Commuting - weight and inch loss

i had occasion to be in hospital this week (wasn't too bad as i had a couple of days in Amsterdam at the beginning of the week) and before my procedure I was weighed. I have lost a stone (14 lbs) in just under 2 months and I put that down to commuting and watching what I'm eating.

Not only that, but when I was being measured for my new kilt, the assistant announced my waist as 34 inches (down from 36 inches a few months ago)

All this and an enjoyable pastime too. Ain't cycling grand.

Ain't cycling grand.
Yes it is!! I too have experienced similar results. I've lost a total of 40 pounds and gone from a 40 inch waist to a 36 inch waist. :) :)

I just hope winter doesn't take it's toll on any of us. ;)

My wife reckons after only two weeks cycling the weight loss is starting to show. :)

I just bought a pair of panniers today so my bank manager knows I'm losing pounds... :(

Richard

Originally posted by RonH

>>>>> I've lost a total of 40 pounds and gone from a 40 inch waist to a 36 inch waist. :) :)

I just hope winter doesn't take it's toll on any of us. ;)

Great strides! Yes you better watch the winter. I'm talking from experience.

Yes, cycling is grand! :D

A while ago, Mike ("Snowy Midwest") brought up the hidden expenses of cycling, mentioning how expensive bottled water is.

Does anybody realize the cost of new clothes these days? My advice is to wait to buy new pants until your weight stabilizes.

If you expect to lose a great deal of weight, so that you may have to buy "interim" clothing to tide you over, just shrug it off as
money well spent.

The only thing is, be prepared for the comments like, "Did you lose weight?" (Of course, this has been obvious for over a year;)
or suggestions you have lost "too much weight." Remember, these folks have so few examples of what a healthy physique looks like in modern industrial society.

If they ask you if you have been sick, invite them to climb stairs with you at lunch, nonstop for 20 minutes. (Keep a cellphone handy to dial 911 if they collapse.) :)

By the way, I also recommend not stopping cycling during winter, unless you really, really can't do it. Subfreezing temperatures
can be really "cool" riding. It's really better in many ways than summer riding, in my opinion! And the looks you get from non-cyclists are priceless. They don't realize that while they are freezing in their cars, waiting for their heaters to warm up their sluggish circulatory systems, you are warm as toast on your bike.
The main problem I have in winter is avoiding overdressing and oversweating.

I certainly plan to ride through winter as I'm keen to increase my fitness ready for next summer. It shouldn't get too cold for too long here, but the increase in calorific need to maintain warmth should help further trim the love handles.

Absolutely - I like riding thru winter. Berkshire isn't a patch on Scotland regarding cold, but the weather still gets cruddy enough.

Providing you've got decent gear, and lights, and ut a bit more effort into cleaning and maintenance, winter riding is great. And I'm sure it hardens you to cold, in general. You get home, give the wife a kiss and its all "ooh! cold face! cold hands! get away!", meanwhile you're feeling nice and warm and glowing from the effort.

Stew

I just hope winter doesn't take it's toll on any of us.
I guess I spoke too soon. :(

This morning I was really cold riding to work. The temperature was 45 degrees and there was a head wind of 10-15 mph. I had a long sleeve T-shirt under my long sleeve jersey and a fleece vest over that, but it wasn't enough.
I had glove liners inside my gloves but my fingers were cold.
And with the head wind my face and ears got cold.

I guess I'll have to invest in warmer clothing or drive to work :eek: and ride during lunch and give the ladies a thrill. ;)

Originally posted by RonH
This morning I was really cold riding to work. The temperature was 45 degrees and there was a head wind of 10-15 mph. I had a long sleeve T-shirt under my long sleeve jersey and a fleece vest over that, but it wasn't enough.
Ron--try a good windbreaker. On sub-freezing days, all I need are a thick windbreaker, fleece vest, blend shirt (nix on cotton, the "quicker-picker-upper"), and gloves (my feet are a bit problematic, though.) I also carry a change of shirt/jacket and a hat, in case I have to stop, or even walk; stopping generally produces a torrent of sweat, which can really chill you after about 10 minutes of standing motionless in the cold.

Without the windbreaker, the air cuts straight to my bones! :eek:
The breaker also holds in a "ton" of heat (this is a U.S. thermal measurement...)

Do you wear that kilt while riding?

No, but then often when I wear the kilt I am a true Scotsman (if you know what I mean)

I think the sporran would get in the way.

Only 5 more weeks till I pick up the new outfit. 8yards of finest tartan, new brogues and skean dhu the lot. can't wait

The bicycling lifestyle got me into shape. However, I never weigh myself anymore. As an ancient philosopher once said, "Ten pounds of gold and ten pounds of dung both weigh the same."

Originally posted by ViciousCycle
As an ancient philosopher once said, "Ten pounds of gold and ten pounds of dung both weigh the same."

That is exactly right. I haven't weighed myself in about two years. I judge my health in terms of how I generally feel.

Originally posted by ViciousCycle
As an ancient philosopher once said, "Ten pounds of gold and ten pounds of dung both weigh the same."
People often focus on losing weight when the priority should be getting fit. I shudder to think how frail a successful weight-loss candidate would become if they only dieted without exercising regularly.

Sorry, but I don't equate fitness with weight. For me, I had become a bit less careful about what I eat and so the drop in weight was necessary.

I feel as fit as I did when a stone heavier as I still cycled a lot. However I note the difference on climbs, and when on the drops the decreasing size of my spare tyre means I am breathing easier.

While weight and waistband aren't necessarily accurate predictors of fitness, they can be pretty good indicators of lack of fitness.

When I started riding last spring, watching my weight drop was a great motivator to stay on the bike. The loss was fairly dramatic, and I found it helped me tolerate the sore butt, tired legs, and the inconvenience of having to get up a half hour early for my commute.

I've since grown to enjoy cycling so much that I don't really need the extra motivation, and now that I'm a little more in tune with what my body is telling me, I don't need the bathroom scale to tell me how fit I am.

I still check it though - vanity, thy name is cyclist...

c~