Last year I went on a hard core weight loss program. It involved some monitoring of my food intake, but mostly it was doing not less than three hard rides each week. I lost 35 lbs. Since then I've been able to maintain the lost weight, but losing the additional 15 lbs I have to lose to be within my recommended BMI weight is proving difficult.
To some degree, PCAD is correct. A loss of 35 lbs prompted a number of comments from co-workers. Most were complimentary, but a couple asked if I was sick, one thought I had the big C.
One thing is for certain. This year I am approximately 1 MPH faster than last year. Where I used to barely hang on to 18 MPH average pace lines, now I ride with 19 MPH groups with no difficulty. I attribute at least half of that increase, if not all of it, to the weight loss.