Starting Again at Ground Zero ....

I just joined, and this is my first landing spot. I am getting back on my bike TODAY after gaining so much weight and literally ruining my life with it, and all the anguish that comes from being significantly overweight -about 50 pounds and I'm only 5'2" - almost 47, middleaged and full of angst, marriage at risk, the whole ugly reality we can find ourselves in... :eek: ....but the good news is, now I'm ready to do something about it ! :)

I use to ride a lot, about 10 to 15 years ago; mostly the 25 mile mountain road loop I live very near to, but occasionally further distance, once even had ridden a century. I also was passionately into mtn trail riding, and rode a lot with really fit riders, but all of those glory days feels like a lifetime ago now. All I really want is to get out of this hell, and to be able to ride my Mountain Road Loop again , once or twice a week, and to bike commute occasionally to do some errands in town. So, needless to say, I have the bikes, the clothing, (but I can't fit into any of it, untill I lose at least 10 pounds). I have all the gear and know-how from a once empassioned cycling lifestyle over a decade ago. All is left for me to get maybe as much cameraderie here as I can muster, and motivation to start all over again from Ground Zero.

I am a perfect example about how time just flies and a person can totally lose focus on a passion. Bicycling was once such a passion that I took my fitness and metabolism for granted, and I never thought it possible that I could gain this weight and let my whole bike social circle become total strangers. I have learned that I enjoy being a solo rider mostly, because I live in the mountains and I don't like to drive to ride. I have to just start with short rides, down on the hip of the mtn maybe, but I am literally afraid to be seen by the riders out there with whom I use to ride with in fit days. Today I am going to go for 5 miles.

I really need all the cheering and empathy from you riders, because I really feel like a beginner all over again. I know progress could go potentially very swiftly once I start turning those pedals. I also know that although I eventually want to have a once/twice a week ride maintenance, I'm going to have to go more often , to lose the weight first and to arrive at a maintenance cycling routine. The thing is, I hike everyday with our very energetic young dog, about half an hour minimum, so it's not like I'm able to add a rigorous training schedule. I just need to find what works now, and will work for a lifestyle, but feel clueless right now. ~Jen

Jen,
You are in the right place and on the right track!
You are making the first steps...it will happen!
So "chin up" and start making those little goals and baby steps.
Congrats for making the committment!

Welcome to TE, get on your bike and tell us about it!

Don't be embarrassed. Be proud that you got back into the saddle.
Maybe you can also take longer walks with the dog. I hear they like going for an hour a day.

Surely you only need one new pair of bike pants and an existing functional top and you're ready.

*whistles* I think the metaphor is "back to square one" :D

Wow, thanks ladies ! First off, I do go often an hour of hiking a day, and it's very good for my base health (I really am quite healthy). I think the dog (3 yr old German Shepherd), aka "my personal trainer" , has been the excuse I've used for not riding. Hiking is good, but it hasn't taken the weight off like cycling will do. I've actually gained a lot of weight on my disciplined hiking schedule I've been off and on with since we got the puppy 3 years ago !!! I know , I know.... what on earth am I eating???? lol


When it warms up this afternoon, I am going to get on my bike, and I'll check back in then. I think I can maybe squeeze into my old threadbare stretched-out size med shorts and large tights, and DH's turtleneck shirts. ;) Thanks so much ! Just having contact with you all makes all the difference, I live a very isolated life.

Welcome!

Think positive all things are possible!

You go, girl! Making the decision to get back on the bike is the first step. Good for you!

Hello HG, and welcome to the fray!

There's a reason why my avatar shows a bike with training wheels...

<--- see?

We were all beginners at one time or another. And although I'm a relative oldtimer and old fart around here, I'm still learning new stuff.

So embrace your return to newbiehood! It won't last long. :cool:

Welcome we all were new or felt new again or just felt inadequate. My signature says "Can't never could". My mom said it to me so much as a child I hated it. Now I think it is the wisest thing ever, maybe I am biased. So do 5 miles, do 2 miles, do the whole loop. The fact that you are trying means you don't like the word can't either. You have found friends here, WELCOME!

Welcome HG! I am looking forward to reading all about your progress! You will be amazed at how quickly you will regain all! Hang in there. You took the first and biggest step by returning to your cycling!
:)
Sue

Go for it! But be patient. The extra weight and lack of fitness took years to get, it might take a year or more to shake. But this is a change for life, right? Once you're back in it you'll want to stay there, so it's worth working long-distance for!

