I Have Not Gained Any Weight Recently
I am very pleased to announce that I am doing extremely well keeping off all the weight I dropped last Winter. Honestly, I could not be more proud of myself. I’m pretty sure, in fact, that I haven’t put on a single pound since the end of my big weight loss effort.
It’s possible, indeed, that I’ve lost an additional pound or two. I’m not entirely certain, since I haven’t weighed myself since last September, when I was up about ten pounds from my target weight.
I’m sure I’ve dropped all of that weight, though, because that was just weight gained from inflammation of my muscles from all the racing I did last summer.
Seriously, you do a big ol’ 24-hour race and your body will put on fifteen pounds, easily.
Sure, I was a little weirded out that the twenty pounds I had gained was still with me a couple of weeks later, but a big race like that has long-lasting effects.
The thing is, when you’re racing all the time during the summer—which I definitely was—your body really needs to replenish itself. With all the training I was doing, it’s only natural that I ate more, too.
Now that I’m not racing every weekend—and haven’t been for about three months, I should probably ease up on that whole “replenishing” thing. Sometime soon. Probably. But you know, this is my off season and I deserve to treat myself a little bit.
(These nachos are delicious.)
It’s true that I have recently needed to go shopping for new clothes. But this is not because the clothes I bought last spring after losing a lot of weight no longer fit. At all. Even after doing special stretching-out-the-waistband calisthenics.
No.
I bought new clothes because my sense of fashion has shifted, and I like to wear the latest thing. For example, I currently like wearing pants that are two inches looser than the pants I have put high up on a shelf.
Also, during the winter I like to wear my larger-sized jerseys, although I can quite easily fit into my smaller ones, too. Although I am at a loss as to why I seem to suffer from previously-undiagnosed claustrophobia when I wear these smaller jerseys. As well as shortness of breath, for some reason.
Strange.
You can be certain that I continue to ride, and with the same alacrity that I exhibited through the summer. Which is one of the important causes of my continued slimness and fitness. However, I expect to—sometime in the near future—send a strongly-worded email to each of the companies responsible for manufacturing my stems and handlebars. Why? Well, evidently all of my bars and stems have begun to sag, causing my torso to go lower on the bike, which means my legs push into my (very slight) stomach when I ride.
This kind of failure of materials is very upsetting to me.
Still, my anger is tempered by my positive attitude and cheerful demeanor, for I am extraordinarily pleased at how well I’ve succeeded in keeping the weight off this winter.
Comment by yannb | 01.13.2014 | 2:39 pm
Interesting, glad to see I am in the same boat as you. I too suffer from a bit of claustrophobia when I put on my jerseys lately.
Haven’t experienced the sagging stem/handlebar issue yet. Or maybe I just haven’t noticed.
Comment by iRide | 01.13.2014 | 2:40 pm
I totally understand where you’re coming from! I started doing Crossfit and I’m eating like a pig because of all the muscle I’m building. And it’s that muscle that accounts for the weight gain and need for larger clothing.
Comment by PBRMEASAP | 01.13.2014 | 2:41 pm
lol, I know i’m doing it, I know its wrong and yet I continue to do it every year. UP 25lbs from Sept. I need to relocate somewhere with a sun year round. Western PA is killing me.
Comment by MicroTim | 01.13.2014 | 2:42 pm
If you keep this weight of for too long you might need a new name there ‘Fatty’!
Comment by Kukui | 01.13.2014 | 3:00 pm
Yeah, I’m pretty darn proud that I’ve been able to maintain my racing weight this winter, too!
I was told when I hopped on the scale at the gym this week that they add twenty pounds to the scales at the beginning of the year to ‘encourage’ the New Year’s Resolutionists.
Well, luckily, I know better! I am absolutely positive I’m in prime shape for racing season!
But, I have one complaint… I’m pretty darn sure my bibs shrank while they were sitting in the drawer for the past three months. Has this happened to anyone else?
It must be how I’m storing them.
;)
Comment by BostonCarlos (formerly NYC) | 01.13.2014 | 3:22 pm
I actually haven’t gained a pound in 2 years, but I have gained some gut circumference that I’m not loving. Once the Ripley gets here though, I’m pretty sure I’ll lose some of that gut because I won’t be home enough to eat like a moose… I’ll constantly be out on the trails!
Comment by Davidh-Marin,ca | 01.13.2014 | 3:53 pm
I can confidently blame the cast for any clothing related issues. Now that it’s gone and the bike is back I’m convinced I’ll be ready for Leadville(c’mon lottery, let’s hope it’s better than this last contest)
I can also blame all the Christmas cookies I made intending to send to Fatty and Katie Bolling until it was suggested that I might be trying to influence Katie. That and the fact Fatty said he was going away kept an ungodly amount of cookies around the house. Wife#.6 said they had to be out of the house so there they sat in my desk drawer for a shorter time than I would have believed possible.
