Quote Originally Posted by kelownagirl View Post
I am really puzzled by the math of the whole calories in, calories out thing, especially since this thread was started months ago. I rode my bike a LOT in August - mostly medium to high intensity rides. 930km, 38+ hours of riding. A conservative estimate of calories burned would be around 25,000 during the month. If 3500 calories equals 1 lb, then that is about 7 lbs worth right? During that month I ate "normally." I probably consumed about 1800-2000 calories a day averaged over time. Although I was not trying to lose weight during August, it boggles my mind that my weight stayed exactly the same the entire month. I did not gain or lose an ounce. If I had not done all the riding, I would have gained 7lb in one month!
Kelownagirl, I am puzzled and confused too. I don't get it either, because the math doesn't add up for me either. At least you stayed the same. I gained weight! I am pretty sure it is muscle and water gain, but still, oh gosh and darn, because it makes me heavier on the bike.

I did get my body fitness composition and I know my BMR. It is 2001. I input my calories into the nutrition software. I bike, and this summer I increased my fitness level dramatically with respect to distance, endurance and hill climbing. I am extremely pleased in that respect. I input the calories burned into the calorie software. I am careful to not eat too little, but not too much. I am careful with the sodium intake.

One factor for me is I have IBS, and I had a bad flare-up that lasted for the first half of this year. I think the flare-up killed off the friendly stuff in my intestinal and digestive system, and thus slowed down my digestive system to a crawl. I am now taking steps to restore the good stuff, but it will probably take another 6 months. The IBS flare-up might be the cause why my weight didn't go down this summer.

This is going to be my next try. Towards the end of October, when the weather starts getting too windy and rainy to ride as often, I will join a gym and hire a personal trainer with the goal of burning body fat and building muscle density. I will do the gym all winter, along with outside biking when I can, and see what happens. Maybe a diversity of exercise is what I need.

If none of the above works, I hate to admit this, but I might investigate liposuction. The only reason I haven't done so already is fear of the pain, the cost, any long-term bad health effects, and oh yes, once again, the pain.

Darcy