Out of shape, over weight, but trying...

[User16625]

As people above have said, the only way to lose weight is to eat less. Sadly, that is just about the beginning and the end of it. Exercise will boost your metabolism, sure, but smaller portions and less beer is the only way.

Sod that! I would rather be a fat bastard

 

[drummerbod]

Firstly... Well Done!!

Secondly eat better. I was over 17stone and dropped to 13 and a half. Cycling helped but the greatest porportion was down to diet. I still eat a lot... just better ie more fruit and veg instead of chips, crisps, ice cream etc etc. No more fast food.

 

[Dave 123]

Paul, you said it yourself in the first post, it's taken you years to get so out of shape, and now you're fed up as nothing has moved in a week! Not realistic.
Just keep at it. Enjoy the summer, get out, move more, have one treat night a week.

 

[Cuchilo]

Go to a gym see a personal trainer not the kind that wants to beast you for an hour the kind that wants to teach you how to eat properly for your goals. They will give you specific targets to eat for example so many grams of protein, cars, fibre and fats after they find out how much you are going to train be it either weights or cycling.

You cant just eat cars because someone told you too .

 

[jnrmczip]

You cant just eat cars because someone told you too .

I know but small hatchbacks are ok for weight loss much lighter than 4x4's

P's typo

 

[Dave 123]

You cant just eat cars because someone told you too .

Corsa you can.....

 

[vickster]

You need to cycle a lot to burn enough calories to burn just one pound of fat. A good estimate is around 30 calories per mile over mixed terrain at a decent pace. Allegedly a lb of fat is equivalent to 3500 calories. Although that apparently is not very accurate, it would equate to cycling over 100 miles, that assumes your metabolism works in that way

Far better to eat less with the exercise as a bonus for cardiovascular fitness. Aim for 1-2 lbs a week loss. If you've not reduced your overall calorie intake by much and cycled 20 miles. It's not surprising. Keep it up though, it will happen

 

[Paul Burke]

Thank you for all of your replies.

And thank you Vickster for the information on how many calories can be burnt per mile, I was going to ask that.

I have had my measurements and weight taken and will review this each sunday AM.

It is probably just placebo but I feel good this morning, how I used to feel years ago...

How I have let myself go is shameful, I don't know the person in the mirror.

I have asked the wife to take photo's of me topless so I can pin them on the fridge door and also have one on my phone, so I can see how disgraceful I currently am... this will be my incentive to change.

18/04/15: 16st 3lb

 

[jay clock]

you are doing exactly the right way for the cycling - little and often and building up slowly. But a few miles on the bike ride does not burn off that much in calories. As they mostly said above, you need to reduce intake somewhat too. try MyFitnessPal. I am three stone less than a few years back

 

[young Ed]

as said, food is critical and vital. ALWAYS have breakfast and don't leave for a ride on an empty stomach either. if your body has no food to burn it will start eating your muscle is what i have heard

a cheap second hand hybrid with flat handle bars and tyres more suited to the road would make a world of difference, been there, done that, got the t-shirt!
i went from a cheap, terrible mountain bike to a cheap horrible hybrid and now i'm on a lovely not so cheap road bike. there have been times on all of them where have had to take a rest from cycling and when i come back 10 miles feels like sh*t! when i started cycling properly less than 2 years ago 5 miles was achievable and 10 was a push, autumn last year i did my first 100 mile ride with about 5 or 6 stops. if i were to put the miles on now for the next week or two flat out i would be happy to do 100 miles with 2-3 stops.
yes i am 16 and fit as a fiddle generally and have always had incredible stamina but it's not impossible for most people, and then there are some super yclists on here that will do 100 miles with no stops!
Cheers Ed

 

[uclown2002]

as said, food is critical and vital. ALWAYS have breakfast and don't leave for a ride on an empty stomach either. if your body has no food to burn it will start eating your muscle is what i have heard

Frankly Ed that is rubbish.

 

[raleighnut]

Just keep at it.

 

[Mrs M]

Well done so far, plus you gave up smoking which is good.
The more you cycle, the easier it gets (I can now easily cycle up hills that I used to have to get off and push the bike up).
Just have fun and don't get obsessed.
Good idea to take an "undies pic" of yourself every week (just don't post on here though ) then you will see the gradual improvement.
Good luck.

 

[gbb]

Paul, I notice in ypur first post your legs feel like jelly and pedalling feels hard..and you're on a second hand bike...are you sure your saddle is the correct height ?
Too low and your thighs will burn, you can't transfer power efficiently and it will of course seem much harder.
Worth checking, bum on saddle, leg should just have a slight bend in it at the knee when the pedal is at the bottom of its stroke.

 

[Paul Burke]

Paul, I notice in ypur first post your legs feel like jelly and pedalling feels hard..and you're on a second hand bike...are you sure your saddle is the correct height ?
Too low and your thighs will burn, you can't transfer power efficiently and it will of course seem much harder.
Worth checking, bum on saddle, leg should just have a slight bend in it at the knee when the pedal is at the bottom of its stroke.

Funny you mention that.

During my ride yesterday I made a good effort to get the right seat height. Currently when my pedal is lowest my leg is 'almost' straight with a slight bend, previously there was a bigger bend, not a big bend but moreso of one.

Changing the height about an inch and a half made pedalling a lot easier and less sore on the part of the leg just above the knee. I think this is how I got to do the 13 miles in the end, as I changed the position after about 8 miles... if I hadn't have changed the seat position I might have struggled to get 10 miles.

Although my MTB is 2nd hand it was really well looked after, it is quite old (I believe) and I changed the tyres front and back and also adjusted the brakes to tighten them up, I also have fitted a basic trip computer to measure distance as well as a saddle bag and some lights... it looks quite neat to be honest and I am proud to have tweaked it myself. It is a Raleigh Manta ray and weighs 15.1kg.