Getting smaller but weighing more...

[RoadRaven]

Hi y'all

I discovered something interesting yesterday... I weigh more than I did 10 months ago... but I am two dress sizes smaller....

Infact, I weigh a whole stone more!!!

Now, I know fat weighs more than muscle, and I expected not to lose any weight initially as I began to get fitter and drop fat but build muscle.

I don't have scales to weigh myself in the house and have always known my size by the way I fit my clothes...

But a whole stone (btw, I am 5'10") more even though I have changed shape?

Anyone else had this?
I just expected to be a little lighter by now... how am I supposed to get better on hills if I put ON weight!!!

GRRRR!!!!

[caligurl]

actually..... you have it backwards... muscle weighs more than fat... thus your smaller size but heavier weight!

[jeannierides]

Actually, this is a misnomer. :eek: A pound is a pound is a pound (or a stone is a stone, if you will). Muscle is more effective in burning calories and muscle defines your shape...it also can hold more water...so the extra weight is not due to the muscle, but most probably the water. ;)
But congratulations on your great new shape!! :)

[Dogmama]

Just think - you'll bomb DOWN the hills!

[latelatebloomer]

Raven, I know, it's a shocker! I stay off the scale entirely now - only hear the number if I go to the doctor's office. I judge by how I feel and how my clothing fits (or doesn't.) I tell myself at some point, I'm gonna reach a magic point in the equation - the strong muscles + increased fitness = longer, faster rides = fat melting away = revealing the buff amazon I really am now.

An idea is visiting me now & then, an article or book about my fitness journey. Working title : Melting the Iceberg

There would have to be a big chapter on "NUMBERS."

Sincere question, RR - Are you worse or better on hills than you were 10 months ago?

[DeniseGoldberg]

Actually, this is a misnomer. :eek: A pound is a pound is a pound (or a stone is a stone, if you will).

Jeannie is absolutely right, of course. A pound of muscle is exactly the same as a pound of fat. But where the belief that muscle is heavier than fat came from is based on volume. At equal volumes, muscle is heavier. So if you have a cup (yeah, I know, you can't but body components in cups!) of muscle, it will weigh more than a cup of fat...

--- Denise

[Lise]

I've had the same experience--my weight varies between 146.5# (the week after the marathon) to 152#. Lately more like 148-150. (yes, I get on the scale waaay too often). But my clothes fit differently, better, and I've had to get rid of all my size 12's and larges. Never thought I'd fit into an 8. It is great to see muscles on my body. I'm more proud of that than any clothing size change. (not that I'm complaining about new clothes, mind you!)

Now, the burning question, how much is a stone in pounds?

Hopelessly Americanly yours,

Lise :rolleyes:

[kiwi girl]

According to the table of conversion factors in the front of my diary a stone is 14 pounds.

[Lise]

Thank you! I wonder how that standard got established. And how Americans came to use lbs instead of stone. And why the sky is blue... :p

Come to think of it, our dachshund of blessed memory, Schatzi, must have weighed about one stone!

[wabisabi]

I used to fret that I weight seemingly a lot for not being very big, but then just decided to give up any attachment to weight being a measure of anything. It just isn't. Matter of fact, when I had foot surgery a while back and couldn't exercise as much, I actually lost weight, i.e., muscle.

[CR400]

I hear that about gaining weight. If I were not actively trying to drop weight by cutting calories I would be getting heavier. I have to keep telling myself that muscle weight is worth it. Think about it wouldn't you rather be a stone heavier and able to use more watts on a climb and in the flats or be lighter on hills and get burned on flats because you don't have the muscle you need to generate power. If I remember right you were into ITT here it is better to be a little heavier and have greater power, except if the TT is uphill.

[ACG]

I recommend taking your measurements and keeping it in a journal.

I took my measurements this weekend, I lost almost an inch off my hips, 1/2 inch off my thighs, 1/2 inch off my arms, 1/4 inch from my waist AND my weight did NOT change. The last measurement I took was about 6 weeks ago. So I'm feeling pretty good right now.

