Am I the only 65+ person with weight loss problems?
Since we moved to FL (9 months ago) it seems we eat out a lot more. My wife is semi-retired from cooking. :rolleyes:
Consequently I've put on ~10# and no matter how careful I am with food choices and amounts when we eat out and no matter how many miles or hills (yes there are a few of them around here) I ride, I can't drop the 10#. Before we left Atlanta my cardiologist wanted me to lose 20-25 pounds. Now I'm 10# heavier. I hope he doesn't find out. :eek:
FYI: We've always eaten healthy, organic, etc. Much better than almost everyone we know.
So, is it an age thing to put on weight at this stage of our lives? Got any suggestions?

My wife (75 yo) is on Weight Watchers (online) and it is working great for her - lost 6 lbs so far. She hates the meetings - to which she no longer need attend, but loves their exercise counter device which is the size of a flash card and downloads to the USB port. She charts her intake daily on line - and is mostly eating Lean Cuisine. She also has unlimited fruit and veggies under the plan. She has increased her exercise a bit, but has always exercised.

In the meantime, I have lost 7 pounds simply by sort of following her diet, cutting out breads almost entirely, and keeping the exercise up.

If we eat out, we invariably share a meal, and, most time, even then, it is too much for us and we don't eat it all.

How's the new saddle working out and which model did you get?

I ordered the Selle SMP TRK when I was encountering numbness but that disappeared by the time the Selle arrived, so I switched...because I bought it. :rolleyes: I'm getting into high mileage (22,24, and 25) and am encountering some irritation. I'm not sure if it's because of wearing the shorts for a few hours after riding a couple of days ago or the seat. I'm not getting any numbness, just a pinching sensation when I ride. I'm not sure how much detail to go into but I'm trying some Desitin (zinc oxide). I'm new at this and need to discuss the 'fit' of the riding shorts with someone with more experience.

I may try the second seat again to isolate the cause of the problem.

Rich

Glad to hear you're both doing well with WW.
I tried it 2 years ago and gained 3 pounds the first week. I did all the exercise/activity things and never went over my food allowance for any day so decided that wasn't going the work for me. I couldn't afford to keep on experimenting and chance gaining another 3 pounds the following week.
I've cut out bread entirely. I found out about a month ago I have a slight allergy to wheat, not gluten, but wheat.

Same here. We've followed that rule for several years.

I know how hard it is to lose weight. The doctor at the VA had me go to a program named MOVE at one of the clinics here in Las Vegas. They put me on a 1500-1700 calorie diet a day. Since the first of the year I have lost 37#s. I weigh and measure almost everything I eat. Eating lots of vegies and couple fresh fruits a day, plus drink over 130 ozs of water everyday. Only bread I eat is whole or multi grain. It is working for me. Started at over 269 and am down to 232. I never thought I would see the day where I would watch everything I eat, but now I am in the habit and it is easy. Good luck, it does not get easy as we grow older.:thumb:

How do you have any energy to ride eating only 1500-1700 calories a day? On many of my rides I burn that many calories.

Lacumo,
Thanks so much for your reply. I hate to ***** and moan, but this situation is Mission Hopeless and getting worse. Her decline is so fast!
But, I have good news guys. I had Life Line installed for my Mom and that gives me some time to get out and bike and not worry about her falling without me being there constantly to watch. Being there to watch is not going to stop her falling; it just burns up my time for no reason. I can pick up the pieces and do whatever is needed, or 911 guys can come and pick up the pieces. In both cases, 911 will have to be called. I can't pick her up; she's dead weight and can't help at all.
The really good news: Saturday, I got out of my prison and went on a bike ride. A little piddly 13 miles. But, on my way out, I saw a garage sale and a Terra Trike sitting there for sale for a really good price. Of course, it needs some repairs (rear wheel badly needed truing, rear brake lever was broken, gear shifter works but the cable adjuster is cracked and won't adjust the cable, and the gear cable is badly frayed). But, I bought it and had it rolling smoothly truing the rear wheel, in about an hour. Front brakes are in great shape, those being disc brakes. Rear brake is a roller brake. So, with a little repair work, I'll have that recumbant trike I wanted. Who would have thought I'd find it one block from my house! BTW, I love rebuilding bikes, so this is a plum for me. What a sweet ride and it's fast for a 7 speed. Yup, it falls into the category of an "antique" but I have a stable full of antiques that are sweet rides compared to the newer stuff the bike companies are producing. I think I put about 15 miles on the Terra trike, but without a computer I'm just guessing. It does hills better than I thought it would. All in all, that's good news.

