Overweight Cyclists?

[OakLeaf]

People are unbelievable.

It's a lot easier to talk about than actually do... but in my imagination where I'm a confident wise@ss I'd take a more direct approach. I'd look them in the eye and say, "Why would you say something like that?" Or "Did saying that make you feel better?"

[kermit]

Some of those comments are probably from people too lazy to get on a bike and ride. Jealousy of you getting out and about. I have a house in south Georgia, and don't want to stereotype but my MIL, a southern woman will not get out of her car and sweat. She wants to loose weight but riding a bike in the HEAT is not an option. I get lots of looks from farmers and their families in the little town we built our house. Riding a bike is just not as normal as in some other towns. Invite them on a ride and smoke 'em I say!

[Bike Chick]

Well I certainly feel as though I'm among friends I need to loose 20 pounds to be my "ideal" weight. It would also help me on the bike and running but it's a battle everyday. I think that those of us who enjoy riding bikes also embrace life and the flavorful, enjoyable experiences it offers. Eating is one of those. I could weigh 20 pounds less if I didn't eat that piece of chocolate at 3:00 in the afternoon or have a couple beers and pizza with friends on Friday night but life is too short for that.

I'm 25 pounds heavier than I was at 30 (I'm 51) but I'm a heck of a lot healthier. Twenty years ago I smoked 2 packs of cigarettes a day and drank coffee til dinner. I couldn't have ran 1 block much less a 5 k. But I looked good in a size 5 dress. Big deal! I started riding bikes 5 years ago when I quit smoking. I did my first century the following year, my first triathlon last year and I'm training for a half-marathon. Yeah I felt pretty self-conscience wearing spandex to the first organized ride but when I got there I saw all shapes and sizes of folks in spandex and no one cared what you looked like in your shorts or what size you were. Cycling has given me the self-confidence to feel good in the body I'm in--no matter what size it is!

The downside to carrying the extra weight is that it is harder to climb hills on the bike, it's hard on my knees and feet when I run, and I have to rip the elastic out of the bottom of most of my jerseys. It's also hard to be taken seriously as a cyclist - even in the LBS. That's the part I hate.

[Trek420]

The downside to carrying the extra weight is that it is harder to climb hills on the bike

The up side is we smoke 'em on the downhill.

[azfiddle]

Shaula, Hurray for you for doing things to help yourself be more healthy. Keep cycling- it can only be good for you, and maybe you will be even more motivated to eat healthy foods and portions as part of a plan to increase your energy and enjoyment on rides.

I'm not significantly overweight at this time- but over the last year, I've lost 23 pounds with weightwatchers and cycling. I'm only 5'1", so it is a substantial change. I have been very self-conscious about my weight in other settings though, so I can sympathize with you.

I love to eat too, and the only way I can successfully stay on track with cutting back is to visualize that I'm not giving something up, I'm getting something really great by eating smaller portions and cutting out things that aren't so good for me. Over time, I've noticed a greater appreciation of more subtle flavors in fruits, vegies etc.

I don't know what to say to/about the insensitive people... I see people of all shapes and sizes on the well-used cycling route I often ride on weekends and I've never heard an unkind word said to or about anyone's size or shape at the shade ramada where almost everyone breaks for water and a rest stop. Hope that's helpful and encouraging.

[NoNo]

I think it's more important to do what makes you feel good about yourself. Right after college, I was at my heaviest, and the following January I started Weight Watchers. It worked well for me and I lost about 30lbs, a big change on my 5'-1" frame. That was all done with changing my eating, with no consistent exercise. But I still wasn't happy with how I looked. Two years ago I bought my road bike and began riding consistently. As I got into cycling, I also started getting into other activities like hiking and kayaking. The more I did, the more confidence I gained to try new things. I've since dropped another 10lbs and am now at the higher end of the "healthy" weight for my height. But I could honestly care less about than than how much better I look and feel. Things have firmed up and my confidence has gotten a much-needed boost. Lately, I got lazy and pretty much stopped doing everything. Though my weight didn't change, my body did, and I wasn't happy. The flab started to creep back and I was angry with myself for letting my hard work go to waste. It's a journey and a battle I'll have to fight my whole life.

