Started Cycling - Weight increase rather than decrease :(
Discussion
I recently started cycling up to 4 times a week various terrain approx 12 miles a go. After getting on the scales after 2 weeks I was shocked to see I have actually gained 3 kg or 6 pounds in weight 
some people I talk to say I am probably eating more due to excessive exercise but I have not - my eating habits have not changed at all. I do drink plenty of water too - at least 2-3 litres a day.
Anyone know wtf is happening with my body? I can't have put that much muscle on so quickly!?
some people I talk to say I am probably eating more due to excessive exercise but I have not - my eating habits have not changed at all. I do drink plenty of water too - at least 2-3 litres a day.
Anyone know wtf is happening with my body? I can't have put that much muscle on so quickly!?
Did you weigh yourself on the same day of the week, at the same time, and having eaten a similar meal (or having been to the lavvie?)
You can easily make 2-3kg of difference just by changing the times and things you have eaten.
Also you can pack muscle on quickly so its possible that you have put 1kg on your legs and bottom
You can easily make 2-3kg of difference just by changing the times and things you have eaten.
Also you can pack muscle on quickly so its possible that you have put 1kg on your legs and bottom
Hmm but is it possible to gain 6.5 pounds of muscle in 2 weeks!? My legs do feel really hard and solid compared to a couple of months ago. I also play a lot of squash and badminton too. I am exercising at least 1 hours a day 6 days a week.
My GP mentioned I needed to cut down the exercise to allow my muscles to recover otherwise they would store water which would result in increased weight.
Will increased muscle mass eventually lead to weight loss then?
My GP mentioned I needed to cut down the exercise to allow my muscles to recover otherwise they would store water which would result in increased weight.
Will increased muscle mass eventually lead to weight loss then?
I used to weight 18 stone- slimmed down to 13 through cycling- stopped cycling a year or so ago, and put two back on (yep, i'm an idiot, see my diet thread) but I can still put the miles in now and then when I do cycle. Here is my diet plan- I usually stuck to this for the working week, with some variation on the weekend.
Brekkie- Porridge (7.30am)
Arrive at work- Protein shake (9.30am (normally arrived at 9 and showered)
11am- lean meat- ham, or chicken
lunch time- 2 chicken breasts and a s
tload of veg. 5 pieces of fruit
4pm- protein, either meats or fish.
evening meal- high protein low carb content.
I used to cycle 20 miles a day 4 times a week. I had an aim though- to look good and cycle London to Brighton!
Good luck!
Brekkie- Porridge (7.30am)
Arrive at work- Protein shake (9.30am (normally arrived at 9 and showered)
11am- lean meat- ham, or chicken
lunch time- 2 chicken breasts and a s
tload of veg. 5 pieces of fruit4pm- protein, either meats or fish.
evening meal- high protein low carb content.
I used to cycle 20 miles a day 4 times a week. I had an aim though- to look good and cycle London to Brighton!
Good luck!
12 miles cycling isn't going to burn many calories - maybe 300 (?) if you're going at a slow pace. So it's not going to have a massive impact on weight loss. To lose weight you need to address your diet.
When I cycle I always make sure I go the hilliest route possible, and really make sure I attack the hills to get a decent workout.
When I cycle I always make sure I go the hilliest route possible, and really make sure I attack the hills to get a decent workout.
However – 48 miles a week is a decent effort - assuming a relatively slow pace (no offense op) then yes it is around 300 calories http://www.nutristrategy.com/fitness/cycling.htm
Still that is a very good start and by improving your muscle tone, you will burn more calories ALL the time, which is excellent news. So keep it up – and if you can build up to some longer sessions.
If you are putting in six sessions a week of hour long exercise, be it squash, cycling or badminton, then you will soon see a differece – for me it is always noticeable in reducing my waist size and my fat face, before I see anything on the scales.
However if you are gaining weight despite the exercise then it must be your diet – be honest and keep a record of the whole week, absolutely everything – then use an online calculator.
I guess you will be very surprised.
Still that is a very good start and by improving your muscle tone, you will burn more calories ALL the time, which is excellent news. So keep it up – and if you can build up to some longer sessions.
