Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy

Back to the Road Cycling Forum with you. We don't need that stuff here. This is supposed to be a place where people can lay out their experiences and have them respected. It is said that roadies don't have cycling buddies, only competitors. I am absolutely furious with you. I'm talking to you, umd, kuf, and columbo. Winning is not the only thing and it does not always bring respect.

As far as the subject being discussed, I agree with Machka. If "one's" Polar calorie total for the week is over 7000, one is going to lose weight if one wants to. I have a buddy who lost 8 lbs. on team RAAM, and he ate everything he could get into his stomach. Part of the weight loss effect of high volume aerobic activity is that one simply can't eat much while exercising. High volume exercise also depresses the appetite somewhat, or at least it has in the cyclists with whom I've worked. I believe this latter result is from not eating much while exercising, which seems to shrink the stomach's tolerance for large food volumes. This is the effect which I believe Machka is talking about. In my journals, I see a very clear correlation between over 7000 calorie weeks and weight loss. I find it interesting that Machka and I, different people with different riding styles, have found this same 7000 calorie tipping point. But OMG, have I made a terrible mistake? Machka said 7200 calories, and I'm saying 7000. Must negate my entire life experience.

Let's have less nitpicking about what one or another might have said or implied, and more personal experience. Please, will someone on the forum who exercised more than 7000 calories/week for several weeks, wanted to lose weight, but still gained weight please come forward? Umd? Kuf? Columbo?