Biking 10km three times a week

[user159]

I'm not overweight but on the upper side of 'healthy' BMI. It's more fitness I'm concerned about given the current situation and a very active 2 year old! I find exercising intimidating, I'm not sure why, perhaps the fear of failing/not completing it. we've got a spin bike in our garage and I've started doing 10km 3/4 times a week. I've been beating my time each go and will gradually add a km or two each few weeks to keep it going. Is this enough to notice a difference in fitness?

Try doing a HIIT workout on the bike, or download some apps and do some intervals more than just distance.
Losing weight will increase your fitness as well. Between the lower end of my BMI and the upper end, there is an 18 kg gaps. Letting go of some kilos will make your fitter and healthier.
Variety in the type of workout is also a good way to increase fitness.

If you're only doing 10 k on a bike you need to make it an effort session or hill session. Spin as fast as you can for a minute then pedal slowly for a minute for 20 minutes or put it in the hardest gear for a minute then rest a minute. Don't forget warm ups and cool downs

What the others said. If you're just doing v short distances on a bike, you need to make it count. Adding in speed intervals is the easiest way to do this; or indeed putting it in the hardest gear to simulate hills. In the "hard" bits you need to be properly working hard - heart pounding, unable to speak a full sentence - to realise the benefits.

I really don't want to sound negative, as any exercise is better than nothing, but just cycling at a steady effort for half an hour/six miles three times a week isn't going to do much on its own.

Do you have a pool nearby (are pools even open in UK?). Going there with your toddler and playing with him/her running up and down the lane dragging him/her, throwing him/her in the air, swimming together, running in the grassy area will give you a boost.
Or go to the pool on your own and run in the shallow water, do sprints in the deep water.

If you find exercise intimidating , do them in your living room, and your 2 years old will keep the timer on your phone.
There are a zillion youtuber, you just need to find one you like.
I like her,

and you know you can actually used your toddler as weight for squats and lunges

It will make a difference initial but it’ll get to a point where you won’t lose weight anymore. Try and mix up your exercises and which part of the body you focus on.

It’s a good start though