I wrote this for people who hate fitness. Two months ago I cancelled my gym membership, but managed to lose 10lbs while having fun
This post is for non-fitness junkies wanting to drop weight, have fun, but still maintain their beer and greasy hamburger diet...I'll let you on a little secret...it's called biking
Above - shot of downtown LA while on a ride
Note: I don't wear lycra (more on what I bring at the end)
Note 2: I started using "mapmyrides" which is also good for walking or running
2 months ago I cancelled the reoccurring gym membership, bought a $75 mountain bike off craigslist and started riding 15-20miles a day. It takes roughly an hour for every 10 miles on a mountain bike (skinny tire rode bike goes a lot faster, but I'm in it for the workout and not the speed).
I was spending 2 hours driving to the gym, locker room BS, work out, water cooler talk, etc.
Now I jump on the bike for two hours and get an intense workout while checking out the city.
***Above - 44 OZ of PBR - Yes, one or two beers is a must on hot summer rides in the evening
I've biked to the beach and jumped in the ocean for a swim. I'll do some shorter elevation rides and ride around Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign. Downtown, Venice Beach, Pacific Palisades...it's been awesome waking up early and mapping out the rides.
Donuts make for great fuel
At first I was afraid of riding a bike in LA, but Google Maps does a great job mapping out the bike routes. Helmet, gloves, water and basic rules of biking are a must to feel confident to not get run over. Youtube is a great source of reviewing some basic safety stuff.
Here's the kicker!!!! 1 or 2 hours of intense rides on the bike I have lost 10 lbs in the last month and I haven't changed my diet. I continue to eat lots of carbs, ice cream, hamburgers and consume lots of beer on the weekends.
***Above - Mapmyride app
I'm on day 3 of "mapmyrides" app which logs all my rides with calories burned, elevation gains, miles traveled and time. Jump on the app and friend me if you're into trying out something new...
What I bring with me: I usually wear swim trunks which dry quickly, helmet, lock, gloves, water, phone for tunes. I sometimes bring a backpack with my laptop and a change of clothes to do some office time inside a nice coffeeshop. A small towel and a splash of water on the face...I'm good as new.
More city pics from the bike:
Now get out and ride!!!!