Depending on the location of your hotel, you may want to use the following historic squares and parks to orient yourself:

- Justin Herman Plaza (Ferry Building Market, Embarcadero Center)
- Yerba Buena Gardens (MLK Memorial, SFMOMA, MoAD, Cartoon Art Museum, Contemporary Jewish Museum)
- Union Square (Department Stores and Art Galleries)
- Huntington Park (Grace Cathedral, Cable Car Museum)
- St. Mary's Square (Old St. Mary Cathedral, Chinatown)
- Portsmouth Square (Central Chinatown)
- Washington Square (Little Italy)
- Pioneer Park (Coit Tower)
- Ghirardelli Square (Fisherman's Wharf, Maritime Museum)

If the weather cooperates and skies are clear, you can "see" the Golden Gate Bridge from half of the City. Walking or biking across is considered a rite of passage for many tourists. But it is quite an exercise. Not to mention extremely time consuming.

EDIT: If you happen to have extra time, ride the 5, 71, or N-Judah MUNI tram out to Golden Gate Park. The 9th Avenue entrance is a good place to get off if you are on the tram. This 1,000 acre green rectangle is similar to Central Park. There are two top-notch museums, lakes, recreational facilities, and lots of jogging paths. Obviously, the gardens do not come alive until March or April. But the landscaping is still pleasant enough in winter.

For nightlife listings, try the following sites:

http://www.sfbg.com/
http://www.sfweekly.com/
http://www.shnsf.com/
http://tixbayarea.com/

what are some natural ways to have clear skin?

Q. just like things that you can do in daily life to maintain good skin?

Answer
Don't eat junk food, first of all. Exercise -like running, biking, jogging, swimming, working out at a gym doing cardio stuff. Drink lots of water. Go easy on sweets. Include lots of vegetables and fruit in your diet.

Something I have discovered that is fabulous for my skin is coconut oil. It's kind of hard to find, but the kind I'm writing about is sold in small white solid blocks. And you can get it at some health food stores. My daughter gets it at Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco. Just rub your fingers in it so it melts a little, and rub it gently on your face. My face was really getting dry and had these little white bumps that were not pimples -I don't know what they were but they are gone now. My skin is clear and soft. Coconut oil is cheap too.If you can't find it, try vitamin E oil. It works really well and you don't need a lot of it, plus it is easier to find.

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How do i go about buying an exercise bike?

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Elise

Im looking to buy a used exercise bike, but honestly, i have no idea what to look for!
What qualities should i look for in the bike? I wanted to find something relatively cheap, but i also dont want something thats a complete piece of junk you know?
Any advice?

Answer
There are 3 general categories of exercise bike:
1. Upright resistance. The upright uses a flywheel or fan for resistance. Stay away from the fan since they are much louder. Flywheel types often use belts or other friction material so always check them if buying a used one.
2. Recumbent. This is the one where you sit low to the ground and put your legs out forward. These are good if you have a back condition. The only true way to see if you like them is to try them for a workout. They have similar resistance units to the upright types.
3. Spinner. These have a direct drive meaning they don't allow you to stop pedaling unless you have an emergency stop device. They are probably the best workout, but are definitely not for everyone especially if you have knee trouble.

A quick and dirty way to see the condition of the unit is to check ride it, check the pedals for wear and if they're bent. You'll also be able to listen and see if the resistance unit feels smooth and quiet. If not, something is wrong and walk away.

Try all 3 types out at a local health club. That's the best way to see what works for you. You can often pay for just one visit and not have to get a membership.
Try the local classifieds and CraigsList in you local for a used one and hopefully have a friend with minivan or pickup. Used is the only way that you'll get a worthwhile unit for low cost.

Is an exercise bike good for losing thigh fat?

Alaska

I'm thinking of getting an exercise bike because I've wanted one for ages, are they good for toning thigh fat? If not, what is? I want my thighs and bum toned!

