Couch to 5k equivlant?

millerblade
millerblade Posts: 26
edited July 2017 in Health, fitness & training
Hi.

Just got a mountain bike. Im hugely overweight. Ive just started slimming world. Ive never run or rode a bike before. However couch to 5k sounds good. Is there an equivlant for newbies cycling?

Comments

  • Thigh_burn
    Thigh_burn Posts: 489
    I'm not aware of a specific program, but it is a good way to get fit and lose weight - I speak from experience. Although I was also doing a lot of strength and conditioning work as well. I'm a big fan of combining cycling with strength work. It's a controversial view on here because for pros they don't need the added weight of muscle. But for us non-pros, it's a non-issue and what we need to do is lose fat and get healthy.

    Anyway, enough of a rant. Specifically, what I'd suggest is that you simply get cycling and ride the bike. Start by increasing your distance, then work on your cadence (how fast you pedal). Do you mainly want to do off road, or were you thinking road riding as well? Do you live somewhere that's hilly?
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    Cycling is easier on the body - your weight is supported and theres no impact.

    You can ramp up the mileages pretty quickly - and go for longer time wise too.
  • tomb57
    tomb57 Posts: 2,043
    Hi millerblade, my wife does c25k and I believe that on the NHS site that hosts it there is a cycling section
    But I think it more of a morale support than a training schedule , like a lot of people on this site my wife runs and rides I can't as knees are shot
    So it's good to do both if you can
    Good luck your past the first hurdle which is said to be the hardest
    Tom
    Whoops who did that!
  • millerblade
    millerblade Posts: 26
    Thank you for all the replies.
    Im currently doing slimming world, i have been doing it for 5 weeks and lost 9lb. I have about 4 stone to go :( (embarrassing I know)

    Its a mountain bike myself and hubby have bought (2nd hand ones) and I haven't ridden since I was about 12. We have been out 3 times so far (only had the bikes 6 days) and our intention was to go all off road HOWEVER as im a newbie I feel so unsafe going over bumby bobbly trails and feel like im going to crash every 2 seconds because the wheels go allover! So for now we are doing 80% road and about 20% off road until I get used to it.

    Im a nervous person so Im nerves on road as well i think we are going to find a park or somewhere with no cars and smooth paths to up my confidence a bit!
  • davesnothere
    davesnothere Posts: 620
    Well done for weight loss so far 9 lbs in 5 weeks is good progress. Regular cycling will really help with the calorie defecit to get the weight off, especially if you can go a few times each week.

    The more that you ride your bike the more confident you will become so stick with it and you will soon get used to the off road trails and start to feel more confident on the roads.

    Strava is a good way of tracking your progress. If you ride the same route twice or more it tells you how long you took and you get trophies if you ride faster than before. It's a good way of spurring you on to ride more

    Good luck
    GET WHEEZY - WALNUT LUNG RACING TEAM™

Categories