Greetings from a fat girl on a bike!

Hello!

Just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. I am 50 years old, hail from Minnesota, widowed 9 years with 2 adult children and 2 beautiful grandchildren.

I've been significantly overweight my adult life and am finally ready to change that. It's taken awhile for me to REALLY get there!!

I started riding a cheapo mountain bike in the spring. Started at 10 minutes 3 days a week and thought I might die. Holy out of breath and sore legs! But, I've slowly worked my way up and have recently tackled a 10, 15 and 20 mile ride. Tomorrow I am going for 25. I'm slow, but I am doing it!

Since May, I've lost 24 pounds (I have another 100 to go) and I am down 2 sizes. WOOT!

I invested just a little bit of money in a new Schwinn bike about a month ago, and what a huge difference it has made Bought a new saddle, computer, and saddle bag off Amazon and I am LOVING this. I have muscles in my thighs I never knew I had.

I know I have a ton to learn, and far to go, but I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself!

So, hello from MN!!!

Welcome to TE, jilliebeanmn! Congratulations on what you've already accomplished. That's fantastic! And it sounds like you're having a lot of fun! Double woot!

nice work on the weight loss

(looks at froyo cup guiltily)

Thanks for saying Hi and sharing your journey with us! I love these stories, they are truly inspirational.

Sounds like you're well on your way to becoming a cycling junkie like the rest of us. Be careful this forum is full of enablers.;)

Keep us updated!

Welcome and congrats! There is something about cycling that makes you feel like a kid and yes, we are most definitely enablers when it comes to bikes and bike related things :-)

Thanks, everybody!

I need all the encouragement I can get! lol

Welcome and congratulations! I started the same journey when I was 50 as well, it can be daunting at times but the rewards are well worth it! There is also something very positive to being able to feel like a kid again :)

Great job! Keep it up!

Great job and keep motivated. Yes, the TE forum is a group of enablers, but a wonderful group.

YAY! Biking is the best exercise ever...because it is FUN!

Congratulations and welcome to TE. Keep up the good work.

Great job on your accomplishments! Biking is a fun way to find health!

Congrats on the riding and lifestyle change! Enjoy your new bike!

Wow, what a great accomplishment! You must be very proud of that. It's just the most wonderful feeling to fall in love with a new hobby and especially one that gives you exercise and makes you feel so good after you've gone on a ride, it's exhilarating. Results are the ultimate motivator, and bicycling is so fun and addictive. Welcome and congratulations!

Congratulations on all you successes. A new start and a new body. :-)
I am from Minnesota to. PM me. If we live close, perhaps we can go riding.

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Originally Posted by thekarens

Welcome and congrats! There is something about cycling that makes you feel like a kid and yes, we are most definitely enablers when it comes to bikes and bike related things :-)

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Congrats and welcome. I too started slow on an old mountain bike and thought I was going to die or at least my legs fall off. Just keep it up, I am now working toward a 100 ride next year (if I can get there) so just keep it up. An yes, thekarens is right there are definately enablers on this site, but that is a great thing too since you can ask about anything you want to know.

Just wanted to update the thread. I am well on my way to goal, having lost 110 pounds since last May. I have upgraded my bike again, just a few weeks ago, to a 2014 Cannondale Quick 4. I am averaging close to 100 miles per week now. I try to get on the bike 5 days per week for an hour and a half to 2 hours, with the longer rides on the weekends. Having a blast and I feel terrific! Even better, I look a little better in my lycra after going down 7 sizes in clothing. :)

WOW, impressive!!! A big congrats to you.

Yayyyy and congratulations on your impressive progress :-)

Terrific job on losing weight and all the miles your riding on your bike. I'm really impressed with your progress in spite of mn. cold winter.

Would you share a pic of your bike with us? Your state has very nice bike trails I hope you can enjoy this summer.

Woo hoo!! Congrats and enjoy the new bike!!

Wonderful job! Congrats! You are truly inspirational.

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Originally Posted by jilliebeanmn

Just wanted to update the thread. I am well on my way to goal, having lost 110 pounds since last May. I have upgraded my bike again, just a few weeks ago, to a 2014 Cannondale Quick 4. I am averaging close to 100 miles per week now. I try to get on the bike 5 days per week for an hour and a half to 2 hours, with the longer rides on the weekends. Having a blast and I feel terrific! Even better, I look a little better in my lycra after going down 7 sizes in clothing. :)

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Congratulations! :) And hello from your neighborhood to the South (Wisconsin!)

