Wl-chllng #2!!!

[snowtulip]

Great job everyone! Even if you aren't losing weight, our bodies are finicky things. I've been on the gaining or maintaining side since this challenge has started, but finally, I'm heading in the right direction.

2/2 - 115.5

Yipee!

Flybye -thanks for sharing the info. But I'm confused, I've always been told that you should decrease your calorie intake by about 300 calories if you are trying to lose weight regardless of exercise. So I should be adding 400 calories if I exercise (or whatever I burned)? Doesn't that basically zero it out and I'm back at no weight loss? Just curious since I have been having a hard time losing and I might have my formulas all messed up

[deedolce]

I've read through this thread with great interest!

I also read weight loss threads on other forums where the 'losers' are not athletes...and they aren't having the difficulty in general that there is here. At least the ones that post in their numbers in those other forums ...it's how many full pounds are lost, not in 1/10's, and it comes for them from something like cutting out the soda, or walking after dinner, working up to a mile or two!

I think we've trained our bodies are to be extemely efficient, or: after a few hundred miles of cycling a month, in comparison to 'walks around the block' we'd wither to nothing but tendons and bones if it worked that way with us. We use our fuel well.

I think of weight loss as a curve, and a changing one at that! It changes with age, with weather and season, with your level of fitnes. And the curve is pretty darn shallow at the top, when you're near your ideal weight. I don't believe in the simple calorie count.

..and personally, I don't mind a little cushion. In case I get in a bike accident. I may need that bodily reserve of fat!

Cheers, everyone!

[Triskeliongirl]

I think the problem here is that most of these gals are already quite lean. I find for me its extremely hard to get below 22% bodyfat, but with that being said I feel really good at 22% bodyfat so I don't mind. I also think some of these women are making a mistake to track pounds rather than body fat, which is what really counts.

[Starfish]

Triskeliongirl...not attempting to be contentious...I tend to agree with most of what you wrote.

But, I know that I am nowhere near fairly lean. Although it has been awhile since I've had my body fat tested, I know from those experiences, and what I can readily pinch all over my body now, and how my clothes fit, that my body fat is a good 10 points higher than what I would like it to be. And, I am shooting for a very healthy, normal number, nothing low.

For that reason, it is a lot easier to track pounds for now. In about 20 pounds, it will be time to have body fat tested again to see where I'm at...

[CyclaSutra]

..and personally, I don't mind a little cushion. In case I get in a bike accident. I may need that bodily reserve of fat!
!

Or in case of a famine ... or a recession ... or a natural disaster ... or if I lose my job and can't afford groceries ... or if I get lost in the woods for a week ... or in case science finds a way to use fat cells to save baby leukemia patients ... I've got a million excuses for my extra fluff.

Oh, BTW, my DH was in a catastrophic snowmobile crash about 13 years ago, two years before I met him, and the doctors told him he prolly wouldn't have survived were it not for a little extra cushion. I wonder if that's psychologically affecting his motivation for keeping more weight on. Therapy!

[Triskeliongirl]

Oh, I don't mean to be contentious either, just helpful. I did not mean everyone, but I am surprised how light *some* of the gals are that are trying to lose weight here, that is all, and was trying to respond to the posters query as to why more gals on this board are struggling than on others.

I also can't help but wonder if those gals that are struggling don't have some degree of impaired glucose tolerance. Of course, I am relating to my own experience, but if you *gained* weight when you started cycling, and also *thought* you needed to eat a lot of carbs to do it, so you could be a candiate. I'm not gonna repeat my personal story, just something to think about. I personally think a high protein/low carb diet is just an *easier* way to lose weight because it puts even a normal person in a biochemical/hormonal state that favor fat burning. So, I am just throwing this out for those of you that are restricting calories but not seeing a loss.

And lastly, congrats to all of you that are making healthy changes, even if the loss has been slow. Slow loss and/or maintenance sure beats a gain now, doesn't it!

[kerrybelle]

.....making a mistake to track pounds rather than body fat, which is what really counts.