If you are putting in six sessions a week of hour long exercise, be it squash, cycling or badminton, then you will soon see a differece – for me it is always noticeable in reducing my waist size and my fat face, before I see anything on the scales.
However if you are gaining weight despite the exercise then it must be your diet – be honest and keep a record of the whole week, absolutely everything – then use an online calculator.
I guess you will be very surprised.
Ideally, you need one of these in conjunction with your scales:
http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/omron-body-fat-moni...
That way you can get the full picture about what is 'going on' with your body. Is your % of body fat going up, down, or the same?
After a few months off, I can hit the gym hard and the scales will tell me I'm not losing weight, but the body fat meter will confirm that my body fat levels are dropping.
It's very useful information. Your weight is only a part of the information needed.
http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/omron-body-fat-moni...
That way you can get the full picture about what is 'going on' with your body. Is your % of body fat going up, down, or the same?
After a few months off, I can hit the gym hard and the scales will tell me I'm not losing weight, but the body fat meter will confirm that my body fat levels are dropping.
It's very useful information. Your weight is only a part of the information needed.
W4NTED said:
LOL 
I'm a bit paranoid about "loosing weight" as I am FAT. I currently have a BMI of 33 so wightloss is a big deal for me
Honestly dont be. I'm a bit paranoid about "loosing weight" as I am FAT. I currently have a BMI of 33 so wightloss is a big deal for me
I was kinda like that when i started working out it really leads you down the wrong path. The best guague i found was how clothes fit. I didnt but take a photo of what your like now and compare it after a month.
Also as someone else has said loosing weight is down to diet. Sort that and weight will come off. For eg on your bike you might burn 300 cals a ride i think im correct in saying thats less cals than in 1 pint of larger.
Cheers all, very encouraging words. I am pretty certain my eating habits have not changed but I shall keep a diary for a week and monitor
As for the cycling pace I'd say i probably maintain a speed of 15mph throughout the ride and hope to increase this as the days go by. I try to tackle hills where ever possible too.
As for the cycling pace I'd say i probably maintain a speed of 15mph throughout the ride and hope to increase this as the days go by. I try to tackle hills where ever possible too.
Measure yourself too ( Penis joke incoming in 5....4....3....2..... 
) as you'll probably find that your waistline is decreasing eventhough your weight is slightly increasing
When I started to take sport serious and needed to shift a couple of stone prior to bulking, my coach told me not to worry if my weight increased for the first two weeks as it is usually due to muscle growing at the same time the fat was dropping off
) as you'll probably find that your waistline is decreasing eventhough your weight is slightly increasing When I started to take sport serious and needed to shift a couple of stone prior to bulking, my coach told me not to worry if my weight increased for the first two weeks as it is usually due to muscle growing at the same time the fat was dropping off
When I was putting in the heavy cardio (run between 5 - 10 miles then hope straight on the bike for 20 mile or so) and eating very lean I'd waver between 155 - 165lbs on a daily basis. It's really no big deal, just water and the other stuff we all purge...
Once I started lifting weights I gained around 10lbs and seemed to stick at 175lbs.
Now I havent got a clue what I am, and couldnt give a rats arse!
Prior to the heavy cardio sessions, I was fat. The massive cardio, combined with a diet of mainly carbs (rice, pasta, cous cous etc) made me skinny fat, that is, tiny arms and shoulders with a canny bit of fat around my stomach and arse. People would comment that I was losing too much weight, yet all I could see was the big fat gut that just wouldnt shift. So I got stuck into reading about diet, and lifting, and 6 month later I'm different build entirely.
If you're just taking up cycling I wouldnt try to kill yourself straight off - it's just a good excuse to over eat once you're back home. Take it easy, and get used to the increase in activity - the biggest factor is diet, and cutting all the st we've been conditioned to eat when dieting. Bread, pasta etc - any carbs you dont need just ignore. Eat your greens and lean meats, fish, turkey, chicken, beef etc. Nuts and seeds are great for snacking on. bks to low fat foods too, it's horsest. Sticking to low fat did me no favours at all (skinny fat!!!) Now I eat a ton of fat and I'm in the best shape I've ever been - just make sure it's the good fat you're eating, and not KFC. Olive oil is good for cooking your meats in, chuck the Sun flower oil. I dont bother much with fruit, unless I'm really craving sugar after a heavy workout. F*ck the 5-a-Day thing, just eat all the veg you can. Oh but I do enjoy blueberries, and raspberries.