Answer
exercise bike is good, but the problem is you don't feel like doing it after a while..try jogging, swimming is a calorie blaster, lounges and squats work miracles.and yeah a very good diet is very important..use stairs, try walking and not using any vehicle, and yeah include a bit of weight training and you will become a calorie burning machine..jump squats and alternate lounges also work well if you an do those..

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How to lose weight without starving urself?

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Kiedis

Answer
Here's some exercises and good food choices for you. For the best results these must go hand in hand. All of this is from a diet I made up for myself. It started working instantly and I didn't have to starve myself or kill my muscles while exercising. No fad dieting.=)

Do not make a high goal, first of all. It's a health risk to lose more than 3 pounds a week and can decrease your confidence. Besides, that much in a week would probably be water weight, which comes right back.

Try taking a walk for 30 minutes a day, adding 10 minutes each week. Once you get up to an hour long walk, start biking or jogging for 20 minutes a day, adding on minutes once again. By the time you are biking or jogging for an hour a day, just keep at it and you'll keep losing.

If your weight doesn't move, don't sweat it. It's because you are gaining muscle mass and losing fat at the same time. Did you know muscle weighs DOUBLE that of fat while taking up the same amount of space? It does! If you feel really bad about your weight not changing though, do some mesurments. They will probably be lower numbers.

Remember to EAT YOUR BREAKFAST. Eating Breakfast will reduce your hunger and increase your energy throughout the day. You should have a large breakfast, smaller lunch, and light dinner. Or you can have multiple small meals throughout the day. Avoid snacking at night (after 9 PM), and when you really want junk food, eat a half serving and substitute the other half with a fruit or veggie. Make sure you drink water too, it's helpful in losing weight faster. Be sure to lay off soda...it's high in cals.
------------------------------

The types of things to watch out for:

-High-sodium foods; they make you retain water. If you are outside sweating tons, it is great for you, but if you are indoors in the AC, don't go nuts eating it. It does make you gain weight when you retain too much water, it also makes you chubbier.

-High saturated fat and trans-fat foods; too much of this stuff can put you at risk for heart disease and make your BAD cholesterol shoot up significantly.

------------------------------

The types of things to go ahead and gobble:

-Foods with monounsaturated fats; These lower total cholesterol and bad cholesterol while raising the good cholesterol.=)

-Foods with polyunsaturated fats: These do the same thing, though they will not raise good cholesterol.

-Fiber; this is a natural laxitive and is good for weight loss. It doesn't make you puke, though. It just helps out your metobolism/digestion.;)

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Best foods to eat:

-Boneless, skinless chicken
-Salmon
-Tuna in water
-London broil
-Filet Mingon
-Lean ground beef
-Fat-free milk
-Soy milk
-Whole milk from a local farm
-Water
-Vitiman water
-Fat-free Yogurt
-Oragnic fruits&veggies
-Salad
-Unsalted nuts in small amounts
-Extra-virgin olive oil
-Safflower oil
-Sunflower oil
-Fish oil
-Canola oil
-Natural peanut butter
-Whole wheat bread
-12-grain bread
-Oatmeal
-Egg whites
-Provolone cheese (best from a local farm)
-Cereal (Grape nuts, Raisin Bran, Total, Smart Start, Crispex)
-Frozen Yogurt if you're craving Ice cream
-Rice
-Wheat thins
-Triscuts
-Soy crisps
-Fig nutons

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The worst foods to eat:

-FAST FOOD (Trans fat heaven!)
-Non-lean meats
-Hot dogs
-Breading
-French fries
-Microwave pop corn
-T.V. dinners
-Pre-packaged foods
-Vegetable shortening
-Vegetable oil
-Margarine
-Palm oil
-Palm kernal oil
-Diet foods
-Sugar or high-salt cereal (i.e. Rice crispies, Fruit loops, Coca puffs, Cookie crisp, etc.)
-Mayo (have miracle whip or mustard instead)
-Ice cream (have frozen yogurt instead)
-Potato chips (have soy crisps or wheat thins instead)

------------------------------

You can find good, healthy recipes at www.recipezaar.com, www.innerself.com/recipes, and http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy... for recipies, you can search for low fat, high protein, low carbs, etc. I listed a few recipies below that I thought were yummy.