Agreed, I am trying to lower my body fat, which seems to be an even slower process. I am at the high end of the normal range, now and would like to be at the middle of that range. Not expecting miracles, but I know it won't get any easer as I get older!

[Starfish]

I also can't help but wonder if those gals that are struggling don't have some degree of impaired glucose tolerance.

I think that is an extremely good question.

[GLC1968]

Perhaps we should have included height in the original posts? That's something that really needs to be taken into consideration when comparing our progress. While I'd be emaciated and likely malnourished at 115 lbs, someone who is only 5'0' and of a different build than me, may still have fat to lose at that point. It's really all relative. If my weight was 170, I'd be very overweight...if my friend who is 6'0" and already lean weighed less than 170, she'd probably scare the pants off her family with prominent cheek & rib bones! We can't just look at starting weights and make assumptions about how much weight a person needs (or doesn't need) to lose.

AND...keep in mind that while I am 5'4' and can have an 18% body fat at 135lbs...135 could easily be too heavy for somebody else who is 5'4" but with a different build.

We are all tracking body weight, because it's a very easy measure to make and it is 100% objective (while it doesn't always feel that way!). What is important is that we all recognize that it's not the ONLY measurement of success. It's obvious that we all do realize this, and personally, I think it's a nice change of attitude from other weight loss groups where the women are not already athletes!

[Over50Newbie]

Well, looks like I gained almost 4 pounds during my anniversary 4-day weekend away.

I weighed in today at 143.2

But that's okay. It was a very special time and worth every pound.

Now I am getting back on track and will see what Friday holds for me...

I'm hoping that it will come back off quickly.

Lynette

[GLC1968]

And Lynette - don't despair...4 extra lbs of weight over a weekend is just water! I bet you'll be back down to where you were by Friday's weigh in.

[VeloVT]

Hi guys (girls ladies women... peeps),
I've avoided this thread for two weeks as GLC's spreadsheet shows. Guilty as charged .

I'm still sort of in the challenge (if I haven't forfeited my right by not weighing in for two weeks), and of course I will still pitch in a waterbottle to the winner.

For some reason the beginning of the spring semester has been really hard on me and I've had trouble establishing regular habits -- eating, sleeping, studying, calling my family, you name it. Not sure why, I've done this before, I'm just sort of out of sorts and in a bit of a funk. So I haven't been weighing because I have been gaining and that will just add to my level of frustration.

I will keep trying to get the reins again and once I feel like I've done that, I'll weigh in again. I know this sort of violates the intent of a weigh in thread, so you can kick me off if you like , but it's still actually useful to me to see other people working towards their goals.

Congrats to everyone for your hard work & success!

Oh and FWIW, I'm up one more lb to127.5

[nonsmoker3]

Well, looks like I gained almost 4 pounds during my anniversary 4-day weekend away.

I weighed in today at 143.2

But that's okay. It was a very special time and worth every pound.

Now I am getting back on track and will see what Friday holds for me...

I'm hoping that it will come back off quickly.

Lynette

It is refreshing to see someone as positive as you are. When I read your post I had to stop whining about my extra pounds and just get right back on track. Thanks!!!

[snowtulip]

Great job everyone!!! I'm one of those lightweights in the challenge, but like GLC said height factors in. I'm only 4'11 (yes, that's with shoes, I take what I can) so I do have some weight loss that needs to be had. But I also am awful with my body fat (30%) and trying to do what I can. I think we all have our small goals or reasons for participating in the challenge and I appreciate having someplace to hold me accountable and cheer me up!

[Over50Newbie]

Thanks nonsmoker3 -

The way that I am looking at it is that this is a long term goal. One weekend is just a small part of the big picture.

I am continuing to stay dedicated, no matter what!

I am like the little engine that could - I think I can, I think I can, I think I can... I knew I could, I knew I could, I knew I could.

GLC1968 - I hope that you are right! And once again, thank you for the chart - we should all send you a water bottle just for doing it!

Lynette