FarHorizon

I've been riding since January, now, and have been increasing my time & intensity on the bike(s). I started out in January at 265#. Initially, I dropped 10# down to 255. Now, my weight has crept back up to 260# and seems stuck there. Some of this has been "denser muscle for less-dense fat" substitution since my waist is smaller now, but I'm still stuck!

After cruising the Training & Nutrition (T&N) forum, they seem to suggest a slight increase in output combined with some decrease in caloric intake.

My question is: How does age affect the above advice? In my specific circumstance, I have gout, and can't eat a diet heavy in beans for protein (a fave recommendation of the weight weenies in T&N). Without substituting proteins, I'm looking at reducing the size of meals (particularly in the evenings) to reduce overall calories.

Any specific suggestions for getting out of the plateau & reducing some?

taylor8

You got to diet too. I was diagnosed as diabetic last April, Doc said loose wieght or die. I call that motavation.

I don't do anything special just watch the carbs like crazy and count cals. It not as bad as I thought it would be.

The carb part is hard. But there is a lot of info on low carb diets so you are probing around in the dark.

If you can eat carbs I would suggest Weight Watchers, I have had execlent results using their program in the past.

Joe

stapfam

It happens to some people that weight loss does not come about through exercise or even by diet. I am one of the lucky lightweights, in that I can eat anything and never put on weight. Thanks to cycling, I even take a high carb diet to boot, so that has upset you further.

Food intake is a problem, and I have a colleague at work that is overweight, and is dieting to lose it. He is getting disheartened because he is not losing a great deal of weight whatsoever. His doctor is pleased because he is losing the bulk that he had and has gone down a trouser size in 3 months. He feels fitter, and the size of his meals is minute, even compared to what I am eating, and it is all the right stuff.
His doctor is not worried, because he reckons that shortly, the weight will come off, providing he sticks to the diet. Incidentally- he does not exercise at all, but then neither would I at 300lbs and 5'7". He still has a long way to go, but he is getting there.

You are doing the right thing be exercising, but get a diet working. Either that or get out on the bike for fast 40 mile rides. All that exercise on a body that is not ready for it means that you will not want to eat. In fact all you will want to do is find a couch and lie on it. Providing that is acompanied by a bowl of lettuce leafs and not a sticky bun- you will lose weight.

p8rider

FarHorizon, Like you I also began what I consider serious riding this year. I started in March. I got into it for the excersize rather than the weight loss. Without losing a pound, I lost bulk around my waist and began to feel much better. I was surprised that I did not lose weight as a side effect. Through July I believe I lost 4 pounds. In august I began looking to practice longer distances in anticipation of the birthday ride. My excersize ride of 10 miles is usually a real hard push type of ride charging hills etc. For longer distance I pulled back some so I would have the stamina to finish. What I found was at a lower heart rate, (I believe it is considered a more aerobic excersize level) and riding greater distances which translates into 2 hour plus rides, the pounds have begun to leave me. I got interested in dropping a few pounds so began to eat a little more responsibly at lunch. To make a long story short in the month of Sept. I lost 6 pounds which is alot for me. Rode longer rides every weekend and would drop 1-1 1/2lbs. each ride and it would stay gone. I don't know what type of riding you do but it may be worth looking into. My .02

jppe

Farhorizon-essentially you have taken advantage of the "low hanging fruit"!! Sorry for the attempted humor but I'm guessing the easiest part is behind you.

Here's my experience. I've lost 50 lbs and can tell you that for me it was simply calories in versus calories out. When I first starting riding, my experience was I exercised more but that also increased my appetite. Like you, I hit a plateau and that was because I was still eating too much and not reducing my calorie intake enough.

What others have said is correct. I found it very helpful to count calories and WRITE THEM DOWN. It's amaizing how you can forget about an apple, a nutrition bar, a couple cookies, etc that add up throughout the day. Determine a safe daily calorie limit for yourself for losing about 1 lb a week and stick to it.

You'll find that in a very healthy manner you can strip off the pounds by simply increasing your riding--add some time throughout the week--which increases the calorie output and by decreasing your calorie intake. Just cut portions-reduce snacks-and cut out the "accessories", salts, butters, bread, etc. Absolutely avoid second helpings....they are just more calories.

The first week to 2 weeks is the hardest. You will get hungry. Eat a small snack of carrots or part of a banana. Eventually you can get to where you are eating more often but eating smaller portions and you will not feel the hunger tugging at you that you that you do initially.

I love to eat......but have been able to change my eating habits over the recent past and now can keep my weight stabilized by riding and eating the right things and the proper amounts.

I know you can do it. You already have the right incentive and mental approach which is 80% of it. All you need to do now is just figure out what you need to do. What I described worked for me and I hope it helps you some.

DnvrFox

Some of the meds I am on (or have been on) for my atrial fibrillation and BP have specific side effects of weight gain.

If you are on any meds, you might check this out.

