I apologize.

I have been too hard on certain aspects of human conditions, namely the excess adipose tissue appearing on so many of the folks I see. I am sorry.

Judgementalism on my part is the surest road to my own downfall.

I just hate to see it, when I know it is not healthy, and there is a solution.

Apology accepted!

I've often held my tongue on various posts on this topic, because it's hard to know how much to say before I go to far. I am, as I believe I've mentioned before, of the, erm, more rubenesque variety of female. A size 18, a good bit over 200 pounds.

I will say this. There is no sure-fire simple solution. I cycle as much as many of the posters on the forum, over 125 miles a week most weeks. I eat a moderately healthy diet, usually only whole grains, lots of vegetables, a moderate amount of sweets to satisfy my sweet tooth. I'm in great shape and fifty miles is nothing to me. I'm not as fast as I'd like, but I still leave a lot of other riders in the dust. Here's the real kicker though. I'm still fat! If you were to look at me without knowing me, you'd probably think, "what does that fat chick think she's doing on a bike?" Indeed, I've produced many surprised stares from much skinnier riders as I pass them easily.

I made a committment to fitness nearly two years ago and though I dropped down from nearly 300 pounds to just over 200 fairly rapidly at the start, I stabilized at my current weight about may of last year. I've been seriously cycling for two summers in a row, plus worked out in the gym five days a week, 60 min cardio all winter. Haven't changed weight though. I've been doing all the "right" things, including using a heart rate monitor. Maybe I'm unusual. All I'm saying is, for me, it's not a simple equation of "cycle+eat less+eat healthy=get skinny"

Skinny does not translate into healthy. I've seen many skinny people that were very unhealthy. (check out a drug rehab center sometime for all the skinny meth freaks and crack heads)

Your goal should be to be as healthy as possible and forget the judgements about fat vs skinny.

I get a little testy when I see the false dilemma of "fit vs fat", which is only a superficial assesment of health. The look you should go for (for a woman) is to have a hip to waist ratio of 0.7. This means if your have hips measuring 42 inches, a proprtional waist for you would be around 29 inches.

To me,

It doesn't matter what you look like on a bike...just get out there, have fun, and enjoy yourself while you're doing it...

We only have one shot at this!...unless you believe in reincarnation...but still...

Rich

Yeah, you've all heard my rants about FRC's who have nothing better to do than tell others how they should look. I think people like this should be culled out at birth.

Chris

At first I didn't know what Pete was referring to by excess adipose tissue. I wondered if it had to do with uncircumcised males and billowing (noncycling) shorts, especially on recumbent riders. But thanks to the group I can make a guess that we are talking about body fat, cellulite, love handles, and flab in general? Not to mention big bones. IMHO bicycling is not a good way to lose weight. So I run regularily on a treadmill. It's good cross training too. And regards diet, don't starve yourself. Eat small quantities of fresh fruit and green vegetable throughout the day. Because if your body feels like it isn't getting regular calorie intakes then it slows the metabolism down into survival gear.

'Tis true O'malley-good job!
Ride Snacking on f+v
Pat

I have a friend who switched from a couch potato lifetsyle about 2 yrs ago, and has been cycling 10 miles/day and more at weekends. She can do 70 miles/day without any preparation , and is fairly fit. She started off at 300lbs, but has stabilised at about 200.
I dont think its very wise to try and force your body into a shape or size its not happy at. Getting fit and healthy is very different from getting into a size 10.

THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU!!!!! I have been fighting this problem my whole life and like you I am "fit". To look at me you'd never believe it!! I go to the gym 2-3 times per week. I do not ride as much as I should, but I do 2-3 long rides per week (50+miles each). I am healthy and I have no medical problems. I CC Ski, downhill ski, kayak, rollerblade, mountain bike, wog ( my version of the jog/walk). I am more active than my sister who weighs 110lbs( and who's *ss I kicked on a bike ride). I can't say I'm happy with myself, I'm considering desperate measures to rectify this situation.... The question I pose is what do you do when nothing works?? Maybe some people were meant to be round.

I'm glad Pete apologized. I wish people wouldn't judge a person based on looks, but of course, I know that will never happen!!

Well, I think that we are all meant to be what we are...although we do have a responsibility to make the best of us that we can...and Cheryl, it sounds to me like you are doing a good job at that!

I am sad that you are not happy with yourself, you should be! You say that you are considering something drastic, just be sure that you are doing it for you, and not for someone else.

Doing 2 or 3 50 mile + rides a week is really something! Be proud of that!

I know how you feel. Recently I went into a big-name-recently-gone-bankrupt bike shop to get a rear view mirror for my helmet. I am just an old man who is still overweight, and I felt I got terrible service. I got the feeling that if I were a young jock, it would have been different. But, you know what? I will never spend a nickel in that place again, and I bet over the years the LBS who has been so kind to me will benefit from my business!! So it will all work out in the end!

And Hillary, you have dropped a third of your starting weight! Whew, that is great! Your commitment is commendable...some just think that I should be committed!!

In life, there are no simple equations. We must each figure out what works for us, and GO FOR IT!

"I know how you feel. Recently I went into a big-name-recently-gone-bankrupt bike shop to get a rear view mirror for my helmet. I am just an old man who is still overweight, and I felt I got terrible service. I got the feeling that if I were a young jock, it would have been different. But, you know what? I will never spend a nickel in that place again, and I bet over the years the LBS who has been so kind to me will benefit from my business!! So it will all work out in the end!"

Ugh...

This is another reason why I left the business, too many clueless fellow employees. You know, talking on the phone on personal business while customers come and go without ever getting service etc etc

Hang in there, you'll find a good bike shop sometime if you keep at it.

