Good Morning Chris, I live in So. Cal-- the San Diego area, so I am not as familar with zen groups where you are. I have spent time at Spirit Rock, but that is a drive for you. I do know there are many groups in the Bay Area, but I'm sure you have researched all that out. As to the biking /walking kcal -thing. Not that its a big deal to this group, but activity kcal use is determined by age, body weight/ gender / and physical conditioning. Walking and cycling do indeed have different kcal usage. Its usually measured in kcal /min based on kg/body weight. (METS in the exercise lab). I point this out because I do care about the health of all here, and because mis-information is so common. What you are experiencing is known as perceived exertion (PE), which makes you feel that cycling uses less energy (kcals). Technically, you are correct. A crude measure is leisurely cycling (5.5 mi/hr) uses 3.0 kcals /min whereas leisure walking on paved road uses 3.8 /kcals /min . But you would be surprised. When cycling, you are dealing with the bike, the terrain, plus you are using balance as your pace changes over time. In the end, you are likely using more kcals than if you had walked that distance. I can say this as a runner. It is easy to become a lazy runner (once you are fit), but cycling is hard work!!;) Kristy
--- On Sat, 11/20/10, ChrisAustinLane <[email protected]> wrote: From: ChrisAustinLane <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: FW: Amazon book To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Cc: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, November 20, 2010, 9:31 PM On Nov 16, 2010, at 9:18, Kristy McClain <[email protected]> wrote: Gosh-- I didn't realize you lived in CA. For some reason, I thought you lived in MD. I have been in California only two years and on this list constantly refer to my Maryland teacher and Sangha as I have not found a sangha or teacher here that I can sit with weekly. ( snip ) as an exercise junkie, I will point out that cycling uses more kcals than walking. Per hour perhaps but definitely not per mile. All the complicated heart stuff I snipped out, it is too complicated for me. Although I had to relent on my no sweating rule. I just can't go up hills and not sweat. My general rule about changing any sort of measurable habit for myself is go very slowly, like 1% per week, and don't look at change except in blocks of seasons. Thanks, Chris Austin-Lane Sent from a cell phone
