Help, Dropping Weight

[cheebahmunkey]

I've got a problem. Last week I rode 122 miles over 6 days. I thought I was taking in enough calories to maintain my weight but I was dead wrong. My bike computer estimated that I burned around 950-1050 calories on each day's ride. I had my RMR checked and it's 1680. So naturally I added the 1000 calories burn on the bike to my RMR. So I would try and take in around 2600-2800 calories each day. Well it looks like I lost around 5 pounds last week. Very troubling considering my bones are sticking out of my shoulders now. Am I underestimating my calories expenditure by that much? Any suggestions on how many calories I should take in on ride days and also on non-ride days? Thanks in advance guys.


P.S. Yes I'm too cheap to see a dietitian/nutritionalist

[overthere]

Oooh, if I had your problems. I could never believe it was that exacting, calories in; calories out. Obviously, if you lost 5 pounds, you under estimated your effort or work out. The body is an adaptable thing, and unique. Yours needs more fuel. Add more to your diet. Something healthy, like raw nuts, or avocado, not a pint of Ben and Jerry's!

Good luck.

[benverner]

you're forgetting the burn that your daily lifestyle gives you. Unless you are resting constantly you don't have all the numbers. I sit on my can 80% of the day and still burn an additional 1300+/- throughout the day.

[cheebahmunkey]

you're forgetting the burn that your daily lifestyle gives you. Unless you are resting constantly you don't have all the numbers. I sit on my can 80% of the day and still burn an additional 1300+/- throughout the day.
I figured that was the case but I thought I was really lazy so I didn't think I really burned more than another 200-300 calories. I guess I was wrong. It's just a little scary when you eat a lot of food (which I do) but you are starting to turn into skin and bones. I'm gonna try and take in 3000 calories today (rode 23 miles). See what happens. If I need more then so be it I guess. I do like nuts but avacados aren't for me. Thanks for the suggestions though! :D

[teamawe]

Bah, I rode 252 miles last week and I think I gained a pound or two, /sigh. Lets swap for a month then we'll both be where we want.

[benverner]

I figured that was the case but I thought I was really lazy so I didn't think I really burned more than another 200-300 calories. I guess I was wrong. It's just a little scary when you eat a lot of food (which I do) but you are starting to turn into skin and bones. I'm gonna try and take in 3000 calories today (rode 23 miles). See what happens. If I need more then so be it I guess. I do like nuts but avacados aren't for me. Thanks for the suggestions though! :D

I ride less then you and burn a total of about 4500 per day. I'm also 210 lbs though so...if you are worried about losing weight I'd crank it up A LOT based on what you are saying. Not quite 4000 sounds reasonable to me. If you gain weight then dial it back, if you still lose then see a doctor.

[kuan]

Were you sick at all? Slight cold maybe?

[cheebahmunkey]

Were you sick at all? Slight cold maybe?
no, but I have some medical problems, most notably hypothyroidism. I think I'm gonna ease up the intake. Unless you guys think it's ok to jump the calories instead of going up gradually.

[DeanC]

Well, 5lbs of fat would be 17,500 kcalories. I think it's probably pretty hard to lose weight at 5lbs/wk without losing some muscle too so it's probably somewhat less than that but I'd be trying to add 10,000 kcal/week if I were you. It also sounds like overshooting for a little while and gaining a few pounds might be welcome, so chow down.

[cheebahmunkey]

Well, 5lbs of fat would be 17,500 kcalories. I think it's probably pretty hard to lose weight at 5lbs/wk without losing some muscle too so it's probably somewhat less than that but I'd be trying to add 10,000 kcal/week if I were you. It also sounds like overshooting for a little while and gaining a few pounds might be welcome, so chow down.
yeah I was wrong, it was more like 3.5 pounds. Still, to drop that much in a week is scary. I'm pretty sure it wasn't fluid lost either as I weigh myself after I go on my rides (My clothes are fully soaked so my body pretty dried out by the time I step on the scale).