Welcome HG!

I'm on my third year of a return to cycling after a 12 year hiatus. I love to ride again now, and although I'll never again be as fast a cyclist as I "used to be," I'm more fit in other ways and a lot happier!

I hope you can give yourself permission to be where you are right now. It took that long for me. No one needs for you to go out and win races tomorrow, so ride what feels comfortable to you. Challenge yourself, don't beat yourself up.

I think you'll find that it will come back quickly since you obviously have a good fitness base.

Above all, have fun!

Hi HG!

Some of us live in the SF Bay area. One of us- Rollie Pollie lives in the Pollock Pines area. Since you live in the mountains and we don't know where, are you far away as in up north?

We have some nice rides down here which you are welcome to do if you get down this way.

I look forward to your progress as well. Good luck and keep it up! Cycling will help you mentally as well as physically. Isn't that a good thing!:D:D:D

I'm back from my re-initiation ride. 5.5 miles, climbed a steep section for 15 minutes then rode around back and forth on the somewhat 'flat' section on the hip of the mtn, total was :o 43 minutes ride time. Okay, so, I felt strong on the hill anyway. What's amazing is that I feel much more confidence and motivation crawling up a steep hill than I do cranking out the flat miles. I'm meant to be a hill rider all the way, rollie pollie and all. ;) Thanks everyone, for encouraging me, it helps so much. Next ride, probably Sunday, (today is Wednesday) I will go for a little more distance on that climb (even a quarter of a mile is huge) and push it for about an hour. In the mean time, I will be hiking an hour days I'm not riding. My back hurts already. But it's a good hurt, and I feel like I'm on top of the world. Riding always does put me in an excellent mood.

You think an hour of varied ascent/descent and rollyknolly area is good for weightloss on a regular basis?

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Originally Posted by Bike Goddess

Hi HG!

Some of us live in the SF Bay area. One of us- Rollie Pollie lives in the Pollock Pines area. Since you live in the mountains and we don't know where, are you far away as in up north?

We have some nice rides down here which you are welcome to do if you get down this way.

I look forward to your progress as well. Good luck and keep it up! Cycling will help you mentally as well as physically. Isn't that a good thing!:D:D:D

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I"m on Mt Veeder in Napa. I just like to ride the Drycreek and Veeder area, with some of the Sonoma Cavedale Road (off Trinity) area on occasion. Really close in, but really steep and I have gotten use to riding solo mostly, mostly because I don't care to drive to ride. Thanks for your encouragment Bike Goddess.

Let's commiserate together! I used to be nationally-ranked (Olympic tryout) fencer back in the 60's and then gravity and sloth had it's way.

I'm 63 and managed to drop 30 pounds this past summer just from starting to bike again, slow-paced (I'm talking REALLY slow biking) daily biking of no more than 10 miles a day (my arthritis limit back then). Of course the heat helped and not wanting to eat much after biking in the heat. But it really was almost effortless to lose the weight, so don't despair, it will happen.

Be proud of yourself. You are saying yes to your body's health and emotional well-being in the midst of a conflicted life. Woooooohoooooo for you!!!!!!

In some circles 'beginner's mind' is a very good thing.
And in other circles, kit that doesn't fit means you get to get new kit!

Welcome!

Welcome HG! Keep your eyes on the Gear/apparel section of this forum - women frequently are selling their cycling gear that doesn't fit because they have lost weight and gained fitness with their cycling habit! then you could pick up "new" shorts for a discount price to wear while you get back to your old self! (then you can buy a new pair from TE to celebrate!) Have fun! tokie

You can do it! Start with little rides, enjoy on the scenery, have fun and soon you will find you are riding further and feeling better! :)

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Originally Posted by Tokie

Welcome HG! Keep your eyes on the Gear/apparel section of this forum - women frequently are selling their cycling gear that doesn't fit because they have lost weight and gained fitness with their cycling habit! then you could pick up "new" shorts for a discount price to wear while you get back to your old self! (then you can buy a new pair from TE to celebrate!) Have fun! tokie

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Thanks Tokie, but I found my shorts and tights still work. When I'll need to buy new is when I lose weight, cuz the old threadbare stretched out stuff won't be form fitting anymore. ;)

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You can do it! Start with little rides, enjoy on the scenery, have fun and soon you will find you are riding further and feeling better! :)

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I know that in my head. Right now I am riding on pure knowlege, and allowing my body to set the pace. I know that given consistant riding schedule, attention to both the knowlege and listening to my body, and *not giving up*, that I will break on thru gradually to a whole different physical world. I was there before, I have very blurry vision of what I looked like, in my mind's memory, but my physical body doesn't remember it. (which I find odd, I can't even remember how my body felt to actually feel my hip bones, or collar bones). When such a thing as consistant riding is made time for, wonderful things happen.

