Putting on weight

SPOC
SPOC Posts: 109
edited November 2013 in Training, fitness and health
I weighed myself yesterday for the first time in a while and had a bit of a shock when I discovered I'd put on about 9lbs.I only weighed 140lbs to start with so 9lbs for my size is quite a lot.

Now the thing is, I don't feel any heavier and if anything belts and trousers are looser, and I am buying a size down when it comes to shorts and trousers lately. I ride roughly at least 10 hours each week, usually around 12-14 and feeling I am getting stronger on the bike and quicker, my climbing also doesn't seem to be affected one bit by this extra weight.

Anyone else with similar experiences? Just one of those things cyclists experience in weight fluctuation? My friend suggested to me muscle. Whilst my legs do look more muscled toned, 9lbs seems a lot to equate to just muscle.

This isn't me complaining and considering performance doesn't seem to be affected I am not really that worried, I am just genuinely interested as to what the reason might be.

Comments

  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    Most people's weight fluctuates rather a lot day to day, but not usually by that much (I weigh between 130 and 135 pounds with a day to day fluctuation of 1-2 lbs).

    Hard to say anything about it if you haven't weighed yourself recently. Weigh yourself a couple of times a week, preferably at a fixed time (I try and do it in the morning, after a morning dump). Only then will you have an idea about the trend of the direction of your weight gain/loss.

    Weight can fluctuate very dramatically after hard weekends in summer if you've not quite rehydrated properly etc.

    Don't panic, but start weighing yourself regularly if you are worried.
    Stuff about riding a bike a long way
  • shockedsoshocked
    shockedsoshocked Posts: 4,021
    When I started racing and stopped upperbody gym stuff I actually gained 5kg (75kg to 80kg) but looked slimmest and was by far my fittest, so it doesn't seem unreasonable.
    "A cyclist has nothing to lose but his chain"

    PTP Runner Up 2015
  • dw300
    dw300 Posts: 1,642
    You might just store fat on your back and chest more than your waist.

    Are you using digital scales?
    All the above is just advice .. you can do whatever the f*ck you wana do!
    Bike Radar Strava Club
    The Northern Ireland Thread
  • SPOC
    SPOC Posts: 109
    Hi guys, thanks for the replies.
    ShockedSoShocked wrote:
    When I started racing and stopped upperbody gym stuff I actually gained 5kg (75kg to 80kg) but looked slimmest and was by far my fittest, so it doesn't seem unreasonable.

    This is how it feels to me, that I 'look' my slimmest. I am usually the first to think I've gotten fat, so the weigh in was quite a surprise to me
    dw300 wrote:
    You might just store fat on your back and chest more than your waist.

    Are you using digital scales?

    Hi DW mate, yes digital scales. Have always used the same ones, they've in all the years never thrown up any really odd results meaning I can put it down to the scales.

    You may well be right, the fat may just be spread around (back. chest etc) and that my waist has got off lightly this time, can believe that entirely, it's just that I'd like to account for it :lol:

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