[chroot]

You guys might be missing something: water. Your weight can easily fluctuate 5 pounds over the course of a day due to your water intake, urination, and bowel movements. Are you sure you're recording your weight at the same time each day, staying hydrated, etc.? I find it hard (read: impossible) to believe you actually lost 5 pounds of fat or muscle mass in a week just by cycling 20 miles a day.

- Warren

[cheebahmunkey]

You guys might be missing something: water. Your weight can easily fluctuate 5 pounds over the course of a day due to your water intake, urination, and bowel movements. Are you sure you're recording your weight at the same time each day, staying hydrated, etc.? I find it hard (read: impossible) to believe you actually lost 5 pounds of fat or muscle mass in a week just by cycling 20 miles a day.

- Warren
like I said above, it was actually more like 3.5 pounds and I'm fairly sure it wasn't water. My clothes are drenched every day after a ride so I take them off to weigh in. Bowel movements I'm pretty sure aren't a factor either. I noticed more bone protrusions since last week which is what got me nervous. I can see my rib cage without sucking in. It has become more pronounced since last week. But I'm gonna try and up my calorie intake so I don't waste away to nothing :lol:

[chroot]

I'm pretty sure it wasn't fluid lost either as I weigh myself after I go on my rides
This is the worst conceivable time to weigh yourself! You are almost assuredly dehydrated after a long ride, and innumerable factors (weather, speed, winds, etc.) can affect how much water you lose during the ride. Keep in mind that ONE QUART of water weighs TWO POUNDS, and most people drink at least two quarts of water on a medium-length ride.

You need to weigh yourself in the morning, long after any bouts exercise, so that your body has returned to normal hydration and so on.

Last, but not least, don't weigh yourself every day -- once a week is more than enough to detect any trends. If you must check every day, use some averages.

- Warren

[chroot]

I noticed more bone protrusions since last week which is what got me nervous. I can see my rib cage without sucking in. It has become more pronounced since last week.
I gotta say that I believe this is just psychosomatic. You can't really put in stock in the "does my tummy look a little smaller than it did yesterday?" kind of appraisals, because they are entirely too psychologically-influenced. Particularly if this is only a "trend" you've noticed over a single week, I have to say I think it's entirely in your head.

If you can see your ribs, you're definitely not over-nourished, so feel free to eat whatever the hell you want. Your sense of satiety still functions, however, no matter how much you exercise; if you don't feel hungry, don't force yourself to eat.

- Warren

[cheebahmunkey]

This is the worst conceivable time to weigh yourself! You are almost assuredly dehydrated after a long ride, and innumerable factors (weather, speed, winds, etc.) can affect how much water you lose during the ride. Keep in mind that ONE QUART of water weighs TWO POUNDS, and most people drink at least two quarts of water on a medium-length ride.

You need to weigh yourself in the morning, long after any bouts exercise, so that your body has returned to normal hydration and so on.

Last, but not least, don't weigh yourself every day -- once a week is more than enough to detect any trends. If you must check every day, use some averages.

- Warrenbut it's irrelevant because I weigh myself after rides each time I weigh myself so it was just a subtraction from the previous week's weight. I drink about the same amount of water on each ride. I've just noticed more of the "skin and bones" signs in my body. So it had me worried.

[cheebahmunkey]

I gotta say that I believe this is just psychosomatic. You can't really put in stock in the "does my tummy look a little smaller than it did yesterday?" kind of appraisals, because they are entirely too psychologically-influenced. Particularly if this is only a "trend" you've noticed over a single week, I have to say I think it's entirely in your head.

If you can see your ribs, you're definitely not over-nourished, so feel free to eat whatever the hell you want. Your sense of satiety still functions, however, no matter how much you exercise; if you don't feel hungry, don't force yourself to eat.

- Warren
well I would agree with you but people around have noticed it too. I ask them to be honest with me because I know I can't trust my eyes.

