Yesterday was weigh-in day and I had to check myself three times just to make sure the digital scale wasn’t screwing up… 

After another 130+ mile week, and seven more days in a row (I’m coming up on 23 days without a day off now), the weight is peeling off a little too fast for comfort. Two pounds after a fairly easy week is a little too much, considering I’ve only got three more pounds to go and the season hasn’t even started yet. That works out to five pounds in four weeks, without trying too hard. Where this gets tricky is that my weight loss is accelerating. The only thing that’s really changed is that I quit taking days off a few weeks ago. It makes me wonder if there isn’t something going on there, maybe my metabolism is kicking up because even my rest days involve a 45 minute ride on the trainer at around 20 mph… In the end, it really doesn’t matter whether that’s the case or not. I know what the scale says and I have to manage that. It’s an interesting idea though.

There are two things to consider here. First, I get skinny in a hurry once the 200 mile weeks start. That two pounds a week can turn into three if I’m not careful. Second, my wife starts complaining when I drop below 170 pounds. I can squeak by at 165, but even I have to admit, below 165 and I’m too skinny. In short, I needed to add a pound back. It’s good to have my problems.

Desperate times call for desperate measures: McDonald’s for lunch and a Freakin’ Unbelievable Burger for dinner, with smothered chilli fries.

Now, one mustn’t get the wrong impression, I do not eat like that normally. While I’m not afraid to have a fast food burger or chicken sammich now and again, dinners and lunches are usually vastly more responsible. Breakfast doesn’t even come into this discussion because that is always wise and healthy (a banana and one of the following: apple, orange, protein bar or, on rare occasion, a bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sammich – homemade of course).

What will not decrease is my appetite for hard miles. I have only one goal going into a season: To be of maximum use to my wife and friends once spring hits. It’s not about racing, or beating guys up… What’s fun for me is being a guy that my friends want to have around to pull hard miles up front. For me, it doesn’t get any better than that.

One thing can’t be argued against: Losing a few pounds with 100-200 miles a week on a bike is a whole lot easier and more fun that without the miles.