OK Pete, apology accepted.

I'm among the group that has lost weight because of cycling. And I'm the first to admit I still have a few more pound to lose.
I don't take your comments about excess weight personally. I too am guilty of "judging" others who don't or won't make the effort to do something about their weight. :thumbdn:


This is my brother. He thinks I am not as "healthy" as he is because I'm still a little overweight and he is skin and bones. Yet he can't ride a bike more than two blocks without getting winded!
I ride over 150 miles a week (commuting and recreation/fitness riding).
Who's healthier??

I am the clydesdale of our group 6'-1'' 270 lbs. I have much better performance than this would lead one to believe. Dusted many more slender riders that underestimated the engine.

Have a lota boing on the FS bikes that I have tried so I ride a hardtail. Tought me to be a finesse rider and still keep up with the less gravity challenged of the group. With all that weight I gotta go easy on the rims. ;-)

I think I'm in a lot better shape than the specs would indicate. Love handles and all!

Ooops, Taught...finesse...

Felix, believe me, I have found a bike shop worthy of my devotion and business! (Shameless plug following!) Cycle Sports in North Platte, NE, ran by Patty and George Evans have been so wonderful to me, it is just amazing! They invite me on rides, sell me bikes at prices I can afford, and Patty makes sure that everything is adjusted perfectly so I can enjoy cycling without doing injury to myself! When I started riding a lot, I needed a better saddle than the factory one that came on my Roubaix. One call to Patty, and in the next days mail was a box of saddles to test ride! The retail cost of these saddles was worth more than I have paid for both of my Fuji bikes! I test rode them all, picked the one I liked, and mailed a check and the rest of them back to her! How is that for service?? Cycle Sports is 95 miles from my home, but I gladly go there whenever I need something! And the wild thing is that they treat others the same way! They are really a pro-active bike shop!:thumbup:

Thanks for all those responses!

Seriously, I appreciate it. Everyone here is doing such a good job at getting in shape that I would be ashamed to compare my own
results with theirs.

Hillary Rose, you have nothing to be ashamed of. It is only those of us who judge others wrongly who need to be ashamed!

Anyway, I see people who need the encouragement everyday.

Imagine someone who weighs 300 pounds being shown that, yes, they can lose that weight! People would kill (and I mean, literally, kill!) to achieve that goal! And it can be done without dangerous drugs!

Thanks again, y'all!

Peace.

I've got you beat HardBall...6'3" 290 lbs! However, after 1400 miles of cycling so far this year, I'm thinner now than I was at 250 lbs. To top that (here I go again Fujidude) my RHR is now normally 65 BPM. I hardly ever touch red meat, and I generally eat a well balanced diet. I don't even drink beer....anymore. It was only a few years ago when I was able to leg press 1000 lbs. I think I could probably do that still. My legs look great!!

If one of you skinny guys would draft behind me, you'd hardly have to work at all!

NEBill,

yeah, it's great when you can get people back in the door because you treat them right. I always tried (well, almost always, I did have my bad hair days and such) to treat people right.

Sounds like you've got a good thing going, see if they offer any classes on bike repair so you can do some of the stuff on your own without having to make the long trip.

They are in the business to make money, but face it, there's not a whole lot of money to be made in bike retailing. If they are working in a shop, chances are it's because they love it. I

Sorry for wandering off subject here Pete et al.

Felix, yes Patty teaches me a little something every time I go up there! If we are going to ride at 3 in the afternoon, I try to get to the shop at 10 AM! So far we have covered taping handlebars, cleaning and greasing all the ball bearings, chain lube and replacement, freewheel service, wheel truing, and the ever popular flat repair! These people love to ride, and they do everything they can to promote this sport!

AF, read the label on a can of light beer....half the calories of a sode pop, carbs, protien, no fat, not a bad sports drink! If the alcohol just didn't inhibit the bodies ability to absorb water, a banana and a beer would be the perfect post-ride snack!

I'm with Hardball. 6'0" and 220 - 225 lbs. I can hang with the best of them. I do not have the luxury of riding everyday, but I do excercise everyday.

Running is hard on the joints at my weight(I do it anyways), I hate swimming, but I love cycling. My biggest dilemma (sp?) is finding time to ride. My schedule allows only 2 periods of time, either 5:30 am or 7:30 pm, and then only for an hour or two.

This forces my to go jogging(more often than I prefer) or run the risk of not being seen in the dark (which I do on a regular basis).

I also tend to do more interval training as opposed to distance rides. Regardless, no matter how much excercise I do and how little I eat, I never seem to be able to get any lower than 215 lbs. My body likes to stay around 220-225, and I've pretty much accepted this, so I don't kill myself nor starve.

My wife on the other hand, weighs the same as she did when we were first married (7 years ago). She never weighs more than 125 lbs, and carries it well! She'll eat whatever she wants and still stay slim. I sometimes envy her for this. But then again, because her metabolism is so high, she can't fall asleep at night and I sleep like a baby!

Lator Gator

OK, I've gotta brag. :dance: :thumbup:

Yesterday on my ride home I passed a guy half my age (I'm 56) at the beginning of a long (about 1-1/2 miles), slightly uphill climb. He appeared to be the "correct" weight for his height.
He was on a Trek carbon fiber and I was on my Raleigh R600 aluminum with panniers. I offered a friendly greeting as I passed him.
When I reached the stop light at the end of the climb I noticed he was way back. He finally caught up with me about 1-1/2 minutes later. Then the light changed and we parted.

Don't get me wrong. I wasn't showing off. I was riding at my usual speed.

Weight does not corelate with fitness, strength, and stamina!

100% guaranteed way to lose weight:
1)eat less;
2)ride more