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I have a small space here to catch up a little on the whirlwind that has been this life for the past couple of months. The gals from "made naturally" will be finishing up soon and it will be time for me to start my second breakfast to fuel and prepare for a 2 session ride on the bike.
Calorie burn will likely be around 3300 today, but ironically at this point considered on the lower end of a cycle session. The bigger burn always happens on Saturday, which is the biggest load of the week where calorie burns hit as high as 4500. And, if you can believe it this burn will increase as the build for the century ride increases.
...And, for the record no cyclist including this one pushing out up to 266 watts above over a 2-3 hour period can eat back all the cals we burn. This is a myth. What one comes to understand is that not all of that fuel is coming from fat.
If you're lucky and the heart rate has adjusted to the speed (which it does over time) one can pull up to 30% from their fat stores at a steady state. However, the rest will come from glycogen stored in the muscles.
When I first started training for the century, 260-266 watts - the polar heart rate strap I wear clocked this heart rate at max and tempo. So, most of the fuel was being pulled from my muscles and only about 15-17% from fat stores.
However, as I projected since last September my heart rate has already adjusted and all rpms between 250 and 266 watts on the bike barely get this heart into steady state or into its aerobic range, which means I am now able to pull up to 35% of these rides from whatever fat is left on this body.
And, yes even at 125.6 lbs I'm still registering up to 18-19% body fat on the calipers. A lot of that muscular gain came from running.
Who knew slow twitch muscle fibers had newbie gains?!?
Not this gal, but during my research for running I came upon an article that confirmed without a doubt if one is new to running and increased the mileage at a rapid rate (which, I did) and keep the protein on the high end, which I ALWAYS DO, those slow twitch muscles fibers are subject to the same newbie gains as your novice body builder.
Which is indeed why this girl is still fitting into those size 4 pants at 125 lbs. There is only one pair I feel is too tight for me to wear and it's odd because it still has the proverbial gap around the waist, but too tight for my comfort in the glutes, thighs, and calves. I liked those pants too :-(
But, if the exchange is extensive power in the legs that allow me to work past the 10 mile runs I left off at before the snow arrived then that's the way it goes. I'm going to need those muscles for the 70.3 half iron man build starting in March. I just hope I don't lose to much of it during winter and crossing fingers and toes the bike and the century ride will keep me conditioned enough when training runs begin again in the spring.
Okay...it's quiet now and I think the gals who clean are gone. There is so many other things:
1. I'm no longer "gainfully" employed
2. I'm Providing in home care and household management to my mother who has just completed 1 knee surgery and scheduled for her second knee replacement in January.
3. Thankful to the universe for all the amazing blessings. FMLA, medicaid, and having a beautiful safe space to relax, center, and thrive in.
4. And, yes I'm still showing up clean and clear of any new lesions or lesion activity due to Multiple Sclerosis. That means no new relapses since dx in 2017. Woooohooooo!
The universe is abundant with blessings...and I am humbled with gratitude. I hope all of you are well and enjoying life to the greatest measure of your health and vitality. Namaste...until the next little space I can grab to catch up. Take care with your bodies...take care with your hearts :-)
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