cycling hard, but discouraged.

I have been road cycling with my husband in the past 4 weeks.  I see my waist and by upper body slimming some,..but the pound # on the scale is not changing.  I'm getting discouraged, and wonder what I imight be doing wrong.  I'm eating better thatn before, avoiding too many starches. I'm drinking alot of green tea. But I feel like I'm not going to loose any weight.  We cycle minimum of 3-4 times a week. for about 1 1/2 hours.  I feel great when we return, but then I hop on the scale, a couple of days later. and nothing.sometimes even 1-2 pounds heavier, what's the deal??????

You're probably gaining muscle and that weighs more than fat. In addition, there's no way around it, you're probably eating too many calories each day. When I started calorie counting, using the Calorie Count food log and other tools, I was stunned to discover how many calories I was packing in each day. I started losing immediately and kept losing as soone as I got control of the calories.

I've lost 33 pounds in 6 months. I can stay with the low calorie 'cause I found good-tasting substitutes for the foods I love. See www.hungry-girl.com & sign up for their daily email where they list new, yummy low cal, lower fat products. Its free. Also click on "Chew the Right Thing" for archives of great food ideas such as delicious chocolate and other flavor ice creams that are only 110 or less calories per packed 1/2 cup. Delicious muffins such as Vitalicious VitaMuffins, delicious donuts www.holeydonuts.net . Buy the 100-calorie snack packs---that way you know what you've eaten.

As soon as I got below the allowed amount of calories per day I started losing, steadily. High sodium (salt) will boost your weight a bit though. I drink a beverage I adore that has no calories: Coke Zero. Buttery Burst spray on corn on the cob, etc. Pepperidge Farms flats are new and the wheat is especially delicious. I can actually have a Turkey Hot Dog with a little flats & condiments and its low calorie and delicious.

In sum, find stuff you love to eat that's low calorie and you'll be ok.

Hey Gianni. Don't be discouraged. The same thing happened to me. I was doing a very strenuous boot camp exercise class 3 days a week and eating better than I had my whole life. I GAINED about 5 pounds. Finally, after 6 months, the weight just started fallling off. It was the weirdest thing. I think maybe my muscles had finally gotten to a point where they were metabolizing the fat better? I don't know to be honest, but don't give up. If you're anything like me your body is changing for the better but it will just be a little longer before the scale starts to move.

Thanks a bunch, that sure makes me feel a whole lot better.  Like you said, it may be the weirdest thing how our bodies work. I'll be patient. thanks.

Thanks so  much for the tips.  I will definitely start trying that.  And thanks for the tip on the 100-calorie pack snack, and the coke.  Great idea.  this is my first time on calorie counting.  Hope this all works. thanks again.