Fifty Plus (50+) - Is it too late for me?

I worried here a couple weeks ago about my long history of yo-yo dieting and weight loss perhaps locking me into my 245 pound weight. I'm 5'10" and 59 years old.
I think it has.
I've been training hard, about 120-130 miles a week and watching what I eat by keeping it under 2,000 cals a day. The weight drops a few pounds one week but then is right back the next. My leg muscles are certainly harder and my energy is better and maybe, just a bit, my clothes seem to be less tight but the weight stays locked right in at 245.
I know I'm fitter than I have been in a long time but the pounds are just not dropping. I started this regimen in May, moving from 50-60 miles a week to the 120-130 now.
I just can't spend any more time training and keep my job. My workouts take about 10 hours now.
I bought an HRM and most of my training is in zone 3 with occaisonal zone 4 bursts which, according to the calculation, more than burns close to 2,000 cals on my 25 mile daily rides.
What is happening?
I can't begin to tell you how depressing this is.
Am I stuck at the huge weight forever? Will my matabolism eventually kick in? I see this as my last chance. I turn 60 next year. Is it too late for me to change this body?

Hi Mike. I'm 60 and biking will definitely help you lose the weight.

I started cycling again when I was 55 and ~240 pounds. I started dropping the pounds as soon as my mileage got up to 15+ miles on each ride.

In March 2001 I got a new job and 3 months later decided to start bike commuting to work. My commute was 14+ miles one way and I did this 3 days a week. By the end of October I was down to 185. Since then I've kept the weight at 185-190.

One of my discoveries was adding hills to my weekend rides. In one summer I dropped ~20 pounds by adding 15 miles of hills to my rides.

My commute now (a different job) is only 8.5 miles one way but I'm able to maintain the weight and with a little effort and extra miles on the weekend I can drop a few more pounds.

Good luck with you weight loss. Keep us posted about your progress and any "secrets" you discover. :beer:

I am not a fitness expert, and don't have the answer re: weight loss, but at the very least you are increasing your overall fitness to a significant degree, which is very important.

Hey Mike, I started out this spring (and last spring) at 212 (I'm 5' 11). This time last year I was @ 192, this year at 195 for the last 4 weeks and can't seem to break it. I do about 80 -100 miles a week (3-5 days per) . Saying that, I still like to eat sweets, candy bars etc. I can't seem to change my eating habits and really don't want to. My goal is 185. I think genetics has alot to do with it as does a lovely spouse who likes to cook and make sure I eat right (according to her standards). Hang in there and don't let depression get you down - been there, its a real downer and demotivator!

You have added muscle, by your own admission. Muscle weighs more than fat, which you likely have lost if you have stayed about the same weight.

Hey, I am almost 66 and have just lost a lot of weight using the South Beach Diet. It works for me very well. Give it a shot. It is a modified low carb diet. Just lately, I have discovered that 3 of the doctors my wife and I see are ALL on the South Beach Diet, and heartily approve of it. Follow it precisely.

I'd suggest taking a hard look at the consumption. Only 2000 cals a week and no weight loss??

My opinion is you are putting on some some muscle, but you are also taking in to0 many calories to lose any weight. Also dont eat anything after your evening meal, no exceptions This is what worked for me.I went from 188 to 152 and have held it in that range, between 152 summer, to 158 winter for 3 + years. Presently doing about 150 miles per week.

Hmmm I started hitting it hard around July 1. I am 6'0" and weighed 245. I weighed 234 this morning. I am doing 20 mile rides 4 days a week with one 35 mile ride on Saturday, and one recovery ride weekly. I am wondering if there are hidden calories such as soda, beer etc, that you are not accounting for as I have not changed my eating habits.

My leg muscles are certainly harder and my energy is better and maybe, just a bit, my clothes seem to be less tight but the weight stays locked right in at 245.


With a change in diet and regular exercise, I've gained about 3 pounds over the last few months. When I started I was 220, so certainly not scrawny.