Congrats on getting out for the ride! A "piddly little 13 miles" is many universes longer than zero miles. Better yet, running into that "fixer-upper" Terra Trike for a hot price is a dream and the fact that you're capable of fixing it up and getting it roadworthy yourself (no kick-in-the-head LBS overhaul bill) makes it a lifetime-quality dream! Sounds to me like that 13-mile ride was a better ride than any that I've enjoyed in years on end.

Hand in there with your mother's situation. It will run its own course in its own time and all you can really do is what's needed/expected of you and going with the flow. Best of luck with it and enjoy the new trike too!

Congrats on the 13 miles and the new trike. :thumb:

I've been doing WW on line for a couple of months. I'm down almost 20 pounds without feeling too deprived. To me the big surprise was which foods WW discourages. I have to be really careful with restaurant meals or I'll burn off my whole day's point allowance in one sitting.

What a wonderful find! I hope that you have a lot of fun with it.

I'm 65 & just went 20 miles with a 15.0 mph average on my Trek FX 7.4...just curious what it takes to compete in the 65 and over class in competition (i know i'm not there yet)...

^^^
I've never competed but I would guess you'll need strong legs and lungs and a fast bike.

30TH ARIZONA SENIOR OLYMPIC GAMES SATURDAY EVENTS: 5K & 10K CYCLING TIME TRIALS ******************************* UNOFFICIAL RESULTS - 40K BIKE ******************************* TIMING AND SCORING BY: CEP TIMING (480)315-1321 - P.O. BOX 30575 - PHOENIX, AZ 85046 - WWW.CEPTIMING.COM PHOENIX, AZ * SUNDAY - MARCH 3, 2013 * Weather: SUNNY, 75 degrees_____________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________40K BIKE - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50-54PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 703 JANIE WHITE F 54 1:14:19.2 20.1 F5054 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - MALE AGE GROUP: 50-54PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 744 VINCE CLARK M 51 59:08.8 25.2 M5054 , AZ 2 711 EDUARDO NAVARRO M 51 59:10.5 25.2 M5054 , AZ 3 708 JEFF BIEVER M 51 59:12.4 25.2 M5054 , AZ 4 709 TYRONE HOLMES M 51 1:04:42.5 23.0 M5054 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 55-59PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 736 JAN HERTZFELD F 55 1:22:45.3 18.0 F5559 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - MALE AGE GROUP: 55-59PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 737 MICHAEL GABER M 56 59:12.5 25.2 M5559 , AZ 2 729 WALTER FLOM M 56 59:16.9 25.2 M5559 , AZ 3 730 PAUL MITTMAN M 56 1:01:31.7 24.2 M5559 , AZ 4 746 GEORGE CATALANO M 55 1:01:31.7 24.2 M5559 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60-64PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 749 DONNA INGLE F 62 1:14:20.9 20.1 F6064 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - MALE AGE GROUP: 60-64PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 750 CURTIS INGLE M 62 1:09:05.4 21.6 M6064 , AZ 2 713 RON WALLER M 63 1:09:05.9 21.6 M6064 , AZ 3 731 HOMAYOON FARSI M 60 1:09:09.3 21.6 M6064 , AZ 4 739 AHMAD DANIELS M 64 1:18:58.7 18.9 M6064 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 65-69PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 722 JO JOHNSON F 65 1:14:25.8 20.0 F6569 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - MALE AGE GROUP: 65-69PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 733 TERRY STAGER M 65 1:09:08.5 21.6 M6569 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 70-74PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 705 BARBARA GICQUEL F 72 1:14:25.2 20.0 F7074 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - MALE AGE GROUP: 70-74PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 717 JAMES HOOVER M 70 1:06:32.8 22.4 M7074 , AZ 2 756 ALVIN RAVICHER M 70 1:08:48.2 21.7 M7074 , AZ 3 725 GEORGE POTTER M 70 1:15:20.0 19.8 M7074 , AZ 4 726 NELSON GOULD M 73 1:17:13.9 19.3 M7074 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 75-79PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 706 ANN CHADWICK F 75 1:22:06.8 18.2 F7579 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - MALE AGE GROUP: 75-79PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 748 ROBERT PAGANINI M 77 1:06:32.8 22.4 M7579 , AZ 2 743 RICHARD REYNOLDS M 78 1:08:48.8 21.7 M7579 , AZ 3 719 PATRICK BUNCH M 78 1:08:49.9 21.7 M7579 , AZ 4 735 ROY BEAL M 78 1:08:57.1 21.6 M7579 , AZ 5 742 KARE LID M 76 1:15:23.1 19.8 M7579 , AZ 6 741 WAYNE MALMBERG M 75 1:26:00.9 17.3 M7579 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 80-84PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ======================______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________40K BIKE - MALE AGE GROUP: 80-84PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 747 WALT AXTHELM M 80 1:08:49.4 21.7 M8084 , AZ 2 720 JIM RIGNEY M 82 1:16:50.2 19.4 M8084 , AZ 3 721 JOHN SANMARTINI M 83 1:48:00.7 13.8 M8084 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________

