Overweight Cyclists?

[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.

[kenyonchris]

I want to "weigh in" on this topic but I'll have to suppress some anger.

I've always been athletic but can gain weight on air. I have very, very bad feet and in 2005, I bought into cycling as THE alternative to running. And I sort of thought the 25 or so extra pounds would melt off once I got going.

And, I've gained/am still gaining weight. Now, instead of being 25 lbs overweight, I'm more like 50. A little bit of my body has remodeled some. My back/butt are flatter...now I'm carrying this apron of fat on my lower abdomen.

I enjoy all aspects of food and drink. I'm a cook. I mean, I love to cook, and have written a book-length manuscript about food. And, yes, I eat, but I don't eat truly unreasonable amounts of food. I don't really eat sweets at all.

But I would have to seriously deprive myself to lose this weight!!! By now I know that cycling and cross-training ain't gonna do it.

I'm not sure I want to do that. And I'm a little bit bitter about it, can't you tell? I don't want to be skinny like a model. I'd just love to wear a size 12 or 14.

As a personal trainer (certified through NASM) I would suggest two things (you may not be asking for suggestions, but here they are if you want them)...1) have your thyroid checked, get a physical, make sure there is nothing physical or chemical (including drug interactions) that are causing you to have problems losing weight. 2) get with someone who has an idea of how to design an exercise weight loss program. It really is calories in/calories out...with some twist. Your body WILL adapt and not burn as many calories unless you exercise correctly. And riding (running, whatever) on its own will not do it for you. It is about pushing your heart rate up, then recovering. I can burn more calories doing a 30 minute ride than a 2 hour 40 mile ride if I just spin on the 40 miles and do intervals and hills on the 30 minute one.

And it isn't all about cardio...lifting burns a ton of calories even after you finish...do low weight, high reps.

If you are having problems getting results....take heart, it most likely isn't YOU. Just your program. That is EASY to change. But do see a doctor first to make sure!

And, the nice by product is that by changing the WAY you are riding, you will get faster and stronger as well as leaner.

[SlowButSteady]

My thyroid has been checked a gazillion times. In fact, I'm currently pending tests for hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus. Mom and brother take supplemental thyroid hormones, so there is a family history.

My brother, however, is in an entertainment field and has to look good (ie, be slim) for his job. At one point, he was doing two a day workouts--lifting and running up to 10 miles a day and starving himself AND HE WAS STILL about 40 lbs OVERWEIGHT.

At some point, he saw a doctor who told him to stop exercising and dieting, as it was simply training his metabolism to be more stingey with the calories...and he lost weight. Of course, the diet pills and resuming smoking probably helped a whole lot!!! But he looks like a million bucks and looks 10 years younger.

I'm pretty disheartened. Not being able to find tri clothes, for one thing. The ones I have are guys XXL and they are too tight. Getting all the catalogs like Title 9 and Athleta which have all the stuff I like but where a size 12 - 14 is an XL--just frustrates me. I want to write them a dirty letter and tell them to stick those catalogs...

It didn't help when my son said, "Mama, why are you doing all that stuff? It's not helping you any."

...I'm kind of taking a break from working out for now.

[tulip]

SBS, work out if it makes you feel good. If it becomes a downer and a chore, then it's not working for you. I would only encourage you to remain active, whether it's hiking or just romping with your kids alot. Have you tried Pilates? It really has helped me feel good and strong in my middle.

Have you checked TE for plus-size clothing? I've heard they have a good selection, and it's right here!

[sundial]

...I'm kind of taking a break from working out for now.

Slow, have you made an appointment with an endocrinologist to check your thyroid levels? Even if your family doc says it's in the normal range, it may not be normal for you.

I have to say too that hormones, or lack thereof, can make a BIG difference when it comes to weight gain. Being peri- and post- menopausal wrecks havoc on the body I tell ya.

[sundial]

It really is calories in/calories out...with some twist. Your body WILL adapt and not burn as many calories unless you exercise correctly.

I have to respectfully disagree. Many women, including myself, will attest that after having a hysterectomy the weight just skyrocketed shortly thereafter. I personally was losing weight before my surgery and lost weight afterwards--even during Christmas. Not six months later my weight quickly changed--despite being on the same diet and exercising like mad. Today I can barely get the weight off. It's really, really difficult just losing 8 pounds. I'm focusing now on just maintaining my health and exercising when I can. Cycling is changing my body shape and the weight pretty much has leveled off for now. Unfortunately, it's much higher than what it used to be.

