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I heard that spinning classes burn insane amount of calories. And those people were right!! I took my first spinning class today. And my bum and legs are already very sore I never seen so much sweat pouring out of me in that hour. I thought I was going to be carried out in a stretcher. But I survived the whole class. Lots of people left before the hour was up. I did cycling and biking on my own before. But never taken a class. Wow!! lol

Anyone else have this experience? hehe

I am going to take another spin class this sunday. hopefully I can walk tommorow

I am doing it on Mondays. It really kicks your ass. I love the burn. It is a really good work out and you are right. I have never sweated so much. Keep up the good work!

I am a HUGE fan of Spinning!!! Do it as often as I can! However keep in mind your posture, that is VERY important!!! Cycling shoes also make a HUGE difference!!!

a1972guy said Cycling shoes also make a HUGE difference!!!

Really?! I thought that was just hype from the instructor. But if you say so I guess I'll have to go and buy them!

I take my class on Mondays too, George! I'll be thinking of you next time I'm on that bike!

Ok Vin, I will race you!

my gastrocnemius, hamstrings, quadricipes and gluteals are still very sore 24 hours later. I couldn't walk as fast today. lol. I hope next time I do spinning class it won't be as sore. lol

I do spinning classes and circuit training too.

Like all exercise, it's best to vary it and get lots of muscle groups.

Good luck.

Loz

Do your thighs need to be any bigger, Loz?

I do spinning twice a week, love it, only gets better. The instructor makes a big difference in the workout, so search for different classes if you have that option.

If you want to see an insane amount of sweat do Bikram yoga. You'll sweat the weight of a toddler out.

spinning is great. make sure you stay hydrated during and after the class and don't skip or skimp on stretching afterward. or you won't love it as much the next morning. :-)

I was always terrified of taking a spin class because they looked so intense. But, my last trainer convinced me to start taking them (thankfully at this gym, there were only five people in the class). Now I absolutely love them. Depending on my schedule, I'll take 2-3 per week.

I definitely agree the shoes are a big help!

The classes will get easier over time. But, don't slack off, just work harder!

txtri02 saidIf you want to see an insane amount of sweat do Bikram yoga. You'll sweat the weight of a toddler out.

There is a big difference working your body temperature up to sweat insane amounts and walking into a room that is 140 degree F and doing yoga. Come take my spinning class. I wring sweat out of my shirt after every class and actually have to get the mop out for two of my participants who are large sweaters. It is revolting but at the end of the day, I am happy it is a good workout.

Spin Class is freakin awesome! I began almost 4 weeks ago and go about 3 days a week. It's a great alternative to "Intense Cardio," however...if you're looking to lose those extra pounds watch the diet.

But...yes, SWEAT, SORE, & FUN.....oh yea... the instructor too!

I think the instructors should be naked except for a jock!

I am addicted to spin class. I love it more than life itself (well, hockey rates close, but since Im injured due to hockey, it's having a time out).

But yeah, spin class rocks.

I love taking spin too... it's a great cardio workout and adds variety to running or the ellipticals. I can also wear my one piece unitard with plunging chest during the class.... love ya all...

I love it... been teaching it for 4 years now. Right now I do 3-4 times a week. Although, even though it burns a lot of calories in that one hour, I discovered I burn even more calories going out dancing for the night where it is like 5 hours of line dancing at the country bar. haha!

spin classes is just about the only cardio that rocks every time u do it... I love the burn and the challenge that the workout gives... I just moved to Houston, and the spin classes that i have attended are nothing like the ones in Greenville, SC. In Greenville, we yell, talk trash, hoop and holler, and its like a rush the whole time... here in Houston... it is dead quiet... except for the music and the instructors directions, and of course ME... lol

I go to Spin class 3 days a week. The initial classes were really tough. But my body got used to it after the first week. It just feels great to finish an hour class.

I'm a long-time outdoor cyclist and really couldn't understand the appeal of these classes. Cycling = spending a lot of great time outdoors, fresh air, quiet space in your head, getting somewhere interesting with great sights along the way. So the idea of cycling indoors, in a sweaty hot room, with someone else's music blaring, sitting on someone's else's equipment, going nowhere like a guinea pig for an hour, seemed perfectly ridiculous to me. Why would I do it, if I could get on my own bike and go for a ride anywhere here in the SF Bay Area? But we had a particularly rainy winter and the spinning classes at the gym were free and at 6:30am, perfect time for me, so I gave it shot.