[RoadRaven]

Garrgh!!
I'm such a dork... major typo... I know that fat weighs less than muscle... and it has been too many days since I last popped in so I can't "edit" my first post so it makes more sense to anyone who chooses to read this!

Anyways, its interesting to read the responses, particularly LateLate and Lise... so I am not alone... I just espected to be becoming this lean athelete... and I really seem to be getting there very slowly. I know this is the best way to change your shape/alter your metabolism... but I IS GETTING IMPASHINS!!!

Lise, pounds are part of a stone (like grams are part of a kilogram). Its funny cause I work in both imperial and metric. Distances and speeds are always in kilometres... weight is usually in imperial (I know all my babies' weights in pounds/ounces but do my cooking in grams...) ... length is a combination (height in feet/inches but sewing in centimetres and metres)
I was part way through school when Aotaroa New Zealand changed from imperial to metric...

I know a pound of fat weighs as much as a pound of muscle (LOL, used to get my kids with that - what weighs more... a kilo of feathers or a kilo of stones?)... sorry I was being unclear... I was referring to weight in relation to volume... thanks for the heads up on that too.

Anyways, here's to chucking out the scales (well, I'll have to toss out my parent's ones!) and stop worrying about weight. I've said it often enough on this forum. Time to take my own advice I guess! :p

[RoadRaven]

Sincere question, RR - Are you worse or better on hills than you were 10 months ago?

Um... *shuffles feet a little* ...yep...

My partner asked me the same thing when I moaned to him...

Yup, I am, a lot better... I no longer have to stop (and one of the hills to get home is about 11%) and I have been learning to stand and these last couple of weeks I am mastering standing on medium grades.

[RoadRaven]

If I remember right you were into ITT here it is better to be a little heavier and have greater power, except if the TT is uphill.

Yeah... thats my understanding too... on a TT (flattish of course ;) ) the weight is not a disadvantage... so I guess it is good that I want to (and am) focus/ing on TTs... But I do want to climb hills well too...

*stamps feet*
I WANT IT ALL!!!!
:p

[RoadRaven]

I recommend taking your measurements and keeping it in a journal.

I took my measurements this weekend, I lost almost an inch off my hips, 1/2 inch off my thighs, 1/2 inch off my arms, 1/4 inch from my waist AND my weight did NOT change. The last measurement I took was about 6 weeks ago. So I'm feeling pretty good right now.




I did do this about two years ago, but I wasn't exercising (aerobically) as much, and there didn't seem to be much change.
maybe its time to do it again... Thanks for the reminder ACG

[Lise]

Lise, pounds are part of a stone (like grams are part of a kilogram).
Wow! Who knew? (Well, you did) When I was in grade school, in the 60s, they kept telling us we'd be going metric...any...minute...now.... Nope, never happened. Except it did, sort of. In my world of health care, metric is what we use, mostly, except when we're using imperial. Argh, what a mess. I just picture the ancestors piling up 14 rocks and saying, "That's one stone. And each rock is...um, a pound." And here we are!

Glad to hear you've got more power! I hang out with friends ranging from 24 to 48 yr old, and we play volleyball every Thursday. We've done triathlons together, and I ran a 1/2 marathon with the 24 year old. She gripes all the time about her weight. I realized that I care a lot more about how strong and muscular I am. If I lose weight, nice, cuz I was a fat kid. But if I don't, and I can have an incredibly athletic summer like I just had, whoo-hoo! My friend is still in the death-grip of the fashion message about weight. I finally don't care! :p

Lise

[CR400]

Yeah, I have to admit that I want it all as far as cycling is considered. I want to climb faster then everyone I know, even those a lot lighter then me. Be faster then the hammerhead guys I try to ride with. My goal is to be the best all around cyclist I can be.

I also get upset when people tell my how much better I am then I was last year. All I can think about is how far I have to go. And it upsets me that even though I have lost a lot of weight (70+) I'm still 168 and its not enough. I mean yeah sure I can out climb all the 90 to 120 pound women I try to race against, in my dreams. I guess I'll have to settle for TT and Crits even though I don't want to. Very hard to find a flat RR.

