Health benefits - heart function, stamina, weight

A ghost bicycle made from beans! This is the best I managed to create...

After I started to ride my bicycle more consistently, I've noticed in myself some benefits that are related to health.

But before I begin to tell you about it, I must say that I was already a healthy person and that I'm young and a non-smoker. Additionally, before taking up cycling, I used to work out too. I did some cardiovascular exercises, a bit of pilates and some weight training. So I didn't expect to observe any differences to myself with cycling.

However, the first thing that I've realised that had changed after starting to ride my bicycle more regularly, was my stamina, it had increased. This realisation was a bit of a shock to me, as when I cycle I don't usually hurry doing it. I consider myself an average speed rider (although my traveling times are still getting better and better, even after one and a half year of cycling) and as I told above, I was already working out. 
I've also noticed that I had all this extra energy, that I got "lighter" feet and that I was more responsive to everyday tasks.

Additionally, in the beginning of Autumn 2013, I went to do a routine check up, just out of curiosity, on a local doctor here in Volos, who has a new diagnostic software called electrocardiorama, which, among other things, shows a 3D picture of both sides of the heart, and after doing an examination with the help of this diagnostic tool, the doctor is able to see any heart diseases or problems, before they even occur.

So after doing the examination, the doctor said I had a totally healthy heart, as I expected. 

But after two and a half months, when I went back to the same doctor to do again this particular examination, he said that I had now the heart of an athlete and that all this everyday bicycle riding was really beneficial for my heart function.

Last but not least, after taking up cycling, I noticed that my clothes started to fit differently. I didn't loose much weight, as 2-3 kilos weren't considered a significant amount of weight, but my body became tighter all over. And to think that I've stopped all the other cardiovascular exercises, I only kept cycling as my main cardio and my main way of transportation and occasionally I do some pilates and weight training. 

However, I should also note that by habit, I'm a healthy eater too. I random eat from outside (souvlaki, cheese and mushroom pizza, grilled fish or calamari) and I never eat junk food (not a fan of burgers, chips, etc.) I prefer to eat homemade food, as the variety is greater and the flavors are better! Furthermore I eat a fruit every morning and I consume a lot of veggies during lunch, as a side dish. We are a "cooking at home" family after all, and this is how my mother raised us from the start. Of course it helps that we live in a country that offers  such a big variety in organic and unprocessed food materials.

So these were the changes that I've observed in myself after incorporating cycling into my everyday life. I must admit, these weren't any significant changes, but keep in mind that I was already healthy, that is why I noted that in the beginning of the article. Take into account that everybody is different. Some might had greater changes that mine after starting to ride for transportation, and others might had smaller changes. What I say is that I'm happy with all these health benefits that this everyday bicycle riding did to me, and that is something pleasant, as when I started to transport by bike, these health benefits were not into my goals. 

These health benefits were just the cherry on top!

What differences did you observe to your general health after starting to commute by bicycle?