Too many people are concerned with losing weight, and not realizing that what they really want to do is lose size. Unless you're thinking of taking up wrestling? You've already said your legs are harder, and your clothes fit a tiny bit better, so you've got your lower body doing the right things. Start some serious upper body training, lots of core work, and I bet the rest of the fat will start melting off.

Of course, if you're like me, you have a genetic gut, so even when your pecs and back are finely molded pieces of art, you'll look like you down a 12-pack with every meal. :D

1. it's never too late
2. sounds like you are a healthy bloke with a healthy appetite
3. to lose weight consume fewer calories than you burn - balanced diet.

Here's just my thoughts from my experience and hopefully some of this might help:

Not sure what the mileage/time of your longest ride is but would suggest taking a look at that. If I read correctly, your longest ride is 25 miles. Might see if there is anyway on weekends or other down time you can bump that up to 50 or 60 miles. Should help with burning more calories but be careful to watch the calorie intake those days.

I'm now 52 and have lost 50 pounds by simply adhering to Calories in versus Calories out. I will still put on a few pounds over the winter but find that I can shed those by following that simple formula. However, when I really limit the amount of calories in, it is REALLY tough-I seem to stay hungry. For me, I find it's easier to eat smaller portions but eat more often. That way I don't feel as starved or craving food as much. I literally write down my intake calories each day to make sure I'm tracking-otherwise I might slip something in and have forgotten about a snack. Heck, even healthy foods like fruit and bananas will contribute to weight......

Also, if there are certain foods that might be high calorie but you simply enjoy, allow yourself a small portion. Oreos are that way with me. I have to have my chocolate but I reward myself with 2 a day. This helps to avoid binges where I might eat way more than I should.

Another thing I do if I'm trying to lose weight for a big riding event is I chart by weight daily. I weigh first thing in the morning and before I go to bed at night. It's amazing to see the swings in weight from fluids and high carb/fat foods. For me, I weigh 2 pounds lighter in the morning than when I go to bed. Okay, maybe I can take it to an extreme but unless I chart and focus on it daily it's too easy for me to slip.

Good luck!! You can do it. Just find what will work for you. Whether's it's Dnvr's Southbeach or just watching what you eat overall combined with burning calories, you can do it. You've taken a big first step in just doing the exercise. The weight will come off-it has not been easy or any of us but you certainly have the mindset to do it.

Keep us posted on your progress!

Mike,
I know weight loss is your chief goal. But, don't forget your leg muscle is stronger, your lungs have become more efficient, blood pressure may have dropped, joints are stronger and more resilient.....and your heart muscle stronger as well. Shaking up your routine certainly can't hurt. A longer weekend ride, little "intervals" relative to your fitness, recovery rides, etc. And try to keep patience and faith in the natural law that fat will be hunted down and consumed by its age old nemesis: controlled calorie intake and increased calories burned. Somewhere, fat is cowering as it hears refrigerator doors being shut firmly and the oncoming hum of clinchers on pavement.

First off....how long has this been going on? If only a month or two then give it more time.

Other scenario is that the extra training is actually building muscle which weighs more than fat. Like Eatadonut said....it's really about size. If you are staying the same weight but getting smaller.....then that is just fine - it means you turned the fat into muscle. Once you plateau with the muscle the weight will begin coming off again.

I finally decided to get serious on this bike and trying to lose weight about a month ago and just weighed in today at about 12 pounds lighter than last month. :)

Mike,
I know weight loss is your chief goal. But, don't forget your leg muscle is stronger, your lungs have become more efficient, blood pressure may have dropped, joints are stronger and more resilient.....and your heart muscle stronger as well. Shaking up your routine certainly can't hurt. A longer weekend ride, little "intervals" relative to your fitness, recovery rides, etc. And try to keep patience and faith in the natural law that fat will be hunted down and consumed by its age old nemesis: controlled calorie intake and increased calories burned. Somewhere, fat is cowering as it hears refrigerator doors being shut firmly and the oncoming hum of clinchers on pavement.

Bravo! Well spoken!