[Bustertb]

Just think - you'll bomb DOWN the hills!

:D ROFL :D

[latelatebloomer]

Women, we have GOT to stop beating ourselves up for what we haven't accomplished yet and learn to value what we have accomplished!!! I put myself down so hard for not losing weight faster/changing my appearance more almost on a daily basis. That's just not right, because I have really turned my life around and have come so far. In April of 2005, I could only ride a suffering 3 miles, and I just did a hilly 20 and felt great after. Part of it comes from the media stuff, part of it comes from the attitudes of people who can only see one body type as being fit/attractive. But the largest part of it is my own long years of practice at putting myself down and focusing on my negatives.

And I'm wondering, as I learn a little more about stress/cortisol levels/ fat, if my habit of doing this to myself is slowing my whole healing/reshaping process. Does anyone else have any thoughts and knowledge about this?

Raven, I cheered out loud when you wrote that you are better on the hills (my husband thought I won money or something.)That is really something to celebrate!!!! :D :D :D

[RoadRaven]

If I lose weight, nice, cuz I was a fat kid. But if I don't, and I can have an incredibly athletic summer like I just had, whoo-hoo! My friend is still in the death-grip of the fashion message about weight. I finally don't care! :p
Lise

More power to you, my friend

I love to read/hear comments like this from women!!!

[Trekhawk]

Women, we have GOT to stop beating ourselves up for what we haven't accomplished yet and learn to value what we have accomplished!!! I put myself down so hard for not losing weight faster/changing my appearance more almost on a daily basis. That's just not right, because I have really turned my life around and have come so far. In April of 2005, I could only ride a suffering 3 miles, and I just did a hilly 20 and felt great after. Part of it comes from the media stuff, part of it comes from the attitudes of people who can only see one body type as being fit/attractive. But the largest part of it is my own long years of practice at putting myself down and focusing on my negatives
And I'm wondering, as I learn a little more about stress/cortisol levels/ fat, if my habit of doing this to myself is slowing my whole healing/reshaping process. Does anyone else have any thoughts and knowledge about this?
Raven, I cheered out loud when you wrote that you are better on the hills (my husband thought I won money or something.)That is really something to celebrate!!!! :D :D :D

Im with LateLate - we should always find time to think over what we have accomplished and not just fixate on what we haven't. Im pretty slow on my bike and sometimes I have a bit of a whine about it to my husband and he just says hey I dont know too many other 41 year old women that are out there cycling and giving it their best shot. Six months ago you knew nothing about cycling look how far you have come. Thank goodness for a husband who keeps things in perspective. I say to the ladies of TE WE ROCK. :D

[Dogmama]

I'm reading a book called "Undoing Perpetual Stress" and one of the recommendations is that women quit reading women's magazines. Great suggestion. I don't have the time to work out 4 hours/day nor the money to hire personal trainers and cooks. But I have something lots of the celebs don't - a great husband and home life, satisfying work, close friends and a great bike! Plus, all of my TE sisters. WE ROCK!

[Trekhawk]

I'm reading a book called "Undoing Perpetual Stress" and one of the recommendations is that women quit reading women's magazines. Great suggestion. I don't have the time to work out 4 hours/day nor the money to hire personal trainers and cooks. But I have something lots of the celebs don't - a great husband and home life, satisfying work, close friends and a great bike! Plus, all of my TE sisters. WE ROCK!

Dogmama your book sounds like a good read. I agree with the magazine idea, gave up reading those years ago. Plenty of better things to spend my money on like.....maybe a few things for cycling. :D

But I have something lots of the celebs dont - a great husband and homelife, satisfying work, close friends and a great bike!
And when you have all that my friend you have everything. :)

[CorsairMac]

ROFL - but the thought of measuring my weight in "stones" depresses me! ;) ;)

[Lise]

ROFL - but the thought of measuring my weight in "stones" depresses me! ;) ;)
But what if you could pick the size of the stones yourself? "Yes, I weigh...uh, 9 stone. Yeah. 9. They're right over there. That's how many stones I weigh. I dug them out of the field."

