rumrunn6

hahaha, well that DIDN'T happen. 222 this morning. OK game on - back on track. already cut bread from my lunches eating veggie patties w lettuce wedges. a week or so ago, I ate a whole loaf of bread by myself! e-gad! so 25 lbs in the next 6 mos works out to about 4 lbs pr month, or 1 lb a week. sounds reasonable!

bexiesbruv

Weight loss in the context of also wanting to eat enough to allow me to exercise aerobically is what i wanted to achieve.
I have dieted but in doing so, I would not be able to do the exercise I wanted to, just not enough energy. The best I ever managed was to go from what was my steady, regular weight of 168lbs to 155lbs (I am 5'7" and currently 55 years). I biked and I ran and could never get below 155lbs and realised as I got older that my belly fat was increasing. Slowly but surely, my weight would always gain back to 168 (actually 170 at one point).
I read about wheat potentially being the issue. So I stopped eating wheat and wheat products. Between Oct 2013 and April 2014 I went back down to 155, with no exercise at all (except what I do for a living which is clean carpets) and no other modifications. This new weight was easily attained and was painless to maintain. Just stay away from wheat. Then I decided to add in some exercise and realised I needed more carbs but when I did, my weight increased again.
Thats when I started reading about high fat low carb eating and thought NO WAY could that work, but the Guys writing were well respected in their field so i looked at it a little more. At the same time I came across the idea of fasting AND high fat, low carb. The fats are things like natural butter, olive oil, fatter cuts of meat, coconut oil and BACON. So I decided to try it.
Between April 2014 and October I got down to my lowest weight in almost 40 years and that 142lbs. This, once again, was on zero exercise except work. I would occasionally go for a run or ride to see if i could and sure enough, I had no issues at all.
The best time was in mid September, I was 22 hours into a 24hr fast and starting to feel like I wanted to eat so instead, I went for a run. My usual block is 6 miles but I decided to just go part way and home again. Well, i got to that point and just kept going. It ended up being the fasted "easy" run I had ever managed for this block.
folks were telling me that its not possible to achieve this on no food as the body needs glycogen (from muscles) to keep going but i did it, and have done it many times since.
I fell off the wagon over Christmas (back to 148lbs) but am back on track now, today will be my first fasting day for a while.
I did go see the Doc and get my bloodwork done. ALL my levels were down, triglycerides in particular were very good.
So, all i can tell you is this is what works (and continues to do so) for me. Although I looked at the Atkins diet method I didnt use it but, I realise now, that this much maligned man was a pioneer of low carb.
Here are some of the information sources I found and used.
Art and Science of Low Carb - jeff Volek, PhD, RD & Stephen Phinney, MD, PhD
The Eating Academy | Peter Attia, M.D. The Eating Academy | Peter Attia, M.D.
Eat Stop Eat and bradpilon.com Both pertain to his fasting regime.
How Much Fat Can You Burn?

Roadbikedude

Sure! I cut 250 grams from my bikes weight by changing the tires and saddle.

Oceanblue

Good thread for me. 54 years old. This past October 1st I was about 186. My busy season hits October 15th then the Holidays. Sunday morning I was 202.5. Two days on the bike for 70 minute rides and watching what I eat I was 198.5 today. Amazing what happens when I don't stuff myself while on the couch watching tv. I'd like to get to 180. Being bald and fit ain't bad, being bald and fat sucks.

OldsCOOL

Having experienced weight cutting in conjunction with an exercise program I have to tell y'all, for me it is much easier while in vigorous weight training. The only challenge is when restarting and regaining muscle size after a 4yr layoff you just cant rely on the scales. It is reliable to guage by suddenly needing a belt.

