Losing Weight?

[squirrell]

Congrats on your loss! I have lost 59 with 80 to go yet. I started riding as part of my weight loss plan but fell in love with cycling and just kept riding longer and longer distances--now up to 100-130 or so miles a week.

I am not on a "diet" but have changed my lifestyle. The junk is not in the cupboards anymore. I cook healthy and exercise at least 5x a week. I drink only water or decaf tea with 2 cups of coffee a day (with Splenda only) instead of 10 cups I was drinking loaded with cream.

I have been counting my calories using a website. I have a basic calorie intake built upon 1200 calories a day, which gives me about 800 calories a day deficit. I also eat my calories "earned" through exercise so my calories intake varies from 1000 to 2800 a day but the net caloric intake stays around 1200 to 1350 a day. On days when I do long rides and burn up as much as 3000 calories, I don't eat all of them--who could?

I don't do "low-carb" or "high protein" or anything like that. I just try to do a balanced diet and eat whatever I eat in moderation.

I, too, have HBP and Diabetes Type 2 as well. I cut back on sodium and dropped my numbers to 120/80 (good but I want better). My diabetes is now under control and my diabetes meds are being cut back and soon to be eliminated completely.

I found a sports drink mix called Emergen-C ElectroMIX Packets on Amazon.com that has no sodium and is sugar-free. It works great for me! Here's a link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KPS61K

I will also say that balancing my weight loss with my cycling has been one of the most frustrating and almost impossible tasks in my life.

Before I began to ride longer distances, I was losing steady 2-3 pounds a week for over 3 months. Since I upped my distances, my weight loss is now sporadic and I often plateau. I went 3 weeks in July and lost a grand total of 8/10 of a pound. In the last 2 months, I have lost 12 pounds total. Still good but given that I was losing so much previously and have so much more to lose, it's frustrating.

I do know I'm losing inches and gaining muscles. My calves are looking INCREDIBLE! And I've lost over 6" off my thighs.

I have asked on several different sites for advice/guidance/tips to manage weight loss, medical issues, and cycling and have really gotten very few suggestions. It seems that particularly with Type 2 that there are simply not that many people out there riding long distances (to me that's over 50 miles).

There is another forum I check a lot to just get motivation and basic cycling tips. It's for "Clydesdales and Athenas," which are the nick-names for male and female overweight riders. The people there are great! They understand and can offer some tips. But there doesn't seem to be even on there a consensus of how to approach long distance cycling with dieting. Here's the link for that forum:
http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=248

Anyway, I'm at the point now where I'm ready to go back to my doc and scream for help. I come off my meds because I get lows but than have to go back on my meds because my BG levels go too high. I'll lose 5 pounds in 3 days and then go weeks without losing an ounce.

I wish you luck with your continued journey to health. I know how hard it is and yet how rewarding it can be. Keep up the good work! Feel free to send me a PM if you want--I'm always willing to co-miserate or swap tips with a fellow athena