Oh, and I allow myself a binge Saturday where I eat just about everything i can. I usually feel f*cking awful by the end of it, though. Prior to going on holiday I got reasonably lean while still including a binge day. Now it's like a binge weekend, but that's just me - I'd not really recommend it.
F*ck, I forgot to stop typing.
Apologies if you knew all of this already! The above is just my experience through trial and error ; )
Once I started lifting weights I gained around 10lbs and seemed to stick at 175lbs.
Now I havent got a clue what I am, and couldnt give a rats arse!
Prior to the heavy cardio sessions, I was fat. The massive cardio, combined with a diet of mainly carbs (rice, pasta, cous cous etc) made me skinny fat, that is, tiny arms and shoulders with a canny bit of fat around my stomach and arse. People would comment that I was losing too much weight, yet all I could see was the big fat gut that just wouldnt shift. So I got stuck into reading about diet, and lifting, and 6 month later I'm different build entirely.
If you're just taking up cycling I wouldnt try to kill yourself straight off - it's just a good excuse to over eat once you're back home. Take it easy, and get used to the increase in activity - the biggest factor is diet, and cutting all the s
t we've been conditioned to eat when dieting. Bread, pasta etc - any carbs you dont need just ignore. Eat your greens and lean meats, fish, turkey, chicken, beef etc. Nuts and seeds are great for snacking on. bks to low fat foods too, it's horsest. Sticking to low fat did me no favours at all (skinny fat!!!) Now I eat a ton of fat and I'm in the best shape I've ever been - just make sure it's the good fat you're eating, and not KFC. Olive oil is good for cooking your meats in, chuck the Sun flower oil. I dont bother much with fruit, unless I'm really craving sugar after a heavy workout. F*ck the 5-a-Day thing, just eat all the veg you can. Oh but I do enjoy blueberries, and raspberries. Oh, and I allow myself a binge Saturday where I eat just about everything i can. I usually feel f*cking awful by the end of it, though. Prior to going on holiday I got reasonably lean while still including a binge day. Now it's like a binge weekend, but that's just me - I'd not really recommend it.
F*ck, I forgot to stop typing.
Apologies if you knew all of this already! The above is just my experience through trial and error ; )
chrisobrien54 said:
When I was putting in the heavy cardio (run between 5 - 10 miles then hope straight on the bike for 20 mile or so) and eating very lean I'd waver between 155 - 165lbs on a daily basis. It's really no big deal, just water and the other stuff we all purge...
Once I started lifting weights I gained around 10lbs and seemed to stick at 175lbs.
Now I havent got a clue what I am, and couldnt give a rats arse!
Prior to the heavy cardio sessions, I was fat. The massive cardio, combined with a diet of mainly carbs (rice, pasta, cous cous etc) made me skinny fat, that is, tiny arms and shoulders with a canny bit of fat around my stomach and arse. People would comment that I was losing too much weight, yet all I could see was the big fat gut that just wouldnt shift. So I got stuck into reading about diet, and lifting, and 6 month later I'm different build entirely.
If you're just taking up cycling I wouldnt try to kill yourself straight off - it's just a good excuse to over eat once you're back home. Take it easy, and get used to the increase in activity - the biggest factor is diet, and cutting all the st we've been conditioned to eat when dieting. Bread, pasta etc - any carbs you dont need just ignore. Eat your greens and lean meats, fish, turkey, chicken, beef etc. Nuts and seeds are great for snacking on. bks to low fat foods too, it's horsest. Sticking to low fat did me no favours at all (skinny fat!!!) Now I eat a ton of fat and I'm in the best shape I've ever been - just make sure it's the good fat you're eating, and not KFC. Olive oil is good for cooking your meats in, chuck the Sun flower oil. I dont bother much with fruit, unless I'm really craving sugar after a heavy workout. F*ck the 5-a-Day thing, just eat all the veg you can. Oh but I do enjoy blueberries, and raspberries.
