Weight Loss?

[jonny jeez]

Entirely normal, known as "plateauing".

All you have done by introducing exercise to your diet is shift the net calorie intake downwards.

Now the calories you burn in any activity are more or less proportional to your weight. So your weight drops until it matches that that can be supported by your new net calorie intake.

An obese person for example will burn many calories per hour simply walking. This is why on many of these fitness programs on TV, initial weight loss can be extremely dramatic (simply because the weight takes so many calories to maintain), but usually those last few stone are a real struggle.

Sadly, very few people who have weight management issues ever achieve a genuinely "lean" physique. (which is me snookered for a start).

Right , I get it, so in the "world of Jonny" what I'm hearing is that i'm soo supremley fit already (and athletic and obviously handsome) that I need to work harder than all of you other mortals just to loose a tiny amount weight.

Wish I was obese, it would be soooo much easier...I'm off to the cake shop!

Thanks 2wheels, that's a really positive spin... I feel so much beter now...must remember to try that out on Mrs Jeez sometime

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

always had one, it took over my life for a bit (started moving its clothes in and redecorating)!

Now try to ignore it on the whole as the difference between 17mph and 19mph reflects as about 5-10 minutes reduction in journey time...whats the point in "pushing hard" just for that, its barely enough time to make a cup of tea!

Maybe thats the attitude i need to "adjust"

This might be your problem, you're becoming lazy.

Speaking as an expert in the whole "lazy" thing, I find that trying to beat yesterday's time (even by a few seconds) is a good way of getting round the whole "same speed for less effort" issue raised earlier in the thread. If I don't do that, I'm sitting back watching the leaves on the trees change colour.

So jonny, let that computer put its toothbrush next to yours, give it space in the bathroom cabinet and let it into your life. Embrace it.

 

[jonny jeez]

This might be your problem, you're becoming lazy.

I'm feelin you there Jimboalee.....just need to get on with it I guess

 

[jonny jeez]

So jonny, let that computer put its toothbrush next to yours, give it space in the bathroom cabinet and let it into your life. Embrace it.

see the computer...BE THE COMPUTER! Hup one...Hup two.....pffft...I'm knackerd already.

 

[jimboalee]

Give yourself something to aim for.

Idea 1, which worked for me.

Every TEN miles ridden WITHOUT 'food reward', put £1 in a big bottle.

Ten miles should be about 500 calories, so after 70 miles ( continuous or not ) you've got rid of 1lb. After 5000 miles, start thinking of that new bike.

 

[jonny jeez]

Give yourself something to aim for.

Idea 1, which worked for me.

Every TEN miles ridden WITHOUT 'food reward', put £1 in a big bottle.

Ten miles should be about 500 calories, so after 70 miles ( continuous or not ) you've got rid of 1lb. After 5000 miles, start thinking of that new bike.

Truly, and joshing apart...its not about weight loss, its just that weight loss is an immediate and visual indicator to me that this cycling lark is having a positive effect.

and i was kinda hoping for a bigger impact. I honestly think i just need to be more regular, some weeks I only manage two days, some i do all 5. I should aim for a steady 3 or 4 and see how that goes.

by the way, if i paid a pound every 10 miles I'd be about £20 a week down, I could take the car for that!!

 

[Wheeledweenie]

I've lost a stone and a half in a year and a half. The first stone dropped off really quickly, I plateaued (?) for ages, then a bit more came off.

What was interesting is that throughout I've been told how much thinner I look. It's all about weight distribution. Muscle weighs more than fat so it's natural to hit a point where the extra muscle cancels out the loss of fat. My shape's completely different even though I've not lost that much more weight.

Also look at WHAT you're eating as well as how much and WHEN you're eating it. I eat a lot but although I like my chocolate my diet involves a lot of veg and healthier versions of potentially naughty things (I eat proper brown bread for example instead of white).

Snack on stuff as you go along if you're doing very long rides, don't leave it so that you're starving hungry and stuffing your face late at night. I tend to eat something smallish 20mins before I leave so I have lots of energy and am not too hungry when I get home.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

It wasn't until I added swimming and a bit of gym work into the cycling mix that I lost more weight - down 3.5 stone in four years, and back into my 32" troos, although that's crept up half a stone but I think that's the muscle weight equation, the waistband's not increased (thighs have!).

No naughty food or booze in the week, only on the weekend and then not to extravagant levels. It's difficult at work to watch your collegues stuffing their faces with choc, crisps and bicuits all day but one look at their expanding tums is all that's needed if motivation is lacking!

 

[BrumJim]

How about looking elsewhere for support? Like measuring your thigh diameter, or doing a photo-journal on your calves? My VMO's make my wife weep with jealousy, and I swear that they are mainly due to cycling.

I have found that my wasteline isn't doing too much, no matter how much I cycle, but that's middle age for you...

 

[PK99]

Using the muscle-turning-to-fat excuse is also a good way of justifying the lack of weight loss.

.

Since getting a road bike upping my cycling from circa 150miles per month to 500+miles per month 18 months or so ago, I initially lost 3-4kg then stabilized BUT progressivley brought out form the back of the wardrobe trousers i had not been able to get into for years, at the same time leg muscle has noticeably increased. I'm hoping the next phase will be to take off some belly blubber.

 

[CharlesF]

Since I started cycling again, my weight has remained about the same but I feel much better, trouser size has gone from 36" tight to 34" loose so I am not too concerned about what I weigh. We will see if cycling PfS with my super fit son will be easier this year - then I will know I am fitter!

 

[Banjo]

When I started cycling seriously about 6 months ago the weight came off quickly at around 2 or 3 pounds a week for the first two stone then it slowed to about 1 lb/week now its less than that .

Not complaining though as I have lost neartly 3 stone blood pressure is now good as is colestrol(both slightly high before).

I would like to shift another stone but think that would involve self dicipline with wine ,cakes and bacon sandwiches .At the moment I just dont feel up to facing that challenge :-)

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

When I started cycling seriously about 6 months ago the weight came off quickly at around 2 or 3 pounds a week for the first two stone then it slowed to about 1 lb/week now its less than that .

Not complaining though as I have lost neartly 3 stone blood pressure is now good as is colestrol(both slightly high before).

I would like to shift another stone but think that would involve self dicipline with wine ,cakes and bacon sandwiches .At the moment I just dont feel up to facing that challenge :-)

Nice one Banjo!! That's the key thing isn't it: general health improvements. I've not lost a huge amount of weight, but I have lost inches off my gut, changed my body shape a bit, improved my lung efficiency (as measured at last asthma check), blood pressure, resting heart rate, not had a day off sick since I've been cycling to work regularly, etc etc

And I feel your lack of discipline. Add beer, and you've listed my weaknesss too!

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Some interesting replies, it may explain why my weight loss has slowed down a bit, but today I changed my route from flat to a more hilly one so hopefully that will get me going again.

 

[Sittingduck]

I waved a cheery goodbye to 2 stones of duck blubber within the first 6 months then the weight loss ground to a halt. I have increased my speed, distance (on NON commuting rides) etc but my spider senses tell me that it's the Dominos on speed-dial that's halted progress