Fox mentioned...
You have added muscle, by your own admission. Muscle weighs more than fat, which you likely have lost if you have stayed about the same weight.

and this is correct. As you make muscle in your legs, your weight will not drop but eventually it will start to drop if you eat properly. I would suggest adding a couple of apples a day to your current diet. Try eating one at 10am and another at 12:30pm, it is better to eat more smaller meals than 3 large meals and try something new, don't eat everything on your plate, leave some, this shows you have self control and prevents you from overeating. I would also suggest you diversify, instead of cycling only, try walking 2 to 5 miles daily and riding 20 miles. I think many people discount walking importance. Walking is something you can do at work on a lunch break, you should be able to walk 1 mile in 15-20 minutes. I am not an expert and therefore take my suggestions as such but they have worked for me.

I have been training for a few months ad have noticed my chest,arms,waist,face,neck,legs, etc. are all smaller. Ive gone from a 36 waist to a 34. a XXL jersey looking like it was painted on to it looking like a XXL jersey. I feel MUCH better and others have noticed it as well. anyhoo I got on the scale last in May and weighed 192.5( I started out at 230+) and this was before I noticed any size difference. I got on the scale just knowing Im below my taget of 190 and guess what ?...192.5 I am in better shape, am much smaller, feel better,and am happy overall with the shape of my frame so I will continue to do what I have been doing and forget about the scale.the mirror tells more of a total picture anyway and I feel much better too. just keep doing what you are doing and enjoy the lack of weight loss. it means you are building muscle, which burns calories, which takes off body fat naturally and long term as well as gives better health to your joints and tendons . at 59 your metablism is slower than when you were 20 any way so if you want to kick it up a bit without drugs or chemicals eat less per meal/ snack BUT eat MORE often. your body will burn it as you take it in and not store any of the calories. stay away from high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils and white bread as your body does not burn these calories ,it just stores them. do not do the Adkins diet. carbs are gasoline for the body, protein is like oil additive(put STP in your gas tank only and see how far you get). enjoy what you are doing and dont be too serious as stress also keeps the weight from shedding. 59 and getting in better shape way to go!!!!!!!!

I was 200 for quite a while, I would work our every single day and not drop more than 5 pounds! This went on for about a month. I started to eat alot more fruit, much less sugar, and I started doing 60km rides 2x a week with 45km rides 3x a week and than recovery rides for the rest, I must say I am sometimes guilty of the sit on the couch and watch TV recovery ride maybe one of those days :P.

There is no way that if you are burning calories and eating less than you are using you are going to maintain the same weight. It is scientifically impossible. Don't try anything silly like drugs, just work work work. Its going to take time, and this time buy something for the winter that you will enjoy. If you like walking in the winter buy a really nice treadmill and plunk it in the living room. If you like biking, buy a bike trainer and plunk it in the living room. If you like to be social, go to a gym and sign up for some sort of workout class; even using the bikes there would be satisfactory just talk to your neighbour. If you need to pay alot of money for equipment, look at it this way, if your 245lbs, its going to take years off of your life, I can guarantee that. For me at the end of my life, one year with my family is worth all the money in the bank, I am not sure about you :P.

The point I am trying to make is that it is not going to be easy, we often look at ourselves in the mirror and wish we could just say some magic words and make it all dissapear. If your burning the calories and not taking them in, theres no way you won't lose it man!

By, the way, I bought a Polar F11, its kind of neat, keeps track of your fitness and how many calories you have burned so you have an idea! Lets you know if your cardiovascular fitness is improving :).

Finally, good luck and god bless you man, I am sure you are at a hard point in your life, but you'll see it through. Let this be motivation to not let the weight come back on the next time :)


Edit: If you have a thyroid problem I guess its possible, get a blood test, that way you can rest assured that its nothing weird. And let us know how its going! ;)

I was 200 for quite a while, I would work our every single day and not drop more than 5 pounds! This went on for about a month. I started to eat alot more fruit, much less sugar, and I started doing 60km rides 2x a week with 45km rides 3x a week and than recovery rides for the rest, I must say I am sometimes guilty of the sit on the couch and watch TV recovery ride maybe one of those days :P.