Now that the master is back I can send him his cookies (oatmeal, fiber) I know he’ll appreciate it.
As for you Carlos…….!!!!!!!!! No comment.
Comment by UpTheGrade SR, CA | 01.13.2014 | 4:18 pm
I love how I can eat all the pie, candy and heapings of delicious food I want from Halloween through New Year’s and even though I am off the bike for that time due to surgery, I don’t gain any weight! I just have to THINK of all the miles I am not riding and my metabolism spikes into fat burning mode, now that I have it well trained.
Anyway, isn’t it wise to carry a spare tire when you’re doing January base miles? Those stick figures who dust me going up the hills just don’t know how it’s supposed to work!
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Comment by Bee T | 01.13.2014 | 5:04 pm
You are going to be SO THRILLED when I share with you my discovery that at least four types of Girl Scout cookies are vegan. That’s rut. They are feeding us delicious,delicious vegetables. Don’t be fooled by thinking it’s a cookie. It is really two sleeves full of veggies. Which is why I should get another box of thin mints.
Comment by Marty | 01.13.2014 | 5:32 pm
I was pretty proud last year when I dropped 20 pounds before the spring riding season began…all the way down to 180, roughly the weight you considered fat! Lost another five during the summer, but am now back to 180. I’m ready to see if I can take another 20 off before this spring. Let’s do this, Fatty!
Comment by Wife#.59 | 01.13.2014 | 6:28 pm
Yay we’re back to weight-related posts. Much easier for me to personally relate to these than the 24 hours of cycling. ;-)
I have just about recovered from recently demonstrating my own superpower (which is to gain and/or lose truly insane amounts of poundage in an extremely short period of time). Went WAY up over Christmas and now I’m almost back down to my all-time low and on a mission to get ‘er done. May the force be with me.
Though I have to say, those nachos are sounding pretty damn good about now. Mmmm…. nachos. I better get myself to the gym – stat!
Comment by KevinM_Indiana | 01.13.2014 | 6:36 pm
Oh the joys of the “off season” … Congrats on “maintaining” your weight loss Fatty!
Comment by Carl | 01.13.2014 | 6:53 pm
Isn’t it in our genetic makeup that we eat when it is this miserably cold? So if it is, then it can’t be our fault if we gain a pound or two, right?
Comment by Mark J. in Dallas | 01.13.2014 | 7:56 pm
At least you guys can still fit into your cycling jerseys! I haven’t even looked for one for a few months now. But I’ve turned over a new leaf (again) and I’m back on the wagon. I smell a weight loss contest brewing!
Comment by Tes | 01.13.2014 | 9:51 pm
Let’s hope so!
-ride coming up in 3 weeks
-haven’t been on bike since October
-just discovered a place that delivers ice cream
Help!
Comment by wharton_crew | 01.13.2014 | 11:56 pm
Hi Fatty, please forgive any typos, as I’m using voice recognition software to transcribe this comment – it would appear that my intense workouts have caused even my fingers to become so muscled and massive that I can’t type correctly on a keyboard anymore. On a related note, I learned from the Simpsons that if my fingers are too large to dial a phone pad, I can mash the entire number pad with my palm, and they will send me a dialing wand! Excellent!
Sadly, my derriere muscles have become so defined and large that my bike seat is no longer visible when I ride, thereby prompting children to stare and women to turn away in disgust as they make snide comments about riding on the stem.
I guess I’ll have to eat more and ease up on my workouts.
Comment by Doug (Way upstate NY) | 01.14.2014 | 5:51 am
The current tightness of my clothes is due to the weather change and all. Clearly cold weather affects the material properties of fabric.
@davidh…..Send Carlos cookies. LOTS and LOTS of cookies. Apparently he needs them to fuel riding his new bike ;)
Comment by TominAlbany | 01.14.2014 | 6:28 am
Good to have you back, Fatty. Happy spring!
Comment by Al Pastor | 01.14.2014 | 7:48 am
Pictures or it didn’t happen.
On second thought, maybe not.
Comment by AUChefDave | 01.14.2014 | 7:50 am
It is amazing how age gives you such clarity. I was never able understand such things as a younger man. Yet as I reached 50 I totally grasp the concept of your post! Not only that I totally get it, denial will lead to acceptance if you are not careful. Ride Fatty, ride!
Comment by Daddystyle | 01.14.2014 | 8:40 am
Every year I say the same thing. this year I will not gain my hybernation wieght, nor will I bing eat. ( you know your full when your starting to hate yourself].
Always knew I was not the only one. Enjoy
Comment by Papa Bear | 01.14.2014 | 8:50 am
I am happy to report that as a member of the Ursine persuasion, I don’t have to worry about the whole winter weight gain thing. It’s perfectly normal for us bears to pack on the weight in order to hibernate the off-season away. Unfortunately, I haven’t quite figured out how to stay asleep for more than 30 hours or so.