:D L.

[crazycanuck]

Lise...You've just made my morning & I just about choked on my drink..."But what if you could pick the size of
the stones yourself? "Yes, I weigh...uh, 9 stone. Yeah. 9. They're right over there. That's how many stones I weigh. I dug them out of the field."

I like that idea...

Have a good day

c

[latelatebloomer]

Dogmama, I gotta get that book. And get it tatooed all over my body.
I henceforth swear off women's mags. Unless they start putting out Mode again. Can I still read Oprah in the bubblebath? The New Yorker makes the bubbles go flat.

Regarding stone vs. pounds, the stones in my yard vary from massive boulders down to the lemon-sized tiller-breakers, so I can claim any number from 180 to 1/18th. Throw in the variations from the phases of the moon and appearance of crop circles and ..... um, maybe it's time for me to go to bed. I'm getting weird even for me.

g'night, dear unseen friends. :rolleyes:

[Lise]

I henceforth swear off women's mags. Unless they start putting out Mode again... Regarding stone vs. pounds, the stones in my yard vary from massive boulders down to the lemon-sized tiller-breakers, so I can claim any number from 180 to 1/18th. Throw in the variations from the phases of the moon and appearance of crop circles and .....
LLB-you cracked me up. See the advantage of picking your own stones, though? "My weight? 1/18th of a stone. You gotta problem with that?"

I loved Mode mag, too. I also loved Lane Bryant clothes. Now that I'm a size 8-10, they got nothin' for me. I do enjoy Oprah, the mag. I devour Triathlete when it comes in the mail. My problem is remembering, as a mentor said to me, that "accessorizing is not actually training." :rolleyes: Night all, L.

[CorsairMac]

so if we weighed an uneven amount would it be something like:

I weigh 9 stone, 6 pebbles?? :p :p

[latelatebloomer]

I went to a flamenco show last night. One of the many things I love about flamenco is that the women have earthier, mature bodies and express a kind of womanhood that I don't think American women know much about. And sure as shootin', there was a dancer last night that was a bigger woman. She had a beautiful rounded shape, strong arms and shoulders, a touch of plumpness in the best sense of the word. And she was the best dancer. She moved with more power from her core, and I felt that she danced with the best thought in regard to the music. (ug, it's like trying to describe wine.)

And then I had a thought as we were driving back home - how hard that woman (there weren't photos of the troupe with the names, so I cannot call her by name) trains. Every day, almost every night. She is respected in the dance community, enough to be part of a troupe that travels internationally. And she is not thin.

If the Jose Porcel troupe comes to your town, give yourself a treat - and keep an eye out for the blonde dancer. (Oh, and the men are a tasty treat, too.) ;)

[RoadRaven]

LOL ladies, I do like being stones and pebbles, rather than stones, pounds and ounces... most excellent...

LateLate... I know what you mean about size having nothing to do with sexyness and skill in dance - if the dancer knows she has it, she has it...

I went with my ma and daughter recently to see a local production of "Gypsy Rose Lee" and the best thing about it was the five minute slot of various strippers dancing saying stripping wasn't such a bad job. The woman in the viking outfit who was firmly round and abbundantly comfortable with her body was so sexy I was ready to take her home with me.
I finally knew what Freddy was singing about when he sang "...fat bottomed girls you make my rocking world go round..."

[crazycanuck]

The best thing about FBG by queen is the line "get on yer bikes n ride"...Í think i've memorized that song for long hills...

c

[RTP1031]

You ladies got me to thinking... Is it the number on the scale or how you look in your clothes. So, I dug out my old prom dress. I know it's hard to believe that I still have it after 30 years, but it's a stunning red-carpet type evening gown that would be so in style today as a vintage piece. Understand that though I've lost just over 50 pounds to date, I still weigh 20 pounds more than I did back then, according to the scale. And... drum roll please... it actually fits. And a curvy woman will always look better than a teenager. Now I just need to be nominated for an Oscar so I can justify wearing it in public.

