"I get this question a lot: "I'm putting in serious miles every week. How come the scale isn't moving?" I've been there. During one of my highest-mileage months, I was riding almost every day - yet my weight barely changed. The truth is, endurance cycling burns calories, but it also boosts appetite and efficiency. If you don't track both sides of the equation, the deficit disappears fast."
"I learned that lesson the hard way on a 500-mile tour I rode in a single week. When I got home, I actually weighed more than when I started. It made no sense until I did the math - I'd been filling bottles with full-calorie Gatorade from convenience stores all week. Between that and the big meals after each day's ride, I was drinking and eating back every bit of my deficit."
Endurance cycling burns substantial calories but also increases appetite and training efficiency, which can negate expected weight loss. Many riders replace burned calories with snacks, sugary sports drinks, and oversized recovery meals, eliminating any calorie deficit. Tracking food intake and comparing it to actual calorie burn helps reveal and prevent unintentional overeating. Long, easy Zone 2 rides build endurance yet may not drive fat loss without added high-intensity efforts. Improved fitness reduces calories burned at the same pace, making fat loss harder over time. Hydration choices, workout intensity, and recovery habits influence results, but a consistent calorie deficit is essential.
Read at Theoldguybicycleblog
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