Fitness advice (and parental advice)

[angelwithin]

I'm working on losing weight and doing good so far.. I wanted to kick it up a notch and by myself a bicycle to do cardio (and enjoy a little while out in the evenings). I'm doing P90 right now, but I want something more that I can do for fun too along with P90. I'm making more than enough money to buy my cycle this Saturday.. but my parents don't want me to due to safety hazards (they never taught me how to ride a bike.. so I'd have to teach myself and I don't mind it). I taught myself to swim when I was 12, why can't I teach myself how to ride a bike? My parents have never taught me anything sports or any kind of fun things like that in my life and so I'm left doing it for myself (I've been an only child so they're super protective and it sucks).

I don't drive because I was in a car wreck and my car got totalled (the guy had no insurance), so they have to drive me around .. but they're willing to drive me up and down to zumba classes every day. I don't believe it though.. because my dad gets grumpy just to pick me up from work (and yes I'm helping a LOT with the house bills.. I make more than he does.) But yes.. I don't see them being so thrilled to drive me EVERY DAY after work.. but they're "saying" they will just so I don't get my cycle..

What the hell should I do? I've believed them before and sure enough they went back on their word. I'm pretty fed up, but they won't let me live my life even if it's a damn cycle.. but I'm doing this for me. If I take their offer and they don't take me to the gym, I'm simply going to take their car and go and hell with them after that. But should I listen to them at first or just buy my cycle and go about my own business?

Buy the cycle.

Go to Zumba (and take the car if they don't take me)

[cisco08]

I say get the bike just because they don't want you to its something you want its not like drugs or anything and theyre being a bit ridiculous. however bicycling does not burn as many calories a you would think. kickboxing is also a fun cardio workout as long as you can find a good video to follow and running can be enjoyable just depends on who you are (I hate it) swimming is also very good for slimming down. but a bike is very fun just to go out and ride and honestly, how hurt are you going to get if you fall off its just a few feet in the air scraped knees is about it they have to understand that you are a person too and they can't control every part of your life

[sweatgirl]

you have to set limits with your family. if you are buying the bike your self then it shouldn't matter. I would bye a helmet to go along with the bike especially since you are riding on the street. I would also but something that glows in the dark that u can wear on your clothes. if you show them that you are looking out for your safety then hopefully they will back off. maybe its time for you to move out of their home.

[TheFuture]

I think female only children and male only children get treated differently, because your story is foreign to me. Seriously though, they're just protective, although a totaled car doesn't really help your case, whether it was your fault or not.

You don't want to try running? Or, since you're helping out so much, just mention you're helping out and say it's not really their choice to get the bike with your money. Or when you finally move out you can get that bicycle you've always wanted. You have a few options, or were you just venting?

[angelwithin]

To be honest, it was a little bit of a vent. I wanted to make sure that I've not gone crazy and overreact to telling them I'm old enough to handle my decisions.. it sounded like a teenager at first, but I had to politely put my foot down. Plus I'm not really a troublesome daughter to give my parents grief.. but I did feel little thrown over board by this 1. I'm compromising.. see what plans we can do first that we all agree on, if nothing else, I'll get the cycle then - seems reasonable.

[angelwithin]

And yes, I did tell them that I'm helping as much as I can and I have a right to make my own decision on this - I simply told them to trust me and let me make my own choice (since they know I'm responsible) - they agreed.

[TheFuture]

Congrats! You can also ask to borrow the car more often, no real harm in that unless they really need it.

I taught myself how to ride, if it's difficult at first, practice going down a slight decline to get the balance down. See you at the Tour de France!

[angelwithin]

Yeah, I will. Our new deal: I made a deal to join the YMCA (a really good one) downtown since I'll be working in Houston in the Fall. I'll try that for one month and if I don't like it or I still want to buy my cycle after that, they agreed that I could. Meanwhile, I'll try to fix my dad's (not-too-old) cycle (or get help to lol) and see what I can do with that. =o) Hey, you never know! I dream pretty big lol you could possibly see me at Tour de France. =P Thank You for answering my question!

[misuzi]

Depends what you'd like more.

You can bike by yourself if you want, and at any time.

As for exercise value, I don't know anything about Zumba so I can't say.

[angelwithin]

link

^kinda gives you the idea, but that's like beginners. The tempo is usually much, much faster in a regular zumba class (least the ones I used to go to at my rec center on campus)

[misuzi]

I can say fairly certainly that I will never be doing that.

But for a women it seems acceptable.

[angelwithin]

lol well the classes I attend on campus are like 96% female.. with the exception of these one or 2 weird guys that show up (I'm pretty sure they're gay or 'special'). But back to my question, for my par (as a female lol), what would be your advice of choice?

[misuzi]

I think biking has more of a practical use. Like I said in my answer. Zumba may be phased out when something new comes along, which you may or may not like. Bikes have been around long enough you know what you're getting.

[Anonymous]

You don't mention if cycling is safe or dangerous in your city. Some places are not bike-friendly, others are. But the danger of being struck by a motorist is very real in many places. I can't really give you advice without knowing more about where you live.

[angelwithin]

I live in Deer Park, Texas (close to houston). My neighborhood is 100% safe though people occasionally do speed.. but I'd be an idiot to not look either way on the street to cross those roads where people speed (I'm old enough for that). There's always little kids cycling around my neighborhood, so it's safe. They just don't want me falling while I teach myself (which EVERYONE goes through, I'm sure.. it's all a part of learning though.)

[Opinion Owner]

Falling isn't so bad, as long as you can practice somewhere without traffic. I do worry when people have to ride on roads instead of trails, because I live in an area where 1-3 cyclists gets ran over a year.

[angelwithin]

My neighborhood is pretty big and there are sidewalk/trails for people who walk and cycle.. I could spend an easy hour just cycling through my neighbor hood once or twice and not touch the main road once. It's just practicing to ride that will be the problem. So what do you think? zumba (depending on if they drive me or not) or cycle? I know its my parents and I should believe them, but they've broken these type of promises before and lately it's been worse.. so I just need unbiased advice.

[Opinion Owner]

Yeah -- the cycling sounds good to me! Maybe your parents would compromise if you told them that you'd stay off the main roads and get a helmet. You might even be able to practice in a parking lot or somewhere like that. I learned as a kid and it did involve a few nasty spills. Nothing threatening, though.

Zumba is cool, though, too -- I just recently saw someone giving lessons and it's pretty intense!

[angelwithin]

Yeah it can be intense, but I get so wrapped up in it for fun I don't notice lol

All I know is by the end, I'm sweating like crazy and my abs hurt (pain is good) ha ha lol

[angelwithin]

Thank you for answering!

[Longshot]

All parents get protective and it will stay that way more so if you live with them. So you may have to suck it up and do something else. (Personally I walk 4-6 miles / day).

[Anonymous]

Add the X to P90 and you've got a work out.

[angelwithin]

I have P90x, I'm almost done with P90 so that's my next goal. I'm talking about something fun to do rather than simply sweating and working out too (I enjoy dancing and I'd enjoy a bike ride) so this is extra. P90 routines are my main workout and will be that way regardless of what I choose between the cycle or zumba.

[Xx_DRE_xX]

get a gym membership?

[angelwithin]

I don't need one.. I have free access to my gym on campus.. but that's 45 minutes away and they only offer zumba like twice a week (i'd want to go every day) so its pointles.

Also the gyms near where I stay suck (not kidding).. they're like old and run down and I don't feel safe around the people that go there.

[Xx_DRE_xX]

I see.