SpeedyGonzales

I am new to these boards.

I hope it is appropriate to ask these questions here. I don't have a proper bicycle. I bought a stationary one for the home instead for many reasons. It's an upright exercise bike with resistance/tension control. I purchased it with hopes to get my heart rate up and lose some weight.

I have been sedentary for 6 years.

My questions are...

1) How good is a bike for losing stomach weight? I am still not physically tough enough for sit ups yet.

2) My right knee is weak and from time to time and I have a dull pain there and in my upper quad. Sometimes my knee will lock up and I have trouble walking. I am hoping that by using this bike, I will gain flexibility in my knees (most importantly) and everywhere else. Can I count on my bike for that?

3) I have so far been good about stretching before and after riding. Honestly, I don't know what I am doing stretching wise, but just vaguely remembering what I had learned from taking yoga over 10 years ago and following some outdated stretching sheet. Does anyone have any stretching exercises that they recommend - especially those geared for weak knees and cycle happy people? (I am going to start wearing knee braces with a hole in the knee for starters....).

4) I quit smoking on June 13th and am weaning off of the nicotine via the gum. I've noticed the days that I do heavy cardio on my bike, I wake up the next morning with something similar to morning sickness. But it only lasts about 15 minutes! My husband theorizes that the chemicals from the cigarettes are still in my body and that they are coming out in my sweat - so to expect feeling as if I am poisoned (for a while) until all the chemicals are out of my body. Does anyone have anything to say about this?

I am basically stiff all over my body. It comes as no surprise after all these years of being physically inactive. Now, the simplest things such as bending over to pick something up, laying down on the floor and getting back up again, and lifting things with one hand has become increasingly difficult. I want to not only reverse my inflexibility, I want to kick stress to the curb, lose weight, and feel good without needing psychotherapy and a 'quick fix' pill. I am 205 lbs most of which is in my tummy. My arms and legs are thin. I think that my parts are just weakened due to having to carry around my belly for all these years. I am 39 years old.

I went to physical therapy for my knee, and basically I was unable to get any professional advice from them. They didn't seem to have any answers. Any advice you guys have is much appreciated!

Enthalpic

Get clearance from your GP before beginning any exercise program.

With proper diet and exercise you will lose weight from all over; you can't spot reduce.

However, some people do "spot gain" with a propensity for abdominal obesity. If this is the case you may be flirting with insulin resistance / metabolic syndrome and/or excessive cortisol production. You could ask for a fasting blood sugar and A1C tests when you go to your doctor.

Try to cut back on simple sugars/carbohydrates like pop, white bread etc and eat protein with breakfast.

Exercise won't repair a serious injury but it will help stabilize the joint which should help.

Weight loss, however, will take a lot of pressure off the knee, making it feel/work better.

Go easy with the stretching.

Take a pregnancy test.