I'm sold, with a few reservations. The benefits of the intense conditioning people have already talked about, and it's great to get my cardio out of the way early in the day, for metabolic and schedule reasons. And the equipment is pretty darn comfortable and feels like a real bike--that sort of surprised me, but I'm glad of it. But on top of that, our classes are run by real cyclists, so there is a fair bit of extremely useful technical drilling that goes on which has definitely improved my regular riding technique and has done amazing work on increasing my strength for all the hill riding we do around here in the Bay Area. You can really go all out indoors--sprinting, standing, going to the limit of your conditioning--without having to worry about safety concerns, road conditions, cars or getting home. So that's a BIG plus in my book.

Reservations: Some of the female instructors seem to feel they have to prove their masculinity, which is a little hard to take at 6:30pm. The male instructors are more laid back in personal style but just as intense about the workout. Also, sometime the music can be pretty tough to swallow--one memorable night was listening to Philip Glass's Satyagratha for an hour, not what I would call cycling music. And not a whole lot of instructors really have the taste for the kind of Euro-techno-trance I do. But I've made my own playlists and do my own thing about twice a week, as well as going to 2-3 classes a week, on top of my regular cycling, so it's really added an important cross-training dimension to my riding.

Spinning classes are a staple for me twice a week. One of the best real cardio workouts I know of that tends to work your entire body and really make you sweat. I always have such an endorphin high after class -- feels great. The key is find ing a good instructor who can push you and who also has the right music to keep you motivated.

I've been an instructor for almost as long as the bikes have been manufactured. Here are a few things that I've learned:

#1: People will tell you that your shoes are important, but what's more important is your foot position. Don't lead into your toes, and always be conscious of the upstroke.

#2: Sit on your ass, not your crotch, if you want to use your penis in the future.

#3: There are several styles of spinning, including functional training for outdoor cyclists. However, the spin bike has a fixed base of support that allows for a wider range of activities on the bike without fear of falling off the bike, favoring a more fitness/core-based class. Neither style is right or wrong, and a competent instructor should be able to make either class safe and enjoyable.

#4: A spin bike is not a bike. There is no locomotion and therefore comparing spinning to regular cycling to defend a particular style of spinning is a dead-end argument. Spin professionals who claim that "non-functional" styles of leading spin classes are dangerous have no evidence to support their claims. Believe me, I've been lecturing on this point for five years. People contract me to deliver workshops on the history of misinformation in development of spin bike training.

The most disturbing thing about the controversy is that rival training companies are sponsored by rival spin bike manufacturers. It's all big business, and the company with the biggest bankroll seems to be spreading the most misinformation about indoor cycling, regardless of the scientific evidence that has been presented in the past. Keiser's training protocol from ten years ago, although not perfect, was perfectly safe when delivered by a competent instructor. Anything you hear from Mad Dogg Spin to the contrary is only backed up by anecdotal evidence, embarrassingly flawed logic and opinion.

#5: The worst thing about spin classes is that the instructors generally need a lower level of professional skills and training. This results in the misinterpretation of training information and the perpetuation of the "myths" that plague the discipline. If you're doing something that hurts your legs, chances are it's not good for you, so don't let the instructor tell you it is good for you. Don't do things that take your knees out of their normal range of motion. Don't do things that leave your lower back unsupported while you push hard into your pedals. Don't spend the entire time on the bike trying to get the tension to a place where your quads are trying to do all the work. You'll have no knees left in a few years if you do.

I could go on all day, but I won't. I'm teaching a class in fifty minutes.

dancedd saidI heard that spinning classes burn insane amount of calories. And those people were right!! I took my first spinning class today. And my bum and legs are already very sore I never seen so much sweat pouring out of me in that hour. I thought I was going to be carried out in a stretcher. But I survived the whole class. Lots of people left before the hour was up. I did cycling and biking on my own before. But never taken a class. Wow!! lol

Anyone else have this experience? hehe

I am going to take another spin class this sunday. hopefully I can walk tommorow

I have been doing spinning classes for years and in my opinion it's one of the best cardio workouts there is and you leave with such an amazing endorphin high. That said, for those who are just starting out, it's really important to pace yourself. Better to go balls-to-the-wall in the class and only last 15 minutes, then to try and finish the class and not give it your all. Start out doing 15 minutes, next time maybe 20, then 25, then 30 and work up to where you can really push yourself through the whole class.

