Hi! I bought a road bike in July and started riding 5 or 6 miles a few times a week. I rode in a 30 mile charity ride a month later and then rode in a 50 mile ride. I average and 20-30 miles each sunday and 7 miles as many weekdays as I can.
I am not losing weight! I am eating in my target, 1,200-1,500 calories. I know I am gaining muscle.
My daughter is getting married in January and I'd like to drop 15 lbs by then. Should I cut back on my biking?
Nononono. Do not cut back on biking! Biking is great for you. Mu suggestions would be to add in a couple days of HIIT training as well as weights. Intervals really help burn fat and muscle makes you use more calories around the clock. Also, I would suggest increasing your calories. 1200 - 1500 calories is a really low range. A good starting point is to take your weight x 10, then decrease as needed. You could probably try around 2000 calories. Doesn't hurt to try it if you aren't losing weight now, right? Just drop down to 1600 or 1800 if that doesn't work. Good luck!
What Stacy said. Are you riding on a flat bike track? If so, try and add in some hills to convert your ride to a HIIT training workout. How intensely are you riding? If there are hills involved that you have to gear down to low range and stand up in your pedals to climb up at slower than walking pace, great! If it's a slow cruise on a flat level surface, your body is probably getting used to it and you need to ramp things up a bit.
Like she said as well, try upping your calories. I eat around 1800 per day and am losing about 1lb per week. Everyone varies, but I couldn't do what I do on 1500 cal. I'd starve! I'm doing the C25K, and doing a weight circuit twice a week as well as riding my bike for about 20-30 miles once a week, and a swimming day when I can fit it in.
Definitely do NOT cut back on your exercise! If nothing else, it's making you fit and healthy. Healthy and fit and a bit overweight trumps skinny and unfit any day of the week, IMO.
Biking is great exercise and can burn tons of calories.
I'm no expert as I'm a complete newbie on the bike but from what I've read, you should be moving your legs the entire time (or mostly the entire time). Are you doing different paths or keeping to the same path?
My question is about intensity as well...do you have access to a heart rate monitor? I think you might be able to up your calories a bit as well. How long has it been since you have lost? Have you measured yourself to see if you are losing inches?
Biking long distance and weight loss, help please
