Plateauing cycling stamina=less calories burned?

Wonder if it's been shown:

If a person cycles at a moderate pace for a mid-distance which was initially more of a physical challenge but no longer is due to daily practice, if that translates for the body, as burning less calories?

Would the body become more efficient in burning calories when it "plateaus" at a certain workout level, if the body is not pushed abit more to be challenged?

I'm cycling 42-45 kms. daily for the past few weeks. Only on weekends, I might do a ride that is longer.

No, I do not want to spend more time cycling more each day. Life is not all cycling. :o

I have to think that is true. For a beginner, riding 5 miles at 15 mph is a really hard, stressful aerobic activity. For Lance, he could do it without getting his heart rate above resting.

Wonder if any scientific studies have been done on calorie burning and body fitness plateauing.

I'm not sure if there are studies that answer your exact question. I do know that intervals are a great way to jump start weight loss without spending hours on the bike or in the gym.

If your concern is that you want to burn more calories but you don't want to ride longer, how about riding the same distance at a faster pace?

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Originally Posted by ny biker

If your concern is that you want to burn more calories but you don't want to ride longer, how about riding the same distance at a faster pace?

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For a ride that I am doing voluntarily at that distance on my own, I tend not to hammer all the way. Only in short pieces along the way. It's not a huge concern about plateauing since I did discover this past weekend, this amount of daily riding has given me more stamina/endurance than I thought for longer rides on weekends.

I eat well but at better times of the day which probably is making body even more healthier. And yes, I have lost a bit of weight.

Still, it would be nice to know of some scientific studies how a body plateaus with a certain amount of consistent exercise and its impact on metabolism.

I'm not sure if this will answer your question, but you might find it interesting.

http://www.hotexercise.com/the-effec...many-calories/

After reading it, it looks like as long as you are the same weight and have the same muscle mass, you'll be burning the same calories riding the same distance at the same pace.

I'd be interested in knowing if you are plateauing, and things are easier while exercising, if your metabolism has increased and you're burning more calories when at rest?

There have been numerous studies about how your body can 'adjust' (that's not the word I really want, but it'll do for now) to certain activities, become more efficient and therefore get less of a benefit from those activities. This is why weight lifters have to change up their routines every 16 weeks or so and why there is such a huge trend towards periodization in so many sports.

I don't know that there are any cycling specific studies (there may be), but I would bet that you could find lots of examples for other sports if you searched under the words 'fitness plateau' and/or 'training plateau'.

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Originally Posted by redrhodie

I'd be interested in knowing if you are plateauing, and things are easier while exercising, if your metabolism has increased and you're burning more calories when at rest?

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Guess I'll never know accurately to answer your question. But for the last 4 months, I'm eating supper approx. 4:30-6:30 pm ..instead of after 7:30-8:30 pm when I used to have my super long work commute. I'm snacking throughout the day after I cycle early morning, on whatever is available: fruit, dried figs, raisins small slices of bread (I shouldn't probably), cups of tea with milk. Guess that includes a coffee & biscotti (or similar) after the ride. So I'm actually eating abit more.

But I continue to only have white rice and heavier pastas occasionally.

So I've lost about 4 lbs. which usually is winter insulation. :)

My metabolism has probably changed a great deal compared to 25 years ago when I was not cycling at all and underweight, yet at that time this is how I ate:

2 bowls of white rice for dinner, 4-5 times per week
but very few desserts/sweets (unlike now)
twice as much more meat on weekly basis
bread was 50% less than now
I did atrocious things..ie. not eating breakfast except drinking milk.
But I did walk often since I had to use public transit..because at that time, I was car-free also.

I do feel now (in perimenopause), I have to exert twice as much physical exercise/activity to keep weight reasonable.

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

There have been numerous studies about how your body can 'adjust' (that's not the word I really want, but it'll do for now) to certain activities, become more efficient and therefore get less of a benefit from those activities. This is why weight lifters have to change up their routines every 16 weeks or so and why there is such a huge trend towards periodization in so many sports.

I don't know that there are any cycling specific studies (there may be), but I would bet that you could find lots of examples for other sports if you searched under the words 'fitness plateau' and/or 'training plateau'.

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Yep, this is a fact. I can't find my personal trainer manual to give you an exact quote--but the body adapts. The heart becomes more efficient, the muscles become more efficient, the lungs become more efficient. Over time it takes less exertion to do the same activity. Therefore, to continue to increase your fitness, you have to change up your workouts (pedal faster, find a more challenging route or increase workout time).

This is true of walking, weight lifting, running or cycling.

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

I do feel now (in perimenopause), I have to exert twice as much physical exercise/activity to keep weight reasonable.

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Are you doing strength training? Lots of women gain weight because they lose muscle mass. Muscle burns more calories at rest than fat.

But, having said that, you're right. When we hit menopause, our metabolism shifts gears & goes into reverse. ;)

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Originally Posted by cunninghamair

Yep, this is a fact. I can't find my personal trainer manual to give you an exact quote--but the body adapts. The heart becomes more efficient, the muscles become more efficient, the lungs become more efficient. Over time it takes less exertion to do the same activity. Therefore, to continue to increase your fitness, you have to change up your workouts (pedal faster, find a more challenging route or increase workout time).

This is true of walking, weight lifting, running or cycling.

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I can't find my manual either - but I do remember reading this too. So, maybe mix up the aerobic exercise - do some stair climbing, running, etc. I'm always amazed at how HARD running is when I've been doing mostly cycling.