Are You Losing Weight?
#1
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Are You Losing Weight?
I've read many accounts of new e-bike riders losing weight, often a significant amount of weight. I don't read many accounts of people riding regular bikes who are losing weight. I'm certainly not saying it doesn't happen but there are so many accounts of the former, it seems like a positive trend rather than just isolated phenomena.
My theory is that ebikes allow for riding at a lower level of intensity which promotes weight loss compared to the intermediate level of intensity for bike riding in general. I wonder also, if riding a regular bike at a low level of intensity might be better for weight loss than riding at an intermediate level of intensity. Obviously, riding at a very high level of intensity for a prolonged period is not really possible, and probably not desirable for a variety of reasons.
My theory is that ebikes allow for riding at a lower level of intensity which promotes weight loss compared to the intermediate level of intensity for bike riding in general. I wonder also, if riding a regular bike at a low level of intensity might be better for weight loss than riding at an intermediate level of intensity. Obviously, riding at a very high level of intensity for a prolonged period is not really possible, and probably not desirable for a variety of reasons.
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Yes, I lose weight if I reduce my caloric input. I try to lose 1-3 lbs per week. Some weeks, I'm successful others not so. I lost 30 lbs last year. I ride 25 miles 4x per week. I use level 2-3.
Last edited by alloo; 06-09-20 at 11:20 PM.
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#4
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I've read many accounts of new e-bike riders losing weight, often a significant amount of weight. I don't read many accounts of people riding regular bikes who are losing weight. I'm certainly not saying it doesn't happen but there are so many accounts of the former, it seems like a positive trend rather than just isolated phenomena.
My theory is that ebikes allow for riding at a lower level of intensity which promotes weight loss compared to the intermediate level of intensity for bike riding in general. I wonder also, if riding a regular bike at a low level of intensity might be better for weight loss than riding at an intermediate level of intensity. Obviously, riding at a very high level of intensity for a prolonged period is not really possible, and probably not desirable for a variety of reasons.
My theory is that ebikes allow for riding at a lower level of intensity which promotes weight loss compared to the intermediate level of intensity for bike riding in general. I wonder also, if riding a regular bike at a low level of intensity might be better for weight loss than riding at an intermediate level of intensity. Obviously, riding at a very high level of intensity for a prolonged period is not really possible, and probably not desirable for a variety of reasons.
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I can see losing weight riding an E bike, I had a similar situation when I changed jobs, and took a different route that was much less strenuous, causing me to lose some body muscle, close to 15 pounds in weight.
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I can lose weight doing either one and I ride both ways. But it's more about matching calories eaten to calories burned. I ride in part
so I can eat stuff I like (all of which is fattening). Doesn't matter whether I burn that 350 calories on my bike with the motor or without - but
if I eat more than 350 calories over my baseline and don't do extra riding, I'll gain weight. Probably good that lots of places are closed
right now - less tempted to ride from bakery to bakery, lol.
so I can eat stuff I like (all of which is fattening). Doesn't matter whether I burn that 350 calories on my bike with the motor or without - but
if I eat more than 350 calories over my baseline and don't do extra riding, I'll gain weight. Probably good that lots of places are closed
right now - less tempted to ride from bakery to bakery, lol.
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I'm losing weight riding an ebike because my commute is 35 miles RT (with 1,500' combined ascent), and the ebike allows me to do that commute 4-5 days a week, as opposed to my non-ebike that I can only do 2-3 days per week because my knees get too sore and I choose to recover instead. On top of that, when I was on the non-ebike, on the 3 or 4 days a week that I knew I wasn't riding the next day (because my knees were sore), I would tend to drink too much beer and/or to much wine with dinner. The ebike keeps me riding more, which helps me to consume less.
Full disclosure: several years ago I did lose 60 lbs in 18 months riding a non-ebike, but I was able to ride 6-7 days a week because I hadn't yet blown my knees out (from doing hardcore sprinting). My new ebike is getting me back in the game.
Full disclosure: several years ago I did lose 60 lbs in 18 months riding a non-ebike, but I was able to ride 6-7 days a week because I hadn't yet blown my knees out (from doing hardcore sprinting). My new ebike is getting me back in the game.
Last edited by Riveting; 07-09-20 at 01:11 PM.
