Accuracy of Polar "calories burned" study: in plain english

[easterbird]

I joined a weight loss thread on BJ this year. Have been using Fitday program since Feb 2006. I started at 173 Feb 1, 168 Mar 1,165.5 Apr 1 and 168 May 1.That's a gain and I'd like to talk to anyone who has been using Fitday type programs to monitor calories in/out.
Here's the deal: I pushed hard all month on activities and staying under calories(truly I weigh/measure all my stuff even to counting out # nuts to eat and am about 800-1200 cal under calculations per day) but weight has just moved up/down (~165 low to 169 hi). I drink lots of liquids ...splenda sweetened stuff often but also lots of water. Is it possible to eat too few calories for amount of exercise...does that slow one down(metabolism)? I am very tired(or just bummed?) today. After yesterday's activities(severe gardening =4 hrs and 21 mile ride @15= mph I had some cramping in my quads for first time last night...nasty nasty hurt. I drank 56 oz liquids during and immediately after my ride. What's the cramping about? thoughts?
Also noticed the comments about calculation of calories burned. I had a resting metabolic rate study done in 1988 and it showed I needed 20% fewer calories than the average woman (who is she,anyway???). If that is factored into my basal rate does it also mean I require 20% fewer for all other exercise. I want to understand why I can't get/stay below 167. I can try to fudge back the numbers with Fitday (calories expended/biking), if that's the problem. I just don't know what to do ,eat more, eat less, exercise more,exercise less???
Thanks to anyone with patience to read this and provide any insight

[maillotpois]

I had a resting metabolic rate study done in 1988 and it showed I needed 20% fewer calories than the average woman (who is she,anyway???). If that is factored into my basal rate does it also mean I require 20% fewer for all other exercise. I want to understand why I can't get/stay below 167. I can try to fudge back the numbers with Fitday (calories expended/biking), if that's the problem. I just don't know what to do ,eat more, eat less, exercise more,exercise less???
Thanks to anyone with patience to read this and provide any insight

Did you really mean 1988?? I think any metabolic study done almost 20 years ago would need to be revisited at the very least. Even if you mean 1998, that's almost 10 years ago and I would expect the data to be a bit suspect.

I don't know if any of this will apply to you, but here's some input - I've tried using calorie counting/exercise programs (FitDay and Balancelog) and they don't really work for me - I think that the calculations for how many calories the "average" person burns while cycling don't apply to a pretty well trained cyclist. Simply put, I think I burn fewer calories for the same ride than an "average" person of my weight because my body is efficient at cycling. Now, if I tried running or swimming, I'd be back to "average". But I found those programs to give me a HUGE allowance of calories for rides - more than I really wanted. If you are using a HRM, as noted in the above posts, there may be other shortcomings.

Also, a consistent problem with any program requiring a food log (and I'm not knocking these because they WORK) is diligence and honesty in the portion sizes. Are you actually weighing and measuring, etc.?

You seem to believe your metabolism requires you to eat less - it is possible you are not eating enough and this is making your weightloss difficult.

I'm a weight watchers fan. Been a lifetime member for almost 20 years and it really works for me when I am diligent, as I have been for the last 6 months. It's fairly painless, especially given how much I ride.

Re: the cramping - what are you drinking? Splenda sweetened "stuff" may be a nice at your desk beverage, but for a 21 mile ride at 15 mh, you may want to consider an actual sports drink with electrolytes. That should help the cramping.

Good luck to you. Maybe a visit to a nutritionist would be helpful?

[easterbird]

Maillotpois: thanks for reply...yes it was 1988 when I was 40 and 'stuck' at same weight. Of course after having study done I 'forgot' about it or ignored it until now. And gained and lost same 30-40 # several times so numbers are probably even worse right I am a retired chemist,love data and I really weigh,measure,count stuff including the wine I do consume. I have a spread sheet where I calculate nutritional info for my own recipes( a nut in other words
I really am a new rider so don't know about the right drinks,I just found some more stuff on nutrition etc here on TE so will read and see what I can find. I tried a drink called endurance formula gatorade!!YUCK!! are they all that bad?

[maillotpois]

Sounds like you're a good nut.

Try a bunch of different drinks - regular gatorade, powerade, cytomax, whatever. Maybe dilute them a bit. There are a lot of options out there and it should certainly help the cramping.