Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
Reload this Page >

How much weight to lose, what's your lowest healthy number?

Notices
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) Looking to lose that spare tire? Ideal weight 200+? Frustrated being a large cyclist in a sport geared for the ultra-light? Learn about the bikes and parts that can take the abuse of a heavier cyclist, how to keep your body going while losing the weight, and get support from others who've been successful.

How much weight to lose, what's your lowest healthy number?

Old 03-05-14, 09:01 AM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Southern AZ
Posts: 23

Bikes: LaPierre Senssium 400

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
How much weight to lose, what's your lowest healthy number?

I've always been very heavy for my size, even when in top shape with low body fat. That's not my current situation, so then of course I'm even heavier.

That said, I'm currently 215 pounds, at 5'10". I have a body fat scale, which while not completely accurate, is in the ball park and a consistent measure. It says I have around 18% body fat. If I dropped fat, not muscle, to around 10%, that's a reduction of 8%, which is about 17 pounds of fat. That brings me down to about 198 ... not exactly a super light weight for someone who wants to race.

I don't lift weights or work out my upper body besides a few pushups and a lot of core work, so it's not like I'm bulky up top from bench presses and curls.

If 195-ish is my lowest number ... then I guess I'll always be considered obese.

Last edited by gruveb; 03-05-14 at 09:12 AM. Reason: mistake
gruveb is offline  
Old 03-05-14, 10:20 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
CommuteCommando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Southern CaliFORNIA.
Posts: 3,078

Bikes: KHS Alite 500, Trek 7.2 FX , Masi Partenza, Masi Fixed Special, Masi Cran Criterium

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 27 Post(s)
Liked 19 Times in 11 Posts
At 5'9, the BMI gods say I should be 165-170. I am currently on an endless plateau at 210, down from a high of 305, five years ago. When I was much younger, I felt fit, and not at all overweight at 180, so that is my ultimate target. I may revise that upward since having been so fat for so long, I have excess skin/fat tissue that will not go away short of lipo suction and skin removal surgery. I'm guessing that would account for about 10 lb. I've see TV shows where people who have lost down from 600+ lb have had over fifty lb of excess flesh removed surgically.
CommuteCommando is offline  
Old 03-05-14, 10:44 AM
  #3  
Cat 5 field stuffer
 
bbeasley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Hammond, La
Posts: 1,426

Bikes: Wabi Lightning RE, Wabi Classic

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 3 Posts
Good question, I call it going all the way. For me, I'm 5'7" and 210 with a recent low of 192. At 192 I was 3 lbs away from being out of obese and into over weight. In my minds eye I can see me at 170 which is still over weight. For me to be "normal" I'd need to be ~155. I've got really big shoulders and chest but I don't buy the big boned stuff. It's just up to me to get there, when I was 20 I had really big shoulders and chest and weighed 160.

I'm much healthier now compared to my 252 when I started riding. However, I'd sure like to be one of the few that go all the way!
bbeasley is offline  
Old 03-05-14, 12:03 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
MikeRides's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SE Kentucky
Posts: 1,276

Bikes: Trek 1.1

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
According to BMI charts, my "normal" weight is 165-170 but after a discussion with my doctor I'd be "safe" around 155-160. Anything below that, would set off some health alarms. I don't think I'd want to weigh less than 155 anyway
MikeRides is offline  
Old 03-05-14, 12:44 PM
  #5  
Uber Goober
 
StephenH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Dallas area, Texas
Posts: 11,758
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 190 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times in 32 Posts
I don't worry about it, not going to hit the bottom end in the foreseeable future.
I think a lot of discussion like this amounts to excuses to justify fat, like saying, "Oh, but I have big bones!" or "Oh, it's all muscle!"
I don't think I've ever heard a thin person say that their doctor told them to fatten up some for their health. The only people worried about being too thin always seem to be too thick.
__________________
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
StephenH is offline  
Old 03-05-14, 02:39 PM
  #6  
Touring Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 278

Bikes: 23" Schwinn High Plains, 20" Trek 830 Antelope

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by gruveb
I've always been very heavy for my size, even when in top shape with low body fat. That's not my current situation, so then of course I'm even heavier.

That said, I'm currently 215 pounds, at 5'10". I have a body fat scale, which while not completely accurate, is in the ball park and a consistent measure. It says I have around 18% body fat. If I dropped fat, not muscle, to around 10%, that's a reduction of 8%, which is about 17 pounds of fat. That brings me down to about 198 ... not exactly a super light weight for someone who wants to race.

I don't lift weights or work out my upper body besides a few pushups and a lot of core work, so it's not like I'm bulky up top from bench presses and curls.

