It's that time of year again: winter lbs

[run it, ride it]

Even my LBS who never talks about training or weight when he built up my wheels on the commute-mobile said something like "good for you riding off season, you know that more commute miles, off road, anaerobic workouts...you'll feel hungrier and you may gain weight but you'll be better in Spring"

It's true! I too am always one step up the next spring. I still remember being so on top of my game in high school track after a winter of cross-country skiing. Now, could spring please come sooner? Or at least snow to ski in and gallop through the fields.

Good luck on the winter commuting. I'm sure we'll have a support group in that forum within a few weeks once the snow really flies!

[tygab]

Ok, I know this is a late reply, but this caught my eye:

5'5" and 115-118lbs in the summer, 120-124lbs in the winter

Huh?? You are 5'5" and weigh less than 125? That is completely normal for someone who is a "small" frame and less than normal for someone who is average or large boned.

I weigh 115-118 and am 5'3" and I sure wouldn't want to be any skinnier - this is considered the low end for my height by almost all charts. And yeah, I even do have a little softness around the tummy but I don't care, I don't wanna look like a supermodel with every bone sticking out. Of course, that's my opinion.

Anyway I do understand that 5 lbs can seem like a big difference, I've been there (somewhere deep in my parents home are some pictures of me that prove this) but I hope it's really about how you feel when you're being active, and not about how you look. If you feel like the weight is slowing you down when you want to run and ride, that's one thing. I know when I started exercising this year, that was how I felt - my flab was not helping me achieve my goals to ride and run, so I focused on converting it, rather than feeling morose about it! If you are worried about the physical look, that's another. As long as you are being active and eating sensibly, I think you will be just fine.

You mentioned being worried you will end up like your mom. If I read this right, she wasn't active before her weight crept up. So, simple solution - stay active, girl! Ride that trainer, run races, spend time with your chevals, etc. And of course, eat sensibly - but that's not unique to you, we all need to do that. For reasons more than appearances.

By the way I have a big barrel chest too at least it feels like I do. I just wish it contained Lance-esque lungs (hah!).

May I ask what you consider your ideal weight to be?
BTW at 21 you got a loooong way to go . There *will* be physical changes, on average every 7 years or so, and that's just part of the fun. Don't over stress about them... learn how you can use them to your advantage! Of course, I amn't that much older, just coming up on my mid 30s now... and having a blast....

-T

[run it, ride it]

tygab, thank you. Your post made me smile. I -do- have Lance-esque lungs, but the asthma cancels out any benefit I don't want bones sticking out--I'd just like to stick to one chin! And there is no WAY my hipbones will ever stick out. I have obliques as hard as rocks overpowering them, which I'll take over pointy hips any day.

My ideal weight is about 115lbs. In my profile picture (1.5 years old) I'm about 113lbs, because I had built only really lean muscle from the elliptical, which was the only machine I wasn't too injured to use!

The cheval has his own problems that I've had to come to terms with. He is chronically lame (arthritis), but light excercise keeps him mobile and happy. He'll never be the muscley powerhouse he once was with daily hard training, but I actually think he's happier just doing light fun work. I know that I'm definitely happier doing lighter excercise than varsity running!

I've heard it time and time again, especially during some of my more serious injuries when I was running myself into the ground to stay peaked: "don't think of now, think of ten years from now. You want to still be able to run." Watching my horse go lame (due to accidents, not over-training) really made that hit home. He will never be able to walk without a limp. If my being able to still run in ten years means five extra pounds... I'll take that body over one that can't run at all from overtraining.

whippetgirl, no worries: I consume eggs and dairy for protein, as well as whey powder, nuts, and fortified cereal. I also lit a few candles; you're right, very soothing. Thank you!