Noticeable changes since you started?

[northstar]

As I was riding home last night, I was thinking about how different I felt from even three weeks before, when I got my new bike. I had been out a couple of times prior to that, but the MN winter had kept me indoors and fairly sedentary until that point. I thought it might be fun to share some things we've noticed as new riders.

1. I am more awake during the day.
2. I sleep through the night, and I sleep well.
3. My legs feel stronger, more powerful.
4. I can breathe! When I was riding the first week or so, I'd get to the top of a hill and really feel like I was suffering to catch my breath. I noticed yesterday that my breathing was consistently nice and even, even when my thighs were burning as I worked my way up hills.
5. I am perkier/more positive during the day.
6. I'm proud of myself!
7. My DH is proud of me!
8. I am more conscious of what I eat. I fin myself asking if it will be good fuel for my ride.
9. I've gotten to know parts of town I had never seen before.
10. I am skipping the coffee shop because I'd rather have another jersey or pair of shorts than a latte. (So I make my coffee at home instead!)

Just a start.

[LadyinWhite]

down several pant sizes
My bottom is no longer my least favorite feature!

[short cut sally]

1) appreciating the natural wonders that mother nature has to offer us.
2) stamina and motivation not to walk up that hill

[mimitabby]

1. muscle tone
2. stamina
3. I am not as cold as i used to be! (wearing lighter clothing)
4. I have some knee socks that are no longer comfortable!

[northstar]

Oh, I totally agree about the appreciation of nature. I recently encountered a wild turkey wandering along the Mississippi River...in downtown Minneapolis! It's fantastic to hear the birds, and I always seem to be identifying plants along the way.

[AuntieK]

The biggest thing I've noticed is that I don't have the devistating anxiety that I used to have. As a matter of fact, since I've started riding, I've turned into quite a daredevil. I find myself wanting to try things now just for the thrill of it. A far cry from the girl who couldn't even go for a car ride without freaking out we we going to be in a horrible car accident!
I think once you've descended a mountain on a bike going nearly 50 mph wearing only shorts, shirt, and helmet (and, of course socks/shoes), you know you can do anything!

[indysteel]

I'm much more confident about nearly everything.

I think of myself again (and it had been a long time) as an athlete.

Between cycling, spinning and yoga, I spend very little time at home and, if I am at home, I spend very little time on my couch watching tv. Even when I'm home, I'm more likely to be doing something, e.g., washing all my workout clothes.

I have new friends.

I think of food, first and foremost, as fuel so my diet has improved.

My thighs--outer and inner--don't jiggle and my butt doesn't sag.

I went down a dress size.

I'm much more toned and (thanks to both yoga, lifting and some fat loss), my arms look cut for the first time in my life.

I hate shopping for anything but cycling clothes.

I've seen way more of home state on my bike than I ever have in my car.

I'm stronger than I realized, physically and emotionally, which has led me to redefine what I can and cannot do.

I know what a hub, derailleur, seat stay, headset, crank arm, bladed spoke, cog, etc., is.

Despite having gotten over my love for stuffed animals as a kid, I've discovered that I can still unselfconciously talk to and love dearly an inanimate object (my bike) as if it were alive.

[roguedog]

I can see some leg muscle!

My wallet has lost some weight :p

I'm hungry all the time

I discovered spinning and that I like it

I now have a hobby (vs workaholic)

I just feel better

People avoid mentioning the words "bike" and "cycling".. and even "what'd you do this weekend" around me :D

[alpinerabbit]

1. I am more awake during the day.Me, not really. I am always a slacker.

2. I sleep through the night, and I sleep well.yeppers

3. My legs feel stronger, more powerful.
Yes, but not the day after a hard workout....

6. I'm proud of myself!
I'm just amazed. If you had told me any of this 2,3 years ago I'da laughed out LOUD.

10. I am skipping the coffee shop because I'd rather have another jersey or pair of shorts than a latte. (So I make my coffee at home instead!)I already have a load of jerseys and with almost every event we are attending, there will be more...


My wallet has lost some weight :p yeah.... mine too

[stacie]

confidence;)

[lauraelmore1033]

--doing dishes doesn't make me sweat anymore
--I don't feel apologetic about using the roads anymore
--I don't have to wait for the neighbors to go inside before I work up the courage to ride past their houses wearing lycra clothing in all the eye-hurting hues of the rainbow; I just go when I want to.
--I spend a lot of time on rides thinking, "there used to be a hill here, where did it go?"

[pastrypam]

Stronger.

Amazed that I can ride so many miles under my own power.

Learning to like myself in spandex.

On days I ride I feel thinner and healthy.

I make better food choices.

More confident and positive about everything.

I hardly ever have brain fog anymore.

I think clearer and faster.

I have something else to think about other than work problems and it helps to destress me.

[stacie13]

I've only had about 5 rides, 150km so far, but I already feel in mucho better shape. The appetite instantly got better once I started riding, just don't have the interest in the junk food when I'm cycling regularly for some reason. Must need better foods for fuel.

There really isn't a downside to all this is there?!:D

[Kimmyt]

I want to do more.

I like the way I look in spandex.

I catch glimpses of myself in mirrors and go, 'wait, is that me?'

my other sport/hobbies have improved as well

my consideration of distances has changed completely. also hills.
-----> me: i rode 63 miles today them: what, 63 miles are you crazy? me: yeah, i totally wussed out and should have done the full century
-----> me: oh man, that hill looks fun me(thinking): did i really just say that??

