Not Losing Weight

Max_Man
Max_Man Posts: 185
edited August 2007 in Training, fitness and health
Looking for a bit of advice, I've been cycling a lot lately and eating sensibly but I don't seem to be losing any weight (my aim is weight loss). I've been commuting 14 miles a day and longer rides at the weekend for over 3 weeks now and I've actually gained weight (3lbs).

Do you think I need to concentrate more on my diet, am I just adding muscle.

Coming from a pretty lethargic lifestyle I thought the weight would just drop off.

Any help or comment appreciated.

Comments

  • BeaconRuth
    BeaconRuth Posts: 2,086
    One of the problems of trying to lose weight by exercising (and not changing your diet) is that you start to gain muscle that you didn't have before and muscle weighs more than fat. So you could lose fat and GAIN weight!

    It's a good idea to look at your diet carefully in conjunction with exercising. Are you taking care to avoid saturated fat, cakes, pastries, biscuits, pies, puddings etc and eating lots of fruit and veg, good quality fish and meat and fllling up mainly on pasta, bread, rice and potatoes?

    Don't lose heart anyway - 14 miles a day is a great effort and I'm sure you'll see and fee the benefits if you stick with it. Give it at least 3 months, I'd say.
    http://www.rutheyles.co.uk/
  • ut_och_cykla
    ut_och_cykla Posts: 1,594
    AS Ruth says you could give it longer but after 3 months a pound a week could be a stone extra. Its easy to think you can eat more when you exercise but if you want to lose weight you can't always do it by exercise alone -you must at least pay heed to what you are eating.

    1 pound is about 3500 kcal a week - an 'excess' of 500 kcals a day on average.
    20 kms a day is about an hour or less of riding, perhaps about 500kcal at most - a yummy sarnie, one mars bar and a sugary fizzy drink several days a week may well take you into excess calories again.

    Don't eat more than you used to. Try to add healthy foods as per Ruths suggestions - greatly reduce or cut out the less healthy foods. Reorganise what you eat so you can eat some of it after a ride (to top up energy stores effectively for the following day) or during a longer ride.

    And keep active - you havn't stopped going out with the dog/gardening/walking to the bus because you've started cycling have you!! :)

    Good luck - don't give up
  • richa
    richa Posts: 1,632
    I doubt that you are putting on muscle. It is VERY easy to over compensate - get back from a long ride an think that you need to refuel loads.

    I think you need take a good look at your diet.

    How much do you weigh now? What's your target weight?
    Rich

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