HEALTH

As the weather starts to get dicey, it’s hard to find the motivation to get up, get outside and go for a run. We'd much rather spend our spare time wrapped in a blanket watching Scream Queens. When we do find the energy, we hit the gym and opt for the stationary bike—aka one of the most boring pieces of exercise equipment known to humankind. It’s difficult to get through a workout on one, but luckily there are 5 ways to spice up the #bikelife, so that you don't get up and go for ice cream after 4 minutes and 22 seconds into your ride.

1. Add intervals. It becomes a lot easier to get through 30 minutes if you break the time into increments. Don’t think of it as 30 minutes straight. After a five minute warm-up, pick up the pace for 30 seconds. Then slow it down until you get to minute seven. Pick it up for another 30 seconds, then slow it down for the next minute and a half. Suddenly you already biked for nine minutes, and it didn’t even feel like it!

2. Use your music. Rather than stare at the clock the entire time, pick up the pace whenever you hit the chorus of your favorite song. So when Walk The Moon starts singing “Oh don’t you dare look back…,” kick your booty into high-gear!

3. Add some resistance. The benefit of using this stationary bike at the gym rather than the one you have collecting dust in your garage, is that you can manipulate your own workout instead of relying on the terrain outside. For example: increase the resistance on the bike for a minute, and then bring it back down for the next two. It’s a similar method to the intervals—again, breaking up the time makes the 30 minutes go by faster.

4. Use the TV. There’s always a TV somewhere at the gym. If you have an option of switching channels, find a show that makes you laugh. Every time you giggle, pick up the pace for 30 seconds.

5. Bike next to a friend. These types of workouts are hard to self-motivate because it's doubtful that anyone *really* enjoys sitting on a bike alone. Head to the gym with a buddy and make a friendly competition out of the experience. Plus, you'll fit in time to chat with her about your STEM club meeting at school tomorrow or the chorus concert you two have coming up next week.

What’s your favorite way to bike? Tell us about it in the comments!

by Amy Garcia | 9/26/2016