Do you require fewer calories as you get fitter?

[ColinJ]

You've all missed it.

It's AGE. Fitter or not, as you age you tend to put weight on easier. Just harder to keep it off. Anyone over 30 look out.

I don't know how much of that is inevitable. I think a lot of it is due to the fact that people tend to become less active as they get older.

It's the same for fitness - people used to talk about an inevitable steep decline beyond 35-40 but there are plenty of people showing that the decline need not be anywhere near that steep if you work hard to stay fit. Obviously a good 25 year old rider will beat a good 65 year old but a great 65 year old would possibly beat a good 25 year old!

There are some riders in their 70s who go under the hour for a 25 mile TT, something which many of us will never achieve at any age!

 

[fossyant]

I know from personal experience, it's been harder to keep the weight off since I was 30. It's come back down again since my late 30's but I quickly yoyo back up a few kg's - I know having 12 days off the bike over Easter, eating and drinking has piled a few kg's on. It will be off though within the month, just in time for another two weeks eating and drinking. Oh well.

 

[ColinJ]

I suppose it is easier to hold on to muscle mass when you have a young man's testosterone level! With more muscle, you'd naturally be burning more energy and so would keep weight off more easily.

I still think that if an older man like me worked hard enough to keep the muscles though, then the weight would be easy to keep off. I can put on weight quickly, but if I could be bothered to make the effort, I could lose 2-3 pounds a week.

Ah - I am agreeing with you! As we age, we will lose muscle unless we work at not losing it, and if we do lose muscle mass then our metabolisms slow and we pile on the fat.

 

[VamP]

It definitely gets harder to get trim when you get older. I used to get to my racing weight just by training - no dieting limitations - in my twenties. Now, in the forties, I have to watch what I eat like a hawk.

I don't think my muscle mass is any different now, than it was in my twenties though. I just think my metabolism has slowed up, and my energy conversion efficiency has improved.

Wait, I have a new theory, I enjoy food a lot more now than I did back then

 

[HLaB]

So far I'm bucking the age/weight thing. I was never heavy but when I left school, 20years ago I was 11&1/2 stone, when I was living in Ireland about 10 years later (drinking more) my peak was somewhere around 10&1/2 stone and now in my mid 30's I weigh 9&1/2 to 10stone (I'm far more active).

 

[fossyant]

So far I'm bucking the age/weight thing. I was never heavy but when I left school, 20years ago I was 11&1/2 stone, when I was living in Ireland about 10 years later (drinking more) my peak was somewhere around 10&1/2 stone and now in my mid 30's I weigh 9&1/2 to 10stone (I'm far more active).

No you are a bean pole !

 

[srw]

So far I'm bucking the age/weight thing. I was never heavy but when I left school, 20years ago I was 11&1/2 stone, when I was living in Ireland about 10 years later (drinking more) my peak was somewhere around 10&1/2 stone and now in my mid 30's I weigh 9&1/2 to 10stone (I'm far more active).

Some people get on your wick...

I am currently, at the age of late youth (make of that what you will) the lightest I have ever been as an adult. When I got married, 19 years ago, I lost about a stone to get to the weight I am now (see signature).

 

[Andrew_Culture]

My appetite has certainly risen since I've started the very feeble six miles to work and back each day, but I've also cut out a lot of questionable foods. My brother in law is a fast marathon runner goes at food like the government are going to start taxing it, er, 'more'.

 

[smutchin]

the fatter you are the higher your BMR (by about 250kCal in your 12 stone/15 stone example).

True, but AIUI a 15 stone slob will have a lower BMR than a 15 stone bodybuilder.

d.