I only use that number on the scale to track how my nutrition program is doing. As I look good in my clothes that's all the proof I need that what I'm doing is working.

Lest you think this is just bragging. I am a curvy 46 year old who is finally comfortable with a curvy, strong body, my hubby's pretty happy with it too. By today's impossible standard of size 0 there are probably things my bike togs don't cover. But this body covers the road faster and climbs hills better than a lot of the guys I ride with. Would I trade that to be a "perfect" 0 - not on your life.

[RoadRaven]

You ladies got me to thinking... Is it the number on the scale or how you look in your clothes... I only use that number on the scale to track how my nutrition program is doing. As I look good in my clothes that's all the proof I need that what I'm doing is working.

I judge myself by my clothes... I knew I was changing shape, beacuse my jeans started slipping down when I walked/ran, and I didn't need the "extra" bit in my bra you can buy so your bra does up across your back.

But the weight was such a surprise because I hadn't weighed myself since February, and to hop on some scales and find I had gained weight despite getting smaller was a bit of a suprise/shock.

The only reason it is bugging me is because I have extra to drag up the hills... GRRR



Lest you think this is just bragging. I am a curvy 46 year old who is finally comfortable with a curvy, strong body, my hubby's pretty happy with it too. By today's impossible standard of size 0 there are probably things my bike togs don't cover. But this body covers the road faster and climbs hills better than a lot of the guys I ride with. Would I trade that to be a "perfect" 0 - not on your life.

Most men don't want skinny waifs... they want healthy looking women, they want women who feel soft and comfortable to "snuggle" with (thanks Marge Simpson for your word) - men as a rule do not want hard and bony women...

To quote the late great Frank Zappa "Who wants to ride on an ironing board..."

Size is not a determination of sexy - attitude is
Size is not a determination of healthy - fitness is

More power to us, perfect women in all shapes and sizes...

[RoadRaven]

Well, an update on this for me... I am finally starting to drop some weight - 18 months since I started biking, and this last six weeks have dropped 4kg - yay!!! thats 4kgs I don't have to haul up those nemisis hills that challenge me so often!

[crazybikinchic]

My moto is, I would rather be fat and fit, than skinny and not.

By the way, women's magazines all say your fat, ugly, and unorganized.:D

[SnappyPix]

Size is not a determination of sexy - attitude is
Size is not a determination of healthy - fitness is



RR - Can I borrow this as my mantra?!
And well done on the 4kgs - way to go!

[RoadRaven]

Absolutely Snappy

Thats what womens magazines (ie, woman's weeklies/days, new ideas) should be telling us.

Instead they dish out c**p messages... you too can look like this skinny catwalk model but here's a new recipe for chocolate cake... eat it, because you should feel good about yourself but as soon as you're done stuffing your face you must go on the latest fad diet... GRRRR...

Spread the word, Snap, we have to start a revolution!
Oh, wait a minute... I think we have it started here at TE

More power to us

If attitude is a determinant of sexiness , and fitness is about being healthy, then we have a swathe of sexy fit women right here and we come in all shapes and sizes and we ROCK!

Road - on-her-soapbox- Raven
:p

[HipGnosis6]

you too can look like this skinny catwalk model but here's a new recipe for chocolate cake... eat it, because you should feel good about yourself but as soon as you're done stuffing your face you must go on the latest fad diet... GRRRR...

This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. That's typical in a women's magaine - "WALK OFF WEIGHT" is the headline, but the cover picture is a gigantic gooey cake. Of course these magazines are bad for us. Even worse are the magazines marketed to girls, selling them on ways to look their best and how to attract boys. But let's not be biased - men's magazines are pretty bad too, being filled with girls who are hotter than anything one might find in nature and with expensive toys and cars that nobody can really afford.

I read a lot of fashion magazines by requirement of my schooling. The industry is sick; the average model size used to be size 8, which is still used as a standard for patternmaking. However - most coture houses and fashion companies make their actual sample garments in a size 0 today! All those beautiful gowns being worn by models and actresses, most of them are sample garments that have been loaned out - but they only go to people who can wear the size 0.