[chroot]

I drink about the same amount of water on each ride.
And, as I've said, you can lose radically different amounts of water even on the same 20 mile ride from one day to the next, due to changes in humidity, temperature, winds, your caffeine intake, your cadence, your speed, and a million other factors. Do not weigh yourself after a ride and expect the reading to have any direct relationship to your "real" weight.

- Warren

[chroot]

well I would agree with you but people around have noticed it too. I ask them to be honest with me because I know I can't trust my eyes.
If you brought it up to them, then they didn't notice it -- you did. Most people, when confronted in that way, will answer in whatever way provides your reassurance. Your friend's anecdotal appraisal is sadly no less psychologically influenced than your own.

If you want to be scientific, weigh yourself at a reasonable, consistent time, do some averaging (over more than a single week) and then make permanent changes to your diet.

If you want to take the simpler route, eat when you're hungry, and stop eating when you're full. Don't worry about any changes less than five pounds, because your body weight can easily vary up to five pounds over the course of a day.

- Warren

[cheebahmunkey]

If you brought it up to them, then they didn't notice it -- you did. Most people, when confronted in that way, will answer in whatever way provides your reassurance. Your friend's anecdotal appraisal is sadly no less psychologically influenced than your own.

If you want to be scientific, weigh yourself at a reasonable, consistent time, do some averaging (over more than a single week) and then make permanent changes to your diet.

If you want to take the simpler route, eat when you're hungry, and stop eating when you're full. Don't worry about any changes less than five pounds, because your body weight can easily vary up to five pounds over the course of a day.

- Warren
no I didn't mention it to them. They were dancing around saying it when I told them to be honest. They brought it up

[chroot]

All right bro, I've said my piece. You came here looking for advice, but you already know you're losing weight so fast that Sally Struthers will be knocking on your door any day now. Go ahead and include eighteen Clif bar snacks in your diet, because at this rate your skin will definitely be irreversibly shrink-wrapped onto your ribs by next Tuesday. You definitely need to bump up the calorie intake to TdF standards or those 120 miles each week are going to totally waste you away.

- Warren

[cheebahmunkey]

All right bro, I've said my piece. You came here looking for advice, but you already know you're losing weight so fast that Sally Struthers will be knocking on your door any day now. Go ahead and include eighteen Clif bar snacks in your diet, because at this rate your skin will definitely be irreversibly shrink-wrapped onto your ribs by next Tuesday. You definitely need to bump up the calorie intake to TdF standards or those 120 miles each week are going to totally waste you away.

- WarrenI'm just being honest and was asking what people thought, you didn't have to be a dick about and act like you're all knowing.

[webist]

You appear to be set on refuting any input offered. So I'll offer none.

[paul1149]

no, but I have some medical problems, most notably hypothyroidism.

How can you be hypothyroid and lose weight without trying? My guess is this is about the time you weight yourself, that you haven't recouped water loss.

p.

[cheebahmunkey]

You appear to be set on refuting any input offered. So I'll offer none.
what are you talking about? I'm refuting what the guy who thinks he knows everything was saying because it wasn't true. I'm just being honest. I honestly doubt it was water weight because I weigh myself same time of day, eat almost the same exact thing every morning, drink almost the same amount of water every day before weighing. And yes I was soaked from sweat on both days. He was just being really pushy and he was acting like he knew it all.

Oh and why did you post if you didn't want to give any "input"? Kind of rude. Someone close to me mentioned something about my bones protruding, I took notice and got worried. I was wondering if I was underestimating how many calories I was taking in. From serious posters who were generous enough to actually reply, it looks as if I do need to eat more.

About the hypothyroidism. I know it should have the opposite effect. This is why I'm really puzzled. I just upped the dosage of my medication so that got me wondering if the meds are working too well now.

[Cyclaholic]

I just upped the dosage of my medication so that got me wondering if the meds are working too well now.

I really hope you did that with your doctor's blessing.