There is no way that if you are burning calories and eating less than you are using you are going to maintain the same weight. It is scientifically impossible. Don't try anything silly like drugs, just work work work. Its going to take time, and this time buy something for the winter that you will enjoy. If you like walking in the winter buy a really nice treadmill and plunk it in the living room. If you like biking, buy a bike trainer and plunk it in the living room. If you like to be social, go to a gym and sign up for some sort of workout class; even using the bikes there would be satisfactory just talk to your neighbour. If you need to pay alot of money for equipment, look at it this way, if your 245lbs, its going to take years off of your life, I can guarantee that. For me at the end of my life, one year with my family is worth all the money in the bank, I am not sure about you :P.

The point I am trying to make is that it is not going to be easy, we often look at ourselves in the mirror and wish we could just say some magic words and make it all dissapear. If your burning the calories and not taking them in, theres no way you won't lose it man!

By, the way, I bought a Polar F11, its kind of neat, keeps track of your fitness and how many calories you have burned so you have an idea! Lets you know if your cardiovascular fitness is improving . :)

Finally, good luck and god bless you man, I am sure you are at a hard point in your life, but you'll see it through. Let this be motivation to not let the weight come back on the next time


Edit: If you have a thyroid problem I guess its possible, get a blood test, that way you can rest assured that its nothing weird. And let us know how its going! :)

I worried here a couple weeks ago about my long history of yo-yo dieting and weight loss perhaps locking me into my 245 pound weight. I'm 5'10" and 59 years old.
...

Change something.

Eat more veggies/fruit--before you eat a meal. Eat clear soup/broth before meals. Don't skip a meal. Eat regular low-calorie snacks. Are you getting enough protein, enough fat? Are you getting enough water?

Are you taking regular rest days? Climb more hills; climb them faster. Vary your rides. Increase/ vary the intensity of your rides.

Measure and weigh everything. Measure and weigh every bite, lick and taste. Count the calories of the gum you chew. Stop drinking artificially sweetened drinks. Remember those portions that are mentioned on the Nutritional Information panels are usually ALOT smaller than you think and if you think you are taking in 2000 calories, it maybe alot more if you are not measuring/weighing what food you eat; sometimes even a little extra can make a difference.

And remember as you get fitter, your body becomes more efficient at using energy. Change something and this may mean that you may have to drop your caloric intake.

I worried here a couple weeks ago about my long history of yo-yo dieting and weight loss perhaps locking me into my 245 pound weight. I'm 5'10" and 59 years old.
I think it has.
I've been training hard, about 120-130 miles a week and watching what I eat by keeping it under 2,000 cals a day. The weight drops a few pounds one week but then is right back the next. My leg muscles are certainly harder and my energy is better and maybe, just a bit, my clothes seem to be less tight but the weight stays locked right in at 245.
I know I'm fitter than I have been in a long time but the pounds are just not dropping. I started this regimen in May, moving from 50-60 miles a week to the 120-130 now.
I just can't spend any more time training and keep my job. My workouts take about 10 hours now.
I bought an HRM and most of my training is in zone 3 with occaisonal zone 4 bursts which, according to the calculation, more than burns close to 2,000 cals on my 25 mile daily rides.
What is happening?
I can't begin to tell you how depressing this is.
Am I stuck at the huge weight forever? Will my matabolism eventually kick in? I see this as my last chance. I turn 60 next year. Is it too late for me to change this body?

I remember you: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=122805

Ok, I did ask before. Do you do weight training? If so, have you been working to increase your weights? If not, you should incorporate weight training. I would suggest decreasing your riding, increasing the intensity of your rides, and incorporate 2 days of weight training- full body weight training.

I hope you got rid of the Opti-fast crap. If not, there's a problem. You need normal food, not some slimfast quick shortcut. Those don't work over the long haul. As soon as you go off the shakes, the weight comes back.

