Does lots of hard cycling give you your correct weight?

[Accy cyclist]

I'm down to just under 11 stone in weight (6ft 1 inch height). I'm now cycling around 180 miles a week, sometimes doing the what i call hardest miles. By that i mean steep hills as opposed to flat roads. The thing is i've tried to put weight on over the years and sometimes i have gained a few pounds but i'll lose it the following day if i go for a 40 mile ride. I've resigned myself to being 11 stone while i cycle those miles. I could eat peanuts, chocolate, pies and drink around 4 pints of beer in the evening but i'll still be the same weight if i've been for a hard ride that day. Once of a day i would've liked to have gone back up to my top weight of 13.5 stone but i think that is not going to happen while i'm cycling lots of miles a week. I've always been slim, even as a child i was ribbed for being so. Is that it then. Am i meant to be 11 stone and just accept it?

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I'm down to just under 11 stone in weight. I'm now cycling around 180 miles a week, sometimes doing the what i call hardest miles. By that i mean steep hills as opposed to flat roads. The thing is i've tried to put weight on over the years and sometimes i have gained a few pounds but i'll lose it the following day if i go for a 40 mile ride. I've resigned myself to being 11 stone while i cycle those miles. I could eat peanuts, chocolate, pies and drink around 4 pints of beer in the evening but i'll still be the same weight if i've been for a hard ride that day. Once of a day i would've liked to have gone back up to my top weight of 13.5 stone but i think that is not going to happen while i'm cycling lots of miles a week. I've always been slim, even as a child i was ribbed for being so. Is that it then. Am i meant to be 11 stone and just accept it?

You're lucky, I only have to look at a cake and I've put a couple of pounds on.

 

[midlife]

Ectomorph if you believe all that lol. Sounds like you gave found your equilibrium,. Less weight to carry over the hills as well

Shaun

 

[Dirk]

Eat more!
Simple really, if your calorific input is greater than your calorific usage, you will put on weight.

 

[Catweasel]

it's a pretty simple equation - calories out, calories in.

And you'll find it's harder to put those calories out, and easier to take them in, as you get older Oh, and the hangovers get worse as well.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Eat more!

I could but that makes eating a chore rather than something pleasurable. When i see those body builders eating a sack of potatoes and 5 chickens a day it makes me glad i'm not a body builder. The thought of eating so much just to maintain a certain weight and muscle mass makes me

 

[Accy cyclist]

it's a pretty simple equation - calories out, calories in.

And you'll find it's harder to put those calories out, and easier to take them in, as you get older Oh, and the hangovers get worse as well.

If i stopped cycling for a month and ate loads i could put maybe half a stone on but it'd probably go on my waist.

 

[Dirk]

I could but that makes eating a chore rather than something pleasurable. When i see those body builders eating a sack of potatoes and 5 chickens a day it makes me glad i'm not a body builder. The thought of eating so much just to maintain a certain weight and muscle mass makes me

Your choice.
Eat more and put on weight, or stay skinny.
Not much more to say.

 

[Leaway2]

I do find that I always stay constant +- a few pounds. I am 12 stone 10 at 5' 10''. I would like to be around 12 stone, but I am not overly bothered.

 

[Ian H]

I'm the same – naturally skinny, as was my father. However, I notice the weight creeping up a bit as age slows the metabolism.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Once of a day i would've liked to have gone back up to my top weight of 13.5 stone. . . . . Am i meant to be 11 stone and just accept it?

Why do you occasionally "once of a day" wish you were/could be heavier? Do you want to play veterans rugby or something? Are you being bullied in the pub? Do you think you'll be more able to beat your mates in the sprint for the village sign? Do you want to go downhill faster? Do you find an Accrington cross wind is blowing you around on those 'hardest' miles? Resolve this and I think you can go some way to answering your own question. Provided people are happy with their weight and perceived under or over weight is not adversely impacting on their health or lifestyle, that's what matters, and worrying about it does no one any favours.
As well as 'chapeau' to 180 miles a week (I'm in the same camp), my concrete advice is to maintain good core strength and indeed a way of putting on a few pounds could be to do upper, mid and lower body 'strength' exercises, which will develop or at least maintain muscle mass.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Why do you occasionally "once of a day" wish you were/could be heavier? Do you want to play veterans rugby or something? Are you being bullied in the pub? Do you think you'll be more able to beat your mates in the sprint for the village sign? Do you want to go downhill faster? Do you find an Accrington cross wind is blowing you around on those 'hardest' miles? Resolve this and I think you can go some way to answering your own question. Provided people are happy with their weight and perceived under or over weight is not adversely impacting on their health or lifestyle, that's what matters, and worrying about it does no one any favours.
As well as 'chapeau' to 180 miles a week (I'm in the same camp), my concrete advice is to maintain good core strength and indeed a way of putting on a few pounds could be to do upper, mid and lower body 'strength' exercises, which will develop or at least maintain muscle mass.

Yes to a few of those. I'm not being bullied but it'd be nice to have a more physical presence if i were. I have noticed going downhill takes more effort and cross winds are a problem. I'm being serious as well.


Maybe i should cut back on the miles but as i do more i find recovery easier and therefore want to do more miles.

 

[Catweasel]

You know that you're about the same weight as Froomie right?

 

[Debade]

I've always had a problem with weight. However, when I tour, fully loaded bike riding 300 miles per week, I cannot consume enough calories to maintain my weight. I will lose just under a stone in 2 months.

Upon the completion of my tour, I will go back to my more typical exercise program which includes some bicycling, team sports and fitness center workouts. My calorie consumption is down to a normal level. In about 2 months, I will put the stone back in place, unfortunately.

Perhaps the grass is always greener on the other side. I would like to maintain an exercise program that would allow me not to worry about my calorie consumption and yet maintain a healthy weight.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Your choice.
Eat more and put on weight, or stay skinny.
Not much more to say.

Entirely this, well I suppose you could exercise less and eat the same.

Not much more to say, but I bet this still runs to the usual 10 pages an accy thread does