Hi,

My mother in law gifted me a stationary bike when I went to visit her recently. She wanted to help me in reaching my weight loss goal and I found her gesture to be very thoughtful and generous. However, I've never used a stationary bike before so could anyone elaborate on the benefits of using a stationary bike and any other useful information. Thanks!!!!

Is it a stationery bike or a spin bike? If it's a spin bike, there are some spin apps out there if you're interested in picking that up. There's also some spin videos out there as well.

Either way, you'll want to concentrate on keeping your heart rate up! It's super easy to get on a bike and sit down and pedal without necessarily working out (this is true for a treadmill as well but I feel like it happens more on a bike because we're sitting). If you are working out hard enough that you can't sing or carry on more than a few words of a conversation, that's a good start.

Also, make sure you align your bike correctly. I'm sure you can google for it if you're not experienced in setting up a bike yourself. It's easy to hyperextend your knees if you're improperly aligned.

I started exercising on a stationary bike and I thank god for it! It's a chunky old thing with a heavy plate wheel that I can tighten for resistance and when I first started out, I used to tighten the wheel and pedal for as long as I could manage the burn, then loosen it and pedal at a relaxed pace to allow my legs to recover. I listen to music while I ride it because otherwise I feel like I've been on the bike for ten minutes when it hasn't even been two, LOL. The bike was not the only part of my exercise and I alternated by skipping rope and using a step as well, but now I'm mainly back to exercise bike and ab circle pro (I try to do 15 mins on each a day). I've gained some sexy thigh muscles from using the bike.

I'm a firm believer that some exercise is better than no exercise. So I would use it as much as you can, without injuring yourself.

Thank you everyone!!

@Goddess Jessica, its a stationary bike... ill definitely monitor the heart rate thing!! lol, i was hyper extending my knees yesterday when i used it for the first time, my husband came and aligned it then!!

@happybug,,,, i could actually feel my thigh muscles burn when i worked out for 7 mins yesterday and i was a bit out of breath!! which is good i think i have to have music as well, otherwise it gets boring!!

@Mozzy, totally agree with you!!!