Biking to Manage Weight

Everyone's talking about the Harvard School of Public Health study which concludes bicycling and brisk walking for exercise may help women control their weight during their 30s and 40s.

From the Harvard Press Release: The researchers found that among women who did not originally bicycle in 1989 but bicycled in 2005, even a small increase in bicycling time – as little as five minutes each day – helped to control weight. Among the walkers who had increased their daily activity by an average of 30 min/day over the years, only those who walked briskly (≥3 mph) were able to control their weight. Walking slowly (<3 mph) had no effect.

My own experience has been that I've had to alter my exercise routine over the years to keep fit.  In 1989 I was a bike commuter and just getting into distance riding.  Then, somewhere along the way I started running more than biking.  In my 30's I mixed it up a lot - running, yoga, kick boxing, etc.  It wasn't until my late 30's that I got back on a bike after a many year absence.  It's good to be back for sure.  I don't enjoy running much anymore.  I typically work in a weekend run or two but aside from that my main form of daily exercise is biking.  I also do weights, core and abs workouts each night to keep toned.  I definitely see and feel a difference as I ride into my 40's.  I have to work a whole lot harder to keep fit than I had to even five years ago.  If I wasn't active I would have to give up things like this.

And I don't want to give up things like this! How on earth would my colleagues bribe me if I gave up chocolate and cream cheese? (I'm trying to save it for after lunch but my finger keeps reaching over and trying to tidy up the edges.)