No energy in my legs

[DustyLee123]

I do two exercise classes a week and one spin, and I’m finding that my legs get very tired quickly. I want to keep going but there’s no energy. What can I do?

I don't have much stamina for things like spin, it does improve if you keep going. You do need to make sure that you are eating enough ahead of your workout though - what is your diet like?

Spin class is in the morning, so I have half of my usual breakfast, I can’t stomach eggs in the morning.

You don't need to worry about things like eggs before an intense cardio class - carbs/sugar is what you need (eggs are good, but for later!) Fruit juice is a good one before a morning run or bike. I also think the psychological boost of knowing you've got some fuel helps. Though I do personally find morning workouts always harder than what I can do in the afternoon, so be kind to yourself too!

It’s just frustrating as I know I’ve got stronger legs than what I’m doing, they seem to fatigue very quickly.

When you say you know you have stronger legs, what do you mean?

I can cycle on roads longer and harder than I do in spin.

@DustyLee123 I always find my cycling outdoors beats whatever indoor training I do - I assume because there's interesting things to tackle (hills, needing to overtake etc) whereas there's no distraction indoors. However is there a reason you want to go that hard indoors? I prefer to think of indoor training as short bursts to get me the fitness I need to do long weekend rides. If you were to go as hard in classes you might not have anything left by the time you get on the bike!

Are your resistance settings too high, or your spin bike set up incorrectly? Or is it mental? Spin classes are quite dull 😀

Is there any chance you might be low on iron? I get heavy/ tired legs when anaemic

I do agree about the mental thing. I think being outdoors is distracting, whereas watching a screen and the countdown isn’t.
And I do find that I enjoy it more if a certain instructor is telling me what to do 😉

Are there enough carbs in your diet ?

I think you get natural breaks or less intense periods when outside on the bike, going down a slope for example. Whereas spin or exercise bike the work is constant and you have to keep peddling to keep it going.
I find it much harder on an indoor bike.