I was once asked if I'd like to participate in a plus-size fashion show. The models were all size 10. Size 10! When is a 10 a plus size? I usually need an 18 or a 20, and when I was fit I wore a 14 and weighed 195 pounds (or 14 stone, if you prefer ;-) ).

/rant

[Lise]

Size 10 is "plus size". Ha. It's the size I wear now. I'm wearing clothes smaller than in HS. Yet. When I tried on biking jerseys at the LBS today, I look huge! Why? I have curves. Everywhere. The belly curve is what I'd like to lose, but the breast curves make the jerseys hike up and look wierd...sigh. I'm ok with wearing t-shirts. Just wish they had little zippered pockets on the seams! I may have to put some in...I'll bet that wouldn't be too hard to put a velcro'd pocket on the seam of a t...

[VenusdeVelo]

I really should try that...I fly often and they are the only things that keep me occupied but they subliminally make you feel like cr*p then don't they? But lately I've stuck to More (over 40 crowd), Oprah, Womens Health ... sometimes the models aren't shining examples of reality, but the advice is good.

Lately I was reading in some mag that "Eva Langoria came to the photo shoot, blah blah blah, the designer brought in jeans for her to wear, in a size 24"...a size 24?! Does she eat? :eek: According to most jeans sizing that's a MINUS 2!!!

[SnappyPix]

Every time I see those Desperate(ly thin) Housewives, I want to scream "Eat something!" at the screen.
I read somewhere that Felicity Huffman had battled with bulumia in her younger days (don't know how much of this is true), but thankfully she's over that now ...

[KnottedYet]

I'm in that strange no-woman's-land where my butt/hips are a 14 and my waist is a 10. I have a terrible time trying to find women's pants to fit me!

Weirdest of all is that I can't wear any women's jeans. MENS Levis 560's fit me great! (32waist 32length which must be about a women's 12 or 14) I think the style right now of women's jeans being low and tight is just totally off for my bod, but the men's style of hugely loose in the buns fits me just right. Well, I mean they look low and tight-ish on me...

I was peeking at labels on women at the grocery store, and I was surprised by how many of us "adults" were wearing men's Levis.

My weight hasn't changed, but the little saddlebags at the tops of my hips are shrinking. My jeans fit me better, but i can't go down a size yet.

[Tuckervill]

Im with LateLate - we should always find time to think over what we have accomplished and not just fixate on what we haven't. Im pretty slow on my bike and sometimes I have a bit of a whine about it to my husband and he just says hey I dont know too many other 41 year old women that are out there cycling and giving it their best shot. Six months ago you knew nothing about cycling look how far you have come. Thank goodness for a husband who keeps things in perspective. I say to the ladies of TE WE ROCK.

I picked up a book at Sam's Club the other day that I thought was just great. "Change the way you see everything through asset-based thinking."

And the quote above is exactly what the book is about. Thinking about the things you have instead of the things you haven't; the things you have done instead of the things that you haven't done. The book is a visual treat, as well.

I'm a sucker for motivational books--any time I can get the message in a new way, I'm psyched.

http://www.assetbasedthinking.com/

Karen

[CR400]

What is worse these days is sometimes because the standard is so thin even people who we used to think were tiny start to look fat. I mean this one young lady I know is a 6 but they even make her look fat.

My recent problem besides the mysterious 11 pound weight gain I have gone thourgh since April, it should be noted that this is when my serious outdoor training started, hill, headwinds and all. Is I have to peel my normal sizes off my thighs. The jeans I tried on Friday were worse then taking off my cycling shorts ever are. Mind you I've never been known as a thick thighed woman.

However, whenever I do a race that has lots of climbing I get my butt kicked and likely always will. Never mind I have the strength to get up some of those short steep hills in a 52/15-13.

[KnottedYet]

Tuckervill-

I am absolutely psyched about that book you posted! It talked directly about a problem co-worker (calls me at home to scream at me about how I've ruined her life, and then cries about her ex husband, her kids, and her debts.... for an hour). I've got to go get this book! Fabulous!