Just discovered spin at my gym - and getting amazing results physically and mentally! I've been hitting it at 24 hour and have tried different instructors to see which is the best for me. It's one of the best cardio workouts I've ever been a part of and all of the instructors have been very motivational. You still can set your own pace but they will push you! Of course, there is a gay instructor who plays all the all best music. Wouldn't expect anything less.

Good tips there art_smass!

Been doing spin two to three days a week for years.
Instructor is key it is a great cross training tool, I do back to back classes on Weds and the variation in instructor style is really intense.

Also do a 90 minute spin class on Sundays followed by boxing. Sunday evenings I'm always all wonky in head and body... it's the best feeling ever.

In response to the people who mentioned cycling shoes, I am all for them. True, as another poster said, foot position is more important than pedaling in the cage or not, but that doesn't change two important points. First, unless you're wearing over or undersized shoes, cycling shoes automatically place your foot in the correct position; the discrepancies usually arise from the for and aft position of the saddle and saddle height, which has nothing to do with being in cycling shoes or not. Second, your stroke is far more efficient. Without out shoes your stroke is mainly guided my your quads. Though shoes don't counter this, the attachment allows you to pull up rather than push up, both working your hamstrings and making your energy use more efficient so that you can pedal faster and push heavier loads.

Finally, for the OP, you should never be that sore. As an instructor, if one of my attendees is that sore, I'd tell them not to come back to class until they were full healed. I say healed because soreness of that level is actually an injury; you overdid it. I always advise first timers to perform at least 10 percent under the normal level of the exercise and consider only doing half the class... after a month to six weeks of classes for at least twice a week you'll have conditioned your body, but until then, take it easy.

Go for cycling class once a week, and it is amazing. Everytime instructor pushes more, feel like am going to be dead, but am not .So guess with every week, its getting more and more fun.

i was 150 kg (not sure pounds) and was a planet!..................did spn 7 days a week.....................within 9 months i was 65 kg............i am now a more healthy 83kg (179cm).....................spin will Nearly kill you..............but it gets the job done!

DO IT!


also my legsd are due to high resistance spin classes.....chicken leggged guys have a look.

calibroIn response to the people who mentioned cycling shoes, I am all for them. True, as another poster said, foot position is more important than pedaling in the cage or not, but that doesn't change two important points. First, unless you're wearing over or undersized shoes, cycling shoes automatically place your foot in the correct position; the discrepancies usually arise from the for and aft position of the saddle and saddle height, which has nothing to do with being in cycling shoes or not. Second, your stroke is far more efficient. Without out shoes your stroke is mainly guided my your quads. Though shoes don't counter this, the attachment allows you to pull up rather than push up, both working your hamstrings and making your energy use more efficient so that you can pedal faster and push heavier loads.

Terrific explanation. I'm going to copy it and put it in my presentations!

I guess my point is that you shouldn't feel as if you need the shoes to participate. That's sort of putting the cart before the horse. Also, different makes of bikes have different pedal configurations, and the problems you mentioned seem to be the most pronounced on the Schwinn bikes with their short cage (at least that's what I seem to remember).

I only teach twice a week. Occasionally I'll pick up a third class if the gym is understaffed or if I'm leading a master class. I would be reluctant to do it more often than that. I've always tried to have a varied workout regimen, and that's probably the reason I've been a group fitness instructor since 1986 while most of my 40-something cohorts are crippled.

art_smass said

calibroIn response to the people who mentioned cycling shoes, I am all for them. True, as another poster said, foot position is more important than pedaling in the cage or not, but that doesn't change two important points. First, unless you're wearing over or undersized shoes, cycling shoes automatically place your foot in the correct position; the discrepancies usually arise from the for and aft position of the saddle and saddle height, which has nothing to do with being in cycling shoes or not. Second, your stroke is far more efficient. Without out shoes your stroke is mainly guided my your quads. Though shoes don't counter this, the attachment allows you to pull up rather than push up, both working your hamstrings and making your energy use more efficient so that you can pedal faster and push heavier loads.

