Hi! I am fairly new to cycling. I got into it when i started riding my bike (lost access to a car) and i found it so fun I started riding for the fun of it! Anyway, my problem is this. I'm losing weight because of cycling, and I really don't need to - I have lost 8lbs in the last month and now weigh only 105lbs (5'7"). And i only ride about 20km per day, really not that much (compared to a lot of you guys). How do you long-distance riders keep weight on? At this rate, I'm gonna disappear soon, and I'd appreciate any suggestions to prevent that! thanks in advance!

You need to start eating a lot of healthy proteins, fats, and carbs in about a 40% Protein, 30% Carb and Fat ratios. Do not neglect the veggies either.

I guess I should have been more descriptive... i do eat healthy. I eat fruit, some veggies, meat, cheese, yogurt, oatmeal, bread, and chocolate. but it isn't helping... and for the record i am allergic to nuts of all types, which is a shame because i know they are healthy and fattening.

Hmmm, you may want to talk to a dietitian. Make sure you've enough dose of proteins, carbs and fats in appropriate proportion every day. Try to shoot for 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight every day.

Weight loss is a concern only if you're losing muscle mass.

come over to the Clydesdale section we have enough weight for you to take Kinda nice seeing someone wanting to gain weight

Your body is not immune to the laws of physics. If you consume more calories than you burn, you'll put on weight.

As others have suggested, try to eat a bit more, especially protein.

If you're still not gaining weight, consult with a physician. You may have an underlying medical condition, or (more likely) you may have an eating disorder.

i seriously don't have an eating disorder. this is what i usually eat in a day:
oatmeal with whole milk and maple syrup
juice
orange

full-fat yogurt

turkey sandwich with mayo
pudding
juice

something for dinner... depends, but a good portion, with whole milk

some kind of full-fat dessert.

I hear the comments about the dietitian, but it is hard to get to see one here (takes months) and i was wondering if i could find any more immediate suggestions.....

A lot of new riders find that they loose weight fairly rapidly when first starting. It generally stabilizes once you've reached a point where your riding, base muscle development and diet all start to even out.

Just think, when we're all struggling on the hills, your superior power to weight ratio will have you flying past us. After all, the thinner is the winner when it comes to kings and queens of the mountain! (Well, most of the time, anyway.)

Regardless of what you think about whether or not you have an eating disorder, at 5' 7" and 105 lbs, your Body Mass Index is 16.4. A Body Mass Index that low is in the "Extremely Underweight" category, and is the level at which anorexics typically present for treatment.

You really should see a physician, and not ask anonymous know-nothings on the internet about a subject which could be a matter of life and death for you.

BTW - do you menstruate regularly? At your BMI, I would suspect not....which would be another warning sign.

Please get a clue...with a BMI of 16.4, the OP probably lacks sufficient muscle mass to go flying up any hills.

The strongest women cyclists are generally not "stick figures".

Humor, my friend. Humor. Try to laugh once in a while.

Same principle for weight loss applies to weight gain.

Count calories, all day every day. Get in the habit of doing it, and soon you'll have a good feel for how much you should be eating daily. If you wanted to lose weight, you'd do it @ 1-2 lbs per week to be healthy. Same applies to gaining. Which means 500-700 of POSITIVE calories every day. If you're guessing on what you're taking in or expending, then you're probably falling short. If you're afraid to "overeat" to maintain/gain weight, you're probably not going to eat enough and you are going to continue losing weight, and your body will eat itself away.

See a nutritionist, analyze your diet, and count calories - all of them, and eat more. As said before, your body can't defy the laws of physics. If you eat more than you expend, you will gain weight. Then it's just a matter of making sure it's good protein, good carbs, and healthy fats.

If you can't convince yourself that you need to do this, you should see a physician.

Agreed...it's been a tough week for me. I put in about 60 hours at my day job, with 3 nights working past midnight (including one 16.5 hour day in which I worked till 3:15 am). With nearly no exercise, and no enough sleep, I was a bit spaced and grumpy (thankfully, I got over 8 hours sleep last night, and I'm about to head out for a run in just a minute).


That said, I've previously exchanged posts with women who were in denial about their weight issues, and that later turned out to have eating disorders. I suspect that posting "questions" about weight is sometimes a subtle cry for help, and I tend to get a bit "in your face" when I think it might help the OP to recognize a problem. The OP fits that pattern, and her current weight/height (and recent weight loss) should definitely be checked out by a professional ASAP.

oh my. has our society gotten to the point that every time a person has a very fast metabolism they have "an eating disorder?" I have no problem upping my calories... i have been trying, in fact, with this thing called "muscle milk". but unfortunately, the space in my stomach is finite and it is quite filling. Does anyone know of a supplement or something that adds calories without filling you up too much? besides juice? because i've been drinking a ton and it is starting to make me sick.

sorry, i forgot... I did make an appointment to see my doctor - the earliest i could get in was November 21st. welcome to canada.

Well, I don't want to be too alarmist, but your current weight vs. height is at the far, far end of the spectrum. At 105 lbs, you weigh less than 99% of other 5' 7" women.

BTW - you didn't answer my question about menstruation. Are you regular?

PROTIEN SHAKES three times a day

yes. i am regular. I am just skinny... always have been. and i do have a very small frame. i've never been unhealthy... just a bit underweight, and i really can ill afford to be lighter.

I think 20km is about 400-500 calories burned, so drink/eat 4 cans of soda or 4 cans of beer, or bar of chocolate or half of bag of chips or bag of microwave popcorn, or 2 bananas or whatever you like.

I wouldn't worry too much about your weight unless you can see bones sticking out.

That list looks similar to my diet plan, breakfast: cereal or eggs and toast, lunch: 1 sandwich, dinner: 1 portion full plate meal... noticed you don't eat any junkfood. If I limit my junkfood calories to under 300 calories per day I lose between 5-10 pounds per month with that diet and I really need to lose some pounds... so either increase your portion or start eating those empty junkfood calories.

Yes, but most junk food has more than just extra calories, like saturated fat. Eating bad food isn't the answer. Eating more, or different good food is the way to go.

I like the idea of protein shakes and peanut butter sandwiches.

protien shakes it is. and soy nut butter sandwiches, because sadly, i am allergic to peanuts

Sasha_44, my housemate is 5'10" and has also been struggling with maintaining her weight since she took up cycling. Are you allergic to avocado? It's an excellent "plant fat". Another thing you can do is get some extra virgin olive oil, and if the flavor of the dish is appropriate, just put a couple tablespoons of it into your dinner. Works really well with tomato based dishes/sauces and bean dips and spreads. You might also consider having hard boiled eggs ready to eat in the fridge.

thanks... those are great ideas. I love avocado, and i always forget about it. and i have never tried olive oil, but i will! thanks for the suggestions.

Sasha, Have you tried wieght training? With the right trainer you could put on some extra lean mass. I have a friend that started at 5'5"... 100.5lb and strarted lifting and gained 15lbs... She is natrually skinny and she was also a long distance runner at the time. I did notice what you ate and she definatley eats more. Even before the wieght gain. She still lifts and has kept the added weight on all while running, swimming and riding. I hope this helps and Good luck.