-http://www.recipezaar.com/170046.........
-http://www.recipezaar.com/52955.........
-http://www.recipezaar.com/111174.........
-http://www.recipezaar.com/28681.........
-http://www.recipezaar.com/160982.........
-http://www.recipezaar.com/158950.........
-http://www.recipezaar.com/59366.........

-http://www.innerself.com/recipes/salads/...
-http://innerself.com/recipes/desserts/fr...
-http://innerself.com/recipes/entrees/gin...
-http://innerself.com/recipes/tofu/tofu-c...
-http://innerself.com/recipes/dips/chedda...

-http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy...
-http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy...
-http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy...
-http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy...
-http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy...
-http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy...

------------------------------

That's how I lost 85 pounds of fat and gained 20 pounds of muscle in 6.5 months. I started at 5"3 and 192 pounds, and I'm now 5"6 and 127 pounds (I'm 14 and still growing). It's been really easy to mantain, too!


Best of luck!
-Charlotte

How to encourage 13yr old physically lazy girl into exercise? Follow up from mother.?

xelty .

I do lots of activities myself. We live in London, near River Thames. Walking along the river is wonderful. At long weekends we put the bikes on top of the car and drove away from London. Every weekend I ask her to come along for a bike ride or walk. She refuses. She prefers to stay home and do cooking instead. She does not watch TV almost at all. We like to go shopping together for hours on the weekends. However, going shopping cannot be the only solution.

One reply in the previous message contained "depression" which is now making me think. She has been suffering from terrible skin reactions (scaly and flaky), side effects of her bone marrow transplant 18 months ago. She is on immune suppressant drugs and steroids. I want to encourage her into exercise because I think it will contribute to her recovery and strengthen the immune system. Now thinking about it, she might as well be depressed therefore shows no interest. I think the only thing I can do is to keep trying. Make sense?

Answer
I am 17 and I know what it is like to sit around and be lazy, I wish I had more time like that. But a bike ride is also very relaxing to me when I get the chance to do it. I am in college early so I have so much time wound up in home work that I no longer have the time to ride like I used to. But I don't spend all my

How does Chad Johnson get paid if he sits out?

exercise bikes dallas image

Oh Yea Its

I thought if you didn't play, you don't get paid. Or is it he doesn't get paid but his contract still counts against the salary cap?
Ok, what about suspensions? Can the Bengals suspend Johnson for not honoring his contract? How come when the league suspends a player, he loses his game check?

Answer
He doesn't. He can show up and say "OWWW! My Hamstring," then ride the exercise bike like T.O. in Dallas.

Where to sell a exercise bike?

Bre

I live in Dallas Tx.

Answer
craigslist

better yet just put it on the curb

there is no single item more common at yard sales, than exercise bikes that are used only as coatracks, selling for $25

wle

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How many calories will i need to eat a day?

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Zxcutieche

Im 13 5'2 1/2 and im 132 ibs i want to be 125 ibs how many calories will i need to eat to get to that weight o ya i do 30 min of cardio every other day (on one of those exercise bikes) but im switching to everyday.

Answer
1200 calories is a good amount just measure everything out to make sure u dont go over and buy everything light lowfat low calories as possible thats what i do to maintain my weight

Can riding an exercise bike burn lower stomach fat?

Leather&Pe

Can riding an exercise bike burn lower stomach fat? Some call it lower abdomen fat? It is located after your belly button and stops before your pelvis. Basically, it is only 1 or 2 inches long. Everywhere else is tight and perfect. Also, how often should I do it to get rid of it more quickly? It isn't a lot. Is there any other way to burn it off quicker? Do leg lifts work?