Finally, once you do incorporate the weight training, 1) get a bodyfat analysis so you can monitor fat loss as opposed to jumping on the scale and not seeing a change (since muscle weighs more than fat); 2) be sure you're increasing your weights over the long haul; and 3) stop being impatient- good, permenant weight loss is done slowly over the long run.

I would feel better about your situation if you actually incorporated the weights, saw a dietitian to get a sensible eating plan, increased your intensity and decreased your time riding (giving yourself about 6 hours of higher intensity riding), and THEN if you felt like you weren't making progress in about 4 months, THEN start worrying.

Koffee

When I'm not seeing the results I hoped for, I always ask myself the question of where I'd be without doing what I'm doing. Patience is the key here.

You obviously have been working very hard to achieve results. I'd go along with others who have stated that results aren't always determined by what the scale tells us.

Still,
1. You might want to lower your calorie intake to 1800 calories and make sure you're eating nutritiously as well. Whole grains and fresh fruits/vegetables instead of refined and overly processed foods. Make sure you get enough protein from lean fat sources. I take protein suppliments to help in this regard.

2. As stated, muscle burns calories more effectively than fat. Alternate your bike rides with upper body exercises. I did this when I was frustrated in the beginning and it worked for me. After upper body exercises, I went out and did a few wind sprints as I heard that really helped build up your anerobic threshhold and raised your metabolic rate for long after you stopped the workout.

3. Weigh yourself at the same time each day. Weight varies quite significantly during the day.

4. Drink a lot of water.

5. Don't always push it to the limit when exercising. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I've read that sustained lower drain exercises burn more fat.

I'd consult with a doctor to see what he'd recommend you do and to make sure it's approved for you to be doing such a stingent workout regimen.

Keep up the good work. Unless it is something like a thyroid problem, the results you're after are coming if not there yet.

Can't tell you how much I admire folks such as yourself who are working hard to achieve their goals, instead of just sitting on a couch watching TV.

To kick yourself out of a weight plateau, maintain your existing workout level, but add a fasting day to the week. If you can't fast all day, just skip supper for the week. Nutritionists will have the heebejeebes and faint cold from reading this advice, but it has worked for me.

The local nutrition guru suggests substituting an energy drink (Ensure or something similar) for one or two meals per day, but I find that stuff disgusting. I'd rather have nothing.

Yup, Ensure is nasty stuff. But there are others you can drink. My lunch at work, along with light morning/afternoon snacks, is usually a piece of fruit and mini carton of E.A.S. Advant Edge....which is better tasting (I get it in the "health" section of my grocery store) than Ensure. My problem is I ride after work, by the time i get back in, ice the knee, take a shower....I'm starved and its about 9:00PM by the time I eat....which violates the "no food after 7:00 dictum". But, WTH, we do the best we can.

And Mike, in the middle of all this practical, calories eaten and burned computing.....we forgot that riding brings you deep pleasure. I always find it better to think of myself as a life-long, all-weather, road-dawg Cyclist rather than a bean counting Weight Loser. The calories burned are the same, but the mental set is different.

To kick yourself out of a weight plateau, maintain your existing workout level, but add a fasting day to the week. If you can't fast all day, just skip supper for the week. Nutritionists will have the heebejeebes and faint cold from reading this advice, but it has worked for me.

The local nutrition guru suggests substituting an energy drink (Ensure or something similar) for one or two meals per day, but I find that stuff disgusting. I'd rather have nothing.

Fasting is the worst advice I've seen people who have no concept of physiology or nutrition give. You want to tell someone with a slow metabolism to do something to slow their metabolism even more? Please. Stop.

Fasting SLOWS metabolism. Most likely, if you think it's working, it's not- you're probably losing muscle and water (which is what fasting typically does), which makes you more flabby. Sure, you weigh less, but it's not healthy, nor is it sane.

