baron von trail 

Yep, that is an absolute fact!

IMHO, even the most fit 250 pounder would be well served to get it down under 200#. The only issue is how? I know I've been at it for a while and it aint easy.

PSR215

Look at the books on volumetrics, good healthy theories that have alot of merit to them. The ideas have helped me lose 40lbs since the end of Nov..Fill yourself up with food low in calories high in nutritional value first and then top it off with higher caloric food.

Wogster

It's not that the calorie deprived live longer, it just seems like it....

As with anything else, the problems with weight are at the extremes, if a man is 5'10" and 130lbs he is just as likely to have health issues as if he is 230lbs, different issues, but issues none the less.

Barese Rider

Ill take the 130 lb fellow and his risks any day.. First Im not sure if hes even classified as underweight on bmi charts as hes on the borderline, the 230 fellow is listed as obese no question[ i dont mean to piss of you 230 lb linebackers with 32 in. waists we all know you are definitely not obese, maybe muscleheads but not obese]... If the skinny fellow is getting enough nutrients in his food and hes not playing football someone would have to explain to me why he would be at risk at all.. Meanwhile the fat guy is facing all the possible fat guy problems.. If Mr Skinny is at risk and assuming no bulemia etc. and that the condition is not caused by illness nor smoking all he would have to do is add 500 calories per day of food with good nutritional value to it and he could easily put himself out of risk.. As most of us know losing weight is not quite that easy.

On top of that Id put a bob or two on the skinny guy on a race to the top of Mt. Washington every day.

baron von trail 

Strong winds?

Barese Rider

That will do it!

downtube42

As far as I'm concerned, it's the mirror not the scale that tells the story. I can argue heavy bones or muscle mass until I'm blue in the face, but the mirror doesn't listen.

Velo Dog

That was my first thought, too. Both my kids have been laid off this week, my mother-in-law is dying of cancer, my truck has 158,000 miles on it, the global economy is in the dumper, and this guy's feelings are hurt because some people think 200 pounds is fat. How does he stand the pain?

cs1

Have you noticed that it's been 5 days since RedDeMartini's OP and no sign of him. Actually, I don't think he posted after his original rant. Do I smell a troll? If it bothered him that much initially, why hasn't he commented?

Barese Rider

Rumor has it that he has been working on his abs.

aham23

why does it seem to be a common belief amont 6 footers over 200 pounds that weighing less then that is just impossible and unhealthy?

i am 6'3'' and 175 pounds. i dropped 70 pounds in 2006. last night my dinner consisted of Pepe's Burrito and DQ Mindnight Truffle blizzard. am i starving myself or unhealthy looking. i think not.

just ride, watch what you eat, and enjoy life. later.

MnHillBilly

Well, for what's its worth, I have a bit of a unique perspective on a "healthy" goal range. I was once 440 pounds and nearly immobilized by my weight. Lost 185+ pounds over 3 years (the last year has basically just been maintenance) - and I still have about 60 lbs. to get to 200. I'm 5'9" and I'm the healthiest I've ever been in my life at 260. At 325, I started biking, and was leaving some skinny people in the dust on rides at 280.

The BMI charts tell me that my highest healthy weight is in the 170's, but 200 is my goal. Why? Because much of what I've done the past two years has replaced fat with muscle, and I have extra skin - the battle scars of a lifetime of being obese. The extra weight isn't fat, and it's not occupying vital space. 10 pounds of extra skin doesn't have the same health concern as 10 pounds of extra fat in the belly. 10 pounds of muscle built into the quads beyond the norm doesn't have the same effect on blood pressure as 10 pounds of extra fat.

BUT - caveat to people, and the primary reason I'm chiming in:

Regardless of where the "extra" weight comes from - the BMI charts aren't complete bunk. You CAN be healthy at higher weights if you're taller/fitter, etc. than the average person of a smaller weight. But the person carrying around the extra weight does have a higher tendency for joint issues as they age, from the joints carrying more weight on the frame. The danger isn't in the "right now" - it's looking at things over the perspective of a lifetime. That's why I'm working toward "landing" at 200 and being happy with that and continuing to keep myself as fit as I can, but I'm preparing for joint issues as I get older if I don't get any lower than that. That's what will seperate me from the people of the same height, but within the goal range.

terbennett

I'm 6'3 and my weight is around 210 right now. I feel overweight. Most of that comes from the fact that my body is used to being underweight. Until my wife and I had our first kid I was between 155-160 lbs. Yeah, I know I was skinny, but 210 feels heavy. Mr. Beanz has seen me and even he says I don't look overweight. However, i do feel it. Also, cycling IS geared toward the super lightweight rider. 200 lbs, might be a decent weight for you but a wheelset doesn't base it's durability on how the weight sits on you. I'm a roadie and I have had to upgrade my wheelset just like most Clydes. Heck, I've even had to swap out my seatpost from carbon to aluminum. Carbon cranks are the worst for me. You have to understand that eventhough you are 200 lbs. and can ride like the lightweights, you dish out more power and add more stress to components while doing so because of your additional weight. So to answer your question: Yes. 200 lbs is overweight- for the cycling community. Understand that technology is geared toward professional racers- which the majority aren't even over 170 lbs. When new lightweight stuff comes out, it's to work for those racers. Then it's marketed to us with the idea that we will be like them.

baron von trail 

What is that, 32" waist w/ 36" inseam? I haven't been there since 1986.

