Weight loss - diet change needed?

[Holdsworth]

I seem to be having quite the opposite problem of many people around these parts. The fact is I feel that I am losing TOO MUCH weight. I used to weigh 16 stone (102kg) back in June 2010 before I started cycling and the weight has gradually been dropping off since then, settling around 12 stone throughout last year and continually dropping from this March onwards. I now weigh around 67 kg (>11 stone) and I am still getting lighter! My current height is 5ft 7" (172cm).

My diet is as bad as ever, plenty of random and unhealthy snacks that I consume whenever a little hungry or bored, occasional takeaways, frequent full-fat coffees/iced lattes (50% off at Costa) and daily fast food on my lunch break from my employer (McD's). All signs point towards a pretty calorie-rich diet with fat aplenty. The truth is I have never paid much attention to my diet and did not alter it when I began cycling. The initial weight loss was an unexpected side affect of trying to get to work and college without a car and only became apparent after a couple of months riding.

I cannot understand why the weight is still going down. I wonder if I am missing out on something vital in my diet to keep my weight steady. Some family members have noted that my face is looking a little thin. I have noticed that my ribcage is slightly more prominent due to the fact that my once large belly is getting flatter.

Does anyone have advice as to what could be done and if there is a problem at all?

 

[Bayerd]

Drink beer...

 

[Holdsworth]

Drink beer...

I don't drink.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Post an example of a couple days diet and be honest about it.. Also,your age would be handy

 

[Sittingduck]

Go and see your GP, if you think there may be something amiss. If you think it's just down to diet - start recording your intake and estimated calorie requirements, based upon activity. You can't be consuming enough to maintain, in this case...

 

[MattHB]

How much riding are you doing?

While BMI isn't everything, yours is only 24.7, which is only just normal so I'd not worry. I think you were just very over weight before, and your body is just returning to normal.

 

[MrJamie]

You need to either post or write down everything you eat in a day for a few days and what exercise youre doing.

Some people are just always busy and active so even the fast food doesnt add up enough, especially if you dont drink beer

 

[Ghost Donkey]

I'd agree with pretty much everything above. I'm 5'7" and 70KG. I've got a stocky-ish build and if I gained 2 KG I'd be overweight according to BMI but my body fat % is good (11-12%). Weight isn't everything and general health is more important. By your own admittance your diet isn't great. I'd probably be the same if I worked where you do! All that fried food is not good for your health regardless of weight. Can I tempt you with the McDonalds salad box with grilled chicken and balsamic sauce, a fruit bag and carrot sticks ?

 

[Holdsworth]

I tend to eat quite a bit, for example below is my entire intake of food today in order:

• Bowl of Cheerios and milky coffee
• Milk bottle and hamburger
• Bacon roll, hash brown, cappuccino and Twix McFlurry
• Banana
• Several oat crackers, butter and cheese
• Chicken and bacon sarnie
• Cup a soup
• Several bourbon cream biccies and another coffee
• Lamb stir fry and egg noodles

As you can see quite a bit of food today. This is probably more than usual TBH as I decided for stupid reasons to take a 17 and 20 mile ride after my shift, which finished at 2:30pm. Never doing a ride like that again after a day at work.
My usual activity is limited to my 7 mile each way commute which I do on average 5 days a week. I try not to push too hard as I like to arrive with some dignity Not always pleasurable though as some days I have to push hard through fatigue to maintain a decent15 or even 14 mph average and can arrive with quite a sweat on! Sometimes I focus too much on averages but somedays my legs feel like lead weights.
BTW my ages is 20.

 

[lordloveaduck]

Are you pregnant?

 

[byegad]

Worth a visit to the Doctor in my opinion. Unexplained weight loss may signal other serious health issues. By this measure I'm going to live forever!

 

[cyberknight]

I am 5 foot 7 " and weigh 10 srone 10 ( 150 llb) , no idea what that is in new fangled metric stuff. which according to my works medical is spot on given i do weights a couple of times a week so i am not a skinny (for a cyclist ) .
What sort of bike are you riding and have you got the bike set up right and tyres pumped up ? these factors can make a ride a lot easier or harder depending on how they are.

Hard to say from 1 days meal plan and what do you do for a living ? if you have an active job then you will need to eat more than say a desk bound worker.This is what i eat on an average day with a 10 mile each way commute.
bowl of cereal or porrdgeor 2 pieces of toast + coffee
cereal bar +coffee
1 piece of bread sarnie + satsuma +coffee
2 piece of bread sarnie+bananna+apple+coffee+yoghurt
main meal consisting of whatever the wife cooks so could be eg...
mashed taters,veg,some sort of meat or a pasta + chicken dish etc etc
couple pieces of cake
Supper snack of some biccies/cereal bar + drink
Thats just to keep me going on a regular day and to maintain weight .

 

[vickster]

You need more fruit and veg mmm ! In fact you need some veg - unless the stirfry had some in !! Don't know what the symptoms of scurvy are

Get to your doctor, check for diabetes etc

 

[Holdsworth]

Maybe that diet post wasn't a good idea. That day was atypical as I cycled a stupid amount of miles that day. I suppose I should eat less junk (McD's) and try to include more fruit and veg, I probably rarely meet my 5 a day but most days I include at least a couple of portions.

I guess I have over-estimated what is a healthy weight for my height and it seems that I am dot on what I should be at 5' 7".

Legs this week have been dead and averages have been down to under 14mph but after a rest day yesterday I feel a lot better riding home. Tops of thighs still a little sore under exertion but feel less like dead weight. A 17mph average home today although still with a massive sweat on!

 

[Becs]

have you been checked for diabetes?