Please stop seeing a nutritionist. Anyone can be a nutritionist, and they sometimes can be crackpots with the advice, since they're not regulated, and there is no education necessary to stick a nutritionist sign on your door and proclaim yourself open for business. If you really want good, solid, sensible eating advice that's going to yield results, a registered dietitian is the preferred method. Each registered dietitian completes college, often gets a masters degree, and completes an internship, and they are regulated by the state they live.

Koffee

I'm 61 and have lost 31 lbs. over the past three months. One 70 year old woman in our Weight Watchers group has lost 260lbs over the past 5 years. If I were to eat 2000 calories per day, however, I would go back to gaining weight. 1200-1500 is more like it. People our age don't need and shouldn't eat that much food. Sorry. Drop in to a local Weight Watchers. They will help you learn what it takes in terms of intake to lose weight and/or to maintain it. It is a good program and healthy, unlike so many diets. BTW I have 40 lbs. more to go to get to the weight I was at age 30. I expect to be there by Christmas. The bike riding can help you lose weight and it is excellent exercise for overall fitness, but it can't overcome the practice of overeating. Good luck.

How much different is your activity now? That is, did you switch activities or just add biking to a sedentary lifestyle?

Anyway, this entire weight issue is b.s. Nobody really cares about their weight except astronauts. What you care about is body composition. Get to a place and have that checked now.

I'm also skeptical about the 2,000 kcal / day report. Barring a metabolic problem, which you can't have and do 130 miles / week, you can't maintain 245 lbs on that intake if that's really your intake.

As another poster suggested, an HRM that counts calories while you ride would be helpful. I use a Polar A5 that does it. The online calculators of calories consumed while cycling always give a much higher number than the Polar. My hunch is that the Polar's more conservative number is more accurate than the online estimates.

I know my days of impressing the chicks at the beach are over, so I gave up long ago worrying too much about weight loss. At 53, I prefer being an active over weight person than the overweight slug I am when I do not ride. Just ride and ride regularly.

I have a Timex hrm that also does calories... I'm going to write down EVERYTHING I eat this coming week and then see exactly what the intake is. But doing two hours of biking seems pretty darn close to 2000 calories burned, according to the Timex.
Thanks to everyone for the advice and encouragement.
I'm sure I'm eating more than I thought.
I AM GOING TO BEAT THIS BULGE.
I'll be following lots of your advice and let you know how it goes. Next week, I do a long distance bike tour in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. When I get back, I'm joining a gym and will add the weights.
This is a lifetime change I'm about... your help and suggestions have helped me refocus.
Thank you all.

MIke,
A final thought....we all want to be sleek, but maybe first getting fit and being happy for such health is a better goal. Becoming a more accomplished cyclist (more comfort on hills, faster cruising speeds, longer range, quicker recoveries, etc) should be your goal and let the weight take care of itself-- which it probably will. Eating in a way that supports your riding and general health may be a "new program" that is more productive and emotionally satisfying than making the weight scales your criterion of success. Gaining muscle (in all its forms) should take precedence over just losing blubber. Just a thought.

Fasting is the worst advice I've seen people who have no concept of physiology or nutrition give. You want to tell someone with a slow metabolism to do something to slow their metabolism even more? Please. Stop...

I said that my advice wasn't nutritionally sound - I also said that it works for me (and it does). The suggestions about substituting an energy drink for one or two meals a day comes from a registered dietician an Pennington Biomedical Research Center, an internationally respected source of dietary information. Pennington is used extensively by NASA and the US military to research nutritional issues.

Keeping a log of what you eat is a great Idea.

Portion control is very critical. And you can't cheat at all.

I have done the Weight Watchers diet on and off I have lost about 100 lbs with it but in the past I put the weight back on. What Weight watchers taut me was how to keep a log and to use protion control.

I am not on the Weight Watchers plan right now, I am on my own plan.

I count my calories, carbs, and fat. Almost all food has lables on it to tell how much a serving is and what percentage on a 2000 caloired diet it is. My doc says I need to eat 1600 cals a day so I just go for that number with the carbs and fat reduced by the same ammount. I look for food with lots of fiber and as much bulk as I can find.
Since the end of April I have gone from a thght 56" waist to a loose 52" waist and lost about 40 lbs.