I started last winter on this forum , under a different user name, ( *I changed email addresses and couldn't retrieve my old user name*) with a grand plan to start distance training. Boy was that grandiose. I mean, I was so full of confidence, but I truly was not using my knowlege. I was writing a check that my lifestyle just could not ever cash. I planned on training to ride a very hilly 100 K. I started this elaborate and radical incremental mileage increase chart, I mean, it was way over the top. Not only did I want to ride these killer mountainous loops of up to 70 miles, but I wanted to bike commute into town 2 or 3 times a week from atop my mtn, for groceries and errands. I think my motivation evaporated about 2 weeks into it. I think I realized, hey, how is the dog going to be hiked with if I even start to do this?
I am determined to learn from that mistake. >> All I really want and need for health and weight maintenance , is to be able to ride once/twice a week, the 25 mile loop right near my house, or some shorter section of it. I don't need to make a complex training chart for that. I think I will be able to ride it by my birthday , which is mid January. I might take 4 hours to do it, but one day I'll be able to do it in under 2 again. I'll then be fit enought to ride my bike into town once in a while, whenever I feel like it. I have no expectations of myself but to continue riding.

Thanks again for all of your encouragement everybody ! ::hug::

You have my complete support and sympathy. To walk out the door and try is is all that is necessary. You have shown yourself what is within you by that single act.

"Adversity does not build character, it exposes it."

I think it's better to ride 3 or 4 much smaller rides per week rather than two longer ones- if possible.
It gets you into the habit of just jumping on your bike as part of your lifestyle, as opposed to 'planning' a ride like it was a special event or chore.
It also is less like something to dread or put off. Often you can do a 5 mile quicky even if you are tired or pressed for time.
What you want to do here is change your lifestyle habits. Losing weight and gaining fitness will naturally start to happen as you ride your bike more often.
Make small do-able goals first. If you are successful at those, then increase your goals little by little. For many people, starting out with big goals just sets them up for failure. First get into the habit of setting and meeting your small goals successfully and enjoying that feeling! :)

Hey, welcome back! I remember you from last year! I think the new plan is much better conceived. You'll see, riding a couple of 25 mile rides a week will make a huge difference in your health. Even an hour a day a few days a week will build your fitness level, and you'll be surprised how the miles will add up.

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Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

I think it's better to ride 3 or 4 much smaller rides per week rather than two longer ones- if possible.
It gets you into the habit of just jumping on your bike as part of your lifestyle, as opposed to 'planning' a ride like it was a special event or chore.
It also is less like something to dread or put off. Often you can do a 5 mile quicky even if you are tired or pressed for time.
What you want to do here is change your lifestyle habits. Losing weight and gaining fitness will naturally start to happen as you ride your bike more often.
Make small do-able goals first. If you are successful at those, then increase your goals little by little. For many people, starting out with big goals just sets them up for failure. First get into the habit of setting and meeting your small goals successfully and enjoying that feeling! :)

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I love your babysteps approach , thank you! I'm incorporating the advice from you ladies very carefully this time, and yes, I know more often is best, but I have an hour to hike with the dog in the same hilly backwoods, everyday if I can. I think in future I can cut back onthe hike time the days I manage to do a reasonable ride, and days that I'm just not able to do it all, I have to choose hiking over riding, for our dog's needs. It's a rigorous balance, at my age of nearly 47 to expect to hike daily like I do, AND go out for rides.... but.... anything is possible, and I'm not beyond it. However, the hiking hasn't made me lose any weight , so I have to just keep trying to ride more. I think when I lose just afew pounds I'll be able to manage short rides from my cabin , where it is so steep, there is about 700 feet elevation drop/gain in 1 - 1/4 miles... and continues like that for about 4 miles before the slope lessens. To go out for just a couple miles from home, is major ride for me now, even to go out for a 1/2 mile of our dirt road to get the mail. Heck, maybe just riding down to get the mail on my mtn bike, most days (when I'm fitter, ligher) is equal to 'a little spin' for most of you ? Otherwise, I have to drive to ride, and I'm not crazy about that for a lifestyle, at all. It's really difficult for me to calculate calorie burning on a ride from my house, when it's either UP and my heart is pounding so hard in the easiest gear (and I have easy gears), or coasting down so steep you don't do anything but brake.