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Originally Posted by jilliebeanmn

Just wanted to update the thread. I am well on my way to goal, having lost 110 pounds since last May. I have upgraded my bike again, just a few weeks ago, to a 2014 Cannondale Quick 4. I am averaging close to 100 miles per week now. I try to get on the bike 5 days per week for an hour and a half to 2 hours, with the longer rides on the weekends. Having a blast and I feel terrific! Even better, I look a little better in my lycra after going down 7 sizes in clothing. :)

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Good for you! Thanks for the update.

Here is a pic of the new bike. I named her LOU, after my Grandmother.
Attachment 17180

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Originally Posted by jilliebeanmn

Here is a pic of the new bike. I named her LOU, after my Grandmother.
Attachment 17180

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Very nice!

I'm just starting off myself and have lots of weight to lose / fitness to gain. Any tips on best way to ramp up biking efforts?

I can tell you what I did...

I started making one change at a time...because I know trying to do too many things at one time in the past have led me to just giving up. I gave up soda, then moved to mostly low carb (nothing crazy, just eliminated the bagels, breads, etc) and mostly focused on protein, fruits and vegetables. I subbed sweet potato for regular potatoes and started making other healthy food choices. I was sticking to about 1800 calories per day. Greek yogurt or fruit for snacks.

I track every single bite I put in my mouth and I don't drink ANY calories. No milk, juice, etc. I eat 3 meals per day and 1 snack, but it's a healthy snack and usually a string cheese, greek yogurt or some fruit.

For exercise, I started biking. One mile to start. I stuck to that mile for the first week without increasing distance and simply tried to shave one minute off my time each time I went.

Believe me, this was a slow process! :)

I then started adding a half a mile, and tried to keep my time the same. Rinse and repeat until I built up some muscle and lost a few pounds and could go further and faster, although my focus was not on speed, but on distance. This was all last summer. By the end of the summer, I completed a 25 mile ride.

Over the winter I continued to ride on the exercise bike at the gym and signed up for a spin class. I STILL can't keep up 100% at the spin class, but I am getting better.

Lou looks like a very fine all-around bike. I like her color combo that would be easy to add accents if wanted.

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Originally Posted by jilliebeanmn

Just wanted to update the thread. I am well on my way to goal, having lost 110 pounds since last May. I have upgraded my bike again, just a few weeks ago, to a 2014 Cannondale Quick 4. I am averaging close to 100 miles per week now. I try to get on the bike 5 days per week for an hour and a half to 2 hours, with the longer rides on the weekends. Having a blast and I feel terrific! Even better, I look a little better in my lycra after going down 7 sizes in clothing. :)

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OMG that is so awesome!! I am so excited for you! Keep up the amazing work!

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Originally Posted by cosc

Lou looks like a very fine all-around bike. I like her color combo that would be easy to add accents if wanted.

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Are we hinting that she needs a road bike? And a MTB, and a touring ..... told ya, we're enablers.

Congrats! Very inspiring.

You are such an inspiration! What you have accomplished is wonderful! Congrats and why don't you put Lou in your signature?

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Originally Posted by uforgot

You are such an inspiration! What you have accomplished is wonderful! Congrats and why don't you put Lou in your signature?

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I will do just that! :)

Congrats Jilliebeanmn... I am new to the forum and the first thread I read is this one and it was such an inspiration. Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading more of your story! :)

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Originally Posted by SGGIRLKY

Congrats Jilliebeanmn... I am new to the forum and the first thread I read is this one and it was such an inspiration. Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading more of your story! :)

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Thank you much! I've signed up for a 50-mile charity ride in early October so I am training for that. The longest distance I have gone so far was last Sunday...a 30 mile charity ride. Signing up for these keeps me focused and training. :)

Goals are always good to have :) congratulations on your 30 miles, you will do fine on your 50 mile ride in 3 months! Add mileage steadily but not too much at a time.

I'm brand new here, and I think you are awesome! I would love to adopt your training schedule to get in better shape. I could probably stand to lose 40 pounds at least, and you make it sound so do-able.

This thread makes me smile :)