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I've got a fitbit heart rate monitor. It lets me know when I'm in calorie burn mode or higher intensity. Seems like the harder I work and the more I sweat, the lower the calorie burn. Riding motorized it's easy to stay in the calorie burn zone. However, the easy spinning which reduces calories does not seem to help build muscle at all. Riding motorless I see a difference in my abs, butt, and thighs regardless of
what the scale says; it tones my parts up. Riding motorized I can drop numbers on the scale but there is less toning and muscle definition.
So I do both now on a regular basis, short high intensity spurts without the motor and sustained spinning with the motor.
Unfortunately, with shelter in place and most things closed, I've been baking a LOT. That has completely messed with the benefits of
my bike, haha.
what the scale says; it tones my parts up. Riding motorized I can drop numbers on the scale but there is less toning and muscle definition.
So I do both now on a regular basis, short high intensity spurts without the motor and sustained spinning with the motor.
Unfortunately, with shelter in place and most things closed, I've been baking a LOT. That has completely messed with the benefits of
my bike, haha.
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I've got a fitbit heart rate monitor. It lets me know when I'm in calorie burn mode or higher intensity. Seems like the harder I work and the more I sweat, the lower the calorie burn. Riding motorized it's easy to stay in the calorie burn zone. However, the easy spinning which reduces calories does not seem to help build muscle at all. Riding motorless I see a difference in my abs, butt, and thighs regardless of
what the scale says; it tones my parts up. Riding motorized I can drop numbers on the scale but there is less toning and muscle definition.
So I do both now on a regular basis, short high intensity spurts without the motor and sustained spinning with the motor.
Unfortunately, with shelter in place and most things closed, I've been baking a LOT. That has completely messed with the benefits of
my bike, haha.
what the scale says; it tones my parts up. Riding motorized I can drop numbers on the scale but there is less toning and muscle definition.
So I do both now on a regular basis, short high intensity spurts without the motor and sustained spinning with the motor.
Unfortunately, with shelter in place and most things closed, I've been baking a LOT. That has completely messed with the benefits of
my bike, haha.
And then when I switch back I can no longer get up hills.
It seems the spinning with low intensity is really great for burning fat but it also burns/reduces muscle mass.
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Yeah, I have that too. If I ride only my ebike for a couple of weeks I also seem to lose my top level power quite fast.
And then when I switch back I can no longer get up hills.
It seems the spinning with low intensity is really great for burning fat but it also burns/reduces muscle mass.
And then when I switch back I can no longer get up hills.
It seems the spinning with low intensity is really great for burning fat but it also burns/reduces muscle mass.
and the lowest PAS I ride in 6th so I can spin out pretty easily. If I had harder gears I could just up the gearing to work harder, but I
don't want to change my bike up. So I just shut down the motor (has a pause button) and barely use it on my exercise rides. It makes
my errands a lot faster and less sweaty, and it's great if I ride manually for exercise and run out of steam on the way home. You just gotta know when to use it to reap the benefits maximally.
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I don't lose or gain weight much because of riding, electric or non, and I'm into my 8th decade of riding. I do gain 5-8 pounds each winter because I do ride my AirDyne then, less than I ride my other bikes the rest of the year. A tiny part of that gain is due to non-optimal holiday eating.
On the other hand, I have lost about 10-15 pounds this year because I have not eaten at a restaurant since mid-March -and even though I have also ridden less since then. A tiny part of this gain is due to not getting a haircut since then either. Stay healthy and safe everyone.
On the other hand, I have lost about 10-15 pounds this year because I have not eaten at a restaurant since mid-March -and even though I have also ridden less since then. A tiny part of this gain is due to not getting a haircut since then either. Stay healthy and safe everyone.
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I lose weight all the time, and then quickly find it again though that is due to excess noodle consumption. However riding more well help and certainly if you are enjoying the ride more you will maybe go further or use it more often. You may get a better exercise on a regular bike but if you aren't going to ride it, it doesn't matter. On the e-bike I can still work out if I want and am more likely to push myself a little harder.
#15
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I have worked in a bike shop and for about 10 years had a little bike shop in my detached garage. I explain that because it allowed me to talk with a whole lot of people about ebikes. I also built or sold ebikes to several customers at their request.
I suspect that at least some of the weight loss may be because the ebike rider wasn't riding at all so riding an ebike allowed them to get exercise. Same with some seniors and folks who wanted to commute but had big hills or didn't commute because it was too far or too sweaty.
I suspect that at least some of the weight loss may be because the ebike rider wasn't riding at all so riding an ebike allowed them to get exercise. Same with some seniors and folks who wanted to commute but had big hills or didn't commute because it was too far or too sweaty.