Weight Loss Ladies

[liberty]

I'm in! Are we starting tomorrow or next Wednesday?

[ShubieGA]

That's because I am -2 this week. I have a long way to go. My ultimate goal is about 90 lb.

[pooks]

I'm in. When do we start?

[bikerchix]

I'll join you - are we starting next Wednesday? Might be nice to weigh in before the long Memorial weekend - camping. Not looking forward to the week after though.

[Stania]

Hi Gals,
I am new to the forum and not really about losing weight (never was an issue for me personally, I know I am lucky). However i stumbled across your thread and thought I'd share a tidbit of info I learned recently that might help some of you if interested.

I train for racing but while I was at the "lab" getting my Lactate threshold tested, I was speaking to the Kinesiologist (sport scientist) about heart rates, etc. and she gave me some info you might want.

If you want to lose weight more efficiently you may want to think about cycling within your lower heart zones (zone 1) and avoid increasing your heart rates on the ride...it can be complicated but simply put, go for a very easy but long ride rather than a short "power ride". Power rides increase your heart rate and take you out of the optimal training zone for burning fat. You begin to burn everything BUT fat when your hammering up hills or sprinting along your cycle path. Easy, looooooong, steady, "no sweat" rides keep you in a heart zone that allows your body to burn fat rather than rely on muscle to do the work.
I'm not a kinesiologist, nor an expert and my knowledge is not scientific so my advice would be you may want to get in touch with a sports med doc or search the internet for "optimal fat burning training" advice.
The most reliable source of information to get you in the "optimal zone" for fat burning is for you to go and get your "Lactate threshold" tested. They'll put you on a bike trainer and take blood samples as the intensity increases over 3 minute intervals until you, well, stop. then they give you results that show you EXACTLY what your heart zone (average) should be while riding/running/whatever so that you will lose weight.
The second most effective way is to calculate your min and max heart rate based on your age and then figure out what your low end of the scale is and stick with it. This is not always the same for everyone so it's not the most effective way to get the best results but it's a start and less costly.

You WILL need a heart rate monitor. You can get cheap ones these days. All you need is something that will tell you what your heart rate is at the time you are cycling. You don't need any other bells and whistles on it. US 60$ is average for that kind of monitor (I'm Canadian so i am estimating the price for you).

Anyway, do some internet surfing. That will give you some more ideas. The heart monitor will likely have a little manual that can tell you how to calculate your heart zones but if you go to your local bike store, running store, library or sport shop they should have training books on how to do it.

No titles off the top of my head right now. The only ones I know if at the moment are silly serious training ones, not what you need if you were just wanting to lose weight.

Good luck to you all. Cycling is an amazing sport for fun, fitness and weight loss. I am sure you will all reach your goals.
Happy spinning! I'm excited for you all! Go grrrls!