Discouragement.
So I’m feeling a bit discouraged as my weight has slightly risen. I know my eating habits aren’t great, but at the same time, I’ve been riding on a consistent basis since mid-May. I’d at least expected to drop a bunch of weight by now.
I checked my blood pressure yesterday, and it is still through the roof. When I first started, I dropped maybe 7 lbs real quick, but now I’ve gained most of those back.
I guess this is all part of the cycle of losing weight. I don’t want to lose too much too fast, otherwise that raises the likelihood of gaining it all back and some. But I would like to see progress. Those same hills are still a struggle to me (at least they feel like it), and lately I’ve been so exhausted upon getting home, that I mostly lay on the couch.
Since I was married, (since I got a car), I started putting on weight, averaging about 10 or 15 pounds per year. Meanwhile, my wife is the same weight she was in high school (really, I’m happy about that, heh heh).
The high blood pressure, and the weight gain has me doubting myself. I did get into bike commuting mostly to lose weight and get exercise. While my legs are certainly more muscular, the rest of my body seems even softer.
I guess I’ll have to come to the conclusion that it is going to take a concerted effort of riding even more, and really changing my diet.
Metal Bike Commuter 
on September 4, 2008 on 10:01 pm
It’s all muscle!
on September 5, 2008 on 1:55 pm
Do not get discouraged. If you aren’t making progress, but know that you are putting forth a concerted effort in all areas (riding, rest, diet, etc.) then try and figure out what the problem is. Your description of little to no weight loss sounds like me. I’m also way overweight and have been riding since April with almost no weight change. My clothes, though, are fitting much, much better. Like Kendra said, I think you’re seeing some muscle gain from the commuting. I have another question. Besides commuting on your bike, do you do any other riding? For example, on Saturdays are you trying to get in some longer rides to help burn more fat? I ride on the weekdays for about 13 miles (similar to a commute) but believe I fell into a rut performing the same ride/mileage/pace each day. I’ve since added longer Saturday rides in the hope that I can shake it up to get the scale moving. Just keep pressing on.
I’ve subscribed to your feed.
on September 5, 2008 on 2:05 pm
Stay out of the fitness dead zone of ‘not too hard, not too easy’ pedaling. Go out and have really tough days where you push way hard, and sprinkle in really easy spin out days to recover.
Ever do any intervals? Basically go really hard (red line!!) for a couple minutes, then recover a few minutes. Repeat a few times.
Keep on spinning.
on September 5, 2008 on 6:53 pm
Dean and Bryan, all are good ideas that I will try.
Heh, I am a little embarrassed to say, but my wife found out that our scale wasn’t zeroed out. So I haven’t gained the weight I thought I did, though I still have that high blood pressure to fix.
on September 5, 2008 on 8:48 pm
Don’t watch the scale so much as take your measurements. Muscle is heavier than fat, so you could be gaining weight as the muscle comes up, but shrinking (muscle is leaner so you should see some slimming). Watch the diet more closely. So much is diet once you’re over 25 yrs of age. I’ve been looking at some books on training for cyclists, and there are a couple that look very good. “Fitness Cycling” by Dede Demeret Barry looks interesting, but I haven’t read it yet. As far as the blook pressure, I’m sure you know what you’re supposed to be eating/not eating? If you can’t ride, at least try to squeeze in a walk. Mix things up, don’t do the same thing all the time. Longer rides would be good, too, if you can find time on weekends? I’m not a big fan of pharmaceuticals, I saw what they did to my parents. Hopefully you’ll be able to control it with diet and exercise. Hang in there, we all ‘plateau’ at times.
on September 5, 2008 on 8:52 pm
Oh, and I agree with Dean about the intervals. There’s an article at coolrunnings.com (running site) about “Postman’s syndrome” where people who do the same thing all the time don’t see any change (like postmen who walk and walk and walk everyday, but never lose weight because their bodies adapt to the pace).
on September 5, 2008 on 8:59 pm
Hells bells… one last thing. Here’s the article on Postman’s Syndrome. It wasn’t at coolrunning.com (but you might like that site anyway).
on September 5, 2008 on 9:10 pm
Thanks DD.
I’m looking forward to trying the intervals on tonight’s ride home.
I think my biggest thing right now is that I need to cut the fried foods out. My wife has a huge garden of veggies, and yet I still go to the nearest fast food joints, and pizza parlors.
on September 5, 2008 on 9:56 pm
Yeah, that fast food is just bad. It takes awhile to wean yourself off it, but once you do you won’t miss it. This may help to get you to at least think twice before downing fast food:
http://www.naturalnews.com/022194.html
on September 8, 2008 on 3:46 am
some encouragement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvyb6OaJ8uo