Yes it is a PITA to keep track of every thing you eat but it works.
Some days I don't make it to 1600 cals some days I hit 2000 cals I don't worry too much about any one day as it an long term project and what you do in any one day does not matter much.

Drink lots of water. Leave soda pop alone as well as booze of any type both are just empty cals you don't need. If you love a drink once in a while go for it but a beer or a glass of wine or a shot of screach all have cals that you have to count in that day.

Contact me off line and I give you a typical Menu of what I eat in a day and what time of day I eat it.

Since the doc as laid the law down, translated loose weight or die, I am motivated to loose and keep it off. Any of us that is fat should try to get the weight off or you will most likely get diabetes, and that is the real deal folks. Along with high blood pressure and several other weitght related problems.

Joe

I'm 52, have been cycling for over 25 years now, before that basketball, and since my 20s have stayed within a 76 to 83 kilo range. So I might not be the right guy to give advice here. But here are my observations.
Going from basketball to serious bike racing, I increased training dramatically but also changed my diet. I did not eat meat on weekdays, but shifted the balance to potatoes, rice, and protein milkshakes. not that i would advice that perse, but the result was a weightdrop from 82 to 78 (not that much), much heavier muscles, very low fat percentage (below 10%). When i stopped racing, my fat percentage went up, my weight not that much.

So I would advice to have your fat percentage measured, maybe some other measurements like cholesterol. Make sure you're healthy and look more closely at your diet. For the rest of it: enjoy. And don't push big gears! Smaller gears are better for your knees, don't blow up the muscles too much, and presumably burn fat faster.

Mike,

I'm really bothered by this thread as it doesn't add up. The amount of cycling you do should put you at a huge calorie deficiet. I can't believe that you are so careless that you think you are eating 2k calories when in fact, you are eating 5k. Since your bodymass would require about 2.5k / day w/o cycling, if you really are taking in 2k, then you should be losing fat at the rate of 500 gm / week even w/o the cycling. Add in the activity, and you should be losing as much as a 1.5 kg / week.

I really strongly encourage you to get a body composition analysis from a pro using calipers. Ditch the *#&*#& scales.

Also consider water retention. Are you eating a lot of salt? Sports drinks? Have you been diagnosed with hypothyroidism?

Put it into perspecitive. Since starting cycling you are fitter. Probably a lot fitter.Your muscles have started to tone up and a certain amount of bulk has been lost so at least you know some good has come about. So far so good.

When you start exercising, you will lose weight. This is the surplus, extra surplus fat that the body is carrying. In some people this will not be a great deal, and in others will be of some considerable substance. Then there comes a point, where the exercise you have been doing, will have an effect on the muscle and this will grow. Basically, you are replacing Fat with muscle, but muscle weighs heavier than fat, so it may happen that you will gain as much weight as you have lost. Tricky stage this, as how do you lose weight as if you exercise, you get stronger, but still put on weight. That is not a problem that I experience as I am up to, or down to my weight level, and I can't explain it. The only thing I know is that if I stop exercising, with no other change to my lifestyle, I will put on weight. Also if I carry on exercising and just change my diet to come away from Carbohydrates, then I will lose weight. I am in the unfortunate position where I have to put on weight by Carbo loading before all of my long rides, other wise I run out of energy before 6 hours and If I am on a long ride, I don't want that to happen.

Slight clue? Perhaps exercise is not enough for you. I would not even dream of doing it, but Come away from the Carbo hydrates, come away from the fats, and come away from the fizzy pop and beer for a while. These are the foods that apparantly add weight, unfortunately they are for me the energy foods.

I will not be able to do it till November, but It is something that I intend to do this winter to get my fighting 147lbs down to less than 140 for next year. I may intend to do it, but it will be hard. and remember, that 7lbs loss will be just as hard for me as for you to lose 20lbs, as I have nothing to lose it from.

