Getting fit is important for your health and wellbeing, but it’s often difficult finding an exercise you stick to. There are workout videos to try, gym memberships, and endless fitness equipment. Unfortunately, you tire of them within a matter of weeks, if not days. Fortunately, there are ways for you to get fitter and healthier. An electric bike could get you fit. While it might sound like a bit of a stretch, electric bikes give you a simple workout method. You not only build fitness and strength but muscle too. So, how can you use an electric bike to get fit?
Table of Contents
Give Your Core Muscles a Thorough Workout
Electric bikes are deceptive because you instantly think they do all the work for you. You’d be right if you sat back and let the bike get you from A to B. However, if you treat this like a traditional bicycle and do the peddling, you can build on your core muscles. You’ll need to keep those legs moving, but it’ll help improve the various muscles and joints around the body. Not to mention, your upper and lower legs regions will start to feel the burn. Ultimately, you’ll be able to cycle further and feel better. You’ll work on your balance and become a more confident rider.
An electric bike can do so much for your fitness and even a thirty-minute ride makes a difference. Once you build on those core muscles, you’ll feel better and won’t feel as tired or as sore during the ride. It’ll help ensure your back muscles are able to cope with the workout too.
Improve Your Cardio
Your cardiovascular system is what keeps you going. When this system is in good working order, you feel better and able to take on the world. Unfortunately, when you’re out of shape, you tire easily and find it difficult to do the most basic tasks. With an electric bike, you can give your cardiovascular system a thorough workout that ensures its fitness level is greatly enhanced. That is important to keep your heart in shape. It’ll also support your lungs and make you feel better.
By using an electric bike, you could make minor improvements to your cardio fitness. Remember, you’re exercising, even if it doesn’t feel like a ten-mile run. It is a good workout for your cardio system and if you can enhance your cardio fitness, you can do more. Your heart will continue to pump blood around the body and ensure you’re getting enough fresh air into your lungs.
Use Your Bike for Everyday Travel
If you really want to get fit with an electric bike, you need to use it as your main or number one mode of transportation. That might sound a bit daunting, especially if you’re an hour’s drive away from work. However, it can be a great alternative to consider, even if it’s just for three days out of the week. This will give you a fantastic and thorough workout, whether you’re just heading down to the local shops or to the office.
You’re getting an aerobic workout with the electric bike. Best of all, you set the intensity of the workout too. For instance, if you’re just starting out with the electric bike, you might be more suited to twenty minutes at a slower pace. You increase the intensity as and when you feel ready; the same goes for the duration of the cycle. For example, you could start with a twenty-minute cycle three times a week. Then you move on thirty minutes cycles. From there, increase your days to four and do it twice a day. When you’re ready for a thorough workout, go for an hour of cycling at a medium pace.
There are lots of ways to improve your fitness with an electric bike. Of course, you need to find a rhythm that’s suited to your fitness levels and physical abilities. There is no race. Take your time and find a level that’s right for you. If it means taking twice as long to reach your fitness goals, that’s fine, if you’re going in the right direction. Plus, you’ll face fewer injuries and even fewer burnouts.
Avoid the Temptation of Pedal Assist
If you are serious about your fitness and want to shed a few extra pounds, avoid the pedal assist – if you can. You probably think pedal assist will get you to your destination faster, but that isn’t exactly going to make you fit. It takes effort to shed excess weight and become fitter, so try to avoid the assist features on an electric bike. You want to get your legs moving and putting in the effort because that’s how you lose weight.
Cycle To and From Work
While this mightn’t be suited if you have a three-hour commute, it certainly will be useful if you live much closer to work. Cycling to work each morning is the best way to get you fit. You’ll find the first few weeks a hard slog, but once you get into a routine and your legs get used to it, you’ll love it. You will burn hundreds of calories in that cycle to and from the office and can ensure you get healthier in the process. Of course, you may not be ready to cycle in both directions, however, even once a day is a start. You could always throw the bike in the car and cycle at lunch if it’s a long-haul journey. Or try once or twice a week and see how it goes.
Take A Cycling Vacation
While this might not appeal to you initially, a cycling vacation can be a wonderful experience. This is where you have a different type of breakaway. You focus more on the outdoors, using cycling trails, and getting back to nature. It’s a great way to see some amazing scenery and can ensure you get a total body workout. You’ll cover great distances and can get to grips with new terrain too. It’s a fantastic way to get fit with an electric bike.
Can You Really Lose Weight and Get Healthy with an Electric Bike?
Electric bikes do offer great potential if you want to improve your fitness and lose weight. You can shed excess pounds with an electric bike; however, that alone won’t be enough. It’s also about eating the right foods and cutting back on the unhealthy elements in your life. For instance, you consume lots of candies all day and drink sugar-laced drinks 24/7. While the electric bike can help with your fitness, it may not give you the desired results. Remember, it’s about what you eat as much as how you exercise.
If you make positive dietary changes, you’re more likely to feel the full effects of using the electric bike. Even making small changes to your everyday eating habits can help cut back on the number of unnecessary calories you consume each day. That all helps when you want to lose weight and ultimately get fitter. Little changes to your eating habits will help you lead a more active lifestyle.
Love The New You
You don’t need to like the notion of being healthy to get into shape. It sounds boring, plus, a lot of the foods you like are technically unhealthy. However, an electric bike may make it easier for you to incorporate positive changes in your life. Or at least find a workout method you enjoy. Of course, you still need to control your portion sizes and eat healthier but it can go a long way in making a difference. Not to mention, finding an exercise method you like. An electric bike can be the tool to assist you in getting fitter and improving your overall physique.
By Trevor Fenner
About the author:
Trevor Fenner is the founder and owner of Electric Bike Paradise, a one-stop shop for all your electric bicycle needs. He has been selling bicycles, electric bikes, and electric scooters online since 2010 and eventually established Electric Bike Paradise in late 2013 when he happened to meet a seller from Craiglist that introduced him to electric bikes. Ever since Trevor spent time searching for electric bikes online but couldn’t find a single website that offers a wide selection of bikes and informational articles. That is why he decided to start a website where everyone can shop conveniently, browse buying guides, and read educational posts. The website is called Electric Bike Paradise.