I've been on both sides, being derided by even my own family for being overweight, to being sneered at by overweight people who assume I've always been this weight and it comes naturally (the "It must be nice to eat like that and stay skinny" comments. Well, you don't see the measured out meals the rest of the week and the hours of exercise. I've learned to just stop caring what people think (including my family, who tormented me when I was overweight, called me anorexic when I lost weight, mocked me when I started biking, and then went out and bought bikes when they saw me sticking with it), and do whatever brings me joy and peace. I wish you much strength in your journey and hope you find happiness.

[Shaula]

You guys are the best! Talk about getting me super motivated (more than I was!!!!). Love the smart a#& comments! I will remember them! Kermit - where in South Georgia do you live? I live in Folkston, Georgia

[Sadie]

Thanks for this thread. It makes me feel so sad when people look at me and wonder how I could be chubby, but ride a bike. Food tastes good, what can I say. Take care of the body God gave you by treating it right and enjoying great things in life.

[sundial]

The up side is we smoke 'em on the downhill.

Trek, lol!

[Kris]

I started cycling in a limited way about 4 years ago when I was 76 pounds overweight. Now I'm about 20 pounds overweight. I feel soooo much better. I can climb stairs. I can walk. I can do the grocery shopping without aching knees. I did not lose the weight by cycling alone. I did Curves for a while. I lifted weights for a while. I joined Weight Watchers and did what they told me. That made the biggest difference. I have not starved myself, and I eat lots of really good food, but it's nutritious food, not empty calories, and it's filling.
I'm 60 years old, and thinner than I've been in years. The laws of physics still apply.
As for what people say, some are just rude. Ignore them or tell them to get lost. However, I think it's possible that you are misinterpreting, "You ride a bike!" sometimes. When I ride my bike to work, which I've done occasionally since I was my heaviest, people are amazed. You'd think I arrived by dogsled or hot air balloon, and some of them express that they think I must be very brave and strong to be cycling when I have a perfectly good car in the garage. Some people don't get it at all, and others clearly think I've lost my last bit of common sense. These reactions haven't changed much since I've lost weight.

[Juliegoddess]

Hey Everyone!

Just thought I would add to the fray here...I'm another plus-sized cyclist, and I know I am slower and more out of shape than even some ladies bigger than me. I am about 5'9" and 229 pounds. I started out at 240, but have found that muscle is replacing fat, and it weighs MORE! I'm not so worried about the pounds not dropping off because of this.

What is discouraging, though, is that I ride every single day...but since I have big ole' heavy mountain bike, my distances aren't very far. I don't mind that...I know once I have a road bike my distances will increase a lot. I just hate being wiped out after only 7-10 miles.

I sure wish I had other plus-size riding buddies, too. People in my area don't bike, and i get stared all all the time like I am from mars or something. People around here (Monroe, MI) bike to the supermarket and back, just for fun. they look at me like I'm nuts.

So anyway, it's hard to set fitness goals...I just feel like I should be going further, doing more, losing more weight, etc. but stop biking? No way!

[sundial]

....i get stared all all the time like I am from mars or something...

Maybe it's because you're on a mountain bike hitting the pavement instead of the trails? It takes a lot more effort to ride a mtb than a light weight road bike on the pavement. Tell yourself you are a trend setter.

[Zen]

have found that muscle is replacing fat, and it weighs MORE!

No, it doesn't.
It has to do with the structure of a fat cell compared to the structure of a muscle cell as shown here. Guess which one is the fat cell?
If you take two identical boxes and fill one with fat cells and the other with muscle cells, the muscle cell box will weigh more. Not because muscle weighs more than fat but because more muscle cells fit in the same space.

One more word-intervals. Hill repeats, sprint repeats, or standing repeats.