Starting out on the road not the gym

[mimitabby]

I'm someone who's never had to worry about my weight. after I started seriously riding my bike I GAINED almost 10 pounds. A lot of it was in my abdomen, but most of it was in my legs. I filled out and my thin legs got
bigger and nicer. As I continued to ride and work out this year, I have lost a couple of those pounds and converted some of the fat to muscles in my shoulders and arms and back. So now I weigh about 122 lbs and i am 5' 3.5"

I think the fashion industry has not a clue as to what a woman should look at. THey use anorexic models to hawk their wares and as you all know the average american is rather overweight, there's a big disconnect there.

So like Lisa, I try not to pay attention!

[Velobambina]

I think Lisa's response was well-intended, and I agree w/the essence of her posts.

I'm 5'5" and right now, I'm about 120-125lbs. I have a very small frame, but I am muscular (in addition to riding, I row, hike, and lift weights).

To be honest, I feel comfortable anywhere from 120-140lbs. I don't weigh myself--go by which size clothes I'm wearing. Right now, I prefer being on the lower end of my range because I'm faster on the bike and can really power up hills. I love being strong and get a kick out of people making comments about my "guns." LOL. I'm 44 years old, for crying out loud, and I could do more push ups than most of my male coworkers.

When I was running half- and full marathons, I weighed 105-110, and I looked like I was sick.

Weight is a personal thing. The bottom line is that most people don't care about your weight---they care about how you treat others. People will always find a flaw, if they are looking for one. Please yourself, not others, and be healthy!

[amylc]

I bet your legs are gorgeous!!!! I would kill to have to change my pants because my legs are getting more muscular....That is my goal!!!!!

When I trained for my first half marathon, my hubby was always oogling at my legs and now that my distances are 3-4 miles, my legs aren't as shapely and now I kinda miss that attention. I am hoping I get the same results from riding that you have gotten.

My suggestion is to be proud of how your body is responding to how well you are treating it. Everyone is different it sounds like you are doing a great job being healthy pysically, but I little hard on yourself mentally.

Refocus your picture about yourself. You are a mature, athletic, strong woman.

I'm not crazy about my stretch marks, but they remind me of the two beautiful little girls that made them when they where growing in my belly. I just had to refocus my thinking.

I admire your dedication and accomplishment to diet and exercise.

[sundial]

Tiki, you're body has probably changed in the fat/muscle ratio moreso than weight and cardio wise, you are probably healthier than you were even a year ago. I have weight goals too but for now I'm keeping track of my fat % through my Tanita scale. This measures not only weight, but body fat. It's very encouraging to see that even though my weight hasn't changed much, my body fat is decreasing.

I'm one of those people that lose inches moreso than weight. I can lose 8 lbs and lose a total of 14 inches. I have a muscular build and have always weighed more than what the average is--but I also had a lower body fat for my height and weight.

The Tanita scale is available at Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Linens N Things and other stores. I really like it moreso than a regular scale.

[Teddy]

I really like the idea of using a combination of how you feel, your performance and your overall health as indicators to your ideal weight. I think weight as a number is so much less important than taking all factors into consideration. So, your ideal weight may be far different than that of someone who is the same height and age - and may even change over time. Bone density and size, muscle mass, athletic performance goals all have bearing on what each person's ideal weight will be. Perhaps as you start working toward your ideal weight, you can gauge how you feel and if your overall performance goals are being met along the way. That way you can work towards a goal that is geared toward how you feel and how you perform and your overall wellness, and not so much a hard and fast number on the scale.

I have gone back and forth with the whole weight issue all my life. And I would be lying if I said I never bought into the idea of an "ideal weight". For most of my life, I have been pretty fit and active, but have at different times carried quite a bit more muscle (tried body building), less muscle (was a professional stunt woman), a lot less muscle (aspirations of being a professional kickboxer) and then a lot less muscle and a lot more fat (combo of aging and a very high stress work environment). Now, at the age of 44, I weigh in the neighborhood of 118 to 120 lbs. (I'm 5'3"). I rarely get on a scale and it makes me laugh when people are shocked to hear that I weigh 120 lbs. I suppose that seems heavy for my size (I'm small boned and have a small frame), but my body fat is around 12%, and my resting HR is about 38 BPM. It's funny because I think a lot of people view my physique as not very attractive. I have muscular legs and arms and I have begun to get pretty vascular. I sometimes notice people staring at me and not necessarily in a good way, but I don't really mind. I think I look just like I want to look, I am fit and strong, and more importantly I feel terrific. So, perhaps try to forget about the number on the scale. Your ideal weight is achieved when you feel great, perform great and are in excellent health.

[LadyinWhite]

I'm 5'5 and I weigh about 165. I say that with pride Yep, a whopping 165. I used to weigh 211 - then I changed my lifestyle. The biggest change I've made is accepting the fact that I weigh 165 and feeling like that's OK.

I'm not a competitive rider, I don't ride with a group, I ride just for me. I definately gain a few lbs when I have to take a break from riding due to work/family or most recently back injury. I also lose it again as soon as I get back into a regular schedule of riding.

For me, the fact that I eat healthy, that I'm fit (Yep, fit at 165.), I can run, I can breath, my cardio strength constantly surprises me and I know I can hop on a bike and ride for 30 - 50 miles @ 14mph avg speed and feel just fine - THAT's what it's all about !!!

Maybe - someday - I'll get down to 150 but who cares if I do or don't. (my lightest weight in my life was 135 and that was with diet and running EVERY DAY - it was exhausting to maintain!) My doc is so proud of me and gives me a big thumbs up every time I see her.

And you know what else? I feel sexy as hell. I'm curvy in all the right places and I love it! Yes - my thighs are disproportionately large and where I carry the remaining extra lbs - but I have sweet muscle definition and did I mention I'm HEALTHY??? LOLOL

42yo - I'm alllll about being healthy!! My vote is thin or not so thin - find a place where you can truly be happy with who you are, as you are. Who cares what other's think? Life's too short

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lady in white-
RIGHT ON!