Here's my advice....
Go see your doctor re. the meds and stick to what s/he says. Start the day with a carb shake in full cream milk. Eat pizza with triple cheese as a snack between meals during the day, then as an inbetween-snacks snack. Wash down the pizza with milkshakes made with full cream milk and ice cream. If you get sick of pizza try burgers and fries instead, plenty of them. Have a protein shake every night along with a good quality multi vitamin. Weigh yourself in exactly one week, first thing in the morning before doing anything. Repeat for another 4 or 5 weeks, post the results here and we'll have a look at the trend. If you don't steadily show a trend towards weight gain I'll eat this keyboard & monitor (and it's a 22" CRT :eek: ).

[Guest]

I've got a problem. Last week I rode 122 miles over 6 days. I thought I was taking in enough calories to maintain my weight but I was dead wrong. My bike computer estimated that I burned around 950-1050 calories on each day's ride. I had my RMR checked and it's 1680. So naturally I added the 1000 calories burn on the bike to my RMR. So I would try and take in around 2600-2800 calories each day. Well it looks like I lost around 5 pounds last week. Very troubling considering my bones are sticking out of my shoulders now. Am I underestimating my calories expenditure by that much? Any suggestions on how many calories I should take in on ride days and also on non-ride days? Thanks in advance guys.


P.S. Yes I'm too cheap to see a dietitian/nutritionalist

First of all, P.S. see a dietitian anyway. A dietitian will be able to accurately and scientifically estimate your RMR and look at your current physical activity, then plan an eating schedule that meets your goal. If you honestly have a metabolism problem, your insurance should pay for seeing a dietitian. So go back to the doctor that said you had a metabolism problem and tell them to make it work for you.

Now you don't have to worry about being too cheap to see a dietitian. :)

Hypothyroidism is a problem where you have problems losing weight. If your bones are sticking out of your shoulders, that means (to me) that you weren't that obese to begin with. How can a doctor diagnose you with a metabolism problem that says you can't lose weight, then give you a perscription for losing weight, and not expect you to lose weight? That whole diagnosis doesn't make sense. It may be time to seek the opinion of a new doctor. Find a good doctor who can also refer you to a dietitian so that you can get it paid through your insurance.

I don't know how you came up with your numbers to begin with, but I always say, if you're looking at numbers, get tested through a real lab, not some monitor that gives really really really rough approximations based on the standard of some guy that has nothing to do with you. A dietitian will probably solve about half your problems there. A good doctor will solve the other half.

Please don't up your meds without consulting your doctor. And don't up them anyway, since you're more likely to lose even more weight with the increase.

Here's a link I dug up on hypothyroidism symptoms. Do you have these symptoms: http://www.armourthyroid.com/hypothyroidism/symptoms.html

Find a new doctor, get a referral for a dietitian, and get the answers you need. And stop taking that medication... it's making you lose weight!

Koffee

[benverner]

All this back and forth about medical conditions and all. Simply look at your burn vs intake, you are WAY WAY out of line. Level that up and then you will be able to get into thyroid conversations. Until you bring your consumption level up to within 300 cals of your work load which I'm pretty sure is at least 3500 cal you'll never know what the real deal is.

[cheebahmunkey]

ok, thanks guys for the helpful replies. I think if it continues I will see my doctor and a dietitian about it. For now though I'm gonna increase my daily intake and hopefully it isn't the thyroid meds. Oh, yes my doc did tell me to up the dosage, hehe, I'm not crazy.

Koffee-

The thing is I was very obese. I turned it around but it looks like now the thyroid meds are working overdrive with my metabolism but I'm still very fatigued. That is why my doctor told me to increase the dosage. I'm gonna just keep taking the dose he told me to.

See this is me in 2001:

http://img351.imageshack.us/img351/3565/smallfatme5at.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I'm hoping I just miscalculated because I'm still really tired a lot and I think I need the thyroid meds to keep me up throughout the day.