Is it okay to Spin every day?

Answered by Suzanna Markstein on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 11:01 AM filed under fitness postings
Sure, a daily spinning class isn't the equivalent of the Tour de France but chances are you're not Lance Armstrong either. Deborah Saint-Phard, M.D., a sports medicine specialist at the Women's Sports Medicine Center at New York City's Hospital for Special Surgery, cautions that rest is very important when you're doing high-intensity aerobic workouts like Spinning. "Rest days are just as important as training days, especially after heavy workouts," she says, "because muscles break down and have to rebuild themselves—which takes time, nutrients, and water." In addition to a rest day once a week, Dr. Saint-Phard recommends that you vary the intensity of your Spinning workouts. "If you're working out four days a week in total, and you really want to be intense, vary it with two very hard workouts, one moderate workout, and one light-moderate workout. If you're doing six days a week, you could have three hard, two moderate, and one light-moderate workout." Unless you're training for the Tour de France and need to spend serious time in the saddle, Dr. Saint-Phard suggests you balance Spinning workouts with weight training and other cardiovascular exercise (such as the elliptical trainer or in-line skating). "If you do the same activity all the time, your body gets very efficient [at doing that exercise] and you don't get as good a workout."
 Unrated

Follow Us

Explore FitClick
Browse this section for quick links to our calorie counter and other popular diet and fitness features. From diet plans to weight loss programs, FitClick has the content you need to lead a healthy life. Find workout routines, a calorie calculator and more at your source for diet and fitness information.
We have updated our Privacy Policy, effective May 25, 2018. We have done this in preparation for the EU's new data privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Please take the time to review our updated documentation by clicking on the Privacy Policy link at the bottom of this page. By continuing to use this service on or after May 25, 2018, you agree to our updated Privacy Policy.