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by: JimHofman
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As a guy in his mid-40's, I've come to appreciate the benefits of lower impact aerobic exercise. Twenty years ago, my joints bounced right back after 4 mile runs or a vigorous step aerobics class. Those days are long gone now, and the results from consistent indoor cycling and spinning classes have been encouraging.

A few months ago, I added indoor cycling and spinning classes to my workout regimen, and the results have been encouraging. Two major benefits have been weight loss and an increase in energy. No longer do I feel the need for caffeine drinks mid afternoon, and my sleep is much more restful. Even so, it took me a while to consistently commit to these classes.

If you're just getting back into working out aerobically after a long layoff, you'll need to reacclimate. A key element is a concept called aerobic base building, which basically means establishing a base level of aerobic fitness. Just as it's important to build a solid foundation for your house, it's equally important for your fitness level.

Three Steps To Build Your Base

There are three factors you'll need to consider, and accept, when building your aerobic base. With indoor cycling, you'll typically have display monitors telling you how hard and how long you're working, which is quite helpful. The same is true with spinning classes, as most instructors provide specific instructions during the class to monitor exertion level. Here are the three factors explained:

Step One: Your Target Heart Rate

First, you'll need to know your target heart rate. Your target heart rate is a range that's 65% to 80% of your maximum heart rate. Determining your maximum heart rate is easy -- just subtract your age from 220. Then, multiply that rate by 65% to get the lower end of your target rate, and by 80% to get the upper end. As an example, a 50 year old would have a maximum heart rate of 170. 65% of 170 is 111, and 80% of 170 is 136. That means a 50 year old should strive to pedal at an exertion level that makes their heart beat between 111 and 136 times per minute.

Step Two: Commit To A Time Frame

Expect to build your aerobic base over a 6 to 8 week time frame, possibly longer if you've been inactive for a while. Plan to gradually challenge yourself so you can maintain your target heart rate for a longer period of time. Remember, the longer you work out at your target zone, the more fat you'll burn.

Step Three: Endurance And Intensity

Once you've built your aerobic base and know your target heart rate, it's time to challenge yourself. Add to the length of time you work out, and push yourself a bit harder. You'll find as you become more fit, you'll need to challenge yourself to reach your target heart rate. That's good, because it means your heart is healthier, you've attained increased cardiac output, and you're more fit overall.

After a few weeks at most, you'll begin to notice the positive effects of indoor cycling. You'll have more energy, you'll sleep better, and if you watch your diet you'll lose weight as well. If high impact exercises cause your joints to ache, you'll find spinning classes and indoor cycling to be a very viable and challenging alternative.

About the Author

Jim Hofman recently added spinning classes to his workout plan, and the results have been very positive, including weight loss and increased energy levels. If you want to get the most from your aerobic workouts, be sure to visit Jim's resource site devoted to indoor cycling .

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