Jen's Diary

As of today, I intend to lose a minimum of 5 pounds and possibly 12. I lose weight by simply eating less food. In 1997 I discovered The Weigh Down Diet, which changed my life. I lost about 45 that year and another 15 a little at a time since then. In 2006 I discovered cycling and ride a road bike 3-5 times a week averaging about 500 miles a month. I am thrilled I found a sport I love and am motivated to actually DO on a regular basis. However, cycling does not help me lose weight. If anything, it hinders weight loss because I have to eat enough to fuel my rides. (But my butt got way smaller!) I can eat well enough to lose a pound or two, then go on a bike ride and find I have no energy to keep up with my friends.

Yet, cycling is my biggest motivation in losing weight. I am 5'9" and, as of today, 150 (though I've mostly been hovering around 147/148 until recently). My cycling buddy is 5'5", about 128 pounds and flies up the hills. She may be more of a natural climber than me, but she also has at least 20 pounds less to carry up a hill. It is very depressing to ALWAYS be the last one up the hill on most any group ride ... ... though I can hold my own on the flats and descents. I am working on my hill training and have improved much. However, every time I improve, so does my friend! I don't want to be a twig, but weight loss would be a huge benefit to my climbing success. The amount of weight just depends on how I look and feel once I pass the 145 mark, which is about the lowest I've been in my adult life and felt great there.

As of today, I intend to keep a log of my daily food, focus on listening to my hunger and fullness signals and focus on the days when I will BEAT MY FRIEND UP THOSE HILLS!!!