Oh, and I allow myself a binge Saturday where I eat just about everything i can. I usually feel f*cking awful by the end of it, though. Prior to going on holiday I got reasonably lean while still including a binge day. Now it's like a binge weekend, but that's just me - I'd not really recommend it.
F*ck, I forgot to stop typing.
Apologies if you knew all of this already! The above is just my experience through trial and error ; )
Once I started lifting weights I gained around 10lbs and seemed to stick at 175lbs.
Now I havent got a clue what I am, and couldnt give a rats arse!
Prior to the heavy cardio sessions, I was fat. The massive cardio, combined with a diet of mainly carbs (rice, pasta, cous cous etc) made me skinny fat, that is, tiny arms and shoulders with a canny bit of fat around my stomach and arse. People would comment that I was losing too much weight, yet all I could see was the big fat gut that just wouldnt shift. So I got stuck into reading about diet, and lifting, and 6 month later I'm different build entirely.
If you're just taking up cycling I wouldnt try to kill yourself straight off - it's just a good excuse to over eat once you're back home. Take it easy, and get used to the increase in activity - the biggest factor is diet, and cutting all the s
t we've been conditioned to eat when dieting. Bread, pasta etc - any carbs you dont need just ignore. Eat your greens and lean meats, fish, turkey, chicken, beef etc. Nuts and seeds are great for snacking on. bks to low fat foods too, it's horsest. Sticking to low fat did me no favours at all (skinny fat!!!) Now I eat a ton of fat and I'm in the best shape I've ever been - just make sure it's the good fat you're eating, and not KFC. Olive oil is good for cooking your meats in, chuck the Sun flower oil. I dont bother much with fruit, unless I'm really craving sugar after a heavy workout. F*ck the 5-a-Day thing, just eat all the veg you can. Oh but I do enjoy blueberries, and raspberries. Oh, and I allow myself a binge Saturday where I eat just about everything i can. I usually feel f*cking awful by the end of it, though. Prior to going on holiday I got reasonably lean while still including a binge day. Now it's like a binge weekend, but that's just me - I'd not really recommend it.
F*ck, I forgot to stop typing.
Apologies if you knew all of this already! The above is just my experience through trial and error ; )
Awesome write up many thanksI do have a trip computer and it does help to push it harder..
You are eating too much. End of.
You are (you say) fat....so you should be eating less calories than you use, you arent. You wont pack on muscle at that rate from riding a bike if you were in calorie deficit. In fact, if you are putting on muscle while trying to drop weight you are either a freak, not taking you BF measurements right or eating too much.
You are (you say) fat....so you should be eating less calories than you use, you arent. You wont pack on muscle at that rate from riding a bike if you were in calorie deficit. In fact, if you are putting on muscle while trying to drop weight you are either a freak, not taking you BF measurements right or eating too much.
Tiggsy said:
You are eating too much. End of.
You are (you say) fat....so you should be eating less calories than you use, you arent. You wont pack on muscle at that rate from riding a bike if you were in calorie deficit. In fact, if you are putting on muscle while trying to drop weight you are either a freak, not taking you BF measurements right or eating too much.
I would never believe you managed a career in the Diplomatic Service ! You are (you say) fat....so you should be eating less calories than you use, you arent. You wont pack on muscle at that rate from riding a bike if you were in calorie deficit. In fact, if you are putting on muscle while trying to drop weight you are either a freak, not taking you BF measurements right or eating too much.
Anyway - re food diaries. See I cycled in to work yesterday - around 40 miles
But eating !
Breakfast, Bacon Sandwich - Large white coffee
Lunch, Medium porton of Pasta Carbonara, plus a large Muesli Yoghurt
Snack Bag of Chili Popcorn (97 calories)
Cycled Home
Two bottles of Peroni
Another medium portion of Pasta Carbonara*
Slice of Cheescake
Late night sin - Kit Kat Bar...(237 calories)
So my day would be 2500 calories average calorie useage - plus around 2000 extra for the cycling - but had I say only had one beer, skipped the popcorn and the kitkat I'd have saved around 600 calories !
- yes I know three cooked bacon meals, and two carbonara's is rubbish. but staff canteen had pasta on so I ate it, got homw and my lovely wife has made pasta, what is a boy to do - would be rude not too
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