cycling to lose weight

[madpensioner]

Is it true that the only way to lose weight cycling - is to use water only rather than a carb drink - I went out the other day and did 31 miles in 2:02 ( remember i am 71 ) - which is my best time yet and i only used water - when i finished i felt great - I have been using MAXIFUEL which i find ok - however i think one of the members stated a few weeks ago - that using carb drinks means that you only burn the carb drink rather than the exess body fat energy - i am not over weight - 6ft 1 ins and 13st 6lbs - but i want to lose 3/4 of a stone - in the last 3 yrs i have cycled 9800 miles but dont lose any weight - how do i strike the balance - between using nothing but water and maybe a too strong carb drink

 

[lulubel]

The way to lose weight cycling (or doing any other exercise, or no exercise, for that matter) is to consume less calories than you burn each day. There's nothing more complicated about it.

If you find you need energy (and I certainly would if I was on the bike for 3 hours), then carb drinks or high carb snacks will help you, but you will need to allow for the fact that you've already "used" some of the calories you earned from your ride, and not eat them again at some other point in the day.

 

[I like Skol]

At 6' 1" and under 13 1/2 stones I doubt you really need to lose more weight!?!?

I am the same height and just dipping under 14 stone in the last few months and really don't think it would be necessary or wise to intentionally try and get much lower just for the sake of it. I personally reckon floating around between 13.5 and 14.5 stones during the year (up a bit at Christmas then down a bit during the summer when I do most cycling) is a reasonable state to maintain.

 

[ColinJ]

I would be okay for 30 miles on just water (though I normally mix in 1/3 OJ because I like the taste) but I know a lot of people who conk out very quickly if they don't keep topping up their energy reserves while riding.

On longer rides (30+ miles) I do use carbo-drinks but I still lose weight at the rate of about 1 pound per 100 miles cycled.

I suggest that you experiment with weaker and weaker drinks until you find that you don't quite have enough energy to finish your rides comfortably. Go back one step and you should be taking in the optimum amount of fuel for your rides.

Except perhaps when sprinting flat out, you will always be burning some combination of glycogen (carbs) and fat. Since you are trying to slim, you don't want to be replacing any of the fat but that is what you are doing by taking in excess carbs (any not needed would be stored as fat).

At 6' 1" and under 13 1/2 stones I doubt you really need to lose more weight!?!?

I am the same height and just dipping under 14 stone in the last few months and really don't think it would be necessary or wise to intentionally try and get much lower just for the sake of it. I personally reckon floating around between 13.5 and 14.5 stones during the year (up a bit at Christmas then down a bit during the summer when I do most cycling) is a reasonable state to maintain.

I'm also 6' 1" and at 13 1/2 stone I am still significantly flabby. You have to take individual build into account.

I'm a medium build. I don't have a neck wider than my head and I'm not built like the proverbial brick sh*thouse. On the other hand, I am not naturally scrawny like Andy Schleck either.

My avatar photo was taken when I weighed about 13-and-a-bit stone. I was getting pretty slim, but I still had a 3 inch roll of fat round my waist. I reckon my optimum weight is about 12 1/2 stone. Below that, I look gaunt and lose strength.

 

[numbnuts]

your BMI is 24.82, your not over weight

 

[jefmcg]

This stuff? http://www.maxifuel.com/viperactive

Mix it according to their recommendations and it's more calories per 500ml that 2 fingers of kit kat. You could put on weight in a cycle if you drank enough of that. Also, your body uses water to process carbs, so you won't be getting the full benefit of the liquid with that much carbs in it.

And you are getting those calories even if all you really want is a drink.

I'd suggest sticking to water on your rides (with a bit of squash added if you like - check the labels and choose one with sugar in it: Rocks is good). Then bring something solid (eg dried fruit) for hunger. You may find you don't want it.

 

[jefmcg]

BMI is a population measure, not really designed for individuals - ie if you have 100 people and 10% are over 25 BMI, then about 10% of the group will be over weight, but not necessarily the same 10%.

The original poster is 71, and may have experienced some loss of bone mass, and his muscle mass will probably be less than a younger man, so he may be overweight.

 

[apollo179]

At 6' 1" and under 13 1/2 stones I doubt you really need to lose more weight!?!?

I am the same height and just dipping under 14 stone in the last few months and really don't think it would be necessary or wise to intentionally try and get much lower just for the sake of it. I personally reckon floating around between 13.5 and 14.5 stones during the year (up a bit at Christmas then down a bit during the summer when I do most cycling) is a reasonable state to maintain.

Not meaning to have a dig at you but just as a matter of interest height 6ft 1inch and weight 13.5 stones gives a bmi of 24.9 which is the uppermost limit of normal weight. A bmi of 25 is overweight. Obviously weighing above 13.5 would take us into the overweight range.
Just an indicator for what its worth.
I thought i was fine at 6ft and 13.5 stone and was surprised to discover i was classified as overweight but when i considered it i was carrying substantial fat.
Ive cut down to about 12 stone quite easily which has taken me be back into the "normal" range, but im finding it hard to lose more weight.
i would suggest to the mad pensioner that the water option is going to be the more effective for weight loss but obviously you need to be sensible - particularly at your age.

 

[madpensioner]

The way to lose weight cycling (or doing any other exercise, or no exercise, for that matter) is to consume less calories than you burn each day. There's nothing more complicated about it.

If you find you need energy (and I certainly would if I was on the bike for 3 hours), then carb drinks or high carb snacks will help you, but you will need to allow for the fact that you've already "used" some of the calories you earned from your ride, and not eat them again at some other point in the day.

sorry my time was 2:02hrs

 

[madpensioner]

At 6' 1" and under 13 1/2 stones I doubt you really need to lose more weight!?!?

I am the same height and just dipping under 14 stone in the last few months and really don't think it would be necessary or wise to intentionally try and get much lower just for the sake of it. I personally reckon floating around between 13.5 and 14.5 stones during the year (up a bit at Christmas then down a bit during the summer when I do most cycling) is a reasonable state to maintain.

sorry my time was 2:02hrs

 

[madpensioner]

I AM VERY SORRY EVERYBODY MY TIME FOR 31 MILES WAS 2:02 AND NOT 3:02 - IT LOOKS LIKES LIKE IM SUFFERING FROM - IVE FORGOTTEN

 

[numbnuts]

I AM VERY SORRY EVERYBODY MY TIME FOR 31 MILES WAS 2:02 AND NOT 3:02 - IT LOOKS LIKES LIKE IM SUFFERING FROM - IVE FORGOTTEN

Yesterday I also did 31 miles but it was a hilly ride and did it in 2:30 hours and your 11 years older than me so well done

 

[ColinJ]

I WAS JUST WONDERING - HOW LONG DID YOU TAKE TO DO THE 31 MILES?

 

[Cyclopathic]

Does the speed one covers the distance in effect the amount of weight loss. All other things being equal will one lose moer doing 30 miles in 2 hours than 30 miles in 3 hours. Obviously doing it in 2 hours is more strenuous but it doesn't last as long? What's the deal?

 

[apollo179]

I WAS JUST WONDERING - HOW LONG DID YOU TAKE TO DO THE 31 MILES?

51 miles in 1:02.
Not bad for a 91 year old.