If 195-ish is my lowest number ... then I guess I'll always be considered obese.
Yeah, I think the BMI is ludicrous. I'm 5' 10-11" and when I lifted/exercised regularly in my 20's my body fat was in the 8-11% and I weighed 195-205 pretty consistently. In fact, back when I was serious about running I weighed around 180lbs and had a 28-32 resting heart rate - for years. Whenever I went in for a physical, the intake person would do a "double-take" with my stats. So even then, by BMI count, I was heavy and borderline obese. Ridiculous. Now, I'm ~255 and yes, that's obese.
PolarBear007 is offline  
Old 03-05-14, 02:57 PM
  #7  
jyl
Senior Member
 
jyl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 7,644

Bikes: 61 Bianchi Specialissima 71 Peugeot G50 7? P'geot PX10 74 Raleigh GranSport 75 P'geot UO8 78? Raleigh Team Pro 82 P'geot PSV 86 P'geot PX 91 Bridgestone MB0 92 B'stone XO1 97 Rans VRex 92 Cannondale R1000 94 B'stone MB5 97 Vitus 997

Mentioned: 146 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 392 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 48 Times in 30 Posts
5' 11". Topped out at 214 lb. Now stuck in the 180-190 lb range. Well, one day I saw 179.8 lb. Probably around 188 lb now. Trying to get to 170 lb but it is proving incredibly hard to get below 180 lb.

Edit: I am going to take another shot at 170 lb this year, it will require a lot of commitment.

I don't pay attention to BMI, instead to body fat, body shape, and performance. I'm around 20-22% body fat, would like to be 15%. At 18-20% I start to see the hint of abs, I'd like to have those better defined. I'd also like somewhat more upper body, currently I have a nothing upper body and well developed lower body.

As for performance, I don't have systematic metrics but there are some local rides that tell me how I'm doing. When I'm doing well, I can hit 30 mph sprinting up a certain bridge approach that I ride daily, now I'm maybe doing 25-27 mph. There is a certain 4 mile long climb w/ avg grade 5% and max 11% grade that tests my endurance and power/weight, when I'm good I can ride it comfortably in 39/21, now I'd suffer on the 10-11% parts. There is a 2 mile climb that I ride repeats on, when I'm good I do seven repeats at a decent clip without feeling beat up, today I might do seven but going slower and slower with effort.

At 170 lb what do I hope for - there are some local climbs with 15% sections, I hope to be able to do those in 39/21, right now I can't push that gear at that grade for any distance. I'd hope to pretty much fly up a 5% and cruise up a 10%, in that gear.

Someday I'll get a power meter and be more systematic in my goals.

Last edited by jyl; 03-06-14 at 09:12 AM.
jyl is offline  
Old 03-05-14, 03:15 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,066
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22 Post(s)
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I'm 5'10 - 11, and am hovering at the 235 mark. I grew up relatively thin, and felt my best at 195 in my early 20's (fresh out of boot camp). At my best in my early 30's, I was 205, running 5 -10 miles a day regularly, and felt great. My goal is 205-210. I suppose that means I'll always be a Clyde, but I feel great at that weight. I pray I get there
Erwin8r is offline  
Old 03-05-14, 04:09 PM
  #9  
Member
 
scububa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 27

Bikes: Litespeed Classic - DuraAce, Trek 2120 upg w/9-spd Ultegra

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I am 5'11"
I topped at 200
I am currently at 185. Using a 3-pt caliper measurement, I am running 19%-20%
(I've seen 183 after Thanksgiving, before Christmas, but more often bounce up to 188 right now)
My next goals are 180 and 14-15%
I don't give two flips about BMI

Seven years ago when I was riding/training a lot and riding pretty hard (for me anyway) If I dropped below ~174 I couldn't maintain my endurance on a long hard ride, I'd just fade. If I stayed at 176 or up I was generally okay. That was from a lot of notes and observation.
scububa is offline  
Old 03-05-14, 07:02 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: 'burque, holmes
Posts: 820

Bikes: Ridley X-Fire (now an ex-bicycle), Trek X-Cal, Giant Defy 3

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 152 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times in 13 Posts
6'7, currently about 190. Used to be 170 in my 20s; rapid weight gain after that and now dropped some 40lbs in the last 5 years.

