Cycling is the best way to get fit, enjoy the outdoors, and have fun while doing it. Unfortunately, many people think that bicycles are for kids and often overlook the positive physical and psychological health benefits of cycling. If you biked for thirty minutes every day, you would burn eleven pounds of fat in a year, build lean muscle mass, increase your metabolism, and dramatically decrease your chances of getting heart disease. The immediate physical results of cycling will boost your self-esteem and you'll find yourself wondering why you didn't start cycling your way to good health sooner. America is the land of milk, honey, and all-you-can-eat buffets, so it's no surprise that the United States is among the fattest nations on the planet. According to the American Heart Association, nearly one million Americans die from heart disease each year, and more than seventy million Americans live with some form of heart disease every day (prevention). Some common forms of heart disease are: hypertension, cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and congestive heart failure. Bicycling twenty miles a week can reduce your chances of developing heart disease by 50% and help alleviate the current obesity epidemic in the United States (Prevention). Obesity is the result of a poor diet and lack of exercise. With a constant supply of cheap, unhealthy food readily available to Americans, it's easy to see why we've become a chronically obese nation. As a remedy, Americans spend thirty-five billion dollars each year on snake oil miracle cures, fat-melting diet pills, and prescription drugs to control their weight and the negative side effects of obesity (Diet). If a fraction of a half paper has been shown to promote healthy living, reduce the chances of heart disease and increase longevity. Fitness cycling can be integrated into any fitness program and with every turn of the wheel you burn calories, increase strength and achieve well-being. There's no better time than now to get outdoors and ride to get back into better shape. Sources Cited “Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol.” June 14, 2011. American Heart Association. Network. August 11, 2011. "The diet industry is big business." February 11, 2009. CBS News. Network. August 14, 2011. "Advantages of the Exercise Bike." October 27, 2009. Livestrong Foundation. Network. August 14, 2011. "Symptoms of stress: effects on the body, feelings and behavior." February 19, 2011. Mayo Clinic. Network. August 13, 2011. "The true cost of gym memberships." September 11, 2008. CNBC News. Network. August 14. 2011.