Silver's story:

One day, at the age of 35, she felt the need to run. She ran to the corner three houses down. The next day, she ran to the next mailbox down...and next day the next, and the next day the next...and so on.

In six months, she did her first 5K...another six months, her first marathon.

7 years, 40 pounds, 5 marathons, and several triathlons, she:
- is a licensed spin instructor and and LCI
- coaches for the local Y's training group
- has a six pack
- is an inspiration to all!
- all because she ran to the corner one day;)

...and I used to make fun of her for "running like a girl"...:eek::eek:...and now I'm doing it too!

It's not how much you do it...it's why and whether you enjoy it. Good Luck!

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Originally Posted by Mr. Silver

Silver's story:

One day, at the age of 35, she felt the need to run. She ran to the corner three houses down. The next day, she ran to the next mailbox down...and next day the next, and the next day the next...and so on.

In six months, she did her first 5K...another six months, her first marathon.

7 years, 40 pounds, 5 marathons, and several triathlons, she:
- is a licensed spin instructor and and LCI
- coaches for the local Y's training group
- has a six pack
- is an inspiration to all!
- all because she ran to the corner one day;)

...and I used to make fun of her for "running like a girl"...:eek::eek:...and now I'm doing it too!

It's not how much you do it...it's why and whether you enjoy it. Good Luck!

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Thank you Mr. Silver. That is great perspective to keep in mind.

You are better off concentrating on generally being more active and getting fitter/healthier and eating healthier foods....rather than thinking about all this in terms of weight loss and calories.
If you exercise more you will lose fat but slowly gain muscle. Muscle is heavier than fat. But you will have a healthier body shape and you'll need different size clothes even if you don't lose overall weight very quickly. Perhaps like me, your upper arm fat and your waist will get smaller, but your thigh and calf muscles will be bigger. (I love it!) Read some of the threads here on TE about fitness and weight loss. :)

My own personal opinion is don't get hung up on 'diets' or counting calories. Instead, make different choices more often- take a quick brisk walk or a quick bike ride and have a salad or a banana instead of having pizza and soda in front of the tv. The idea is to start to change your lifestyle and feel better, the idea is not to deprive yourself or make good health a complicated drudgery that's no fun.

Welcome and kudos! :)

Good for you for getting back in the saddle!! You should be patting yourself on the back. I'm a new rider (just started around April or May), so compared to a lot of these ladies I'm pretty sure I'm a pokey butt, but I sure am feeling better and stronger and enjoying my rides. I finally have my ride up to 12 miles and think I avg about 12-13 mph. However, I'm in NW Florida and don't have the mtns and large hills a lot of you ladies have to cope with, so I don't know how much of an accomplishment some people here would consider that; I'm happy with it, though. :D

HermitGirl, welcome back and please.......don't be a hermit. ;)

You know, this time of year is so spectacular. Lights. Decorations. Gorgeous sunsets. Crisp air. Starry night. There is so much awaiting you if you'll just take that step out the door. Don't be your own worst critic. Get on and ride. Whether it's just down to the end of the road, around the bend, or a lonely back country road, just ride.

I have a two year old male Shepherd who INSISTS on his daily walks - so I use his morning walk as a warm up for my bike! When we get home, he gets his breakfast, I hop on my bike and he takes his nap. Everybody is happy!

Be sure you don't push really tough gears on your bike for awhile. Your muscles will get stronger much faster than your tendons & ligaments. Spinning at ~ 90 RPM will exercise your heart, raise your metabolism and keep your knees happy. Intervals are your friend for losing weight. Be sure that you incorporate some weight training and watch your diet. Don't use your cycling workout as an excuse to load up on carbs. As you get fitter, your body will learn to burn fat preferentially over sugar.

And be careful about whining about being "old" - 47 around these parts is just about right! :D