Quote Originally Posted by ny biker View Post

I'm a bit confused by this thread. I have no idea how much e.e. cummings weighs now, how much weight she is trying to lose, what she looks like, what her health is like, etc. She did not say she is weighing herself every day; it sounds like it's more like weekly which makes sense for someone in a four-month program. She's just trying to find a balance between food and activity and she would like to continue to lose some weight. I don't think it's uncommon to have trouble figuring out how to eat enough to fuel intense exercise while not overeating.

It's nice to say your weight doesn't matter as long as you're healthy, but being overweight can cause you to no longer be healthy. And there's nothing wrong with wanting to look better in addition to being healthy.

Unfortunately I really don't know what the answers are. Maybe 1600 calories isn't enough to keep you fueled, maybe you're really eating more than you think you are, maybe you're plateauing, etc. I think there's a certain amount of trial and error involved in figuring all this out. There could also be other factors -- for me a certain medication I take every day has affected my appetite and changes in dosage have caused weight gain/loss over the years.

As I've mentioned elsewhere I've found Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook to be very helpful. Other than that, I just try to eat reasonably healthy foods, only eat when I'm truly hungry, and do activities that I truly enjoy.
so you are all right, GLC, no i never had a serious weight problem but ask anyone who has ever been around me, I watch what i eat EVERY SINGLE MEAL and i never overeat and i still started gaining weight a few years ago, so have become even more fastidious. I am surrounded by family members with weight problems and my DH spent 5 years trying to get below 150 pounds and never ever could.

you're right, the OP didn't really state her specifics, until just now, so each of us just went off on our own rants about whatever it is we each think, sorry about that. I just get sad when people are not happy with what they have -- twenty years down the road you're going to slap yourself in the forehead and say "And I wasn't happy about THAT?" I've already done it a hundred times myself.

EE Cummings has now stated that she's on a diet and working with a trainer. I didn't know that before.

Channluv, you are very brave and keep doing what you are doing, I read all your posts and think you are a hero.

and Veronica, you've got more balls than most the guys on BikeJournal. I read all your adventures too - keep it up.

I wish you all the best and sorry if i PO'd the lot of you.

NYBiker, what i meant was, when i was 25 I weighed 110 pounds. I had skinny skinny legs. I had no energy. flash forward
I am now 57 and am creeping up to 130 pounds. I have INCREDIBLE LEGS, I can walk miles, ride many more miles, do pushups, etc, etc. Should i be freaking out because i am carrying all that extra weight? no, it's just a number. It does not reflect my BMI or the muscles in my legs. i gained most of that weight when i started cycling. that's GOOD weight. And my husband, back to him; when he weighed 144 pounds (when we got married) his legs were wimpy; his knees had hardly any muscle around them. So now when he whines about getting to that weight, i know it really IS impossible for him to do without losing those gorgeous muscles. if you don't eat enough, your body's going to start using those muscles as fuel and you're NOT going to get stronger.
Enough. shut up mimi.