Losing weight bicycling?

Got a question for you fitness nuts our there, particularly those who run or bike.  First off, just to let you know, cardio is my nemesis.  I absolutely hate running and can't run long at all.  I've worked out all my life, yet running has hardly been in there, with the exception of during college.  Then, I got got up to 3 miles a day for 5 days week.  A few months back, I got started running again and got up to about 1.5 miles a day, maybe 4-5 days a week.  Also, while running, I would wear one of those sweat suits, so I was always drenched in sweat afterwards.  I started getting busy, and quit running for a few weeks.  I tried to get back into it, but can't get any motivation to stay on the treadmill.  I've been getting winded really quickly and will quit way before I want to. 

Just last week, I started to bike a little bit.  I've been doing 10 or 15 mile a day for 5 out of the last 7 days.  I wear the sweat suit while doing this too.  I have noticed a couple of things.  I seem to sweat much more while biking... possibly b/c I'm biking for 30min-1hour as opposed to running for 10-15min.  But, I realize it's much easier for me, as my heart isn't getting worked as hard.  Also, I can push myself further, even when I feel like quitting.  And when I say I sweat more, I am absolutely drenched after biking with the sweat suit on.  Keep in mind that I'm not biking really fast, around 15 mph.

So, my question is, can I lose as much weight biking as running?  If so, how much do I have to bike to equate to my 1.5 miles I was running a few months ago.  I noticed while I was running, I started to see noticeable weight loss.  Not sure if the same will happen with me biking.  I just fucking hate running so much, and it's demoralizing when I don't even hit a mile, and I'm huffing and puffing.  Any opinions will be greatly appreciated!

 

 It's hard to say.........everyone is different. Basically, if you're keeping your heart rate up in the zone you're burning calories/fat. If you can do that longer on a bike you should be able to equal/surpass what you do when running. I would bet that the overall intensity on the bike is somewhat lower than when running, so I think you'd have to go longer. But if biking for an hour beats running for 15 mins. for you then I'm sure you'll have success.

 BTW........why are you wearing a "sweat suit"? Just to stay warm? More sweat does not equal more calories burned.............& dehydrating yourself doesn't help your cause.

Like Mugg said, you're just losing water with the sweat suit.  You're not in shape yet, so running is hard for you.  I would keep doing both.  Running will get easier if you stick with it and just try to do a little more each time out.  If you are running on a treadmill try walking at 3.6 mph with a 10.5 incline for 2 minutes when you get winded to catch your breath and then start running again with no incline at your normal speed again.  This will help you keep your heart rate up and give you a little break from running when you are thinking of giving up.  Running is a great way to get in shape and generally more strenuous than cycling.  You are, after all, sitting while cycling most of the time.

the obvious benefit of biking over running is that running is much harder on your knees.  i'm the opposite of you.  i hate biking and never do it except for a few races a year.  i'd much prefer running but i have bad knees so i need to take it easy.  but to answer your question, all things being equal, i'd expect that you'd lose more weight running over biking.  but that really doesn't matter because if you prefer biking and work harder at it and will do it longer and more often, you will lose more weight biking. 

as for sweating, i agree with mugg and H for the most part, but i'm like you, i'll go running or mow my yard at the hottest time of day and i'll usually wear long sleeves for two reasons.  one, you need to be careful of the sun.  i saw something on the enws that said one person dies of melanoma in this country per hour.  and two, you have a lot of toxins that get stored in your body fat, particularly if you aren't always eating organic foods, grass fed beef, etc.  those toxins impede your body's normal functioning including its ability to burn fat.  sweating helps your body naturally expel those toxins.  so, i say the more you sweat, the better.  just try not to get heat stroke. 

Diet is the most important thing when trying to achieve weight loss. Exercise is not an effective means for weight loss for a few reasons. I will do my best to explain:  

Thanks guys for the feedback.  I actually took a few days off and got back to the cardio today.  I decided to give the running another go and made it a full mile without walking.  I use the sweatsuit b/c it has worked in the past.  I used to be friends with lots of wrestlers growing up, and they would always wear that to pull weight.  Now, I understand that they were doing it for the short term, but I started running with one in college.  I was able to get in the best shape of my life.  So, I figured if it worked then, it will now as well.  Plus, I read that you actually do burn more calories while using one.  I took your advice and walked the incline after I gave up running today.  I only went at 10.0 incline at 3.6mph though.  I'll probably switch back to biking for a couple of days if I start getting too winded while running, then come back and shoot for 1.5 miles straight.  As for weight-loss, I'm looking at about 15-20 pounds.  I'm at 195 right now and I was anywhere from 167-180 in college.  When I was in 170s, I felt like I was in the best shape of my life.  I looked much leaner, was running more, and I was eating well too.  I understand that diet is a huge part of health, so I need to keep that under check, especially since I love food so much.  Over the last several years, I pretty much have eaten whatever I want without working out a lot.  I think that's where it got away from me.  Now, I'm trying to watch what I eat without cutting all my favorites from the diet.  Plus, I'm drinking a protein shake each day after my workout in replacement of a meal.  Been doing this for about 2 weeks now.  Thanks again guys for all the advice!



 

Couple of thoughts here ogmike -- Quit the sweatsuit bit.  It is pointless and it is pretty dangerous.  All you are doing is losing excess water.  That will for sure make you "lighter" immediately after a workout but that is smoke and mirrors because you will gain that back when you replace that water.  At the same time you are severely impeding heat loss and that is a dangerous thing.  The wrestlers do this because it is beneficial for them to train at (this is an example) 175 lbs and then basically go into dehydration mode before a match (what the hell do wrestlers call it ) to get down to 171 (or whatever the weigh in cut off is).  It is pointless in your circumstance.

As far as the mode of exercise goes you will be not be burning calories / fat as efficiently with biking vs running.  However, you said it yourself in your post.  You hate running and so are less likely to do it for as long as you would bike (for either physical or mental reasons).  It is more important to find a mode of exercise that you enjoy and thus will be likely to do 6 months from now even if it is less efficient.  Remember that weight loss and getting in shape is a marathon and not a sprint. 

Sharp is also correct (for the most part) in that for full results you really need to supplement the exercise with a healthy diet.  

Also you should mix in some resistance type exercise.

I can't run due to knee problems so I have to bike.  The anwer is yes, you can lose weight just as easily IMO.  Think about it, when running, you take a pounding as much as your muscles have to work to propel you.  In biking, it's all your thighs, calves, and ass muscles.....and NO pounding. 

And I will wear a long sleeve shirt even if it's 90+ and humid.  If it's cool, I'll wear 3 layers (the last being fleece).  I'm with Club, sweating is always good just so you're not overheated.  Another advantage of biking is that you get more breeze which helps evaporate that sweat and keep you cooler. 

I normally try to have half of something with electrolytes (no sugar) and a couple glasses of water an hour before....then I usually have the rest of my electrolyte drink and a tall glass of water after over the course of a half hour. 

Another bonus for biking....you cover more ground and therefore run into more hot chicks with very few clothes on. 

Honestly swimming beats all of that because it works so many muscles in your body, but much more tiring than any of that stuff.  

swimming is the best exercise, in my opinion.  easiest on your joints too.  it is very difficult and takes the longest to get used to but once you do, it's a great workout.