Training & Nutrition - Doctors !,*&^£

Getting ready to disappoint some of you now. I currently weigh 147 lbs, 3 years ago I actually weighed 155 lbs. and that was after a spell of about 3 years when I did not exercise as much as I should have done. 6 years ago I weighed 140 lbs. What I do know is that I have reached a happy medium at 147lbs in that I do not carry a great deal of excess weight, although I possibly have it in the wrong place as my chest has slipped to my waist line. I am certain that my current weight and fitness is around as Good as it can be, considering the type of riding that I do, and the extra training I have to do to be able to do the long offroad randonnee’s that I enjoy doing.

I recently had a backache that was beginning to get a bit of a problem and went to see my doctor. Then I found out that my doctor had left the practice and I was going to be seen by a new doctor, but not to worry as she would have all my notes and records, and would understand about the medical problems I had.

I am only 5’6” tall and she told me that I am overweight. Where the doctor gets that idea from I do not know. I mean it. Apparently I am overweight. I’m not- I’m just 2” shorter than I should be. She told me that I ought to get down the gym a bit more often, or get a bike and start riding it. When I made the suggestion that I might go out for a ride at the weekend, The doctor was all for it and then proceeded to give me a lecture about not overdoing it, and just do a few miles initially, until my legs start to feel it. She told me that at my age I have to watch out for the problems that will come about by being overweight, and a bit of a couch potato. That is what my back problem is. I am not getting enough exercise, and that can also lead to other problems in a very short space of time.

So be warned, being overweight can Cause you medical problems. But I think the inadequacy of this doctor is a bigger threat to my health. I think I will be changing my doctor very shortly.

If this doctor is young and fairly new in practise give it a bit.
"Newbies" take time to polish up, mate.

This thread is worthless without pics........hahaha Sorry, I have seen others post that and could not miss the opportunity. What did the Doctor say was your correct weight? I am 5'7 1/4 and weight 169 so I must really be fat.

O.K. Piccy attached. By the way, I am not the youngster on the Front. He must be grossly overweight at 6'2" and 170lbs, or as he is on hiloiday this week, possibly 180

I wish I were 147lbs. I just had a complete physical and stress test part of which involve taking all of my correct measurements. Some how in the last 15 years I have lost 1 1/2 inches. I only logged in at 5'6". Unlike Stapfam though my weight came in at 169 lbs. Having stess test and everything else my doctor thinks I'm in pretty good shape! Maybe here in the states he sees a greater percentage of overweight sickly types, by comparison I'm a marvel

Those BMI charts are great aren't they. We've had sailors kicked out of the navy due to those "specs" who were in excellent shape. One guy was an amateur body builder with about 4% body fat and had to plead his case to the CNO to stay in. According to that chart, I'm a fatty also. 5' 4" at 155. Man, I'm huge. I wonder how come I can ride 15 miles a day commuting and carry a pack through the woods as obese as I am.
Myself, I just had my government sponsored physical and blew 15% higher on my lung test than last year because I got my lazy butt back on the bicycle. It's not like I'm doing a ton of miles. Just some commuting and mtn biking on the weekends. My pulse, BP, etc have always been good but the lung test was great other than they made me do it 5 times just to confirm it. I guess heavy industrial work is supposed to kill you if you let it so they look at me as an exception to my employers norm. Somehow I've managed to not become an alcoholic, chain smoking, tub O' goo, drain on health insurance systems.

O.K. Piccy attached. By the way, I am not the youngster on the Front. He must be grossly overweight at 6'2" and 170lbs, or as he is on hiloiday this week, possibly 180



I've lost 34 pounds and need to lose a few more according to the charts. I was reading an old stress test from 199 when I was 200 pounds and it said I was grossly obease. I wonder what the reports say about the people loading up at the salad bars at Ryan's restaurants. I think from looking at the picture you are in shape.

Yoga and pilates can help for lower back problems, especially pilates because it works the really deep core muscles. Also, an inch and a half that I had lost to my height came back within the year of starting yoga. I'm female and I know guys seem to avoid these classes, but a whole group of guys I train with started going . . . mainly so I would quit talking about it. Within 3 - 8 weeks every single one no longer had back pains. And they continued to go to the classes when I didn't. Thought I would pass that on.

Also, I'm 5' 7" and weigh 149 and I'm female. Most charts and doctors (here in the states) put me in a healthy range, though I still have about 20 extra. By tweaking my diet, I did lower my cholesterol to 140 (from 190), but the weight didn't change.

Lots of different things to consider with health. Charts give a reference, but they don't tell the whole story. I think as long as you are out there riding and you don't quit . . . and you have healthy fuel . . . that's all that matters.

Sandy

5' 6" and 147 lbs yields a Body Mass Index of 23.7 - well into the healthy range, and well below "overweight", so something doesn't add up about your story.

Are you sure your doctor didn't tell you that you are "over fat" (as opposed to overweight)? One can have a good BMI, but still be carrying too much body fat. From your picture, it appears that you are carrying a fair amount of excess weight around your middle...perhaps this is what your doctor was referring to.

Have you ever had your body fat percentage measured? There are various ways of estimating it (including body fat scales, calipers, and the "dunk tank"). Or, you can use the "Navy" method - it only requires some simple body circumference measurements. I've included it in my WeightWare (http://www.WeightWare.com) software, or you can find a version of it here: http://www.he.net/%7Ezone/prothd2.html.