On the plus side, I am nice and fluffy, and ready for the hibernation! Now, where did I put those twinkies?
Comment by MC | 01.14.2014 | 11:32 am
Ii appeared that I had gained 4 lbs over the holidays…but then one really good poop and everything was better. I was really worried there for a bit tho…
Comment by Dave T | 01.14.2014 | 3:16 pm
I finally stepped on the scale today the first time in a month and confirmed my worst fears, my scale is BROKEN.
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 01.14.2014 | 3:44 pm
NorCal Fatties who want to get the jump on the FatMan (I’m sorry, not fat just inflamed). check out the Strava Team Fatty Club (what! you didn’t know there was a Team Fatty Strava Club? Apparently our fearless leader didn’t either, but here’s his chance-Thanks to Nic Grillo for setting this up- ) http://www.strava.com/clubs/team-fatty
Once there, or not there as the case may be, consider coming out and jumping on the early season MTB Race schedule with Bike Monkey’s SoNoMas : http://www.bikemonkey.net/events/sonomas/ March 22nd. LauraS, SteveB, DaveT, YannB(Yann, you know you want to race mtb.) others?
There’s a Fatty want to be named Levi Liebfraumilch, or something like that, who holds the course record. We’ll get in early race shape and when, not if, but when, the Alpine Fatty Fondo occurs we’ll be ready to set our own KOM’s on those Utah hills!
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 01.14.2014 | 6:41 pm
Anyone else interested in putting together a Team Fatty contingent for the WBR Redbull 100 ride in the Northwest June 28th?
http://worldbicyclerelief.akaraisin.com/Common/Event/Home.aspx?seid=8187&mid=8
I’m sorry, that’s RedBELL 100. Mark in Bremerton, and Kukuli have offered guest room space. Ssssssh, they don’t know that yet.
Pretty sure we could capture the Team Fundraising Trophy. We never aim for second!
Comment by Davidh-Marin,ca | 01.14.2014 | 8:34 pm
One day Fatty will have a ‘preview’ option for the comments. Then I could pick up on misspellings. That’s Kukui’s house we’ll be camping out at. But remember mums the word, we don’t want her making any plans to be away.
Comment by BostonCarlos (formerly NYC) | 01.14.2014 | 10:25 pm
I’m jealous of all you NorCal fatties who live near each other and hang out!
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 01.14.2014 | 10:30 pm
@The Boston RIpper
We don’t really ‘hang out’ we threaten to hang out, but ultimately we’re all just riding around aimlessly, and occasionally pass one another. Except SteveB who is riding in his garage while it’s 70 degrees out today.
Comment by TominAlbany | 01.15.2014 | 6:03 am
I have not gained any weight over the holidays. I guess I’ll have to try harder. Fatty, can you link me to one of your decadent and fat-filled recipes that would be helpful in that effort?
Comment by Al Pastor | 01.15.2014 | 9:39 am
Davidh – I will be riding this afternoon if it is indeed close to 70. Though I’m working from home in CoCo county. Don’t tell my office that I’m not at an offsite meeting.
I hate to admit that I rode indoors on Sunday. Not because it was cold outside, but because I wanted to watch the football.
Comment by Kevin Franklin | 01.15.2014 | 10:35 am
I am glad you explained the weight gain as I gained 5 pounds overnight after an inyense training ride last Saturday. Was a little freaked! It’s a refreshing insight that you can laugh at yourself.
Kevin
Comment by Clydesteve | 01.15.2014 | 10:48 am
“…the pants I have put high up on a shelf.”
I hate those pants sometimes.
Comment by Clydesteve | 01.15.2014 | 10:53 am
@Bee T – You used the word rut. I don’t think that word means what you think it means! ;-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rut_(mammalian_reproduction)
Comment by NancyJBS | 01.15.2014 | 11:27 am
@Clydesteve “@Bee T – You used the word rut. I don’t think that word means what you think it means! ;-)”
Screaming funny! This is why it’s good to check back on the comments now and then. That and seeing how @Davidh-Marin,ca is going to botch his posts.
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 01.15.2014 | 12:41 pm
Botch, Botch, Botch! Can’t we all just get along?
Comment by MC | 01.17.2014 | 1:40 pm
Ahhh Greg…the Greggster, Greggmeister, Greggavator, Greggy-boy…multiple names for my multiple personalities are IN! Besides…variety is the spice of life!
No they aren’t!
Yes there are, and shut up!
No, YOU shut up!
I’ll shut up when you do!
OK.
Comment by bob | 01.17.2014 | 8:15 pm
Me either! In fact I’m -23 on my way to about -35.
See you for 100MoN!