As an alternative exercise, try a gym a couple of times a week, this will give you a different exercise for different muscles, but initially stay off the heavy weights. Concentrate on the cardio vacscular exercise to burn off the calories and get the Sweat flowing.

MIke,
A final thought....we all want to be sleek, but maybe first getting fit and being happy for such health is a better goal. Becoming a more accomplished cyclist (more comfort on hills, faster cruising speeds, longer range, quicker recoveries, etc) should be your goal and let the weight take care of itself-- which it probably will. Eating in a way that supports your riding and general health may be a "new program" that is more productive and emotionally satisfying than making the weight scales your criterion of success. Gaining muscle (in all its forms) should take precedence over just losing blubber. Just a thought.

Mike, You've gotten a bunch of advise and from what I read, a lot of it has real merit in some fashion or other. So I'm here to cheerlead you and let you know it can be done. I fought my own weight battle recently and seem to be gaining the upper hand. I think most of us can do it.
Grannygear is 100% here. If you're honest with yourself and pay attention to a healthful diet (with appropriate calories) the scale will become inconsequential. You'll know you're succeeding when your clothing sizes change to a more 'athletic' build, be it big or slender.
I believe one of the most important things I can do for my continued best health as I age is to 'maintain' muscle mass and bone density. We will (or 'are') all fight the future battle of frailty; so supporting my structure properly is now job1 for me.
As you 'firm' up, don't give up the muscle in exchange.

If it wasn't in the vast list of things you can do, I do recommend you consume your calories as 'evenly' during the day as possible, and stop when you are a few hours in front of your bed time. The late night calories hurt the most and can undo everything you've done during the day.

stick with it, it'll happen

BTW - 'she, who must be obeyed' is currently doing the South Beach Diet, and it seems to be working for her.
me - I don't (and didn't) do weight-loss 'diets'... I 'grunt' it off and keep the calories honest, brutal (1400 max/day) and healthful... (can't forget the old ruffage...)
:eek:

I have a Timex hrm that also does calories... I'm going to write down EVERYTHING I eat this coming week and then see exactly what the intake is. But doing two hours of biking seems pretty darn close to 2000 calories burned, according to the Timex.
...

Mike
When I read the above, the numbers bothered me. Wasn't gonna bring it up, soz not to be 'negative'. BUT, 1,000 calories per hour is prodigious expenditure, regardless of your size. It's on the order of what many TDF riders use. Not knowing how 'hard' you go at it, a number in the area of 500/hr to maybe 700 (for a v-hard workout) is prolly much closer ... and still indicates some serious riding effort.
Don't believe me, check around, there are prolly numerous references for calorie expenditure on the web.
These electronic devices are nice aids, but are best used for 'comparisons' on this, since they aren't really measuring anything, like oxygen uptake, directly.

I believe one of the most important things I can do for my continued best health as I age is to 'maintain' muscle mass and bone density. We will (or 'are') all fight the future battle of frailty; so supporting my structure properly is now job1 for me.

As you 'firm' up, don't give up the muscle in exchange.

:eek:

YES

This is where I build the old muscle - even while doing the SB Diet - in the olde basement!

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox/wtroom1.jpg

Calculate your resting metabolic rate (http://www.24hourfitness.com/html/fitness/fit_calc/rest/) using this calculator and stick to the number of calories. Keep doing your rides and you lose wieght like a madman.

I was troubled by the HRM calores estimnates, too. I have a Timex Ironman and am testing a Polar, too, and they both come up with those huge calorie expenditures.
I'm betting it's much less.
Just finished my first day of logging everything I ate.
After dinner, and guessing 500 calories instead of the more than 1,000 estimated by the hrms from this morning's ride, I have consumed 1,697 of the 1900 I have alocatted myself each day.
I'm thinking that I have to seriously monitor intake adn make sure I doNT EXCEED THE LIMIT

If you see a registered dietitian (as I suggested), they can take your metabolic rate (scientifically, so it would be accurate), and based on your fitness goals, they can tell you exactly how many calories you need to eat and burn to get to your goals.

Koffee