[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.

[channlluv]

I'm right there with you. 100lbs to lose. But you know what? I feel really strong, and getting stronger. I love that I have super strong butt and thighs, and my forearms are RIPPED now I'm on a road bike and am assuming the correct position. I mean, I can flex them and feel the sinew.

Yeah, there is way to much fat around my middle, but I'm getting stronger with every ride.

Roxy

[owlice]

Zen and JulieGoddess, I think you are saying the same thing, just in different ways: a certain volume of muscle weighs more than the same volume of fat. Fat takes up more space; it's fluffier!

I've ridden much more this year than in years past -- last year and the year before, I rode very little -- and haven't lost any weight this year while riding. I am in pants two sizes smaller, however, and a dress that fit me when I was 30 pounds lighter that I thought wouldn't fit (because I'm not 30 pounds lighter!) does, and fits me better now than it used to.

(I bought the dress for a going-away party for my then-fiance, who was moving here to marry me. I tried it on a few weeks ago the day of our divorce trial, and since it fit, I wore it to court since this should have been another kind of going-away for him. My petition for divorce was denied, however.... so maybe I should have worn something else!!)

[PinkBike]

i wanna take friendly exception to chris-the-cop. when you're young it may be calories in-calories burned. wait'll you go through That Part Of Your Life. i finally started losing those last pounds thru Schwarzbein Principle, but you have to be so blanketyblank vigilant! Every Single Day. uggh.

however, who cares??!! ride because you love to ride!!

and know that the people who make any comments whatsoever about being heavy and riding could absolutely not do what you are doing.

and you have friends here who do know and share the passion.

[kenyonchris]

i wanna take friendly exception to chris-the-cop. when you're young it may be calories in-calories burned. wait'll you go through That Part Of Your Life. i finally started losing those last pounds thru Schwarzbein Principle, but you have to be so blanketyblank vigilant! Every Single Day. uggh.

I'm 40 years old! Your body adapts to exercise, it becomes harder to burn the calories you take in. But it is still calories in, calories out. I am 115 lbs at 5'5. I work my butt off to stay like that (I used to be able to eat whatever and stay slender). Everyone assumes I have a "fast metabolism" or am "lucky"...I battle with the same problems everyone else does. It IS harder to burn calories, I have to do more to get less. I am only lucky in that I *know* how to do that, and I am disciplined enough to do it. Even then, I am frustrated at parts of my body that don't tone like they used to, no matter how many crunches I do. The truth is, I need to switch from crunches, which I like and can do a zillion of, to leg lifts and reverse crunches, which I hate (because they are hard, thus would be more effective). Then maybe I could quit whining. Right now I am just whining.

I totally admire anyone who can struggle to lose 50, 60, 70 lbs. Kudos to em. If you are turning the pedals over, you are on your way. But if you aren't seeing results, it is either a) a medical problem, b) you are not burning effectively or c) your diet is wrong...or a combination thereof.

[Zen]

Chris, I think you glossed over a very important point she was trying to make

... wait'll you go through That Part Of Your Life.

it was a whole lot easier to lose weight at 40 than it is at 52. And no, I'm not whining.

[dinabean]

SBS, I feel you, I really do! I am training for a TRI, too, and it sucks that the "big" clothes are several sizes too small. Believe it or not, I am eternally grateful to WalMart for carrying the Danskin fitness wear in XXL sizes that fit me (5'9" 235 lbs when I started, down to 227 after 10 weeks of mostly running x a week). It's not specialized Tri gear or bike gear, but it was at least stuff I wasn't embarassed to be seen in public in when I was doing Couch to 5K. I am also S-L-O-W (my 5K time is ~45 minutes) but it's all good. Don't you feel better? Stronger? I struggle with being annoyed that the weight isn't just pouring off (and I am watching intake, too) but it is what it is. At least I am healthier than I was a few weeks ago, and I hope to be even healthier by this time next year!

One other thought -- have you had D3 levels checked? I've done some reading that D3 level really effect weight, and a lot of docs don't check for it. I've heard anecdotal stories of people changing nothing other than taking 2000IU of D3 a day and the weight pouring off. Might be worth checking into.