ClearNotCloudyMind Member

We gave my daughter her first geared mtb for her 5th birthday, 20 inch wheel ridgeback (rigid frame). There is a steep section on the way home from school and she found it too hard on the all-purpose gear of her previous 16" bike. She finds the grip shifter pretty easy to use, though she only uses gear 6 (downhill or flat)…

Wasn't going to comment but you don't say your level of intensity. I have a pace I can sustain fasted, pretty much indefinitely so far as I have tested (105 miles is the max). If I want to go faster, I need to eat. If I want to go hard for more than an hour, I find gels are the ONLY thing that let's me stay with the big…

We don't often get to exercise together (kids and no local family to help out) but a day out on the bike together is a special treat for us bioth. Of course the skinny git rides me into the ground but that's ok. More motivational than annoying.

Cycling! Sit ups. All those weights at the gym. That's my ideas exhausted.

Raspberry vinegar, chopped fresh herbs (chives, mint, that sort of thing). Mix with a spoon. Adjust to taste. Add sugar and/or olive oil if you want it milder.

My feeling is if you're feeling guilty you probably need to try a different approach. I take 2+ hours twice a week to go cycling. It's not enough but I wouldn't see enough of my kids if I did more. Pick a training schedule you're 100% comfortable with for now as its something you'll be able to stick to. You can always add…

Hi. Not sure if you're after this sort of stuff but get LUMINOUS clothing! I find orange or bright pink is most visible. Also as much reflective/high vis tape or strips as you can stand for early evenings. Been cycling rural small lanes my whole adult life and it certainly helps if the buggers can't pretend they didn't see…

Sounds like boredom to me. Try cups of tea? X

Great stuff! Funny thing is you were rather pretty even in your before photo, despite the extra insulation! Pity kids at high school can't see past the silhouette.

Commute by bike. I don't do exercise for exercise's sake but there's joy in getting from A to B powered by that naughty biscuit I snaffled before leaving the office!

Try intermittent fasting? Doesn't need robe drastic, just block off a part of the day in which you DO NOT EAT. I find if I've made the decision not to eat until noon then I can walk past the biscuit tin whereas before I was a monster! Good luck with it :)

My approach? Don't force on any one day but hit a sensible deficit over the whole week. The way I exercise I hit crazy negatives on bike days and then am ravenous for the next few days. Seems to work if I go over on a couple of days and under for the week.

This is so true. I have hit plateaus in the past. Frustrating but then it ends and I ALWAYS experience really good drops in weight after. I've concluded that a plateau is my body changing from its old state to a new better one so weight loss can continue. Don't give up. Think about how you'll feel a year from now. It works.

Do something active you love. And do it LOTS! Not only will calories be burned but while doing it no food can be eaten. For me it's cycling. Others it's running. One friend it's gardening!

I can get pretty geeky about this. I've a basic bike computer for instant speed and mileage info. I also have map my ride running on my phone for training rides. Beyond this I also have an ap continuously on called moves which tracks everything! Moves is my favourite ap but it underestimates and doesn't give elevation…

Hi folks. Thanks for the tips. Very interested to hear the info on fat vs carb burning as I'd been considering changing my diet to induce that! Guess I'll be trying to cram in some 3+ hr rides and risk an upset tummy to find what works.

Hi. This may or may not be helpful but I've not cut anything out or had any Plan. I just eat less now than before. I also do IF which helps resist mindless snacking (only eat between noon and 7pm). My diary is a bit shocking recently as I've been I'll but generally I eat a decent lunch, small dinner, and whatever else fits…

Congratulations! I've a skirt in my cupboard which is my destination. I fit into it, I move to maintenance! It's the only smaller clothing I have left as I threw out almost all my pre-kid clothes in a hormonal fit halfway through my second pregnancy!

I adjust down when I feel different... No science to it but if I feel smaller and it's been a while I adjust. Doesn't seem to change much these days anyway

What a lovely lovely little boy! Sorry I am sympathetic (my 4-year old loves playing with my "squishy" tummy) but can't help but think that kid is a generous empathic nice little man...

Not sure if you can get it there but the Hairy Dieters cookbook has some lovely food in it. It's not daft either, just reliable healthy meals which (so far) have all been delicious.

Eat an orange. A real one which takes effort to peel and means you have to wipe your hands after. Blasts me awake and somehow the act of tidying up makes me feel I've finished eating.

Oh lunch certainly. I never eat breakfast (IF) and tbh only eat dinner because its a family meal. But lunch... I'm ready by the time it comes round!

Hey there. Used to live in Southampton but then moved to the Cotswolds. Had a lovely holiday over there last spring though :) Welcome!

Stew (any kind) Freeze it before you go and it acts as an ice pack for the first day keeping your milk cold. Eat with bread (if you want to restore carbs after a hike it's necessary!) and a spoon from bowls. Easy, quick and super-comforting!

This made me grin. If she was the age to be a mother I'd guess it was quiet time?! Otherwise it does sound a little bizarre

Hi there! Yes I do find some of the US foods perplexing!

Apples and oranges. 70 cals a pop and great for my 4pm sugar crash. Bananas are 100+ cals and good potassium, plus they're nature's energy bar ;)

I'm a pretty keen cyclist and didn't put mine on the (front) seat till they could sit up on their own. As they were between my arms I didn't worry about a helmet. Seen some unbelievably good trailers (would do for little babies) which double as pushchairs. Wish I'd known about them when starting out. Good luck!

Oh me too!!! Then I discovered white fish and had the same reaction in reverse! On fish days I stuff myself silly and don't go near my calorie goal. Supportive husband now cooking fish 3x a week :)