Answer
Targetted weight reduction is quite tough, some peeple would declare impossible, but the sole diet which really showed results for me was wu-yi tea, it can be viewed in the resource box underneath, they have a handful of free trials remaining, it has been featured in Reader's Digest and USA Today. I melted away 30 pounds, it really does work!

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Weight limit on exercise bikes?

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woodsy

I'm researching exercise bikes but I'm very uneasy about it. I weigh about 350 lbs and all of the products I am reading reviews for do not list weight limits.

So my question is- in general, should I be concerned if a product does not list a weight limit? I certainly do not want to break it due to my weight
I am looking at this bike since it's the cheapest, but realize i may want to go higher-end if weight limits exist.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9201124&type=product&id=1218057381831

Answer
Always ask - if you email the manufacturers they'll tell you (or, if they don't answer, you don't want to deal with them!). You may find that you need to buy a 'commercial grade' machine, rather than one of the lightweight versions often sold for home use. It may be possible to rent a machine too.

Oh, and have a look at the 'recumbent' style of exercycle as well - much more comfortable and stable if you're relatively heavy. And, good luck: you're doing the right thing.

Listed "weight capacity" of home exercise equipment - realistic or overprotective?

muse_of_th

I'm a heavy (350-to-375-ish) person looking to get a recumbent stationary bike for exercise, and I'm finding that pretty much all of the reasonably-priced models seem to list "weight capacities" of between 250 and 300 lbs, if they list one at all.

So I'm wondering if anyone out there can give me some idea of how realistic these weight limits actually are. Are they basically just there to protect the manufacturer from possible lawsuits or claims of "poor workmanship"? (If it's actually a serious issue, why are there some models that don't bother to specify a limit?)

When someone who is over the limit uses the equipment.. are we talking "It could fall to pieces without warning and leave you lying on the floor with a broken leg"? Or more like "It will wear out faster with regular use and might need to be replaced in 5 years instead of 10"?

I mean, I never ask what the weight limit of, say, an office chair is before I sit down in it, and I don't exactly go around breaking office chairs by sitting in them...

Answer
I know that consumer goods are produced with a certain "factor of safety" on them to ensure a long life. This factor of safety means that the goods are designed to have significant one-time loads associated with them without breaking. For example, the aircraft industry uses a FS of about 1.5 - 3 for most parts. Civil engineers use a FS of 10 for bridges and other roadworks.

I would say that the weight limit on that machine is conservative, and exonerates the manufacturer if it were to break under usage. My recommendation is to use the exercise machine, just be careful and perform regular inspections.

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Exercise bike is it the same thing as using a treadmill?

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ima.prince

Im getting an exercise bike, and I was wondering if it will give the same results as a treadmill? I plan on using the weight loss level for the bike and make it so its like a hill climb type. If I do this for 30 minutes everyday what will my results be?

Answer
Well if you put it on strong resistance (like going up a hill) you'll do a lot of cardio exercise but also tone your legs a lot - in fact if it's a lot of strain, you'll likely bulk up your legs a bit. Not sure if it's quite like a treadmill - for a start, different muscles are used in the legs. I used to do about 30mins bike per day plus 200 sit-ups and 100 push-ups and I toned up quite a lot over a couple of months. I also ran up and down my stairs, about 50 reps (like climbing 500 feet). That's just basic level stuff. I never got that fit nor that toned but it was certainly worth it versus no exercise and if I ate averagely (I eat a lot) I would have lost plenty of weight for sure.

I recently bought an exercise bike and apparently it can give me cancer?

Diomedes

It says "This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm."

I know this is a warning issued in a lot of California products. But this is an exercise bike and I'll be exposed to it a long time. So, I'm a little worried. On the other hand, I'm sure the gym bikes have the same type of warning. People I see at the gym every day don't have cancer....What should I do? I think I'll just install it.

