ShortyDB43

Hello All-
I just turned 18 a recently have gained a lot of weight due to stress and medication. Most of the weight is of course in my mid-section. I am currently 159 at 5FT 3IN. I was 135 not so long ago.
I have a few questions, and I apologize if the answers can be found somewhere else. There are too many posts and too little time on my part to read them all.

1. Do I really need and indoor trainer like a Cycleops? If so, why?
2. I need to be at a weight of about 130lbs. Any diets that are favorited in the cycling world?
3. I am staring my rides of at about 20 Miles per day, 3 days a week. Is this enough? (I Might possibly add a cardio video or weight training on off days)
4. How much water should I bring during a 20 Mile ride? (I have one of those packs that holds 2 Liters.)
5. How do I know if I over-drink on a ride? Is it dangerous to do so?
6. Should I eat a snack during the ride, even if it is only 20 Miles? What should it be.

These are just a few of the questions I have to ask. I figure I'll slowly ask them in incriments and read previous posts :-)
Please do not feel obligated to answer all of the questions. Any and All insight is very much appreciated.
Thanks,
Dana :-)

Apus^2

1) No, unless you can't ride outside. They are boring, but they get the job done. Find something to do (spinerval, etc). Are you riding to only lose weight, to train to race, have fun, or a combination of the 3?

2) I eat more than when I didn't ride. Start by keeping what you eat the same while riding.

3) Yes. Have any group rides around? If so, join those if you haven't done so already. Start with the easy ones and work your way up. Ones with lots of stop light sprints are kind of like intervals--they will help you lose weight faster. Try and find a slightly longer one on the weekends.

4) 2 bottles. Later you will learn how much you need.

5) You won't over drink on a 20 miler. Well you could, but you would have to bring a LOT of water with you. Regardless, over-drinking is dangerous. I was drinking too much at one point, but that was when I was drinking 3-4 32 oz cups of water at work, in addition to before/after work. I developed a very irritating twitch in my left eyelid. You most likely will not over hydrate.

6) No. Start eating on 40+, and then it could just be a granola bar, gu/gel pack, gatorade, etc. I did 56 miles today on two large bottles of gatorade.

Most of all, have fun.

ShortyDB43

Hi-
I am riding to lose weight, have fun, and find another activity to add to my already large pile.

I am not aware of any group rides in my town. There are some bikers that I have seen, but I think they all train at the gym...something I do not want to do.

Intervals? I am not sure what that is exactly in the world of biking, sorry.
2 bottles, got it. 16oz?

Anyways, thanks for the information. I think it will get me through my first couple of days. Unfortunately for this forum, I am a bit of a perfectionist as well as a very curious person. I'll undoubtedly ask a million questions, and you will all soon despise my existance and leave the forum ;-)

Until later,
Dana

Apus^2

search intervals...

https://bikeforums.net/showthread.php...ight=intervals

ks1g

For now, just get out and ride. Although depending on how quickly winter wraps up in Minnesota, a trainer would help you get started. If you have a gym or Y membership, look at spin classes as an alternative that may help hook you up with other cyclists. Ask at local bike shops about local clubs and group rides - many shops have a weekend or weeknight "shop ride" and hopefully different groups from recreational and fitness riders starting out to the hammerfest racers. Try a google search for 'bike clubs <town/city>' and see what poops up. I've found useful information in Bicycling Magazine (printed and online). Friel's "Cyclists Training Bible" and "Cycling Past Fifty" are excellent books; CTB is definitely aimed at racers while CPF is simpler to follow. I'd see about working in a 2-3 hr ride on weekends as the weather gets better. A friend who is getting back into shape after surgery told me his weight loss goal is to take off 1 lb per week - I understand that is a reasonable goal to take off and keep off weight.