^^^ Explain please.

Depends Who shows up to race....Guessing you need to up the speed to 19/21 mph.

The heading and numbers don't line up, but you can pick out the pace. For example, the guy that won the 80-84 AG averaged 21.7mph for 40K! I'm 66 and an above-average rider and I often ride with a couple of guys in their mid-70s that can kick my butt on a bike.

I want his autograph.

In the heading it says "5K & 10K CYCLING TIME TRIALS"; in the results section it says "40K BIKE"...wasn't sure of the distance...

I assume the "20.1", "25.2", etc. is the mph?...or is it kph?

Is there a 100 and over class?...maybe? i could compete in that!...lol...

Actually, when i asked the question about possible competitions, it was with the thought that there might be skill level classes in some competitions, ie. 65-70 Masters, 65-70 Advanced, 65-70 Intermediate, 65-70 Beginners, etc...i've only been doing this for a little over a year so i wasn't pretending that i would be competitive with those who have been doing it for 30-40 years...it appears that there is only "Masters Class" in the over 65 so i think i'll put my competition ambitions on hold until my next life...

Reply: I'm with RonH. How do you have any energy to cycle is you are eating only 1500-1700 calories per day? Like Ron (when I can get out there and ride) I'll burn that many calories and sometimes much more on one ride. On one long, day ride, I burned over 6,000 calories.
Congratulations on losing all that weight!

It will be a ton of fun I know. The brake lever is not broken after all (it was notched not cracked as I first thought), but the cable is so frayed on the end that I'm getting a new gear shifter anyways.
Plus, it can be upgraded easily to higher gearing (24/27). If I stay with an internal hub upgrade, it could get real pricey. So, I'll be looking at hanging a sprocket set on the rear and a triple on the crank set. -- This is too much fun to be legal or moral!