rick458

I had to reset my activity level on My Fitness Plan and went from 1980 cal/day to a mere
1610 cal/day but have had immediate results

mrwonderful

OMG, reading this particular forum topic makes me want to cringe - folks know a ton of half truths and spout this and that as pure speculation. I urge anyone who really wants to understand proper fat loss to read the various natural bodybuilding sites like bodybuilding.com. Now, true, many of the people there are self absorbed and nutcases - but the best guys know their stuff. Then you need to read up on the fitness experts who develop "functional strength" - strength you can actually use in your specific sport. Personally, I cycle a lot but I do not train for cycling because a perfect cycling build is someone with tremendous leg strength and limited upper body weight. That isn't balanced for "the rest of your life stuff". There has been an amazing amount of progress in health and nutrition the past few years and there are many ways to describe it but really it is pretty simple. Your body has a stabilized caloric burn every day that varies some with activity. If you can accurately calculate that #, then staying on a small calorie deficit you will lose weight. As most people know you lose muscle naturally when you get older so you need to lift and eat proper nutrients to maintain or build muscle. Protein is the building block for muscle building. Good fats have vital nutrients that you need for proper health, skin, hair, etc. Green leafy type carbos have essential nutrients and the other carbo's are necessary for energy. Most carbohydrates especially processed foods supply few nutrients and many are high glycemic and will cause an energy crash on a limited calorie diet. Remember losing weight is all about a slight calorie deficit, so those empty calories you are eating are taking the place of actual useful and healthy food that are the building blocks. Also drink water! Anyway, I'm trying to pack years of health knowledge into a simple paragraph which isn't possible. Consult the experts, thank goodness the internet is here so there is no longer any reason to be in the dark about health and nutrition. Do the work, become an expert you will also probably find that your passion and motivation will grow during the entire process because you become enpowered.

OldsCOOL

I'm a "meso", the athletic type of build at 5'9 and 183. I have been agressively lifting since '77. The first 7yrs was an obsession with getting big. While managing a gym in '84 I began pursuing powerlifting. Through those years cycling was an on/off activity for me but never once did I feel a disadvantage with big arms and shoulders. When having lived strong your whole life it is difficult to live in the previous or "before" picture. I like the term "functional strength". We train this way in our gym.

aubiecat

Down to 188 now. I went up a few pounds in the third week of January. I knew that was going to happen though due to a trip to Chicago to see my son graduate from boot camp. I did indulge in some Chicago style pizza while there plus a few other eating venues. I have since trimmed it back down and am back on track to meet my goal of 180 by March.

GlennR

Last month got on a scale for the first time in years and saw that i gained all the weight I lost 4 years ago back. So i'm 59, 5'11" and 220lbs and that's not good. I immediately went back on the diet I used 4 years ago. Healthy meals, no beef, only water, lots of veggies and fruit. And one meal a week I can eat anything I want as a reward. Since it's winter I needed to join a gym so I can exercise. The local gym has spin classes 6 days a week so i've been attending almost every day and burn between 600-700 calories per class. Today I got on the same scale and was 208, that's a 12 pound loss in 3 weeks. My goal is 190 and plan on reaching it by the end of March, which is when regular riding season begins.

I just payed a small fortune for a new bike that weighs 14lbs and figured it's a lot cheaper per pound to drop weight from my fat gut.

I just don't want to show up for the first group ride of the year, on a new bike and be at the back of the pace line.

As a side note, 2 of the spin instructors told me they were impressed how much i've improved in the 3 weeks i've been attending class. I told them i'm a cyclist and just needed to get into the groove of spin vs outdoor cycling.

Carbonfiberboy 

Down to 151, 5'6". Arms a little bigger, waist a little smaller, legs about the same but cut. Power is up. Using a modified version of Gethin's Body by Design for weight training, polarized training on the bike. Total training time ~10.5 hrs./wk. We eat a Mediterranean diet with small frequent meals and don't count calories or measure macros.

rumrunn6

thanks to the train of named winter storms and incessant shoveling I'be been able to burn calories beyond my regular regime and so happy to reach a new personal low (excluding 2006) at 215

aubiecat

Down to 185lbs. now and still going. Paleo has been the best regimen I have ever used to eat healthy and lose/control weight. I bought a juicing machine and have added vegetable/fruit juices to the mix. Like bexiesbruv cutting wheat, or more precisely gluten, out of my diet has probably done more to contribute to my weight loss than anything. I still eat some bread and drink a beer on occasion. Cheat days are good for me and help keep me on track.

graemesmith

In order to make weight to fly a WWII fighter last fall at short notice I:

Went to a 1,000 calorie a day deficit
Started jogging 5k a day.

I'm 5' 11" and in June weighed 215lb
By September I was at 169lb.
Felt fantastic and flew the aircraft. Once in a lifetime opportunity. Fabulous motivation to lose the weight.