Terrific explanation. I'm going to copy it and put it in my presentations!

I guess my point is that you shouldn't feel as if you need the shoes to participate. That's sort of putting the cart before the horse. Also, different makes of bikes have different pedal configurations, and the problems you mentioned seem to be the most pronounced on the Schwinn bikes with their short cage (at least that's what I seem to remember).

I only teach twice a week. Occasionally I'll pick up a third class if the gym is understaffed or if I'm leading a master class. I would be reluctant to do it more often than that. I've always tried to have a varied workout regimen, and that's probably the reason I've been a group fitness instructor since 1986 while most of my 40-something cohorts are crippled.

You're more than welcome to use it. Yeah, bikes are so weird sometimes... the new gym I teach at uses those Schwinn... forget the cages, you can't adjust the for and aft well so that you're hunched in a really unsafe position. Where do you teach?

At the YMCAs up here. There are four locations and they're very nice. We have something like 30,000 members.

I actually liked the Keiser bikes the best when they first came out, but the Schwinn's have been the best investment because they've needed very little servicing. I've been on old Reebok bikes and Star Trac Spinners, but not the latest versions. They all seem decent once you get used to the slight differences. When I taught at the University of Alberta, however, they had a different bike that was horrible. I forget the name.

I don't let anyone hunch in my classes. I'm yell at my participants until they do what I want them to do. That's why they love me.

Spin classes are indeed a godsend to someone who wants to shed body fat relatively quickly without having to resort to extreme diet pills and other bugus methods, BUT I must stress that you cannot expect to see good results only after a few classes and if your diet is still very poor. If your diet is healthy and you do at least four spin classes a week coupled with your regular weights workouts you should see fantastic results very quickly.

Like all things, its the combination of many things and not one thing that helps with the fat loss. It does help you shed the pounds quickly but it is not the magic bullet on its own and you need to attack your fat from all sides of the pitch. You cannot, repeat cannot, just throw a couple of Quaffles blindly and hope that one will hit the magic fat loss zone.

And FYI, for those who want to add size and mass and definition to their bums Spin classes are amazing at doing these three things. I have seen guys who have little or no bums come out after a while with quite a nice sized arse lol

I teach spin too! LOVE IT!!
The music can make or break a class. That is why I play mostly gay dance tunes... (angry divas)

Good point about the shoes but bike shorts are VERY important for comfort and protection.
Glad o see that so many people are into spin class.

Electrolye replacement is really important after spinning... someone in spin class gave me a few packs of EmergNC when I first started and was complaining about being fatigued later in the day... it helps a lot, before and after spin. I've done spin for several years and love the reliable exercise high... I'm always yelling, cheering, woofing and it makes the class a lot more fun... people thank me for coming to class. Shoes are worthwhile... I think they give my feet better support, and if you want to ride a real bike outside too, it's better to do all your biking in bike shoes.

I took a spin class this morning. I usually take one every two weeks or so, when I start to get bored with the treadmmill and stairmaster. It's a great workout and a nice change of pace. I really work up a good sweat. Does anyone know about how many calories you can burn in a one-hour spin class?

Depending on resistance, heart rate, personal fitness level, etc... anywhere from 300-600 in 50 minutes.

Pinny saidDepending on resistance, heart rate, personal fitness level, etc... anywhere from 300-600 in 50 minutes.

That sounds about right. I try to hit the cycling machine at my campus gym 2x a week for 30 minutes, and I usually burn 210 calories in 30minutes, going 7 miles. I should try the spin class here though. I bet it'll be fun. I'm just afraid I'll walk in thinking "oh I cycle inside and outside all the time, this will be a piece of cake," and then walk out humbled.

This thread has motivated me to start going again!

If you guys like spinning, get a bike and go outside! You will burn even more calories since your going up hills and against the wind. I think its incredibly relaxing too.

It's so addictive...once u start u want to do it everyday.

Spin instructor here in Sun Valley. Now that weather is colder I teach a 2 hr class on Sunday morning. We pack'em in. No better way to lose weight and have fun too. All ages, 12 to 66 (that's me).
90% of the class is the music. If it's good and motivating, I can go on forever.