If there are local century rides, MS150 charity rides, etc., decide to ride a metric or full century as a goal; this will motivate your riding and make weight loss incidental to the goal instead of being your only goal. This worked for me, although I just needed to lose 10 pounds. But I'm over 50, and have a desk job. If you can, work riding into your daily routine. I do it by commuting 5 miles each way 2-3x a week and trying to lengthen the ride on the way home. If you need to run an errand, bike it rather than drive it (obviously the route has to be bikeable and you can't carry several palletes of stuff from Costco or Sam's Club back on a bike!).

Intervals are shorter more intense sessions lasting seconds to minutes, with easier periods of recovery in between. Cycling Past 50 has some examples working them into a century program.

ShortyDB43

Ks1g-
Well, as I look out the windows of my school, all I see is white...it has been snowing since late last night and has yet to let up :-(

The closest bike shop is two towns over, and I rarely visit it there unless I am in dire need of supplies. Speaking of The Cyclist Training Bible I ordered it a on Friday. It should be here anyday...I'll be dong 20 miles a day, 3 days a week (Once I can start riding).

Thanks all for the tips. They are coming in handy!
Dana :-)

ShortyDB43

YAY! My training book came today. I've been reading it for the last 45 minutes. I can't wait until I can start cycling and getting back into shape. I would love to lose 10-20LBS. in the next couple of months...prom is coming up :-)

Nickel

I'm guessing you don't live in the twin cities? You might want to check out the Hub's weekly women's ride that starts up in 2 weeks:
https://groups.google.com/group/the-hub-womens-ride

ShortyDB43

I live about 20 Miles from the Twin Cities. With traffic and all that it would probably take me 30-45 min to get there. Unfortunately, I do not have my liscence right now...I haven't had time to go take the test thanks to school and all that stuff. If I could I would bike around Lake Calhoun everyday! I love it out there!
Anyways, thanks to all who have replied!
Dana :-P

ShortyDB43

I live about 20 Miles from the Twin Cities. With traffic and all that it would probably take me 30-45 min to get there. Unfortunately, I do not have my liscence right now...I haven't had time to go take the test thanks to school and all that stuff. If I could I would bike around Lake Calhoun everyday! I love it out there!
Anyways, thanks to all who have replied!
Dana :-P

cdalefan

I get that once in a while. How did you figure out that it was from too much water? I gotta look into this.

Apus^2

I can't remember how, but I figured drinking 4+ 32 oz cups a water just at work was bad.

Zan

Oh, is that why my eye was twitching last summer? I couldn't figure it out. Lasted up until a half-month after i finished cycling for the season. weird.

The only additional advice i would give is that you may want to consider taking things like multi-vitamins if you don't already do so. since you're exercising more, your body may need more.

in my experience with water, i may consume 3L/30km when it's the summer time (temperature around 35 - 40C). That's the max I'll consume. The 2L pack should be fine for what you're doing... and personally i prefer the pack over the bottle (maybe 'cause I do mountain biking as well, but w.e.).

Hope you enjoy yourself!

ShortyDB43

Hey Everyone!
Thanks for all the comments guys! I always worry if I am over drinking because I have been known to go on an hour ride at a moderate pace and drink two liters when it is only 80 degrees outside.

My Aunt and I are ALWAYS thirsty and the both of us are negative for diabeties. The problem is we can drink more than the recommended amount and still be thirst. We could drink sips of water every five minuets and still be thirsty all the time. Of course, after we drink so much water we then both sometimes feel ill because we have too much water in our system. So, that is why I am very cautious about how much I am drinking during the day and when riding. I know it can be unhealthy to drink too much water!

Anyways...one more question about water...
How much would you drink on the given times at let's say 85 Degrees?

1 Hour ride
3 Hour Ride
5 Hour Ride

By miles would work as well. I want to make sure to get the maximum out of every ride while doing it in a healthy manner.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped thus far!
Shorty :-)

ConstantRider

A standard recommendation is 20 - 28 oz. per hour, with less in cooler/cold weather.

One way to gauge if you're drinking enough or too much is to get into the practice of weighing yourself before and after you ride. If you come back from a ride and you've lost a few pounds, you probably haven't drank enough.

Especially on longer rides, you'll want to make sure you're consuming some electrolytes too.