Weight

[pooks]

So "spinning" is something you do on your bike when you're riding, not just in a spinning class?

[Kano]

So "spinning" is something you do on your bike when you're riding, not just in a spinning class?

Pooks -- I'm also quite new to this sport, and I've gathered that this "spinning" means that instead of coasting along, you keep on pedaling. (calorie-wise, I have a feeling that coasting is about as good as sitting in my recliner, yes?) What I've gathered from my reading is that it's a good thing to keep the pedaling easy and do lots of it, rather than having the gearing set so that you're pushing hard on the pedals. Seems I've seen in several places that the hard gears are hard on the knees.

So, I'm not sure if I've got it right yet, but mostly I use the middle chainring on the front, and I shift back and forth on the back gears to keep from having that goofy spin that happens when there's NO resistance on the pedals, but it's also not difficult to pedal. It seems to be a good thing to "spin" fast, but if I happen on a stretch where there's either nothing for resistance, or a little more than usual, then I just pedal a little slower through that area.

I'm starting to think I need to find a cycling mentor to ride with now and again for learning all this new stuff that "didn't exist" in biking when I was a kid and we just rode!

I'm looking forward to seeing what our more experienced spinners can tell us about this spinning stuff too, Pooks, cuz I'll get to learn more too -- thank you for asking!!!!

Karen in Boise

[Fredwina]

"spinning" can be both pedaling at a high cadence(rpm) or indoor cycling on a specail bicycle. Depends on context, which sound like high-rpm pedaling (at least to me)
If I remember , going at an easier rate(i.e., the 60-70 that Bad Ju Ju mentioned) than all out, will actually burn a high amount of fat. A lot of people will refer to this as LSD training.(Long Steady Distance).
As every one else has pointed out, be patient. You didn't put all the wieght on overnight, so it's not going to come off overnight, either. I lost over 100 pound via cycling, but it took me over a year to do it.

[mmelindas]

I've been biking for about two or three months, but not regularly due to health problems. However, I have dropped two sizes and my clothes are falling off me since March when I started. I have lost 15 lbs since mid May.

But that weight loss is more due to changing to a healthy, calorie limited, low fat and low carb diet and also swimming and other exercises in addition to biking in Mid May. I agree, I didn't get to 300 lbs overnight and it does take eating less, doing more and being patient, consistent over TIME.

I can FEEL the difference in my body besides seeing the weight go off. I am losing about one to two pounds a week. I know this exercising, biking and eating smart is working for me. Biking is so much fun compared to all the exercises I do!!

It does take time, and calorie reduction over that time for the weight to come off, since you are building muscle at the same time and that's heavier than the fat that's coming off. I have half of me to lose, down to 150 lbs from where I was at . I am at 287 lbs now down from 301, so that's major progress in my book.

Love yourself enough to eat healthy and you'll never be hungry again. I crave my cucumbers in vinegar more than chocolate now. Eating fresh fruit is far better than a brownie.

But I do indulge myself now and then and don't beat myself up if I don't stick to my eating plan every day. It adds up over time. The exercise, the eating right and the biking, living happily..

Hang in there and kudos to all of you who are fat ladies on a bike who are changing your lives, two wheels at a time!!

[pooks]

Congrats, Mmelindas. That's a great testimonial to eating right and moving your body!

[RoadRaven]

I'm like Pedal Wench - no scales in my house either

If I want to know what I weigh I have to do it at someone elses house