Losing weight while maintaining energy for cycling

[Jiffer]

ME TOO!!! ... My goal this summer was to train for a Century (which is coming up this weekend!) and I know I have to eat a lot to feel good on the bike. So I just ate and rode and tried not to get mad that I wasn't losing weight.

I am currently telling myself that the day after my Century, the training goal is complete and weight loss will become the new goal. We'll see...

Funny how I had the same goal. Not worry about weight loss while I trained for my century, which was the beginning of September. And then I was going to focus more on eating less to lose weight, ride less and not worry so much if I didn't have as much energy on the rides I did do. However, it didn't quite work out that way for me. I am riding less, but I have gotten faster than ever and am really enjoying going for it on the bike and seeing myself improve. Since I'm not focusing so much on endurance, I am able to work more on speed. I just did a 50 mile organized ride Saturday and I'm now doing a 100 mile "unofficial" ride with a big group in two weeks. That means going for a couple of long rides next weekend to prepare and .... eating to sustain energy for all of this.

A tip for you about eating enough to sustain for your century (per various things I've read lately). Load with carbs, but don't stuff yourself. Eat pasta, whole grain breads, etc. the day or two before your ride, but don't fill yourself with too much "butter" on the bread and other foods that will FILL you, but not FUEL you for your ride. So, eat smart. Do expect to gain a pound or two from all the carb eating, but it should come off during the ride. And then eat (or drink) a combination of carbs and protein within the first 30-ish minutes after the ride for recovery. (And after any long or especially intense ride.) And the better you recover, the more energy and muscle strength you'll have for your NEXT ride.

Good luck on your century! Let us know how it goes!

[TrekTheKaty]

Don't forget not to go by the scale. Muscle weighs more than fat, but is leaner. You may go down a size as you get more "fit", but gain a few pounds on the scale. Also, hydrate. If you start to dehydrate, your body overcompensates by holding onto the water weight.

I also agree with eating smart/healthy. I did a lot of biking this summer and I expected the weight to fall off like it did last summer. But I've been eating like crap (restaurant veggie enchiladas?--still not the best choice). I cooked at home the last week before our century and suddenly I dropped three pounds. (3 lbs I didn't have to carry for 100 miles!) Not that I could do it again if I tried!

Shake things up. Try something new. Those last 5 pounds are boogers

[GLC1968]

What ever you do, don't fall into my trap.

I started cycling to get rid of the last 10. I was 142 lbs at the time and had been steadily losing to get to that point (and working my butt off). Then I got a road bike and fell in love with the sport. I rode like mad - finally thrilled that the cardio aspect I used to hate was actually fun for once!

Now it is 4 years later and not only did I not lose that 10, but I gained 25 lbs on top of it!

Things NOT to do:
Look at the 2000 calories burned on your HRM and think that means you can eat 'anything'
Feel that suffering from heat problems can be solved by EATING while on the bike - they can't
Use biking as an excuse to eat too much
Fall into the 'carb loading' mentality - carbs are not the only effective fuel!
Give up any and all weight lifting (bad, bad, bad, bad)

I think that if you really track what you are consuming and you don't have any other pre-existing metabolic issues, losing weight while biking is the same as using any other sport. Keep mixing up the training, keep tabs on your intake (honestly) and remember that losing weight and particularly the last few lbs is a long term process - don't expect overnight changes.

Now, if only I could take my own advice!