Tipping the scales isn’t high on many people’s enjoyment list; and since the pandemic began, it’s probably fallen by at least a few places.

It seems that weight gain during the last year has been common. Many people haven’t been able to get out to exercise as much; and that means fewer calories burned. That right there can contribute to unwanted pounds. People have been under stress; and that can lead to stress-eating. And don’t they say that stress increases ghrelin?

Incidentally, the word “ghrelin” amuses me: it reminds me of “gremlin“. Just as gremlins sabotaged airplanes, ghrelin can sabotage your diet! The results, of course, are not amusing; and I don’t mean to make fun of that.

I’m among the lucky ones who have been able to keep up my cycling through all of this. Over the last thirteen months, I’ve lost weight: I’m tipping the scales at about 26 pounds less, which is a significant amount for me. A big motivator was blood work results in February of last year. It showed prediabetes; and I did not, and do not, want to develop full-blown Type II.

Riding a bicycle can help with both stress reduction and weight loss; and keeping it up helps to maintain your weight, once you’ve reached your target. My goals now are to keep up the calorie- and carb-watching; and to keep my weight where it is. I don’t need to lose any more; but even less do I want to gain those pounds back!

Even if the weigh-in isn’t always fun, it helps keep a body on track; and if my weight creeps up a pound or two, I’ll know right away. Then I can double down on the diet!