This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Getting – and Staying – Fit After Fifty

"The first thing I noticed after a few months that I was just feeling better and definitely getting stronger," says Martha Bianchi

Martha Bianchi is a Health and Fitness Superstar!

It can be hard to focus on health, fitness and maintaining a healthy weight while raising a family and pursuing a career. Then, when we hit a “certain age,” it can be even more challenging to take the weight off. That's why a story like Martha Bianchi's is such an inspiration – at the age of fifty-four Martha has “retired” thirty extra pounds and found her health and fitness “fix” with indoor cycling at RydeOn!

Martha, who has three adult children, says that she has had trouble losing and keeping weight off since she first became a mom.  “Every year I kept gaining weight,” she says. “I tried dieting and all kinds of workouts and would see some results, but would always gain it back – and most of the time a little more.  I was very unhappy with my weight and tired all the time.”

Find out what's happening in Salinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I tried all different forms of exercising but just hadn't found an activity or class that I really enjoyed and would keep with. I went to a personal trainer for awhile, which I liked, but it was very expensive.”

But then our instructor Julie Whitmore, a co-worker of Martha's, invited Martha to try one of her classes soon after RydeOn! opened – and Martha has been spinning with us ever since.

Find out what's happening in Salinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“The first thing I noticed after a few months that I was just feeling better and definitely getting stronger,” says Martha, who has been taking indoor cycling classes for fourteen months.

“I like spinning because even though it is a class I can individualize my workout to my needs. Even on days that I am not feeling my best I dial down my flat road by one and I can still get a workout in, which ultimately makes me feel better. Before I would have easily skipped working out on those days.”

Martha says that she has shared RydeOn! with all of her children – and received a real ego boost when her son, after Ryding with a class, said he wouldn't have believed she was able to complete such a challenging workout!

Asked what she thinks is the most valuable aspect of indoor cycling with RydeOn!, Martha says that she loves the supportive instructors and the sense of camaraderie she shares with her fellow clients. In addition, she says that she has been using a heart rate monitor since December and can see a measurable difference in the effectiveness of her workouts.

“Before getting my heart rate monitor, when the instructor would say I should be in a specific zone I was never sure if I was or not,” Martha explains. “Now I know. My WATTS have also improved – with the heart rate monitor you can challenge yourself not only by getting higher WATTS but also by miles and revolutions per minute.”

These days, Martha attends indoor cycling classes with RydeOn! three-four times a week and says she'd like to run in a 5K race, “...if it ever gets warm around here!”

Are you a person of “a certain age” and feeling daunted by the idea of vigorous exercise? With RydeOn! indoor cycling classes, you can customize your workout to fit your fitness level and work your way up to the goals you choose! Indoor cycling is great for every age because it's one of the easiest exercises for our joints – but don't just believe us (and Martha) – try it for yourself! Sign up for a class today right here.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?