Exercise is a big part of being physically fit and healthy. Researchers, the media and health care practitioners tout the benefits and lay out the risks of not supporting an active lifestyle, encouraging us to find ways to stay in shape. There are plenty of ways to get our bodies moving and active, whether it be a day at the park playing with the kids, after-work squash games with friends from the office or stopping by the gym a couple of times a week, but there are options for people who'd prefer to work out in the comfort of their own home or for those who can only afford a quick half-hour ever day or two, in which case an exercise bike routine can be the perfect answer for staying fit.

Not only is an exercise bike routine quick and easy to do, it can be something that accomplishes two birds with one stone. Pair an exercise bike routine with an activity you enjoy, such as watching television, listening to music or reading a book. Some people have even found that their favorite hobbies, like knitting, cross-stitch or other manual activities can easily be done while they're pedaling away. What's important is to make your exercise bike routine something you enjoy doing and look forward to, as opposed to just another task on your never-ending list of things that need to get done.

Good Planning Keeps You Going

Find a room to carry out your exercise bike routine that's sunny and cheery, not one that's bare and on the other side of the house. You don’t want to end up feeling like your exercise bike routine is a punishment with solitary confinement. Even if you like to do your exercise in peace, where your kids won't come yank at your leg for attention or where your husband can't come ask you where his favorite shirt is, the room you use for your exercise bike routine needs to be one that makes you feel good about being there, a place you look forward to hanging out in for a little while. While exercise rooms and home gyms do serve the purpose of staying fit, most people end up losing interest in the institutional, lonely room and the equipment gets abandoned.

So let's say you've set up in a great room, you've got an iPod full of your favorite tunes handy and you're ready to start with a new exercise bike routine. You promise yourself you're going to work out every day for at least an hour each day. Great idea? Sure, motivation is perfect to keep your focus and encourage yourself to stick with that exercise bike routine, but a big mistake people end up making is setting expectations too high when starting out. Do the opposite. Instead of swearing you'll pedal an hour a day, set a limit of 15 minutes. One thing is for sure, you'll never feel like 15 minutes is too much or overwhelming, and if you work out longer than that, fantastic!