But I was not going to be able to keep up the jogging. It was only going to be a matter of time till an old knee injury returned so I got back into road biking.

I'm stabilized at about 175lb on a 2,750 a day calorie diet. The only real issue right now is all this snow. My upper body is pretty good from all the shoveling. Haven't been on an actual road now for a month. Doing 30mins aerobic a day with the bike bolted in a trainer in the garage to keep my legs slightly in shape. Boring as heck......

ModeratedUser150120149

What did you fly?

Let you take off and land?

graemesmith

That was to fly a Supermarine Spitfire. And no - no way would I WANT to do the T/O and Landing with no time in it. But I did get to fly Acro in it. My controls. Did the same with a Mustang the year before - but the Spitfire was a lot more weight critical:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWqvo-gk-y4

ModeratedUser150120149

Yep, when you look at those Brit planes it is a real testimony to the people who maintained and flew them, and won.

I'm not real sharp on the Spitfire, but I don't think there was a dual control version until really late. As late as the early jets all first flights were solo. Still, I would hate to be the guy who ruined one of the last ones flying.

A great hobby you have.

aubiecat

Down to 182lbs. Missed the March goal of 180lbs. by a week but I should be there by next Monday.
It's odd how "unhealthy" you look right after you lose a lot of weight when in fact you're probably more healthy than you've been in years.
The scrawny face and spindly wrists look weird right now. It sure is nice to bend over to tie my shoes and be able to breath normally.

wobblyoldgeezer

Yes, surprisingly, as I'm spending the season Dec to April as a ski chalet host and chef in the French Alps. 6 ft, 142 lbs at present, down from about 156. I spend about 6 hrs a day making cooked breakfasts with porrage, cream cakes, and 5 course dinners with creamy sugary desserts for 20 - but being T1 diabetic like OP oldscool I'm pretty selective about what I touch!
Heavy lifting of spuds and liquids supplies, bending and stretching for daily cleaning, and skiing 10.30 to 4.30 if I get the baking and cleaning done burns it off!

ModeratedUser150120149

Stepped on the scale today. Since middle January I've gained almost 6 pounds. But, I'm really not worried. My clothes fit the same and I'm measurably stronger and more stable. One of my favorite exercises is standing curls to military press, 3-4 sets of 12 with 2 25# dumbbells alternating with supine pullovers with the same weights and numbers. For structural reasons I'm not going to increase weight(now 50#). But, I think I'm going to add a set or two. Same with all the other exercises I do.

Now I could eat less and lose weight, maybe. But, I'm more interested in strength and endurance than I am with weight. Until, this summer when I can start riding a real bike outside. Another factor is that I compete with no one but me. Oh, I might have a friendly sprint with someone in my glacial age bracket. But no real competition. Even then I thin all this emphasis on weighing the absolute least is a lot of noise for very little return.

Muscle weighs. Strong bones weigh. If you have both you will weigh. For a guy the key is no body part jiggles that is not supposed, chest bigger than abdomen, healthy eating(body builders call it eating clean), and happy with yourself.

The whole point of this for most of us is to have fun for a long time. Playing close to the edge of the performance envelope costs a lot of stress and not only yields poor rewards, it may actually shorten your effective healthy life.

DocsDad

I live in Michigan and have not been on a bike since fall. 8 weeks ago I switched to a vegan diet, cut out added sugars, no alcohol etc. I eat as much as I want of the good stuff though.

7 weeks ago I added 20 minutes, 5 nights per week on an elliptical with about 10 minutes of weights. I lost 15 pounds in that 8 weeks and have hit my goal weight with gained strength. Spring just showed up... I'm ready.

OldsCOOL

Instead of losing weight over the winter I gained 10lbs. Not cool. But then, getting big again and at this age is a real hoot. So, that 10-12lbs had to come off first. The past 2wks I've lost 6. Going for a ride tonight it felt great. What a difference every 5lbs makes. Another 5 would be ok.

aubiecat

If it makes you feel any better I'm down to 177 lbs now. I can wear a medium shirt for the first time in 15 years.

OldsCOOL

Same weight I am. I havent been this wt in about 5yrs.

osco53

5' 11" 175 pounds, I feel great and holding now.

I was 202 and felt very fat when I would roll onto my side In bed and feel my belly get there first...

Thank you Bicycle