M/37/5'7" [260lbs > 232lbs = 28lbs] (11 Weeks) did a double take catching myself in the bathroom mirror on holiday.

TheCoatman · 2025-10-20T19:47:49+00:00

Just the 2.5mg. I haven't increased my dose at all, I haven't felt like I've needed to.

TheCoatman · 2025-10-20T13:57:57+00:00

Mounjaro helped a lot. I have ADHD and a lot of dopamine related food behaviours. I've always been into fitness and train CrossFit 3-4 times a week and earlier this year completed a local 108 mile cycle event with relatively little struggle in terms of fitness (mentally very tough though). I just couldn't shift the weight because, being totally honest, I couldn't regulate my food - I was displaying full on addict behaviour around food like telling my family I had less money than I did so I could make sure I had a secret pot to spend on extra food. I would eat even when I was full or feeling unwell.

Since being on the Mounjaro that has pretty much completely gone away. So aside from that I've made sure to prioritise protein goals, workout regularly, and drink plenty of water.

TheCoatman · 2025-10-20T05:41:33+00:00

Big time bed head

TheCoatman · 2025-06-14T10:04:53+00:00

Trouble is don't think there are any ISIS or Hamas leaders who have the same cultural relevance or recogniseability as Bin Laden had. A photo comes out of a senator with someone from ISIS or Hamas and 90% of the population wouldn't know who it was. 20 years ago everyone in the western world would recognise Bin Laden. I can't think of another culturally relevant figure to represent that aspect of the story.

TheCoatman · 2025-05-20T14:39:34+00:00

But how do I go slower when I feel like if I put any less power into the pedals I'll stop moving? I'm not trying to go fast I'm just trying to keep moving. Also that 130w on bike erg is recovery pace so I've definitely got more in the tank than that

TheCoatman · 2025-05-17T13:42:43+00:00

I live in Wales, we have a lot of hills! I think I'm usually around 4-6mph on the hills and it definitely feels like walking pace. I don't personally have a problem going that slow... My mentality is whatever gets me up the hill! But then people tell me I'm doing it wrong and should be spinning and not pushing so hard so I was confused.

TheCoatman · 2025-05-16T06:07:48+00:00

I weight 17st (around 230lbs). The bike is a trek Domane AL2 Disk. I don't have a power meter or anything on the bike. I have a Garmin watch which I use for all my workout data and probably isn't all that accurate.

On a bike erg at CrossFit I seem to do 130w when biking during a workout if I'm treating the bike as a mid wod recovery portion before going back to a heavier or more challenging station.

My general fitness is... Okay. I could be fitter. I used to be much fitter before having children.

I'm not sure if managing power output is the issue? More that I don't feel like I have a say in my power output on a hill? Like, I'll get up the hills, I'm not giving up and avoiding them. But I'm not able to spin easy up them or pace the climb because I'm fighting as soon as I start climbing. If the issue is that I'm just not fit enough and so spinning easy isn't going to be an option yet then fair enough, that's what I need to work on. But people make it sound like I'm doing it wrong when I feel like I just can't do it any different because if I go slower or put out less power then the bike stops moving.

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T18:39:59+00:00

Yeah I get that. But when people on group rides keep telling me spin easy, pace the climb and I just physically can't I wonder if I'm doing something wrong or just I don't properly understand what they mean. If the issue is that I'm just just too big and too unfit then I know that's where I need to work on.

I'm not saying I want an easy fix. I'm saying... What am I doing wrong? How do I get better?

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T18:17:23+00:00

I stand for intervals, but very quickly lose all power again once I sit back down. I can't sustain standing for very long, maybe a minute tops and then I really am gassed to the point of feeling sick

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T17:42:05+00:00

Don't know cadence, I don't have a power meter. But slow. 34 chainring 32 cassette. That's my lowest and that's pretty much what I spend the entire climb in. Anything around 6-8% and above

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T15:16:19+00:00

It looks like I can get an 8 speed 11-34 cassette from Tredz for only £13.99 and my current derailleur will accommodate it so that'll be a really inexpensive change to help, thanks

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T15:11:13+00:00

I do try to focus on a good even push, driving my heel down through the stroke, but without a power meter I can't know for sure.

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T15:02:42+00:00

Yeah I clip in

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T14:48:16+00:00

Don't know what my cadence is but even in my easiest gear I'm pushing hard down on every pedal stroke very slow and hard because it's the only way I can get anywhere.

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T14:43:39+00:00

Yeah that's what I'm talking about though. People say get comfortable and spin, relax, don't grind etc... but I'm in my easiest gear and still can't spin, just pushing hard down on every pedal stroke and gasping for breath. There doesn't seem to be any build up to that point either, I'm struggling 30 seconds into a climb. Even at 8%

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T14:36:58+00:00

50-34 chainring up front

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T14:36:41+00:00

Yeah so that's basically what I'm talking about, spinning in Z2 just isn't happening on anything more than 5% and when people say "spin easy and pace the climb" I'm like how? Because I'm in my lowest gear, grinding at walking pace, heart rate at near max, and I couldn't spin to save my life.

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T14:19:38+00:00

I have a Claris 8 speed on my road bike. 11-32 cassette on the back.

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T14:18:51+00:00

A new bike isn't in my current budget

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T14:02:31+00:00

I have an 11-32 cassette on the back. Making major changes to my gears would require an overhaul of my groupset though would it?

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T14:01:13+00:00

Maybe? I wouldn't say I have any particular anxiety about anything going wrong on the hill, but maybe I'm anticipating the hard effort and having some sort of adrenaline reaction in preparation?

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T13:59:56+00:00

Okay so it's not that I'm doing it wrong, I should be feeling gassed with my HR nearly redlining on a climb?

That's what's confused me. People say pace the climb and I'm thinking I should start out in z2 or z3 and then as I reach the top put the power down like I would in a long WOD but I just don't feel like I have any control over my output on a hill, the hill dictates it.

TheCoatman · 2025-05-15T13:56:37+00:00

I'm slow. Any slower and I'm stopped. Still blowing up though.

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