Please Help! Overweight/Underweight

[DarkEros07]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Kristen. I haven't been around for a while. lol. Anyway. Currently I am overweight. I weigh about 285-295 it varries by the week. I want to get down to about 170 because at 213 i looked like i weighed 150 and had to proove it to people that I didn't. I would look way too skinny and sickly if i weighted 130 like my doc wants. So anways the reason I am this big is because I drink too much pop and eat too much fatty foods and don't exercise. I know bad. Thats not what I need help with. I need help with what ya'll suggest for exercise as far as riding on a bike. I have to take my nephew with me anywhere I go so I will have his added weight on my bike from one of those kids seats. I used to ride 30 miles in about an hour up and down hills and stuff but that was about 5 or 6 years ago. I haven't road a bike in about 2 years. Because they were stolen and i need to get new ones. So anyways. What should I shoot for at first? I was thinking like 2 miles for the first 2 weeks then move up to 3 miles for another 2 weeks and just work my way up untill I can do 25 miles then up to 50. How many times a week should I shoot for to ride?

As far as the underweight thing my husband is 6ft 1 or 2 and weighs MAYBE 150lbs. And its all fat mostly. He has a bad elbow that he can't straighten out. so anyways I was wondering how he could build muscle inorder to help him with riding. we want to be able to eventually do some tours. We want to do the DALMAC but need to get riding and in shape for it. He wants to build muscle but not be like mega bulky(his words not mine) anyway any help would be apriceiated!

-kristen-

[Grog]

Hi Kristen

Welcome back!

I can't give you advice about a bike, but with regards to riding: just get out there and do it. Don't worry too much about distance and how many times a week for now. Go out and ride around the neighborhood, and when you feel stronger go a bit further, etc*. Go out every other day, or when it's sunny, or even if it's not. Just do it, as they say. Make it a habit. Then you can always come up with a training plan...

Cheers!

[Zen]

Don't worry so much about mileage at first. Pick a route that you think you would enjoy and start there. You can worry about miles later.

How old is the kiddo? Those baby seat things worry me. Could you get a trailer? That way you could also use the bike for errands.

like Grog and somebody else said (Nike, maybe? I don't remember) JUST DO IT.

as for your diet, well you already know what you're doing wrong there. The only person who can help you with that is our friend Will Power not to be confused with Max Power which is the alias Homer Simpson got from a hair dryer.

[KnottedYet]

DE07 - Hey, welcome back!!
Ride! Ride! Ride! Don't worry, just have fun! I'd be shooting for starting riding 3 or 4 days a week, just fun short rides that you and your nephew enjoy. (maybe stop at a park halfway for a run-around.)

I second the idea of a trailer. If you can contact Tri-County Bicycling Assoc or the Ann Arbor bike club, they might be able to find a trailer for you to borrow. Also check kids' consignment shops for used ones for sale. We had a trailer and it was *marvellous*! The kid is safe and secure, has room to squirm, and can bring toys/books/juice.

If your husband got a cruiser or a hybrid, would he be able to ride with his bum elbow? Most of his weight would be on his seat, so maybe his elbow could handle it?

Otherwise, walking is always a good option to get him started. Maybe if you walk with him too, he'll be more willing to go for it.

DALMAC is great fun! I did it about 4 or 5 years ago, there were a couple other west coast folks there. It was so well organized and such a blast! What a great goal for you two!

[DarkEros07]

Hey Everyone!

Thanks! I have a bum ankle so walking and running which I LOVE to run, I can't do anymore. In 2004 I fell down a flight of stairs and broke my ankle and my Mother in law and father in law who are divorced both would NOT let me go to the hospital even tho I had the money to get it x rayed and fixed but they still wouldn't let me. I was 17 and legally an emancipated minor but they didn't care so in 2005 I got tendonitis in it and they did an x ray and found the old break. anyways. so now i am stuck with bikeing not that i dont love it just wish there was more i could do. anyways.

I have thought about using a trailer. My nephew will be 4 at the end of this month. He is small for his age tho. The reason I don't want to go with a trailer is because I don't want to have to carry around the extra weight. I will probly just hook it up to my husbands.

He doesn't want to ride anything but a road bike. We've tried a comfort bike but it just didn't work. since he can't straighten out his elbow. i want to sue the doctor for doing this to him but that would just take too long. He now has to have surgery to get his whole elbow replaced because of it. I'm out of ideas as to what to do for it. Anyways.

I found a couple of cheaper bikes that I am looking at and there may be a cheap road bike here in town that I can atleast get now. I have to have a schedual or I WONT do it. It has to be a set plan. Like I ride Saturday Monday Wed or something like that ya know? I don't have many days for options. Anyways.

Does anyone know about those things you hook to your bike so you can use it inside? Because I am NOT riding in the snow! lol. Michigan...Snow...BAD CRASH! anyways. thanks everyone!

-Kristen-

-Kristen-

[jcorbiser]

Trainers are great for those days when weather limits us to the indoors. They are easy to hook your bike up to and you can ride as long as you want with out getting frost bite!:)

I would start out riding every other day for the first several weeks, slowly building your mileage up. The first few days will tell you if you are doing too much and need more recovery time. My motto is slow and steady. Frankly, just riding period is great exercise! Good luck!

[KnottedYet]

Believe it or not, putting the kiddo in a trailer is LESS work for you than having him in a bike seat behind you.

In a trailer his weight is managed by the wheels of the trailer. In a bike seat on the back of your bike, his weight is managed by you.

(imagine the difference between carrying a suitcase and pulling it behind you on wheels)

Being in a trailer is also safer for him than being on the back of your bike.

Be sure he wears a helmet!

[fastdogs]

I agree with everyone about the trailer- it's amazing how little drag you feel with it, you don't even know it's back there. My boy can sit in there with a sippy cup and a couple of toys and either play or watch the scenery.
About three months ago I got sick of getting fatter and fatter every day and ordered nutrisystem. I've lost 30 pounds in three months- many more to go but at least I'm going in the right direction! About three weeks ago I got a folding bike, and have been riding every day ever since. I keep it in my car and ride every day at lunch, riding hills for about 45 minutes. On the weekend I go to the park and try to ride 6-10 miles. I'm addicted and it's great exercise. I started on the elliptical three months ago, but since I've been riding the bike the elliptical doesn't get much work. I'm sure once winter sets in, though, it will see more action.
Get a bike that fits you and is comfortable, no matter what kind, so that it's fun to ride. I see bike trailers on craigslist now and then, and yard sales have them really cheap sometimes.
good luck!
vickie