Body Imagery and Cycling ...

[FlashUNC]

Originally Posted by beeatnik

Mexican food in a former Taco Bell is so meta. What else is good at La Mission?

And isn't it always pozole weather in the Yay Area?

It was 90 degrees on Tuesday. It's our three weeks of summer before the rain returns.

Their fish tacos are solid but not what I think anyone in LA or San Diego would say are life changing. Their enchiladas are also excellent.

[GOTHBROOKS]

Originally Posted by scottcw2

Strange days, indeed.

[Clean39T]

Originally Posted by GOTHBROOKS

make sure the papas fritas in your san diego burrito are fried with olestra!

The disaster pants tho

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[denapista]

Originally Posted by azrider

This thread is so weird

From body weight issues, to burrito spots in the bay area.. Slow times on Paceline.

[jlwdm]

Originally Posted by XXtwindad

...

There is no rational world where Chris Froome (pictured) is seen as an exemplar of fitness or personifies a healthy body image. I would have the same opinion of extreme bodybuilders. They're both cartoons, and nothing for everyday people to aspire to.

...

Froome might not be an exemplar of a healthy body image but he is obviously strong where he needs to be. Everybody is different.

I graduated from high school at 6'2" and under 130 lbs. I ate a ridiculous amount of food but could not gain weight. My metabolism changed at around 36 years old. At 40 I was just under 160 lbs and in the best shape of my life. Road my bike, lifted weights 4 days a week, played tennis, skied and ate really healthy food. I was the strongest I have ever been, faster on the bike and was told every day by people that I was too skinny. I had so much energy I would leap out of bed in the morning.

We all have to work with our own bodies and not worry about others.

Jeff

[Dave]

I had oral surgery a week ago, so no carbonated beverages and only liquid or really soft food since then. No chewing where my implant was placed. Lost almost 4 lbs already.

I've been stuck at 139 most of the summer and now I'm at 135. Another pound and I'll be back to my 10 years ago weight. If I was a racer, at 5'-6", I'd probably weigh 127. That would really be skinny.

The best thing is my old jerseys fit me once again.

[jtbadge]

The fact that so many people are chiming in with their weight/height is certainly a sign that we are keenly aware of the physical condition we keep ourselves in.

Many of you claim you don't know any cyclists with image issues - maybe they are afraid to share their feelings with you because you are in "better" shape than they are. Maybe they are afraid to share their feelings with you because they see you calling other cyclists (including members of this very forum) "fat." Maybe they are afraid to share their feelings with you because you make statements like "I make the decision to be skinny." These are all unhealthy behaviors in their own way. Negative body image can be a result of any of a million sources you may not be aware of - mental health is complex, and some of us have been struggling with this our entire lives.

Maybe some more sensitivity around this issue would be healthy for this forum. I have lost a ton of weight since getting into cycling, but many of the posts in this thread and attitudes of people I have met while participating in this activity have been very discouraging with regards to my own self image. And I know I am not alone in this.

Cycling is already such an exclusionary activity. Let's try to be more welcoming? And have open, honest conversations about feelings with your friends.

TLDR: body shaming is so weird.

[pasadena]

Don't know why people keep harping on Froome.
He's probably 70kg, and 75kg off season. Have you seen him in real life? He doesn't look like some cancer patient. He looks like a solid, carved athlete.

benb has said it- stay positive and just do you.
There is not a whole lot of negativity towards the avg cyclist here. Seems biased the other way.

Of course weight and fitness are relevant topics when discussing cycling.
There is a whole industry built on it, and training, etc.

[beeatnik]

James, that's a positive perspective but you're also a cat who will never be 5 pounds over his high school weight.

[Hellgate]

Sorry, but the long closed Pizza Heaven in Denver had the best burritos. I'd ride my Peugeot UO8 from Littleton to Denver, snarf a bean and beef burrito smoothered in Hatch pork green chilli stew, the turn laps in Wash Park. Oh, and I was 15, 6', 132lbs and ate everything in sight.

Today, I'm 55, 6' and 156. In my Army active duty days I was 190 and benched 220. Today, I never want to be that big again.

[jtbadge]

Originally Posted by beeatnik

James, that's a positive perspective but you're also a cat who will never be 5 pounds over his high school weight.

Sure. But I've been struggling with that notion in my head since I was in college.

[CMiller]

Originally Posted by jtbadge

The fact that so many people are chiming in with their weight/height is certainly a sign that we are keenly aware of the physical condition we keep ourselves in.

Many of you claim you don't know any cyclists with image issues - maybe they are afraid to share their feelings with you because you are in "better" shape than they are. Maybe they are afraid to share their feelings with you because they see you calling other cyclists (including members of this very forum) "fat." Maybe they are afraid to share their feelings with you because you make statements like "I make the decision to be skinny." These are all unhealthy behaviors in their own way. Negative body image can be a result of any of a million sources you may not be aware of - mental health is complex, and some of us have been struggling with this our entire lives.

Maybe some more sensitivity around this issue would be healthy for this forum. I have lost a ton of weight since getting into cycling, but many of the posts in this thread and attitudes of people I have met while participating in this activity have been very discouraging with regards to my own self image. And I know I am not alone in this.

Cycling is already such an exclusionary activity. Let's try to be more welcoming? And have open, honest conversations about feelings with your friends.

TLDR: body shaming is so weird.

x1000

Thanks for writing that

[beeatnik]

Originally Posted by jtbadge

Sure. But I've been struggling with that notion in my head since I was in college.

J, welcome back.

[pdmtong]

My wife can still fit her college jeans. Has arm and abdominal definition.
I on the other hand am 5'10 and 172#s and am too chubby to shave time off uphill.

There are no cookies in our house - ever. Occasionally chips and ice cream. But only occasionally. Pitfalls of marrying a nutrition major.

Still, we both drink beer.

[GOTHBROOKS]

if ur not fluctuating between 20 lbs every 6 months to a year do u even rly suffer from multiple mental illnesses that u cope thru w drugs and food