I'm far from a fitness nut (in fact I have no clue when it comes to fitness) but I figure I'd better stop leading such a sedentary lifestyle or I'll get diabetes or heart disease when I'm older.
I've recently started spending 45 minutes on an exercise bike per day, with my arms unmoving, holding the bars. It ramps up in intensity then drops down suddenly at approximately 4 minute intervals. I'm not sure if it's relevant because I'm trying to gain muscle, not lose fat, but the machine says each workout burns about 450 calories.
I'm a 20 year old male, I'm 174CM high and weigh about 50KG, which makes me underweight according to the BMI. I eat what I want when I want, which involves healthy portions (or perhaps too much) of everything. I have virtually no fat, but virtually no muscle either. Is this routine enough to get into shape, with time? If so, how long would it take? Keep in mind I have no interest in becoming buff, but it would be nice to have a regular amount of muscle, particularly in the arms, and not look so emaciated...
Should I be exercising other parts of my body? As far as I know, this exercise routine would not improve the strength in my arms.
I'm also wondering whether some kind of exercise can maintain healthy back strength, and prevent it from being damaged over time or giving me problems later in life due to hunching and other unhealthy habits, like spending a lot of time sitting down.
Oh and one more thing, I realise that my sedentary lifestyle is not good for my emotional health. I know little about how it works, but I believe it has something to do with chemicals in the body... I think. Anyway, is this exercise routine likely to improve my mood or at least my level of energy in general?
Basically, I'm asking if the routine I've described is enough to achieve the goals I've outlined. If not, how can I modify it to do so?
Thanks!
I've recently started spending 45 minutes on an exercise bike per day, with my arms unmoving, holding the bars. It ramps up in intensity then drops down suddenly at approximately 4 minute intervals. I'm not sure if it's relevant because I'm trying to gain muscle, not lose fat, but the machine says each workout burns about 450 calories.
I'm a 20 year old male, I'm 174CM high and weigh about 50KG, which makes me underweight according to the BMI. I eat what I want when I want, which involves healthy portions (or perhaps too much) of everything. I have virtually no fat, but virtually no muscle either. Is this routine enough to get into shape, with time? If so, how long would it take? Keep in mind I have no interest in becoming buff, but it would be nice to have a regular amount of muscle, particularly in the arms, and not look so emaciated...
Should I be exercising other parts of my body? As far as I know, this exercise routine would not improve the strength in my arms.
I'm also wondering whether some kind of exercise can maintain healthy back strength, and prevent it from being damaged over time or giving me problems later in life due to hunching and other unhealthy habits, like spending a lot of time sitting down.
Oh and one more thing, I realise that my sedentary lifestyle is not good for my emotional health. I know little about how it works, but I believe it has something to do with chemicals in the body... I think. Anyway, is this exercise routine likely to improve my mood or at least my level of energy in general?
Basically, I'm asking if the routine I've described is enough to achieve the goals I've outlined. If not, how can I modify it to do so?
Thanks!