Sadly, it seems that as I get older, it takes less and less food to keep me going. And I love food. It is certainly not a lack of exercise, as I weight lift like crazy, ride 150 miles per week, and walk several miles per day.

I am still putting on more muscle, and have been able to increase my weights. But, I honestly can't claim that as a reason for not losing as much as I would like.

I repeat - I love food! Simple as that. But I have lost about 25 pounds this last year.

Sigh

HiYoSilver

How does age effect weight loss? It's harder to gain and to lose. I've lost about the same 5 lbs since starting biking. More importantly, resting heart rate dropped from low 80s to 68. I don't think the low carb diet works well. I have better results with hunger and weight control by having small servings of meat and fat [nuts,yogurt,cream cheese]. I'm "starving" if have less that 5 oz of meat. Only need a tbs or two of fat to turn off the hunger prod. Increase fruit, especially apples,pears really help with sweet tooth.

I too have been disappointed with T&N subforum, and don't visit anymore. Get a good diet/nutrition software package, many are free, and keep track. That's going to be my new years resolution.

Good luck.

michaelnel

Wow! My body sweats lots of places, but that's one I missed! Do you brush with anti-perspirant?

DnvrFox

Not my experience!

I can gain just by looking at a food ad on TV. Losing is my nemesis!

Longhorn

I'm just happy to have stopped gaining!

I lost 70 pounds a couple of years ago on a severe diet and have gained half of it back. I have spent my entire adult life on one diet or another and I just plain refuse to diet any more. I just try to eat fairly healthy and keep up the exercise. If that's not enough, then I guess I'm just going to be overweight but I'll still be fit.

Digital Gee

Far, I'm following this thread with KEEN interest. Sounds like you and I could be twins separated at birth, except, of course, you're probably better looking. When I started biking in June, I weighed 265. I quickly dropped ten pounds, then hit the plateau. I didn't change my diet much if at all -- in my opinion I wasn't eating more or less than before.

That said, I did begin developing (OMG!) muscle. My waistline got a little smaller. Pants fit better, but I didn't lose a pant size or anything. Belts, oddly, got REAL big all of the sudden. Where I had been on the last hole, I now had to move it back two or three holes.

But I want to lose another 50 pounds. Looks like I"m going to HAVE to look at what I eat. Sigh.

I agree one of the best things to do is keep a food journal. In fact, from a previous weight loss adventure (a supervised liquid fast a few years ago where I lost 50 pounds in a couple of months, only to put it back on with bad habits).

Here's what they suggest:

1. Keep a food journal.

2. Environmental control: get all the crap out of your cupboards and fridge. If it's not there, you are less likely to go buy it.

3. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store first -- that's where the good food is. Almost everything in the aisles is junk in one form or another.

4. Five servings of fruits and veggies a day. Every day.

5. At least 8 glasses of water. Every day.

6. Obviously, avoid fast food restaurants or if you can't, at least order their salads and even then, be careful about the dressing.

So I'm going to have to do all these things. It's time to take action. I have proven to myself that I can do it, because nearly two years ago I quit smoking, and haven't looked back, and over three months ago, started exercising (with the bike, of course!) and fell in love with physical activity and now it looks like it's an established habit. Now it's on to food control.

Then, when I'm svelte, I can work on not cursing at other drivers who cut me off on the freeway!

FarHorizon

Obviously, you haven't seen me, brother! I suspect that the two of us have MANY more twins out there - they just aren't as smart as we are about doing their exercise and using the peer support here at bikeforums!

Thanks for the specific (and useful) tips! I'll start watching my caloric intake (AFTER my birthday), and we'll see how we're doing by Christmas. LUCK TO YOU!

HiYoSilver

I think it is more than calories. When I get serious about dieting, I'll get a nutrition software program. I tend to eat the same foods, in a rut, I know, and concerned about missing some essentials and then going on a binge, hungry for something, but not sure what so over eat.

Without dieting, I'm losing about 1 lb every month or two. Since it took a long time to add the weight, I don't mind taking time to remove it. But this opinion may change after my physical.

Biggest thing I can think of is don't overeat just because you are exercising. One summer I worked for the forest service and hiked up and down hills all day. We had free food and ate 2 or 3 normal sized meals for dinner. At end of summer, weighted the same. So if you can stop about 3 minutes before you get that full feeling, and have a cup of hot water/tea/coffee. That should help you lose faster, I think. It does help me control portion sizes.

FarHorizon

Thanks, HiYo - I plan to start drinking a LARGE glass or two of water before EVERY meal. Hopefully, this'll make me feel full sooner.

HiYoSilver

Far,

For some reason, hot water does a much better job of creating a full sensation than cold water for me. Sometimes instead of cold drink, I"ll just order a cup of hot water. Because I can't drink hot water fast, it slows down eating so I can feel full before finish entire meal.

Let us know how it goes by next month. What worked and what didn't work for you. Maybe others can learn something from your experiences.