Body Composition Thread
08-11-17, 01:03 PM
#26
Rides too much bike
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in my own experience here + a bunch of others that i've helped, i find that it takes about 2-3 weeks of paying attention to figure out general calorie intake for the foods we commonly eat.
then 'tracking' becomes pretty easy to do in one's head--assuming one isn't eating out constantly or eating different things all the time.
did you track macros? you should be able to lose weight and retain muscle (just like you can lose weight and maintain or even increase FTP), but you have to pay more attention to macros & timing.
OTOH, if you lost upper body mass (for example) that could just be a product of doing cycling-specific training. it could be valuable for winning races but less valuable for, say, remaining attractive to others.
then 'tracking' becomes pretty easy to do in one's head--assuming one isn't eating out constantly or eating different things all the time.
did you track macros? you should be able to lose weight and retain muscle (just like you can lose weight and maintain or even increase FTP), but you have to pay more attention to macros & timing.
OTOH, if you lost upper body mass (for example) that could just be a product of doing cycling-specific training. it could be valuable for winning races but less valuable for, say, remaining attractive to others.
For me I am actually pretty regular with my diet. Have never had an issue eating the same thing day in and day out. My issue comes from the fact that food is a comfort that I indulge too much in during the afternoon when I get home, I know where my weaknesses lie, and I think I have finally hit the point where I am becoming okay with it. Tracking is something that I sometimes fall back to when I am really struggling with my weight, it acts as a good reset for me but it also makes me doubt myself and sometimes I feel like I get more out of my racing if I just try not to get psyched out about my weight.
One thing that I still get is people commenting that my upper body is relatively "ripped" for that of a cyclist. I have had many people ask me what I do for my upper body workouts and my significant other has mentioned that she finds my upper body attractive (I suspect some bias here). This is sort of me bragging and whining at the same time, I tend to retain my muscle pretty easily which I feel is a double edged sword when it comes to bike racing. I don't doubt I could lose weight, I have plenty of spots in my diet where I could focus a bit more and make some gains, but I feel that it does go against what my body wants to do which is retain muscle so it adds that extra bit of "Don't do that!" to the back of my thoughts when I start down the diet train.
All that said it is definitely a goal for this off-season (For the n-th year in a row). Lets see what happens though, moving in with the SO might be great, might also be bad. But perhaps at this point in my life I have started to care less? I have no real dream of going pro but I like to be competitive so.... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
08-11-17, 02:59 PM
#27
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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I doubt I will ever get there - extra skin from being 100lbs heavier than current, but I am excited to try. Doing some weight-loss/dehydration competition couldn't go wrong for me!
08-11-17, 04:23 PM
#28
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Could you both post pictures of yourself shirtless and preening so we can judge the effectiveness of your gains in attractiveness?
08-11-17, 04:24 PM
#29
out walking the earth
A lot of it is simply genetics. Those guys with the razor hard abs are blessed with those muscles. Sure some of it is work, but I've been at it for 35 years.
135 pounds early in the week. I was up closer to 140 when I took this. I get vascularity throughout my midsection, but lower abs have loose skin over them, and I was never a heavy guy.
Keep it up though.
Looking forward to eating again.
Mt. Washington in a week.
135 pounds early in the week. I was up closer to 140 when I took this. I get vascularity throughout my midsection, but lower abs have loose skin over them, and I was never a heavy guy.
Keep it up though.
Looking forward to eating again.
Mt. Washington in a week.
Last edited by gsteinb; 08-11-17 at 04:28 PM.
08-11-17, 04:50 PM
#30
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I might have a shot a full abs again if I actually made an effort to eat well. I'm a sucker for sweets and other junk food though. Last time I had a full set of abs was in high school 
08-11-17, 05:47 PM
#33
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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gary is hard af!
I'm ~185 in the pic (today)
https://i.imgur.com/8uS2jxZ.jpg
there's also toothpaste on my mirror. sorry.
I'm ~185 in the pic (today)
https://i.imgur.com/8uS2jxZ.jpg
there's also toothpaste on my mirror. sorry.
08-12-17, 02:55 AM
#35
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08-12-17, 05:33 PM
#36
Cat 2
Ooh, let me jump in!
https://i.imgur.com/qKSLu93.jpg
This is what my scale claims is 15% bodyfat and 150lbs. + I'm super sunburnt from the ride today so it makes my tan lines stand out.
When I was 138 lbs back last Novemeber, I could see my abs (about 4 of them). I have no idea what my BF was then, but I'm guessing probably about 12% or so. I know I've put on a lot of muscle in my legs since then. Also I have enjoyed a bit of food since then :L.
https://i.imgur.com/qKSLu93.jpg
This is what my scale claims is 15% bodyfat and 150lbs. + I'm super sunburnt from the ride today so it makes my tan lines stand out.
When I was 138 lbs back last Novemeber, I could see my abs (about 4 of them). I have no idea what my BF was then, but I'm guessing probably about 12% or so. I know I've put on a lot of muscle in my legs since then. Also I have enjoyed a bit of food since then :L.
Last edited by Ttoc6; 08-12-17 at 05:39 PM.
08-12-17, 08:25 PM
#38
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My contribution to this thread comes courtesy of a very old puppy picture I came across tonight. Hold your applause at fudgy's apparent skill in animal husbandry and focus instead on his twin fuel tanks for a sex machine.
08-12-17, 09:19 PM
#39
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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I had a broken clavicle, was on oxycontin, and hadn't **** for about a week in that pic. A bit odd that you have it, though.
08-13-17, 06:37 PM
#43
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08-14-17, 01:37 PM
#46
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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unlike most of us, @gsteinb actually knows what he's doing in terms of body comp and bf%...
08-14-17, 04:21 PM
#47
out walking the earth
unlike most of us, @gsteinb actually knows what he's doing in terms of body comp and bf%...
Interestingly enough psychologically I'm no less stable than you. I do a lot of the same stuff like waiting to eat or drink, or jumping in the hot tub before weighing myself.
I do want to make some changes to my diet after the season is over...perhaps dropping the chocolate milk recovery drink to avoid the sugar. Getting old enough that health seems to be a higher priority to me than looking good. I'm bald and ugly anyway.
I am significantly lighter and leaner than when I started back racing 15 years ago. Much of it in the last 12-15 months.
I guess we'll see what it really means this weekend.
08-14-17, 04:31 PM
#48
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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I'm pretty strong all day, even adding breakfast back in. I follow the plan until nighttime binges.
I thought you were into mindfulness things and meditation? I am not sure if it's reassuring that you have similar nonsense weight behaviors or disheartening that even you have some nonsense weight behaviors!
08-14-17, 04:39 PM
#49
out walking the earth
Indeed, I am a full time meditation and mindfulness teacher.
I'm not entirely sure, though I suspect adaptation and balanced meals is something to do with it. If I'm hungry at night I eat some air popped corn. The falling asleep and waking up thing I'd explore two ways...one if it's just some sort of bad habit. And two if you're genuinely hungry that you're not eating enough and it's your body telling you so.
08-14-17, 04:46 PM
#50
Killing Rabbits
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I was obsessing about stupid crap, losing weight, not sleeping well, and then I started taking venlafaxine.
Better living through chemistry.
Better living through chemistry.