Subtle Changes

The Biggest Loser, has come under scrutiny in recent years for the rapid weight loss during the competition and the subsequent gain of that weight back its contestants.  The spectacle and how many eyeballs Jillian Michaels & Co is really all the powers-that-be on that show truly care about.  Otherwise, the weight loss would be a slow burn, with subtle changes.

And that is where I am at right now, the subtle changes stage of weight loss.  I've lost, since Thanksgiving, 15 pounds total.  And am about to start week 6 of zone 2 training.  The weight has come off primarily to dialing my diet back in.  My body chemistry (and let's face it most others as well) does not do well with grains or sugar.  I have found that I can tolerate dairy, so I am eating full fat and grass fed whenever possible.  If I should only be eating what is correct, shouldn't my food as well?

Don't even get me started about what chickens are fed though...

So zone 2, what is it you may be asking?  Well it means that I took my age, subtracted it from 180 bpm and added a bit extra because I started out a bit fitter than most.  Thus when I am out riding it is all about keeping my heart rate to a max of 144.  When I ride inside, if forced too, it is very easy to keep my heart rate below a max of 144.  Mostly this is because I don't experience hills or rollers when I am inside - go figure.

I did one of those side by side comparison photos too after the second month and there were some changes that definitely were visible.  When I take the month 3 photo next weekend I'll be curious to see what that shows in comparison as well.  

Today I rode a filthy 40 miles.  Filthy because the roads were wet and covered with grit and sand towards the edges.  The back of my Quick Step-Innergetic winter jacket was speckled with stains from the road and my bike was filthy.  But it was a great ride, I reversed the loop I'd been doing because why not and to see if it was easier in this direction.  It was, mostly due to the bigger hills being at the start.

Now doing zone 2 means that on the flats and slight rises below 1% grade I am able to move at speeds near 20mph or above if the grade goes into the negative.  With those conditions, my heart rate might get up near 140, maybe 142 but rarely above that or if it gets closer I ease off and it drops like a  stone.  But when I hit steeper longer climbs I find myself at 144 or higher and the thing is, I don't realize it because it's getting easier.

Now climbing really is about power to weight ratio.  So given I've lost 15 lbs obviously going up hill is getting easier but combine that with the zone 2 training, it is getting really easy to the point where I am really having to back off and coast on uphill sections.

I've got another 8 weeks of zone 2 after this week and I am so looking forward to a few things once I am done with it.  In two months time it will late March heading into April, which means I'll probably put the Zipp 404 carbon wheels back on my s5.  April is when I start cyclo-commuting back to work. April is also when I get my cholesterol checked and annual physical.  Once I've finished the 14 weeks I was told to stick to zone 2, I can begin doing intervals again, which means going hard and then going easy and my commute is so ideal for that.  I'll also ride to my doctor visit that month and if all goes to plan absolutely stun them with my weight.  And it will be the first time this year I go up Mt. Agamenticus, which is several months later than I normally do.

So far so good and the post ride chicken with artichokes, spinach & tomato was fantastic and the addition of the Justin's Maple Almond Butter packet was the icing on the cake...

The Last Goal of 2016

Sometime just after Thanksgiving I committed or rather re-committed to going fully NSNG.  For those not in the loop, that means No Sugar, No Grains - but, but, but you are thinking what about carbs?

You realize that fruit & veg are carbs right?  Furthermore without going into too much boring scientific detail, our bodies cannot handle the carbohydrate load that sugars & grains create and as a result two things happen.  The first is that excess sugar gets stored as fat and not the good fat.  The second thing is that that excess sugar creates the lipids that create the plaque that guns up our arteries.  It's also why your super skinny friend that can eat whatever they want and thus eat twinkies & coke for lunch probably have fatty organs - a condition once the province of alcoholics only.

Recent studies (no links, just google it) indicate that sugar affects the brain the same as heroin or cocaine.  And let me tell you kicking sugar can be rough.  But once you get over that 2 week hump, it gets progressively easier day by day.  As of today, I've been NSNG for close to 1.5 months - my absolute longest stint since July 2012.

So what has happened?

Between Nov 28th and Dec 31st, I lost a total of 13 lbs.  Yes you read that right and before you say well that is because you exercise a lot.  Vinnie Tortorich, a fitness expert and the guy behind the whole NSNG thing will tell that exercise is a poor way to loose weight.  And if you really think about it and look at other cyclists or runners you know, some may be skinny but a lot won't be.  I'm the best example of this, I would ride thousands of miles per year, but would stay the same physically.  It's only when I've eliminated sugar & grains that I have seen any weight loss whatsoever.

All of this is of course leading towards my assault on Mt. Washington in 2018.

The goal this year is to get my weight back down to the low 180s and keep it there.  When I tackle Mt. Washington I hope to be in the 170s and fully in ketosis.  I plan on riding this year fully fat adapted and am working towards that as I train right now in zone 2 for about 6 more weeks.  What that means is that I won't need gels, bars or isotonic drinks.  In fact, all I'll most likely do is put some MCT oil in my bottle at some point during the ride and that should cover it, even for rides in excess of 100 miles.

Anyway, that's where I'm at now.  I am so rededicated to this that I eschewed a birthday cake this year, much to the dismay of my 4 yr old.

The first goal of 2017 is to be down to 195 by the end of January and then near to 185 by the end of February.  I'll keep ya posted.