Riding to Lose Weight

[Raindrop]

It's totally natural to crave carbohydrates when riding more or doing any effort that depletes your energy stores. The trick is to choose those carbohydrates that not only replenish your stores, but give you some "mouth fufillment" too. I deal with this all the time with clients, and myself.

Some of my suggestions sound weird or unappetizing until you try them; combinations like lowfat cottage cheese with salsa stirred in, or blueberries in lowfat/nonfat cottage cheese. Another one, slice up raw yams and dip them in a low fat dressing, or grill them after brushing them with olive oil. Try whole-wheat tortillas spread with a little peanut butter, sunflowerseed butter, or even some nutella, then zapped in the microwave. Sometimes, we're craving the crunch, or the mouth feel or whatever. Fill those needs with healthy and flavorful snacks and your body will respond by staying strong while changing the body composition from fat to lean.

As someone else mentioned, don't rely on the scale to tell the whole story. Fat is like feathers and muscle is like gold. Fat takes up a lot of room, while muscle is dense and also uses a lot more calories to maintain. More muscle, more calories used even at rest. It's a win win.

[sundial]

As someone else mentioned, don't rely on the scale to tell the whole story.

I bought a Tanita scale that measures weight and body fat. It's reassuring to know that when I am not losing weight I am still losing fat.

[Tabby]

Try whole-wheat tortillas spread with a little peanut butter, sunflowerseed butter, or even some nutella, then zapped in the microwave.

I love this snack, the nutella is great on a warm ww tortilla. I'll have to try sunflowerseed butter, never had that.

It's easy to get bored or run out of ideas, so it's always great to have suggestions for the 'good' snacks. Keep 'em coming!

PJ

[Tuckervill]

Wrap that tortilla around a peeled banana and you've got yourself a real treat!

I figured out the "shop the perimeter" thing all on my own, many years ago when my husband was doing Atkins. I still rarely go in the center aisles, except for tea, bread, sugar and oatmeal.

Karen

[sundial]

Wrap that tortilla around a peeled banana...

I kept reading banana peel, LOL!

[TahoeDirtGirl]

sundial- I am the same way. If I log 90 to 100 miles a week, I lose. Less than that, I maintain. You know, I could strap on the heart monitor and figure out the balance but I think my advice is, make it simple. I used to measure everything, it's good to get your bearings, but when you start not wanting to ride because you are hooked up like you are doing a stress test (ie heart monitor, cadence, etc) it's time to just toss it all off, keep the odometer and just get out and ride.

I guess my advice is find a workout you love and actually feel antsy when you miss it. Some days you won't want to, don't punish yourself. Take a break. Because when you do, you will ride even better and want to keep riding even more!