Answer
California is a cancer.

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How long should I use my recumbent bike?

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Lyss

I have lost 85lbs since my younger son was born. I have stopped all exercise due to a plateau for 3 months and frustration. I have a recumbent bike at home. I am a 26 yr old 5'0" 165. I eat very healthily. Is 30 minutes on the bike 3-4 days a week sufficient to break through my plateau?

Answer
Two things you can do to break a plateau. You need to "fool" the body.

1) Do a different workout, not on the bike
2) Do high impact interval training. This involves a fast pace and a very fast pace. The body can't plateau. You also have a much higher raised metabolism for the rest of the day compared to any other type of exercise.

How can I lose weight without exercising?

Patience

I suffered a back injury. It is continuous and anytime I try to exercise my SI joint and L4/L5 are effected and I end up on my back again. It is a vicious cycle and I want to lose weight and tone up. Anybody have any recommendations on what I can do to lose weight without exercising?

Answer
To lose weight (fat) you must consume fewer calories a day than you burn...so your primary method would be to drop your calories (do not go below 1200 per day). Weight loss will be slower for you, but it can happen...if you can swim or do any form of water aerobics or activity that wouldn't stress your back, that might be an option to help you burn extra calories without aggravating your injury...also possibly a recumbent bike (stationary) as it would have you in a position to help your back relax (slightly reclined)...

If you have gone or are going through physical therapy (which would be common for an injury) what kinds of exercises do you do for that? Surely your PT trainer encourages you to do your exercises at home as well...

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What exercises can a young total hip replacement do?

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Allison

I had a total hip replacement two years ago when I was 18. Im on the overweight side and was wondering if anyone could help me with what to do to lose weight, because a lot of exercises can hurt my artificial hip.

Answer
Walking, biking, and swimming are good. If you use gym equipment, the elliptical trainer is good for giving a low impact workout. Cross-country skiing is good. Stay away from high-impact activity such as jogging, rope-jumping, singles tennis, skiing moguls. Also bad is the stepper because it's like climbing stairs which puts great load on the hip. That doesn't mean you shouldn't use stairs; it means that you shouldn't use stairs purely for exercise purposes. If you still are unsure about what activities will accelerate the wear of your hip, contact your surgeon.

I've had both hips replaced (at 3 x your age!). It's been 10 years and I follow the above guidelineas re: exercise and activity. You are very young to have hip replacement which means it is even more important for you to do all you can to extend the life of your hip.

Pair your increased exercise with a sensible diet. Exercising alone probably won't net you much weight loss. In fact, you'll be turning fat into muscle and muscle weighs more than fat(!) Yes, really! However, you'll be healthier and more fit even if you don't lose a lot of weight.

What types of exercise are best for someone with hip replacement surgery?

Neil

What types of exercise are best for someone with hip replacement surgery?

Answer
Non weight bearing exercise: Swimming, biking, weightlifting, walking can be ok too.
Just not running, that will put a lot of pressure on the joints.
Good luck

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What exercises can I do for thinner legs and a smaller butt?

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Ashley

My legs and butt are getting big to the point where I get stretch marks! I would like them smaller so I can fit into jeans better. Everywhere else on me is really skinny!

Please be specific on the excercises. For Ex: Don't just say Cardio, because I don't know what that'd be.

Also, don't give me any exercises that makes them bigger or more muscular!

Answer
For "thinner" legs, you mean a more defined, firmer and sleeker legs?

If that's so, here's a leg routine that'll help you to strengthen, sculpt and chisel your leg muscles into leaner shapes:

http://www.perfect-body-toning.com/leg-workouts.html

It zeroes-in on your hamstrings, quadriceps and calves so you get to work out the whole length of your legs for a better balanced shape.

