maxfaraday wrote:I don't like this.
Really.
These people just don't know what they're talking about.
Try riding a bike or swimming for 1 hour everyday and after one week you'll understand what I mean.
Well, I certainly applaud anyone wanting to do a ride a bike or swim 1 hour everyday, but take it from this old cycling and swimming rat, I've spent my entire adult life riding a bike or swimming for 1 hour everyday, and a program like this one can do more harm than good.
If you only train one part of your body (and that's all riding a bike or swimming for 1 hour everyday is going to do for you), you're setting yourself up for injuries down the road. I've seen it a hundred times.
It's like putting a powerful engine in a stock Toyota Tercel. What will you accomplish? You'll blow out the drive train, the clutch, the transmission, etc., because those factory parts aren't designed to handle the power of an engine much more powerful than the factory installed engine.
Riding a bike or swimming for 1 hour everyday only trains the thigh muscles and to some extent, the quads. What you really want to do is train your entire body, all the major body components (pancreas, trachea, ovaries, spine, stomach and oesophagus) at the same time, over the course of a workout. And don't forget your cardiovascular work!
I'm proud of you guys wanting to do this. Three cheers! Falling in love with riding a bike or swimming for 1 hour everyday etc., is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself. And you WILL fall in love with it if you can just force yourself to stick with it a year or two and experience the amazing progress you'll make.
But do it right, okay?
My advice, find a good bicycle or swimming pool, with qualified bicycle/swimming instructors who will design your bicycle/swimming technique for you (especially in the beginning, until you get the hang of it yourself) and guide you in your quest for riding a bike or swimming for 1 hour everyday. Thirty to 45 minutes a day, three days a week, is all you'll ever need to do (I refuse to believe anyone is so busy that he or she cannot make time for that, especially considering how important it is).
And don't worry about being embarrassed or not being in shape the first time you ride a bike or swim for 1 hour everyday. You have to start somewhere and almost every one of us were there ourselves at one time. So no one will say anything to you and very, very quickly you will progress way beyond that stage anyway.
Now get out there and do it!
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 11:11 pm