Any friends/family criticize you having a lean cyclinst build?
 

Well ever since I got into cycling I've lost a lot of weight. Mainly this year because I've been really training hard. But I'm getting kind of annoyed with some relativesthat haven't seen me for a while constantly asking me if I'm on drugs or have some kind of sickness like cancer. They're not joking either...they're dead serious when they asked me that which took me off guard.I'm not super skinny at 5'11 and 155lbs but I did weigh a lot more before I got into cycling. My arms are kind of small like the pros..;(not that I'm a pro or anywhere remotely close...its just that I don't work out my upper body) and my waist is small because of low body fat. But it is kinda getting annoying hearing them talk about if I am on drugs or anorexic everytime I see them.

I wish that were the case. Congrats.

Nope. Just take it as a compliment, I guess. They'll shut up eventually.

+1

Just show them your shaved legs - that will get them

Yeah, they make fun of me later on in the season. I think it's the weight loss in your face, i look at some pictures of me from last fall and my face seems sunken.

I'm skinny flat out (bone and muscle), but ignore them. As long as you have those good moments on the road (ie testing out my bike on platforms for a long ride and passing a fully geared madone at 30).

5'11 140lbs here, your friends must be fat.

I am 41 years old 5'10. 150.lbs used to be 199lbs 5 years ago I have gone through the same experience, no big deal just keep riding.

Nothing wrong with your weight at all mate, as long as you're healthy on the inside. I've usually found those that make negative comments are the most in need of doing some exercise. Don't let people put their hang ups on you, they're probably jealous. Some people have a gift for making others feel like they're doing something wrong because they're improving themselves in some way.

199 to 150, thats awesome!

At the moment Im 180 (5'9), With I had the OPs problem! I'll get there though!

All the guys I work with comment on it.

I get it X2 being vegan and a cyclist. "Your ridding that bike too way much", "You need to eat more carrots," etc..yeah right whatever. But after my accident this New Years the boss and friend from work came over to visit and they asked to see what happened to the leg I didn't break, and my boss said "Oh wow man, your all swollen up there too." pointing to the lower part of the quad muscle. Then he gets a funny look on his face saying "Oh, wait a miniute, that's just you isn't it?" gotta love it.

I used to get pestered about being too skinny but for whatever reason it stopped a bit ago. The thing is that I am not all that skinny, 5'9" 160lbs at the end of summer.
However, my wife's family all weigh in the 200-300lbs range and it is not muscle. I look like a toothpick standing next to them. Heck, my younger sister in-law is about a foot shorter than me and around 200lbs. That is what having a naturally slow metabolism, not exercising, and eating 100% fast food will do to you. Then there is my 250lbs older sister in-law who likes to admire me in cycling clothes and scares the living crap out of me. I've taken to changing before picking up my son after a ride.

+1


...ask them why they are so "thirsty" and then ask if they need a glass of "Haterade".

My parents make a comment every time they see me. Every single time. Or they pull my wife aside and ask her if I'm 'eating, at all?!' My mother is Italian & loves to cook. Unless you stuff yourself into a coma at every meal, you're dieting.

As far as friends & co-workers, I got lots of compliments after losing 10 pds. After 15 pds, the 'wow, you're REALLY skinny!" comments began. Then, after 20 pds, I got "um, are you.... /whispers .... SICK?!" comments...

I'm 6'+, 165, so I'm not emaciated by any stretch of the imagination. After the 100th comment I stopped worrying about it. The cool thing is lots of people asked me how I dropped the weight & then get interested in cycling.

Your friends most likely have issues with their own self-image, so they choose to point out what they think is "wrong" with you.

If you feel good and your body performs the way you want it to, then you're good.

+1000

The only people who harp on me being too skinny and how I am unhealthy thin are those who are obese.

Yeah, I agree with Dr. Pete. My mother in-law always has something to say about me - always. Last thing was about my weight. Or lack of weight. She struggles with her weight all the time and I think she hates anyone not feeling sour about themselves like she does.

My wife picks on me lovingly about it. I told her what my goal was this year and she told me that she thought I was going to be too skinny, but she accepts it. She knows where I'm going with cycling, what my goals are, and understands the cyclist's physique from watching the Tour with me.


One thing though, is to wear clothes that fit. Guys my height but skinnier never look scrawny because they wear the proper clothes. My clothes hang off of me know. I'm slowly getting into mediums but most of my wardrobe is XL because I use to be a muscular "beefcake." ;)

Better skinny than fat.

My Dad, people at work, etc. But, on the other hand, the best complement I ever got was from my married daughter. She was watching the TDF with me last year and she said "Dad, those guys all look like YOU." :D BTW, she is 5'11" and weighs about 125.

Just ask them how the diabetes is going or what blood pressure medication they are using these days. Or show off your Thighs of Cypress.

Seriously, they'll get used to your new body and it won't be an issue.

Remember, you aren't skinny; you are lean. A lean, mean, cycling machine.

(5'8", 155lbs. wanting to be 145lbs.)

Pretty common. I am an older long time cyclist and two years ago I started to log big miles and my weight really dropped. I got down to 178 lbs...I'm 6'1" and remarks really started to fly from family.
Don't lose any more weight! was the general comment. I of course considered the source as each and every one of them is minimally 30 lbs overweight. Americans by and large are disgustingly fat. Speaking of same, I am now at 195 lbs and about the heaviest I have ever been. I have never had anything remotely like a weight issue. My current weight is simply the outgrowth of no cardio over the winter.
The weight will come off with the miles. But consider the source of your comments if you wish to take them seriously. Compared to "their norm" which is likely quite fat, you probably do look skinny.
The important thing to learn about body image is, it is almost impossible to ever be objective about your own. Keep in mind that the bubbleheads that take steroids and push big iron in the gym don't think they are big enough whereas most of the population thinks they look a bit scarey.
George

Just invite them out on a ride.

Seems to me that health is dependent on body build. To me you are thin. But, that doesn't mean unhealthy. I, on the other hand, would be ill if I was your weight. I've got that football player (which I was) build. In shape I'm 5'10 and 175 lbs. If I got down below that I'd be looking bad and probably would feel weak. Well. back to my quest to lose 15 lbs. :)

My mom and grandmother tell me I'm skinny. I'm 6'1 and 175-180 with very little fat.
I used to work with a girl who told me she liked men with meat on their bones. I told her the meat was on the bone, but the fat had been trimmed.:D

Of course, she was about 50 pounds overweight....on a light day.

+1

I don't let people off the hook either. Sometimes, when they see me eating as much as I do, as thin as I am, and make a comment about how I'm "lucky" I can eat whatever I want because I ride.

B.S! I work HARD to stay where I am. If they went out and suffered at lunch as much as I do, instead of driving to Wendy's or the local TexMex shack, they wouldn't call me "lucky."

I always call people out when they make these comments. This cycling may be fun, but it's damned hard work to get and stay fit. If it were easy, all cyclists would be skinny.