weight loss and biking

[Jiffer]

I manage my weight by portion control, not exercise. The more you exercise, the more "fuel" (i.e. food) you need. The less you exercise the less fuel you need. So, you have to listen to your body's hunger and fullness signals, which change depending on your level of exercise.

I know this sounds simplistic, but it's scientific and it works for me. Having said that, I do understand that a lot of people use exercise to manage their weight and it works for them. So, hopefully you'll get some advice from some of them.

Just last night Dh and I were at a neighbor's house and this very subject came up. She was commenting about how she can't lose weight. When I said, "Eat less food." She said, "I love food too much!" She's a runner, which doesn't help you since you are switching to cycling, which I HIGHLY approve of, by the way! SO much more fun! ... Anyways, he suggested adding one 90 minute run. Not sure where that number came from. She said she does two 60-ish minute runs a week and one 90. He thought adding one more 90 minute run would make a difference.

I think with any exercise, it's all about burning fat for an extended period of time. It makes sense that the harder you work, the more fat you burn, but I'll let other people respond to that. I will say that the more intense the work out, the more famished you will be, so be careful how much you eat!

(BTW ... I lost about 60 lbs by "eating less" and not exercising at ALL. The not exercising part is not healthy, and I do now, but the point is it wasn't the exercise that helped me lose weight. It was less food. Not low fat, low sugar, diet food, yadda yadda. Just less food. I've kept it off for about 8 years now.)

[cinnamon_toast]

I just switched from running to cycling and I have found the weight loss to be profound - mostly because I like biking a lot more and have a harder time finding excuses not to ride. I can bike after a big meal, I can have a glass of beer at 4 and ride at 7, I can ride at 6 in the morning. All of those would have been excuses for me as a runner. Anyway - I would ride as much as your schedule allows and track your progress on the scale. I try to go for an hour at minimum, but do what you have time for. And as the OP suggested - watch your diet as well. Good luck!!