For butts, this butt routine might help you to "size down":

http://www.perfect-body-toning.com/butt-workouts.html

Also, throw in a routine of cardio exercise (like running, walking, swimming, biking, dancing.....) 3-4 times per week for at least 30 mins per session, to help you speed up metabolism to burn off excess fat from your entire body (and that includes fat in your butts and legs too.....)

Best way to exercise with a strained LCL?

greendayfr

I recentlly strained my LCL, and so I need a new way to exercise without hurting my knee again. Do any of you have ideas on how to exercise with a knee injury.

Answer
Exercises to Strengthen a Strained MCL in the Knee

Injuries to the medial collateral ligament can be serious, as the MCL helps to keep the knee stable. However, with treatment, an MCL injury doesn't have to be debilitating. Adequate recovery depends partly on quick diagnosis and aggressive treatment. The MCL itself can't be strengthened, but after the first stage of treatment, which is RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation of the injured part), exercises to strengthen the other muscles in the knee can help prevent a reinjury.



Initial Recovery
1. Wear a knee brace when first doing exercises to rehabilitate an MCL injury. Do isometric quadriceps exercises sitting down with your legs extended. Push your leg down against the floor, hold it for five seconds, and repeat. Do the exercise for both legs. Another good exercise is straight leg raises. While lying flat on the floor, extend your leg and lift it from the hip, holding it in the air for five seconds, then lowering it. Do this exercise 10 times with each leg, and do it twice a day.
Stationary Biking
2. As your MCL begins to recover, stationary biking can be done to exercise your knee and get good range of motion. Raise the seat of the bike so that you can fully straighten the leg out on the down-pedal. Start by doing 15 minutes a day and gradually increase the length of time on the bike, aiming for 30 minutes.
Final Exercises
3. As the MCL improves, you should start running as well as do such lateral agility exercises as horizontal jumps. Running should be done in a normal straight line, as well as in circular patterns and a figure eight pattern. In addition to running, stair climbing can help strengthen the muscles in the knee and improve the chances of avoiding reinjury.

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recumbent vs upright exercise bikes?

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sunny

Which one is easier on the knees?

Answer
I think the recumbent ones are easier on your lower back. Cycling on an upright bike causes your pelvis to tilt forwards and makes you use your hamstrings, glutes, quadriceps and lower back. I also do (sort of) push ups on the handle bars at the rhythm of my breathing.. to give my biceps and shoulders a light workout and to take my mind off the burn in my legs.

The muscles surrounding your knees (especially felt immediately above the knee) really get a good workout when you use an exercise bike, don't they.

Recumbent vs Upright Bicycle?

jshryker58

Which bicycle will burn more calories Recumbent or Upright Bicycle? You can go faster with less effort on a recumbent, but you can use your body weight on an upright..

Answer
Not sure which will burn more calories, but if all you want the bike for is that, just go for the upright, it'll probably be less expensive than the recumbent (unless you're going for a really high-end upright). I have a recumbent delta trike that I really enjoy.

These start at around $1200 for the model I have. The Sun SX starts between $700 - $900 and that was a year ago on those prices. I use it for exercise and take it to the grocery store, etc. I don't drive (an automobile) and like the stability of the trike much better than an upright 2 wheeler. I also like the recumbent format better for my back and balance. I am thinking about a 2-wheel recumbent in the near future, but would still use the trike around town. I would like to get the 2 wheel as it would be faster and easier for touring, not to mention lighter weight as the trike weighs 50 lbs, lol!

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What is a cheap good exercise bike?

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Q. I am 15 years old and i'm getting a little overweight, can anyone tell me what a good exercise bike is?

