Bike Bod

[LBTC]

I feel like I've reinvented myself.

Ditto

With serious cycling in the last few years came a new appreciation of what this body can do. I had strength, endurance, power, some skill, and I looked great! Cycling led to more exercise, too. Kickboxing started as a way to cross train in winter and soon became an activity I loved; yoga became more intense, focussed on serious balance and power and mind involvement....

All three activities have a zen element for me. I know I can not do any of them safely without being completely present. That's one sure way to stop thinking about work, the house, whatever.

This year my bike bod (racer body as DH liked to call it), deinvented itself as I struggled with what turns out to be Crohn's disease. I was diagnosed about a month ago and am so far no closer to understanding what I can and can't eat. I am getting over the emotional feeling that I'm suddenly "breakable", but I do go through waves of feeling sad and like I've lost something, to feeling like I will regain my fitness and my athletic self.

This year will be an interesting journey. I plan to train, I plan to ride, I plan to kickbox, I plan to do a peacock pose again, I plan to race.....and I somehow need to adjust my expectations so that I get enough rest when I need it, learn how to recover properly, and am able to manage stress effectively, in order to keep this disease in check. I hope that the effects of the exercise will make a visible difference to my body again. I hate to think that I may have already peaked!

There are many reasons to love riding and what it does for us. For each of us, the mileage may vary.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Wahine]

i havent lost any weight at all from cycling. and my body doesnt look any better. i ride about 16 miles everyday. am i not doing enough or something? anyway it has helped me immensely in a spiritual way tho. im not taking antidepressants anymore. and i sleep better. i have also dealt with an eating disorder for a while and i it seems my cycling habit is replacing my try-not-to-eat habit. i think about food in a very different way now...

Hey inatree,

I'm happy that you've found a sport that is helping you spiritually. I also echo all of the great points that Raven made about intensity of riding etc. But there are a couple of things in your post that worry me a little. If you had an eating disorder, you likely also have an unrealistic body image or unrealistic expectations of what your body should look like or how it should change.

You didn't telly us how long you've been riding. It may not have been long enough to make a change yet. We also don't know what your body is like now. If you're normal or on the underweight side, you are not likely to lose weight, in fact you'll likely see an increase due to muscle. As for not noticing a change in your body, if you are undereating, your body has no nutrients to use to build new muscle or reconfigure the muscle that you have.

Try not to be judgemental about yourself or your riding. Do it because it makes you feel good. If you're riding 5 days a week that's great. If you're providing your body with the proper nutrition, it will change, it has no choice. And remember, it's not important what the scale says, they're only numbers.

Last little piece of advice, remember that eating disorders are similar to other types of addictive behavior and any exercise can also become an addictive behavior. If it's taken to the extreme, exercise addiction can be very unhealthy as well. Believe me, I know.

Take care and have fun riding.

[mimitabby]

Good post, Wahine. I gained almost 10 pounds from riding my bike!

It looks great on my legs, I'll tell you. I went from being someone "thin" to someone fit. Everyone does NOT lose weight from riding.