Quote Originally Posted by easterbird
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?