[northstar]

Yes! The perception of distance has totally changed. Pretty much anyone who saw my bike in my classroom on Wednesday asked how far I had to ride home after school. When I told them about 16 miles, they nearly fell over. 16 miles sounds like a nice ride to me. My longest ride to date is about 40 miles...so 16 sounds like a piece of cake!

Hmmm, a downside...can't think of one right now...;) I'm a healthier, busier, more grounded woman...:D

[nic840]

All of those mentioned above are true for me too. One thing I have noticed is the way my girls look at me.
I have always been an athlete but within the last four years my priorities have changed.
I am now a mother to two girls. The athlete side of me has taken a backseat, three pregnancys in four years. (miscarried) I am finally getting "myself" back and that important for my girls to see.
I love the way my daughter looks at me as I get ready for a ride "going for a ride Mom?" She beams and can't wait until she can join me. I love telling her stories of the wildlife and things I see while out on the road.

It is a lifestyle that I think is important to pass on to her and her sister. I think they see that getting out and excercising makes you feel better and happier.
My 3 1/2 year old has her first road run this sunday... its only 240 yds but she got a t-shirt and a race number. She is so proud and ready to pin that number on Sunday morning. I can hardly wait!
Those are the changes that make it so worth it!

[MomOnBike]

I was thinking about this recently, and I find myself saddened by one thing that increasing fitness has changed.

DH & I used to take long (!) five-mile rides in the early evenings and I would need to stop half-way and rest. Happily, there is a city-league softball diamond about 2 miles from our house, so we'd stop and watch an inning or two while my heart rate slowed. We don't do that anymore - why stop so close to home? I miss the softball games.

Other than that, it's all good.

[lacyliz]

- when I'm out riding, I know I'm not just an observer of life, I'm part of it...of everything around me.

- sleep is sound most often.

- feel stronger - physically and spiritually.

- I have more joy in my life.

- I lost several sizes, yet I'm not rteally obsessed with diet except to make sure I've eaten enough to fuel my ride. I recently found myself for the first time wondering if I'd lost too much weight -unbelieveable.

[DarcyInOregon]

The benefits I've achieved are the same as others have stated. However, I have a benefit that hasn't been listed yet and that is the doctor has told me I have reversed two diseases: hypertension and diabetes. I don't have any other diseases, unless arthritis is a disease.

I don't write about the reversals to have someone say you can't reverse diabetes and to start a big argument. Just accept my word that I was a very low level type 2 at the border of pre-diabetes and diabetes, and thus with a modest insulin impairment, and so the doctor diagnosed me as being diabetic since diabetes is rampant in my family. It was a pro-active diagnosis to enable me to turn the disease around, and to not end up like others in my family with kidney failure, blind, and with amputated bits and pieces. I remained a low level controlled diabetic, meaning I kept my blood sugars in the normal healthy range (under 110) through diet and exercise and testing my blood sugar all the time. When I started the cycling and kept increasing my level of fitness, and thus my body composition changed, my blood sugars fell to super normal and for the longest time now any test at any time throughout the day will show my blood sugars to be in the 80s, and lower when I am cycling, but in the 80s in the a.m. and after all meals. The doctor said I reversed the diabetes, and that I am now insulin sensitive again.

As for the hypertension, I controlled that disease with diet and exercise also. However, it is the same as with the diabetes in that the cycling brought about amazing physical changes in my body, and my blood pressure at any time of the day or night now remains below 120/80. Not only that, I have to make an effort to eat some food with salt because of the sodium loss while cycling, and believe me, that is difficult to do after so many years of not eating salt.

Darcy

[rij73]

Great thread... I was just telling my husband last night that I can't believe how different I feel. I've only gone on 12 rides since getting my bike only 2 weeks ago, but there is already a big difference!

My legs feel stronger.
My mood is better.
I'm less lazy in general.
I don't feel a mid-afternoon slump like I normally do.
My self-esteem is improving!

Yay for cycling!

[northstar]

Nic wrote about getting "herself" back; I can definitely relate to that. We're dealing with infertility issues and the bike has been the absolute best therapy I could have imagined. Finally I'm doing something for NOW and not putting it off "just in case." Finally, living in the moment!

Heading out for a Saturday morning ride!

[Laterider21958]

I think there there is less inner thigh flesh wobble.

Legs are definitely much stronger.

Look forward to the ride to work.

Take the long way home from work just for fun.

Can use a higher range of gears without a struggle.

Get landscaping ideas from gardens I pass.

Enjoy the country air and quiet when riding out of town.

Feel more energetic and enthusiastic about everyday boring tasks after a ride.

Hop off my bike thinking I have just negated the corn chips I consumed the night before - less guilty.

Continually thinking about the next ride and when I can squeeze it it.

[Celeste]

I just love this thread!!

One thing I have noticed is my resting heart rate has come down from 80 to 67!! :eek: I was shocked and pleased at the same time! Only been riding since January. Not much weight loss; but my meds may be partly to blame there.

I was sitting in the doc's office about 2 weeks ago and you know how they have to take your temp and BP as well as pulse rate. Well, I was really not paying attention and was yucking it up with the nurse and my Mom. Laughing and talking.

I did not realize what that number was until she was wheeling the cart out the door and I saw this 67 on the read out. I had to ask was that really mine?? Amazing! :D

Oh yeah, and I am now in the third stage of remission for my leukemia too!! WooHoo! I know biking may not have had much to do with that part...but my outlook has been more positive and that may have helped.

I also spend much less time in front of the TV...I have about a month or more of Oprah and Ellen on my DVR to watch...Don't guess I will get to that any time soon. :rolleyes: