Cycling, weight loss and alcohol

[TrevorM]

May be of some interest to those trying to lose weight. Attached is my weight loss chart.
From 1st Sept to 29th Oct cycled average 80 miles a week, no attempt to diet, just normal eating (and drinking). Weight loss mainly due to cycling I think.

On 29th Oct (red arrow) stopped drinking alcohol completely and have had none since then. No change in cycling, still 80 miles a week. No change in diet, except I am eating more cake and chocolate than before. Losing 2-3 pounds a week now.

 

[avsd]

well done. I always knew there was a lot of calories in alcohol but to stop completely may well be beyond me. How many units of alcohol were you consuming. I only drink at the weekend and then is is just a few glasses of wine each evening.

 

[Iain p]

Units.... think we're talking gallons

 

[zacklaws]

I am eating more cake and chocolate than before

TThats odd, I saw a diet somewhere the other day that recommends eating nothing but cakes and biscuits, but I cannot remember where.

Just my type of diet, maybe it does work.

 

[TrevorM]

How many units of alcohol were you consuming.

Too much and increasing, which is why I stopped. On average 2-3 glasses wine most nights. No beer or spirits.
I found as I get older (I'm 55) even a couple of glasses would leave me feeling sluggish next day.
So now I can put much more effort into my rides which I think has also helped with the weight loss.

 

[snorri]

Too much and increasing, which is why I stopped. On average 2-3 glasses wine most nights.

Now that you have stopped the wine, you could probably stop the cycling too, and still lose weight.

Good luck with your new regime.

 

[Globalti]

I've known this for years - every few months I go on a 2 week business trip to Africa where I probably don't walk more than a mile in the fortnight and I drink a lot of beer. I always come home feeling full around the waist but after a couple of weeks of normal life it's back to the regular 32 inches.

 

[ventoux50]

Too much and increasing, which is why I stopped. On average 2-3 glasses wine most nights. No beer or spirits.
I found as I get older (I'm 55) even a couple of glasses would leave me feeling sluggish next day.
So now I can put much more effort into my rides which I think has also helped with the weight loss.

Well done mate, the graph is fantastic and just shows what a difference cutting out the drink can make - I know exactly where you're coming from, I have found myself enjoying a few too many glasses of wine of an evening for a while now and decided to have a complete week off . . . . . I really could feel a difference without it, more alert in a morning, more comfortable on the bike, and healthier !

To be honest, my taste for wine has diminished since I realised how much better I feel without it and now only have an occasional glass.

I reckon my weight should be decreasing as well, if only I could leave the bloody Jaffa Cakes alone !

 

[youngoldbloke]

Calories in alcohol

 

[Bodhbh]

500 calories a day, so removing them is something like 1/2 a kilo fat a week extra you should be loosing iirc

I think apart from calories there, are other issues with alcohol consumption on weight - it decreases production of testosterone and growth hormone so will be more inclined to put on weight as fat rather than muscle, which will also decrease your metabolic rate. Not that it stops me much...

 

[Woldwanderer]

Your spot on about the booze. I've had a similar weight loss over the last eight weeks, with a slight adjustment to the diet, 3 big rides and 3 days in the gym/pool.

Pretty sure would be under the 90kg mark if I cut out the booze. Looks as though you will make the 90kg if you stay off the booze.

Back to sea/work for me on Sunday on a vessel without a gym! Hoping to weigh in at less than 92kg after last session on Saturday - but out on the beer Friday night - oh well

 

[lukesdad]

Outrageous Ill have to stop eating to feed the wine habit.

 

[BSRU]

Apart from the calories from alcohol there is always the extra calories consumed with regards to eating more during/after alcohol, that is kebab/curry and general junk food.

 

[Dan B]

Back to sea/work for me on Sunday on a vessel without a gym!

You could swim behind?

 

[e-rider]

that's pretty good going. When I did LEJOG last year, I was in the pub every night living like a king - big meal and several pints every night of the trip. Still managed to lose about 6 kgs in 2 weeks! I was quite big at the start though.