Reply: I'm glad you have the energy to want to compete. Go for it. You're a faster rider than I. I belonged to the local bike club for several years but never got past being a D-level rider, that being an average of 10 miles per hour. I just don't have the engine to crank faster speeds. I've tried all the suggestions by "the pros" but nothing made me much faster. I love riding long distances but at my own pace. I'm out there to enjoy the weather (sun, wind, rain, snow--yes, I ride in the snow, whatever) and countryside. If faster riders pass me, I'm glad they can do that.
However, riding a recumbant could make a real difference since you can put some real serious pressure on those pedals, kicking your speed up significantly. Since I do have a little competitive spirit, I just might give that a try.
But, you, if you can crank good speeds after training, go do it!
I am so impressed with the average speeds that 70 and 80 year olds can do. I intend to ride until I'm 100 or more, but these riders are so awesome.

Thank you for posting, lenA. Very impressive numbers! Hats off to the riders, no athletes.

I can relate to that! Just did the Medicare Maze. Hope they cover fried brains.

I had a back injury and bought a BIKE-E recumbent bike which I rode for 4 years. I put about 4,000 miles on it and wore out the shifter twice because I found on a recumbent I rarely got to coast, I was peddeling at a pretty steady RPM and shifting a lot to keep a constant speed. I loved the seat but didn't like the bike so much. As soon as my back got better I sold the recumbent and bought a "comfort" type bike. A Raleigh Passage 4.0. 24 speeds and a front suspension. It took me 9,000 miles to wear out the running gear and last season I had it re-built and am still riding it about 5 days a week. Most of my rides are 20 miles and under and I enjoy every one of them. The bottom line is to just get out and ride, you will always find somebody faster and with more durability than you have so don't let that keep you from riding. You are doing it for your health - both physical and mental and its a wonderful investment whether you are competitive or not. When I'm not riding the one I love I love the one I'm riding and while I am "only" 70 I attribute me good health to regular bike riding and intend to keep it up as long as I can. Biking is a wonderful hobby but we aren't all put together to be racers so don't let your lack of competitive ability stop you from riding. Just get a good quality bike that fits your and climb on and go. When I do I can't stop grinning! See you on the trail!
8-)

I now qualify here. I'm too pragmatic to be competitive, and too practical to cycle just for fun, so I'm usually on the Utility forum. And I still work more than 40/wk.

Now I am trying to justify cycling for healthy exercise, so I bought an old mixte to restore and I'll have a 'real' bike to take somewhere without getting laughed off the trail.

My neighborhood is not a really a bike friendly area. Most cyclists I see around here are kids, elitests, poor or eccentric. None of the shopping moms on their Yubas with a couple of kids and a trailer full of cat food and lettuce. Maybe an occational spandexer.

But I am trying, and other than wally world and the usual high end places, I did manage to find one good bike shop run by a real 'wrench' who looks like Sheldon Brown, so I guess I'm not totally out of luck.

I'm sure there are plenty of places around here to just cycle, so I'll be posting my 'new' ride pictures where appropriate and updates to my 'useful' ones when I get the chance.

Ahhh blame this on 'old age'
I cannot remember if I ever posted (and there are far too many posts to go back thru em all)
The morning crew I ride with (NFBC in western ny)run between 65 and 77.
While I can hang with the 20mph crowd, the 'younger' guys and gals are up around 23-23+ and that's too quick for this 70 year old.
What I find truly amazing are the number of older riders who don't seem fazed by the climbs. I think some look for alternate routes that incorporate a climb.

20 plus MPH!!! Wow, that's flying - wheels a-singing and the scenery rushing by. If you ever fall at that speed IT WILL NOT BUFF OUT!!! 8-) I just crank along at 10 to 12 MPH and enjoy the feeling of motion and watching the scenery as I go. If I could ride a "Go-Faster" bike I would cuz I love speed too but I can't because leaning over forward and tipping my head back to see puts my arms to sleep so I ride sitting upright and that way nothing gets numb. You do what you can with what you have where you are. Hey, that works for me. 8-)

Considering a century at 66, the other half wants me to seek therapy, :)