Up until this past winter, I was in great shape with a 34" waist while carrying 198 lbs. About 5 years ago, I weighed in the upper 180's and everybody said I had no Sass.

193 to 195 would seem to be my healthiest, most fit weight condition. I'll be real happy to get there again.

Buddha4

Statement appears to contradict itself. I'm 6'2 and last time I weighed 173 I was recovering from some military training with IV's in 3 limbs. One meal a day eats through some "fat stores" Even when I got up to 185 I had coworkers thought I caught a "virus". The only time the extra weight was noticble was when I when I was jumping and could pass the lightweights that took forever to land.

nkfrench 

Unfortunately the "Clyde/Athena" category sure is diverse. Tall and lean, short and overfat, fit vs not, novice vs expert. And all the imaginable combinations. So many of the questions & responses need to include which subcategory of "Clyde" they are relevant to.

I am a 5'7" Athena/Clyde girl. At one time I was very lean and fit at 140#. I was able to bench-press my weight (freeweights). It was a difficult weight for me to maintain and I got pretty run down, catching every virus that walked through the room. I would be happy to get back to 135-150# at a lower weight where I can remain healthy. There is a good chance I will find myself at ideal size yet still be over 150# to remain an Athena if not Clyde.

My current LBM is 135# - part of that is just to get my larger body around, part is because I am cycling now and have put on a lot of lower-body muscle in addition to my established upper body swimming musculature. My bike is a women-specific frame so it fits my ordinary girl's height and short torso/long legs (33" inseam). However, the bike is designed for a lighter rider and I can't run the tires more appropriate for my weight.

Also, I ride a nice road bike. Carbon fiber, Dura-Ace components, expensive. There seems to be an assumption that heavy riders just want "comfort bikes" with cheap components.

So yes, 200# for me is overweight. But I don't know if the 150# Athena threshhold would be overweight for me or not. I hope to find out pretty soon.

I pretty much ignore BMI and rely more on bodyfat measurements.

PSR215

My dad just had a stroke at 95. Ive been in and out of the cardiac wing of the local hospital for 5 days and now the cardiac rehab center.. If any need motivation to lose weight visit one of these places.. Just about every patient is overweight, many have sugar problems and or diabeties, from the patients or their relatives that I spoke to many have had multiple cardiac incidents, many have more than one stent..Its insane.

Barrettscv 

My father passed away at age 84 last year. I calculated that I have another 15 years of doing almost any activity, including unlimited cycling, skiing, hiking, I'm now 52. 15 years is not a long time. Past that point, I'll have to scale back some of my favorite activities while staying as active as possible.

It's motivating. I'm not wasting any time at this point.

Michael

baron von trail 

Ironic that you use the 15 yr number on top of the 52. My dad is 67 and shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, he spent the winter in Fla "dropping roadies", quite literally. He averages 19.2 mph (I know this because he emails me his numbers every day), and makes a sport out of sneaking up on pace lines and then blowing by them.

In the spring he will return to Northern Illinois and spend the summer riding the Wisconsin trail system. He trains for crazy stuff like riding across the country (did that twice, both times after age 60). His new goal is to ride up the entire length of the Mississippi.

So, you may be able to up your 15 year estimate. Personally, I am looking at and hoping to go strong until at least age 75. I find that commuting is one of the best ways to ensure that this becomes a reality. Of course, regardless our efforts, we still need some good fortune. It does take more than hard work to stay well, but it is indeed reasonable to plan for a long and healthy life.

Barrettscv 

I'm giving myself 15 years to do as much as possible and build a strong health & fitness base. Anything on top of that is gravy. My father was in good health and his passing was a total suprise. His biggest preventable health risk was that he had become 50lbs overweight & sedentary.

I'll avoid that issue, but you never know when your number is up! Live for today is my motto.

Michael

IbikezLA

WHen I was getting my first new bike, a couple bike shop owners were uneasy about selling me an expensive bike because they claimed that my weight, 200lb which makes me lean at 6'5", would rapidly wear out the bearings on my hubs with all the riding I like to do. Yeah thx for looking out for me, but I've never heard that happening to 200lb riders. It was a bummer, so I went to bikesdirect so I could get a bike without the trouble of someone telling I'm going to ruin my bike.

bigfred 

Wow, are you sure you're not a shill? Sorry if you're not. But, posts like this one would sure sorta' make you sound like one.

jayarbore

I totally agree - I'm a 204 lb rider with about 4-5% BF. I've been a weightlifter all my life, not fat, and can still run at a good clip. If I drop below 190 or so, I look emaciated. Being lighter just doesn't work for me, I'm not built that way.

Really though, all that matters is how you ride. If you can smoke dudes 1/2 your size, then who cares how big you are?

pacificaslim

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_dysmorphia

Barese Rider

I like it, never heard of it, but it explains much.