BMI doesn't seem to make much sense; I'd like (as the poster above) to be in the 10-12% body fat range. That'd be fine.
expatbrit is offline  
Old 03-09-14, 06:10 PM
  #11  
Banned
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: lower mitten
Posts: 1,555

Bikes: With round 700c & 26" wheels

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I was 209 lbs most of my teenage years and another 20 more after that. At 6.3 I was feeling and looking great.
There was few times that I went bellow that and I was looking like a boy instead of full grown man - according to few of my friends.
Now at around 280, I still feel OK, but it added 10 more years to my look. Of course I wish it was less, and I'm planning to go back to around 200-230. I'm fortunate that losing weight is very easy for me. I can lose 10-20 lbs a week, but I also love to eat and cook lol
Big chunk of my weight is in muscles, so average built guy at 209 may not feel so good with same weight...We are all different, and that's why some if not most of the online calculators won't work for everyone.
lopek77 is offline  
Old 03-09-14, 06:25 PM
  #12  
SuperGimp
 
TrojanHorse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Whittier, CA
Posts: 13,346

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix

Mentioned: 147 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1106 Post(s)
Liked 64 Times in 47 Posts
Forget the numbers, I just want to ditch this gut.

I'm 6'2" currently sitting at 220. I think my high was 243 but I wasn't aggressively weighing myself then either. 190 in college was pretty awesome and even 203 from my Navy days was tolerable so yeah - anything under 200 would be peachy. But really, it's about the gut. I gotta ditch this thing.
TrojanHorse is offline  
Old 03-09-14, 07:11 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
ChiefTJS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 221

Bikes: Trek Multitrack, Norco XFR

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Liked 60 Times in 43 Posts
I started riding last year about this time at 242 and I'm now stuck at 200 with a strong desire to hit 175 by the end of the year. Nutrition is very good and now that spring is popping up I'll be hitting the bike hard for the next several months. 200 is my absolute ceiling from now on!!
ChiefTJS is offline  
Old 03-09-14, 07:13 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 228

Bikes: Trek Verve 3

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by gruveb
I've always been very heavy for my size, even when in top shape with low body fat. That's not my current situation, so then of course I'm even heavier.

That said, I'm currently 215 pounds, at 5'10". I have a body fat scale, which while not completely accurate, is in the ball park and a consistent measure. It says I have around 18% body fat. If I dropped fat, not muscle, to around 10%, that's a reduction of 8%, which is about 17 pounds of fat. That brings me down to about 198 ... not exactly a super light weight for someone who wants to race.

I don't lift weights or work out my upper body besides a few pushups and a lot of core work, so it's not like I'm bulky up top from bench presses and curls.

If 195-ish is my lowest number ... then I guess I'll always be considered obese.
Obesity numbers are based on the Body Mass Index (BMI) which have been around for over 100 years and a 're not accurate. Body fat is a much better indicator of fitness. I think the government uses BMI so they have an excuse to pass more laws. If your body fat is truly at 18%, then you are considered fit. However, inexpensive body fat testers may be inaccurate.
mrtuttle04 is offline  
Old 03-09-14, 07:25 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 228

Bikes: Trek Verve 3

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I am 6' 2". At one time I was up to 312, this morning I weighed in at 195. At 20% body fat, I could loose a couple more pounds but I am concentrating on building muscle.
mrtuttle04 is offline  
Old 03-10-14, 12:36 PM
  #16  
eay
Senior Member
 
eay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greater Sacramento, California area
Posts: 147
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
When I was working out and walking everywhere and eating beans and rice (no car, not a lot of money) I was 170pounds. Which would be fine for a MALE at 5' 11" but is considered overweight for me, FEMALE. I remember seeing a new physician years ago when I was 170lbs and she looked at my chart then looked at me and did a double take and said, "wow. you're really lean". So that's my goal. 170lbs.
I'm 1/4 of the way there, having lost 20 pounds since January.
That reminds me, we have a body fat measuring device around here somewhere.
eay is offline  
Old 03-10-14, 01:40 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Jacksonville, OR
Posts: 349

Bikes: Land Shark, Ritchey, Fat Chance, and about 19 others

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
When I was most fit was in college when I was on a rowing team. At that point I was 205 with 5% bodyfat but I know I can get lower now as I would have lost some muscle mass. My goal is 185-190 which should happen late this year or early next year.
fiatjeepdriver is offline  
Old 03-10-14, 01:55 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
WonderMonkey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Vandalia OH
Posts: 3,219

Bikes: 2011 Cannondale Quick 5, 2014 Raleigh Revenio 2.0

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 80 Post(s)
Liked 66 Times in 36 Posts
200 lbs might be my lowest number. If I get near it and realize it isn't then it won't be far away.
WonderMonkey is offline  
Old 03-10-14, 02:03 PM
  #19  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,114

Bikes: 2006 Raleigh Cadent 2.0, 2016 Trek Emonda ALR 6, 2015 Propel Advanced SL 2, 2000 K2 Zed SE

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 115 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm thinking of trying for 169 (6'2") - that's dead center of "normal" by BMI, and even being down to 185 from 260+ I have a little more bodyfat that I could drop.

