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. 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!!

[DeniseGoldberg]

Actually, this is a misnomer. 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

[kiwi girl]

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

[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?

[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.

[Bustertb]

Just think - you'll bomb DOWN the hills!

ROFL

[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!!!!

[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!!!!

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.

[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!

[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.

[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!!!!