Answer
If you have a bike put it on a trainer, you can get them for as low as $80. I would check the local ebay and craig's list for a used trainer or exercise bike. They are so boring that people stop using them after a few weeks. You need to exercise for 45-60 min to get good results and a good diet will do more then the exercise but you want to do both.

http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_link_85931991_34?ie=UTF8&node=3403551&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-14-0&pf_rd_r=0YHQDPZTH3895FG7VM9Z&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1283434722&pf_rd_i=2232464011

Does anyone know where I can find reviews on exercise recumbent bikes? Or recommend one?

costlyprin

I have been looking at the Edge 440 recumbent exercise bike, but cannot find any information on how good they are. I haven't heard of Edge before and wonder if anyone has anything made by them or where I might be able to go online to find any reviews on it.
Also if someone has one that they would like to recommend. It is going to be a gift for my father who is approx 6'2" with long legs so the seat needs to be quite adjustable. Thanks

Answer
There is one review listed on amazon.com for the Edge 440.
http://www.amazon.com/Edge-440r-Magnetic-Recumbent-Bike/dp/B0006624Y8
There are other Edge products that have more reviews you may want to read those over.
roadbikereview.com has reviews on trainers, but I didn't see the one you listed.

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What is the best type of equipment to use at home for weight loss and body fat burn?

exercise bikes in water image

Dewayne

I have 50lbs to lose and I am currently using a shake morning and evening with salads and water - lost 6lb this week on week 1. Program suggests no exercise first month but I have an exercise bike and would be interested to hear from anyone else who has used this type of program.

Answer
Best Treadmill | Best Treadmills 2009
http://www.exerciseequipmentexpert.com/best-treadmill.html

Best Elliptical Trainer 2009
http://www.exerciseequipmentexpert.com/best-elliptical-trainer.html

Best Home Gym | Best Home Gyms for 2009
http://www.exerciseequipmentexpert.com/best-home-gym.html

Best Exercise Bike| Best Exercise Bikes for 2009
http://www.exerciseequipmentexpert.com/best-exercise-bike.html

Whatever you choose above, it's important above all to have self-discipline when it comes to your diet. And you try the one that's organic and safe, all-natural. Fibrelife from www.lifestyles.net. Your machine plus healthy diet plus safe food supplement, you'll look beautiful and perfect.

Could 4lbs over the weight limit damage an exercise bike?

Michael S

I got a new exercise indoor bike, the weight limit is 276lb, but I weigh 273lb. But with my workout clothes on, and having consumed water I will weigh around 280.

Is it too risky to use it?

Answer
If you dont want to risk it,you could walk or cycle outside for a few weeks and watch your diet to lose 5-6lbs,and then it should be safe.
When you're 273lbs it's pretty easy to drop 5-10 pounds in 2-3 weeks.
Good luck friend

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What kind of bike should i buy?

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Hello to D

ive just recently started riding a bike,been riding a cheap mountain bike someone gave me and have decided to invest in a good road bike,I don't want to spend more than $1500.i have a bad back so figure the lighter bicycle might be good can anyone recommend tips on buying a decent bike?

Answer
Buy a recumbent. If you go to physical therapy for your back, you are going to ride a recumbent exercise bike.

I have had lower back surgery and now ride a Lightning recumbent. I still have my mountain bike but sold my road bike soon after getting the recumbent.

You can get the exercise you need and still be comfortable on the recumbent.

what is the best fitness equipment that would help an overweight lady in her 40s to get thinner....and fast?

lilcutie24

i want to get something for my mom. i thought the treadmeal was the best but my other sister said it would make pains for her on the knees and would be difficult.
is there anything that would help her lose weight on her stomach precisely?

Answer
Elliptical is definitely easier on the knees than treadmill. I find that a recumbent bike is even better. You sit on the bicycle seat and reach your legs out in front of you to push the pedals. It gives a good cardio workout, and burns lots of calories. If she wants even better calorie loss, she can hold small weights in her hands (or strap them to her wrists) and do coordinated arm movemnts while she pedals. Tip: if she sets up a small fan nearby, she'll be cooler and possibly exercise longer.

Unfortunately, there's no way to spot-reduce. Some exercises will bulk up particular areas... like thighs, butt, and upper arms -- but you can't target your fat loss. I wish I could!!

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