It's definitely harder to motivate myself when I'm well below my initial goals, though.
kc0bbq is offline  
Old 03-10-14, 02:07 PM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
WonderMonkey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Vandalia OH
Posts: 3,219

Bikes: 2011 Cannondale Quick 5, 2014 Raleigh Revenio 2.0

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 80 Post(s)
Liked 66 Times in 36 Posts
Originally Posted by kc0bbq
I'm thinking of trying for 169 (6'2") - that's dead center of "normal" by BMI, and even being down to 185 from 260+ I have a little more bodyfat that I could drop.

It's definitely harder to motivate myself when I'm well below my initial goals, though.
I wrote a paper titled "What Will You Do When You Get There?" that explores people that get near or at their goals. It's a difficult thing.
WonderMonkey is offline  
Old 03-10-14, 03:21 PM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
Astrozombie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: East L.A.
Posts: 903

Bikes: Diamondback Insight, Motobecane Mirage

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
The BMI says i'm supposed to be around 180-190, pfffffft!!! 5'11'' 230 and I'm just trying to get jacked! 200 grams of protein per day and stronglift exercise
Astrozombie is offline  
Old 03-10-14, 03:37 PM
  #22  
Senior Member
 
Chugosh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Kelso, Washington, USA
Posts: 59

Bikes: Fuji S-12-S

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I think I have just about hit the sweet spot. I'm 6'5½" and around 195.5 pounds. I weight once a week on Saturdays. Two and a half years ago I weighed in at 373 pounds (15 August 2011) and was a quarter inch taller. While losing my weight over the first 18 months of that time I weighed only about monthly.

I have not really ridden or exercised otherwise much. Just dabbling with a mile or two at a time on the bike and maybe a half mile barefoot running. My back is bad so I am not very active, see, so it is kind of a miracle.
Chugosh is offline  
Old 03-10-14, 06:06 PM
  #23  
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Posts: 548

Bikes: Too many

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm around 6'3'' and started the year at 243 pounds and 32% on the silly, inaccurate home scale thingy, currently at 214 and 25%. At 55 years old, I doubt that the scales will ever once again tip at 167 lbs and at that weight I was always on edge and could not hold the peak for more than a couple weeks and was comfortable at about 172. I'm thinking 180-183ish is probably as good as I can do now without getting too crazy but I don't know. Recovery is not so good anymore.
Weatherby is offline  
Old 03-10-14, 06:38 PM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,114

Bikes: 2006 Raleigh Cadent 2.0, 2016 Trek Emonda ALR 6, 2015 Propel Advanced SL 2, 2000 K2 Zed SE

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 115 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Chugosh
I think I have just about hit the sweet spot. I'm 6'5½" and around 195.5 pounds. ... Two and a half years ago I weighed in at 373 pounds (15 August 2011) and was a quarter inch taller.
With as hard as it was to lose the 75-80 pounds I've lost, here's a well earned "good job".

Originally Posted by WonderMonkey
I wrote a paper titled "What Will You Do When You Get There?" that explores people that get near or at their goals. It's a difficult thing.
It's tough to get any of the satisfied feelings for making it there if you are completely lost when you do. I'm a bit lucky in that the route to this goal led to another (wanting to try out racing). It's given me different motivation, but all the training I'm doing towards this first competitive athletic activity I've attempted since I was 8 kind of conflicts with the mindset that led to the weight loss. The fight between "eat more" and "eat less" is a rough one.
kc0bbq is offline  
Old 03-10-14, 07:19 PM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
WonderMonkey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Vandalia OH
Posts: 3,219

Bikes: 2011 Cannondale Quick 5, 2014 Raleigh Revenio 2.0

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 80 Post(s)
Liked 66 Times in 36 Posts
Originally Posted by kc0bbq
With as hard as it was to lose the 75-80 pounds I've lost, here's a well earned "good job".

It's tough to get any of the satisfied feelings for making it there if you are completely lost when you do. I'm a bit lucky in that the route to this goal led to another (wanting to try out racing). It's given me different motivation, but all the training I'm doing towards this first competitive athletic activity I've attempted since I was 8 kind of conflicts with the mindset that led to the weight loss. The fight between "eat more" and "eat less" is a rough one.
I eat quite a bit of food but it's more of the right kind. I'm rarely if ever hungry. I figure if you are hungry you are doing it wrong unless you are used to eating whole pans of lasagna, etc. If that is the case then yeah you have to get your stomach used to less. For most of us the "want" to eat is habit and mind-set. Which we already know.
WonderMonkey is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.