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You already know what makes you leaner:
a healthy diet, regular exercise and strength training. A 40-minute
Spinning class burns an average of 400-500 calories, which is a good
place to start.
But does climbing hills on a Spinner® bike make you bigger?
If you answered “yes,” you’re definitely not alone. Maybe
you’ve started taking classes and notice your clothes are fitting
differently. The most likely reason: you’re working new muscle groups,
building new muscle and losing body fat.
Remember,
muscle is denser than fat, so it weighs more—it also burns more
calories than its counterpart, which is good news if you’re hoping to
lose weight.
The ah-hem, bottom line?
Climbing builds strength, which is why it’s an integral part of the Spinning program. However,
to build the large quadriceps and glueteal muscles you fear, you’d have
to use a very difficult gear for repeated and extended periods of time.
During Spinning class, climbs usually don’t last for more than a few minutes—not enough time to bigger legs or a bigger butt.
Remember:
The
Spinning program recommends a 40-minute class, but it’s always your
ride. When in doubt, ask your instructor to help you modify rides to
meet your training goals.
And if you don’t believe us:
Go
find the biggest guy in the weight room and ask him how to get big legs
and a bigger butt. It’s likely he’ll include the following: increased
protein intake with calorie reduction and an emphasis on training with
heavy weights.
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