[maillotpois]

I'm in that strange no-woman's-land where my butt/hips are a 14 and my waist is a 10. I have a terrible time trying to find women's pants to fit me!


I also have a heck of a time finding pants because my waist is relatively small and my hips - so not! The "boy cut" does not work for me, and pants that fit in the hips have a big gap at the waist. Well, I just found JAG jeans at Nordstrom, even though they're a bit low cut (which I thought I would hate) - they fit like a glove. There's some super stretchy thingy in there - it's like magic!!

[VenusdeVelo]

That's funny, I've always been curvy (just a thinner curve in college 20 yrs ago!) and I used to wear JAG jeans in college alot -- they fit me great. And I haven't worn them in 20ish years I did not know they were still around. Maybe I'll have to check them out!

Another brand that makes nice jeans for curvy women is Joop - it's a german brand. I know they sell them in the US but I am not sure how much they cost there. I have a pair and I do like them alot, esp if you are looking for a jean you can "dress up".

[susiej]

You ladies got me to thinking... Is it the number on the scale or how you look in your clothes. So, I dug out my old prom dress. I know it's hard to believe that I still have it after 30 years, but it's a stunning red-carpet type evening gown that would be so in style today as a vintage piece. Understand that though I've lost just over 50 pounds to date, I still weigh 20 pounds more than I did back then, according to the scale. And... drum roll please... it actually fits. And a curvy woman will always look better than a teenager. Now I just need to be nominated for an Oscar so I can justify wearing it in public.

I only use that number on the scale to track how my nutrition program is doing. As I look good in my clothes that's all the proof I need that what I'm doing is working.

Lest you think this is just bragging. I am a curvy 46 year old who is finally comfortable with a curvy, strong body, my hubby's pretty happy with it too. By today's impossible standard of size 0 there are probably things my bike togs don't cover. But this body covers the road faster and climbs hills better than a lot of the guys I ride with. Would I trade that to be a "perfect" 0 - not on your life.

Hah! Another one to say I weigh 15 pounds more than HS (20 year reunion this Thanksgiving), 20 pounds more than my all-time skinniest, and I'm wearing sizes I have never worn in my life. OK, maybe it's the extra 1/2" Anne Taylor Loft adds to their sizes is part of the cause, but still!

I use the scale to keep me honest. After gestational diabetes and now insulin resistance, I weigh weekly to keep my eating habits good. And I also test my blood sugar after any meal I think will push it high. Ugh, Thai food! My love! My nemesis!

SFBeachdog, why be a perfect 0 when you can be a perfect 10? Or better yet, a perfect 12!

--SJ

[Quillfred]

[QUOTE=CR400] My recent problem besides the mysterious 11 pound weight gain I have gone thourgh since April, it should be noted that this is when my serious outdoor training started, hill, headwinds and all. Is I have to peel my normal sizes off my thighs. The jeans I tried on Friday were worse then taking off my cycling shorts ever are. Mind you I've never been known as a thick thighed woman. QUOTE]

I have notice about a 10 lb. weight gain in the last 4-5 months. Although I commute about 2-3X a week, I am "careful" to have carbs before and after rides. I have hard, expanded muscle but still have the fat over it. :o

I had a false sense of security in regards to eating. I though I'd burn it all off and realized I have been much more liberal in portions too. Live and learn I guess.

[RoadRaven]

My recent problem besides the mysterious 11 pound weight gain I have gone thourgh since April



I have notice about a 10 lb. weight gain in the last 4-5 months.

I don't know if I gained weight in the first year of cycling, cause I weighed myself one summer, and didn't hop in scales again til the following summer.
But as I said earlier, it was over a year before I actually started losing weight, although my body shape was changing.

So good to hear not all of us live by what scales say, but by what our bodies can do and how our clothes fit.
I certainly understand the use of scales to help manage a condition (like diabetes) but we must be so careful not to let scales rule our thoughts.