Weight Loss
One of the many reasons people take up multi-sport (including me) but anyone who has consistantly measured their weight over long periods of time will know that it is a frustrating exercise.
Your weight will fluctuate based on a number of different factors and really weight isn't the issue ... especially at our level. You'll see books and articles about race weight and the importance of shedding weight on the bike - that only applies to elite athletes.
My race weight is the weight I am on the day of the race. Not very helpful but I've reached the point where I don't care anymore.
Your weight can be controlled by what you eat. Everyone knows what they should and shouldn't eat and portion size has a big role to play. But even by doing this your weight will still fluctuate and you will become frustrated because you've put a few pounds on after losing some the week before.
Why?
You're building muscle - swapping out lean tissue for fat. Muscle weighs more that fat and as you train and become stronger this is what is happening to you.
The important thing is that you are reducing your body fat percentage and this will be reflected in the fit of your clothing so don't become obsessed with the numbers.
Fat is your friend
This isn't a phrase you'll hear a lot in a world worried about an obesity epidemic but it's true. If you strip away all of your body fat you'll look thin and covered in muscle which is supposed to be what everyone wants. It can be argued that this makes you faster on the bike as there is less of you having to punch a hole in the air. The same applies to running - just look at Mo Farrah.
The problem here is that body fat keeps you healthy by helping fight disease and infection. Just having a cold can stop your training - breathing during swimming is hard enough without blocked airways.
Body fat also gives you a little extra buoyancy in the water which, in theory, will make you a better swimmer. Using the non-scientific method of looking at my fellow club members this theory does seem to bear some truth. The fastest swimmers tend to be bulkier with not a great deal of muscle definition except when they're in action.
You also have to remember that you're a triathlete and not a single sport specialist.
Cyclists and runners (not sprinters) don't use their upper-bodies in the same way. They have to be strong but they don't develop broad shoulders and powerful backs and arms that swimmers require.
Apart from all of this triathletes come in many shapes and sizes - just because somebody looks ripped doesn't mean they can complete a Sprint Distance triathlon or even a 5K run in the same time you can.
As long as you're eating sensibly you can have the occasional treat and it won't matter. Enjoy your training and the weight/fat will take care of itself
Your weight will fluctuate based on a number of different factors and really weight isn't the issue ... especially at our level. You'll see books and articles about race weight and the importance of shedding weight on the bike - that only applies to elite athletes.
My race weight is the weight I am on the day of the race. Not very helpful but I've reached the point where I don't care anymore.
Your weight can be controlled by what you eat. Everyone knows what they should and shouldn't eat and portion size has a big role to play. But even by doing this your weight will still fluctuate and you will become frustrated because you've put a few pounds on after losing some the week before.
Why?
You're building muscle - swapping out lean tissue for fat. Muscle weighs more that fat and as you train and become stronger this is what is happening to you.
The important thing is that you are reducing your body fat percentage and this will be reflected in the fit of your clothing so don't become obsessed with the numbers.
Fat is your friend
This isn't a phrase you'll hear a lot in a world worried about an obesity epidemic but it's true. If you strip away all of your body fat you'll look thin and covered in muscle which is supposed to be what everyone wants. It can be argued that this makes you faster on the bike as there is less of you having to punch a hole in the air. The same applies to running - just look at Mo Farrah.
The problem here is that body fat keeps you healthy by helping fight disease and infection. Just having a cold can stop your training - breathing during swimming is hard enough without blocked airways.
Body fat also gives you a little extra buoyancy in the water which, in theory, will make you a better swimmer. Using the non-scientific method of looking at my fellow club members this theory does seem to bear some truth. The fastest swimmers tend to be bulkier with not a great deal of muscle definition except when they're in action.
You also have to remember that you're a triathlete and not a single sport specialist.
Cyclists and runners (not sprinters) don't use their upper-bodies in the same way. They have to be strong but they don't develop broad shoulders and powerful backs and arms that swimmers require.
Apart from all of this triathletes come in many shapes and sizes - just because somebody looks ripped doesn't mean they can complete a Sprint Distance triathlon or even a 5K run in the same time you can.
As long as you're eating sensibly you can have the occasional treat and it won't matter. Enjoy your training and the weight/fat will take care of itself