Quote Originally Posted by TigerMom View Post
Jiffer...Thanks for all your great advice!

At first, I thought that I was only supposed to have only one recovery day (bike 3-4 times/wk for 30-60minutes each time and then do elliptical machine twice per week for 45minutes along with daily abdomen exercises) because I really love biking and want to improve (I'm in my late 30's). But I was having tight/sore thigh muscles within 1 minute of biking every time and in a constant light state of sore muscles even at rest. But, now that I have 3 recovery days per week, I seem to have a lot more energy when I do bike ride.

I was also trying to do a low carb diet (after 6 months, I have finally lost 16 pounds out of the 18pounds that I had gained from using steroids for my medical condition) and still have 2 pounds left to get back to my original figure. I probably need more carbs, but so difficult to eat a lot (I'm a foodie) while losing weight if I eat more carbs. Such a difficulty balancing amount of carbs needed for bike riding energy vs. weight loss.

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2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle

2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle
You're welcome. Glad to know at least one person benefited from of my many way super long posts.

Congrats on your weight loss! I know exactly what you mean about balancing your eating for weight loss with energy to ride. I struggled with that for a long time. I finally seemed to figure out how to do both a couple of years ago and lost the nagging ten pounds. However, regrettably, I fear that my weight loss contributed to my current health issues. (Adrenal fatigue, candida, hypothyroid and low hormones). I think I already had stuff going on in my body for a long time, but the bigger training load and weight loss in 2010 exacerbated it. So do be careful how you feed your body, particularly when you are stressing it with exercise. I'm glad you're almost to your goal. Unfortunately, my weight went back up, and then some, when my health issues presented strongly (mostly fatigue and dizziness).

I think I'm on the road to recovery now, though, and have lost about five of the pounds I gained. (Wasn't trying, but the zero sugar and low grain diet I'm on for Candida helps with that. )