I'm sorry to be tardy...just finishing up supper.
It would take cycling 5-6 times per wk......about 1/2 hr. to 1 hr. each time where you are cycling during the ride with some sweat. My first bike ride after not being on bike for 12 years...was painful. It was 9 kms. long. My first bike trip was Vermont. 500 kms over 10 days..and whole time I didn't understand how to use my 18 speed bike gears to make life easier.
It is true that jogging requires more effort. But for me, I like cycling, because no matter how SLOW you ride, you go farther than jogging..and you can carry weight on your bike rack without damaging your back.
Helps to do overall floor exercises for flexibility, balance and strengthening. I do a boring 1/2 hr. stretching routine (which I'm forgetting to do now) that I've thrown together exercises over the years that cover: some simple yoga (Sundog stretch, mediation-1 leg stand, etc.), tai chi warm-up exercises, 1-2 pilates movements for abs, and other stuff. I don't even sweat...it's helpful to keep stretched and balanced. I did this series ...before we went snowshoeing in the mountains for a few hrs. each day over Christmas holidays.
EAch person is different about cottage cheese cellulite...but think dimpling can be reduced with lots fun workouts.
I have known several people whose figures and lives changed completely as a result of cycling nearly every day AND changing their diet.
It's probably easiest to do this gradually. Just go on the bike..to get a loaf of bread or go to the bank. Keep it simple and explore farther and farther each tiime at your own pace. And in exploring, you FORGET you are exercising.
That's what you want to achieve ...to do something that you love so much, that you forget it's work/exercise. because you're looking at new world/or seeing old world anew, around you...on bike, in jogging shoes, in swimming pool, etc.
Oh yea, since some of you enjoy journalling, keep a bike/walk journal. This is not literature, it's to keep you motivated. Jot down your mileage walked/cycled/swam. And whatever else. You will be surprised by your annual cumulative mileage. I did this for first few years. Parts also became a travel memoir. Learn to cycle by yourself for an hr. or less. You will become a stronger cyclist and will appreciate group rides better, ie. by keeping up with rest of the crowd OR not feel hurt just because you can't keep up. Big deal. Go your own pace.
Yes, at times it's a drag not to have a car, especially when weather is stormy/rotten. But then, I would have other problems.
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