Y'know those spinning and gym classes we're all so sniffy about. Well, fact is for the last 4~6 weeks, for five days a week or more I've put in 45 minutes fairly intense exercise on a bike shaped object, and whilst it's not getting any easier (it never gets easier; you just work harder) I can now just about pace my self through each session with the resistence settings at a vaguely respectable level. I get the impression that most of the others in the class - a couple of chaps but mostly gurls of all shapes and sizes - are just spinning the pedals but who knows/who cares, they are getting a cardio workout. As a fixer though, my quads need to feel the burn. Anyway when it comes to weight loss and general fitness, it's definately on-trend to focus on intensity as much as duration, and that's what I get from the spin classes. I'm utterly incapable of using a turbo left to my own devices - peer pressure is a wonderful thing - and unless you have some stonking hills to hand its hard to work as intensly on the road as you can in the gym.
The point is that if what you're doing isn't working then it makes sense to try something else. Especially if it doesn't involve cold, wind and rain. I'm lucky I guess because I have a local gym and can get to the early morning sessions. It's pretty cool to walk away from the gym at 8am knowing you're set for the day.
Probably posted this in the wrong place but hope it helps.
FWIW my weights plateauing a bit right now but I'll get over it. Other stuff may come and go but right nowI'm pretty commited to the spin classes to keep me in-line, at least till the weather gets a bit warmer.