Endurance cycling has been gaining a lot of popularity lately, and it seems as though many people have started to wake up to the huge health benefits that it holds. It’s not as difficult as it might seem to get started, and it doesn’t take a lot of experience to make those first miles. After you’ve gained some momentum, it can easily become your favorite way to stay in shape. There are many positive health effects to endurance cycling, some of which you definitely shouldn’t ignore if you’re entering the later stages of your life.
Great Cardio
Everyone needs regular cardio training. It can be annoying, but it’s important for your health, especially if you live a sedentary lifestyle in general. Running is not an attractive option for many people who dislike cardio in general, but cycling is a different story. It’s not that hard to get started with endurance cycling, and it can be a great way to keep your heart (and overall body) in great shape. A good thing about endurance cycling for cardio training is that you can easily vary the difficulty by adjusting the terrain, unlike running which usually requires you to pause for a longer period before making that switch.
Improved Stamina
As the name implies, endurance cycling is also great for improving your endurance. Stamina is an important factor for adults, especially those with young kids. If you don’t have the strength to run after your kids all day long, you won’t be able to spend as much quality time with them as you might wish. Plus, this will give you a better opportunity to apply some proper parenting when they get rowdy – can you imagine if you are physically unable to catch them in the first place? Unfortunately, many people are in that boat, and don’t even put any effort into improving their situations. Avoiding that mistake is one of the best gifts you can give to your future self, so start on that track as early as possible.
Clear Up Your Head
There’s a lot to be said about the link between regular exercise and mental wellbeing too. Many people work out simply because it helps them clear their head and works wonders for keeping their mood in check. This goes double for endurance cycling. You’re not only keeping your body active, but you’re constantly passing through various attractive landscapes, keeping your mind fresh and excited. Then there are some auxiliary benefits that people don’t even realize too often. For example, endurance cycling can predispose you to much better hydration. Monitoring your sweat rate and cycling hydration is crucial for attaining peak performance, and this will help you improve your mental wellbeing in general. Take a look at what Velosurance has to say on the subject – if you’ve never paid attention to the importance of your sweat rate and cycling hydration, you might be interested in the opinion of qualified experts like them.
Bone Health
Your bones are another part of your body that will benefit greatly from endurance cycling, especially if you try to push yourself a bit more here and there. Endurance cycling has been known for quite a while to promote good bone health and improved resilience of the body as a whole. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should be reckless about crashing your bike and potentially breaking something. But after cycling for a long time, you’re going to start noticing certain effects on your bones and overall strength. You’ll feel less rigid and livelier, and this will continue the more you keep on cycling.
A Great Workout for All Ages
Endurance cycling also works well for people of all ages. You don’t have to be at the peak of your youth to take advantage of it. In fact, it’s a popular hobby among many older folks who want to stay in shape without exposing their bodies to too much risk. Since you’re in full control over the stress level of your workout, you can easily adjust it as you grow older and keep things a bit toned down. That said, you might be amazed by how far some people are pushing their bodies at that age, especially those who’ve grown up cycling heavily.
Getting started with endurance cycling is not difficult either. You don’t need an expensive bike for a start (although you’ll definitely want to invest in a good one as you continue), and you should be able to find plenty of information on workout routines online. The only important thing is that you stay persistent and keep pushing forward. Once you’ve gained some momentum, it will be much easier to keep going, and you’ll never want to go back to living your life without getting on your bike a few times a week and exploring the area around you.
Motherhood is undoubtedly a life-changing event that is both thrilling and scary. You now have this frail bundle of joy that depends on you for everything. New mothers receive all sorts of advice, even the unsolicited ones that feel a bit invasive. However, smart advice from experts and real mothers who have gone down that road can be insightful. This article will discuss key pieces of advice you need to know as a new mom.
Take lots of pictures
Well, there is no such thing as too many pictures! Your baby will only be a certain age once, and it is important to capture the memories and milestones as they happen. You will also be able to see how far your child has come and helped them through rough patches in the future.
Ignore the pressure to bounce back
New mothers fall victim to comparing themselves to celebrities or fellow friends, who shrunk back to their pre-baby bodies. Remember that you just grew a baby and that you should pressure yourself to look like a goddess twelve weeks after giving birth. Even when given the go-ahead to exercise, ensure you keep your fitness goals realistic.
Keep yourself grounded
Many mothers assume that they always have to do the most for their children. Remember that your child needs a happy mother who is self-aware, grounded, and ready to take care of herself to be there for her kids. Let others help you where they can.
Know when to wean your child
Weaning will be one decision you will need to make as a mum. It is more or less a personal decision depending on your situation. That said, it is recommended that the baby gets 6 months of breastfeed milk. You can then start weaning the child after a year as long as it suits both of you. You should also know when should babies stop using pacifiers to avoid physical dependency. Be wary though of listening to unsolicited advice will have you questioning things like or when to stop breastfeeding. Learn to ignore unwanted advice and do what is best for your child.
Nourish your body
Your baby needs nutrients from breast milk to stay nourished. Not only do you rely on good nutrition to produce breast milk, but you also need food to fuel your body. Avoid starving yourself and consume nutrient-packed foods rich in zinc, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin B6.
Find a mother’s group
It is important to get in touch with other adults, preferably mothers in the same boat as you. Being locked up in the house with a crying baby will do you no good, especially if you were used to being out of the house.
Trust your instincts
If you have a bad gut feeling about anything to do with your child, do not hesitate to contact a doctor, no matter what anyone else says. You are your child’s mother, and you know what they might need at any point in time.
Disconnect nursing from sleeping
Establish a soothing bedtime routine for your child, such as running a warm bath, offering a bottle of milk then reading them a book. This routine will help you get your little one to sleep without having to nurse.
Final remarks
We hope that this article has provided some wisdom if you are a mum wondering if you are doing it right. As a rule of thumb, don’t be hard on yourself, and be sure to trust your instincts as you move along in the motherhood journey.