Is this going to work?

For the past week I have started exercising on the stationary bike. I ride for an hour to an hour and a half. I can only ride hard in short bursts, therefore my heartrate is not up the whole time. Am I just wasting my time, since I am probably not at my target heart rate for long enough? I thought you%26#039;re heart has to be up for 20-30 minutes in order for it to be effective exercise. I%26#039;m trying to lose weight, and I need to know if I need to change what I am doing. Thanks

Is this going to work?

Bicycle isn%26#039;t very effective in raising your heart rate, and especially a stationary bicycle. Jogging is much more effective in that. Having said that, lower heart rate is actually better for burning fat. Higher heart rate tends to burn more carbs, because of anaerobic processes (your body can%26#039;t supply oxygen fast enough).

When I jog, my average heart rate is around 145bpm. When I cycle, it%26#039;s only 120bpm. I would have to go uphill and quite fast to reach the same heart rate I get while running.

Lower heart rate (50-70% of max) is better for burning fat, while anything higher is better for cardiovascular fitness. You have to decide which is more important to you for now and go with that.

Is this going to work?

%26quot;Am I just wasting my time,%26quot;

depends what you%26#039;re looking to do. If you%26#039;re looking just to exercise for an hour or so a day to stay in shape it sounds like you%26#039;re doing well. Remember even walking is really good exercise compared with nothing so you%26#039;re not wasting your time. You want to keep your heart rate up for at least a half hour but up doesn%26#039;t necessarily mean full throttle. As long as you%26#039;re working up a sweat it%26#039;s doing some good.

If you%26#039;re looking to become a world class cyclist maybe you are but that%26#039;s prob not the case.

Is this going to work?

The point is that you%26#039;re doing something for yourself...your workouts will improve as you get more fit..don%26#039;t give up..even the longest journeys began with a first step...try adding a minute or two a week, you%26#039;ll be there in no time...good luck