Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - It's a tough balance

I went out for a ride today to explore a new route. I was really weak and had trouble with climbs that I should have been able to cruise up. This past week I also kicked up the diet as my weight had been stable for a month and I'd like to drop another 15 or so.

So the diet is working again, but I don't have the energy to ride.

If I eat enough that I have the energy to ride, I don't lose weight.

Where's the fine line? I dunno.

For the record, late April I was barely a Clyde. 205. On my 5'7" frame, that was pretty bad. I'm down a little over 30 pounds and would like to get to 160. I started August at 175 and finished August at 174. I'd like to lose it a little faster than a pound a month.

Anyway, just an observation.

Try upping your intensity at the higher intake. If you can't decrease the intake, stress your body by upping the output. Weight loss occurs when you stress the body anyway. Try a mix of cycling and circuit training or periodizing your workouts.

The key here is if you are comfortable riding at the level you are, it's time to kick up the intensity a bit.

I've been dialing up the intensity. It's really improved my riding.

What do you mean by periodizing my workouts? Really all I'm doing is cycling. I don't particularly enjoy weights or running or such stuff. I've done a tremendous amount of damage to my joints and cycling is about the only thing that doesn't cause pain.

Varying the intensity on a random schedule. It prevents adaptation Syndrome. Break it up as to type as well. If you can't run, do some walking. Use elastic bands substituting for weights, and do the equivalent of low intensity strength training. Not a huge amount of resistance, just enough to run up the heart rate. That kind of thing.

Gotcha, thanks for the suggestions. I appreciate it.

Although if I can drop another 10 or 15, I'm just going to stop worrying about it and maintain instead of lose.

It's not just the diet - what are you eating? Are your calories nutritious calories, or are they empty calories? A twinkie is 150 calories; a slice of whole grain bread and a half tablespoon of peanut butter is less than that, but it's much better fuel.

I'm not eating junk. I'm really paying attention to what's going in. I'm eating whole grain breads and pasta, brown rice, lots of veggies, and fruit for snacks. Drinking water mostly, though I do have a glass of OJ after a ride. No candy/chocolate/booze/snack food stuff/etc.

I'm not eating junk. I'm really paying attention to what's going in. I'm eating whole grain breads and pasta, brown rice, lots of veggies, and fruit for snacks. Drinking water mostly, though I do have a glass of OJ after a ride. No candy/chocolate/booze/snack food stuff/etc.

Hmm...not seeing any protein in there. What are you doing for protein?

Hmm...not seeing any protein in there. What are you doing for protein?

Forgot that. Some chicken, salmon, beef, pork, shrimp, whatever I'm in the mood for. Just not in large quantities. In other words, it's usually not the main focus of the meal.

For example, dinner tonight (my, my wife, and kids - a 6yo and a 4yo), is 9 oz of salmon, coated in some herbs and spices, and blackened. Served on whole grain pasta with a sauce of olive oil, white wine, lemon juice, garlic, and green onion. As usual, some salt and pepper to taste.

Last night, was a pound of sausage browned, then onion, green pepper, and celery mixed in. Once cooked, I added some brown rice and enough chicken broth to cook the rice. Cover and simmer. We get 2 complete dinners out of that (leftovers tomorrow night). As usual, some salt and pepper to taste.

I do the cooking, so I plan meals around a limited amount of protein. That's selected first and then the rest of the meal planned with it in mind. Tonight I was craving salmon, so I built dinner around it.

Tomorrow I'm off for a 55 mile ride. I dunno how hilly yet, it's a new route for me.