weight

[extra-vert]

If my conversion is right then you are right around 109lbs?? At 5'5" that's great! You're luckier over there in Europe than us Americans in that not nearly as much of your food is sabotaged like ours with hydrogenated oils and other things that don't need to be there. Our nation is getting FAT FAT FAT - and a huge reason for this is the fact that our packaged foods are so damn fake! Of course I can go on about this, but I know it's only the tip of the iceberg. My good friend from France eats Nutella every morning. She's a size 0. She looks very healthy. She will only eat the nutella friends and family bring her from France, because unlike our nutella (which looks identical on the outside) hers does NOT have hydrogenated oils in it!!! Anyway, that is only one example, and she is a very disciplined person who naturally practices portion control. That said, there is a lot us Americans can learn from others nations and cultures about our diets and our attitudes toward food. Enough from me, I'll shut up now.

[jobob]

Hee hee. Reminds me of the time a co-worker from Denmark came out here to visit our US site.

I'm driving him back to his hotel and he pipes up, oh so politely, "May I ask you a question?"

and I said "Sure".

"Why are Americans so fat?"

All this time he's puffing on a cigarette ...

[extra-vert]

I suppose we have to choose our evil. That is pretty funny though.

[hellosunshine]

fear no!the girl that beat me today was large......so not all bulk is fat,she was a bundle of power!ref the question in the midst of all this!how do i feel?despondant at the moment,last year i was 1 min quicker over 10 miles,there again,my times for 25,50 miles are tthe same,and i did my first 100 this year,slow course,windy day,scraped under 5hrs with a puncture,so maybe my brain is kinda suited to longer than shorter distance,STILL,I WANA BE FASTER!

[RoadRaven]

Hey there Sunshine
You sound plenty light enough for your height
Women will tend to look heavier than men because we have more fat, and we cannot get down to the same leaness as men without compromising our health.
Thats a physiological fact - so be careful in your consideration of weight loss.

Also, remember that one part of being faster on the bike is the power to weight ration equation.

Yes, losing weight is extremely advantageous to riding faster, however, at some point the 'perfect' power to weight ratio is reached (which is unique for every individual).

If you drop below this weight, your power output begins to decrease.

How long have you been biking for? If its not long - that is - only a year or two, then you have only just established/or begun to establish a good base for improving speeds/times. Perhaps you should consider some specific training such as intervals, or hill reps, or motor-pacing.

Also consider what kind of riding you like - if you like enduro flattish courses, or time trials, then a little extra weight is not as important as if you wanted to be an ace hill-climber.

Specific training may build muscle and you may add a pound or two, but you need muscle to make you stronger and faster. Its a worthwhile compromise.

Good luck

[LBTC]

My good friend from France eats Nutella every morning. ...because unlike our nutella (which looks identical on the outside) hers does NOT have hydrogenated oils in it!!!

The store brand I buy here in Canada has canola oil and palm oil, but nothing hydrogenated. It's yummy, too, especially spread on whole grain raisin toast with "just peanuts" peanut butter too.

Yummy!

Ah, yes, and the weight v body image debate. At my lightest in the last 20 years (117 lbs at 5 1 1/2") I was not as strong as possibly even now as I try to regain my fitness (135 lbs). My goal for muscle strong weight is 125, because I've been there and understand that I can be strong and fit and fast at that weight. If I manage to dip down to 122 or 120 I won't complain I still feel that I looked my best at 117 lbs, but I'll take how I feel when I'm fit and strong over the look of the lighter weight!!

Lots of positive vibes for healing for you hellosunshine!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Wahine]

Hey HS, I'm just wondering how you're doing with your weight battle. We're all sending you posative thoughts and vibes. Let us know how you're doing.

[hellosunshine]

positive people=positive actions.


so foremost thankyou!especially as i live alone and i dont get intimate support.slowly ive told a few friends,and thats taken guts as eating disoprders carry a stigma.everyone has been brilliant,the dr agreed,"put on some weight"but unfortunately if it was that easy i wouldnt have been sat in his chair!!!!!i didnt lean forward and nut him though a freidn also directed me to http://www.cyclingnews.com/features....rders1....this reinforced the notion people suffer and people GET BETTER and im doing the right thing,however scarey that is.i magaged to gain 400grammes,so am 48.4kg and now ive got complacient and have my head in the sand re upping dietary intake again,which is SO SO frustrating as i want and need to be stronger,

so your enquiries will help me gather my courage again.


its hard when some people say "you look well/great etc etc"when deep down im shattered,im not as strong as i was,have mood swings and tend to socially isolate myself etc etc,lots of you have been there,which has made contacting you such a good thing as you have GOT BETTER,all positives,which i thrive on.


anyway,ive got an all over body scan this fri for osteoporosis.


how on earth do you eradicate the anorexia saying no,dont increase food intake???ive got to imagine that as a damp squib and im a bit fat foot stamping onit.


have found little help in the GB,i duno why,i suppose also people not realiseing that i need the support a recovering alcoholic would get etc,i did see a nutrition man but he sort of laid out a plan and then released me to get on with it,which i suppose is what will gain me the long term strength to conquer once and for all!


wow!was that a long winded one?????

[Wahine]

I'm glad you're still plugging away at it HS. I have severaly friends that have struggled with anorexia and it is very hard to control. As you said, it's like alcoholism, a disease that you live with forever and have to fight everyday and every minute. Hang in there.