Can a Fat Lady Ride

[bamakathy]

I am turning fifty next month and I have let myself go until I am so fat now (247 lbs.) I need desperately to get in hsape. I have an old single speed bike with a coaster brake, and I got it out today and aired it up. I loved bike riding as a young girl and starting out I loved the feeling of the wind in my face. However, after a ten min ride I was panting, sweating, heart pounding like a sledge hammer and my thighs felt like they were on fire. My doctor says there is no reason I can't exercise as long as I start out slow What is slow in cycling? Can a fat lady ride?

[Nanci]

Of course you can ride! Just start out slowly, with a comfortable heart rate. Make sure you drink enough, and maybe even eat a snack if you plan on being out an hour or so. For sure, don't start on an empty stomach- you won't have the energy to ride. You'll be able to burn off a 100-200 calorie snack easily.

Go as many days a week as possible! If you are counting calories in general, just don't add back in the hundreds you burn. Even 45 minutes to an hour a day is effective!!

Nanci

[tulip]

OF COURSE!!! Welcome! Start slow and be consistent. Keep a diary or record, and pretty soon you'll see improvements. I bet within a year, if you keep up the good work that you have already BRAVELY started, you will be eyeing a new bike, too.

I'm sure there will be lots of encouragement and advice to follow. There are some inspiring stories by some inspiring women on these forums.

Please keep us posted!

[uforgot]

Pretty soon that 10 minute ride is going to be 20, then half hour. I just bet that every day you get a little stronger and fitter. One step at a time. Keep it up! We are rooting for you!

[bamakathy]

You have no idea how much your encouragement means. My family thought me riding a bike was hilarious.

[fatbottomedgurl]

I read this today and I think it is perfect for you, and everyone who is brave enough to start what seems impossible.

Taken from a speech by President Theodore Roosevelt April 23, 1910; delivered at the Sorbonne in Paris.

" It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worse, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

[laughlaugh18]

You have no idea how much your encouragement means. My family thought me riding a bike was hilarious.

Silly family! Don't let them deter you.

I still think of myself as a beginning rider, and I know how daunting it can seem when you're talking about riding 10 minutes and others are talking about riding 100 miles! Don't worry about that. When your 10 minutes turn into 20 and then 30 and then maybe a hill or two, you'll feel great. Everyone around here applauds people reaching for their own goals.

You might want to consider getting a bike with gears sooner rather than later (even if it's an inexpensive one for starters). Gears make life sooooo much easier for those of us who are, um, excercise-challenged and you'll find you can keep going for much longer than you thought possible.

Cathy

[residentgeek]

I started riding at the beginning of this April. Like you, I haven't ridden since I was a kid and I'm trying to lose about 75 pounds. My oldest wanted to go out for a ride and I figured it would be easy to keep up with her. HA!

10 minutes later, I was SURE I was going to die. The kid ended up going on without me for another 15 minutes while I sat on the porch and caught my breath and tried not to pass out.

So now it's been about three weeks, and I just did a 3.5 mile 30 minute ride. I was breathing hard afterward, but I'm plenty conscious and really don't feel like I need to make funeral arrangements. So keep it up. A little at a time, 10, 15 minutes a day, build up, and you'll be fine. Push yourself, but don't completely overdo it. You'll be there in no time!

[Patti37]

You have no idea how much your encouragement means. My family thought me riding a bike was hilarious.

Your family should not be laughing at you they should be encouraging you! I think it is awesome that you want to start riding. It is a great way to lose weight and get fit.

Stay with it!

[plantluvver]

Welcome!

I joined this forum only a week or two ago. I am 47 and weigh 260. There are other women here too who are in similar circumstances. And some have reported incredible improvement in their well-being.

I know it is difficult when your family laughs at you. Here you are trying to do something positive. What do they think, you'll look better if keep doing what you have that led to your current weight?

Have you had the bike adjusted? I know that my thighs burn if I ride with my seat set too low. I am not very experienced and I think you can probably get better advice from others. Also, you are using my muscles in an unfamiliar way, so your body needs to adjust.

I hope you enjoy it here as much as I do!

Mary

[WrensMom]

I just found these forums today, and this is my first post here. This thread caught my eye, since I am a fat lady myself, and trying to get back into cycling after about a 7 year hiatus. This thread has been so encouraging--it is really heartwarming to see that there are so many supportive women cyclists out there. Also, to those of you who described yourselves as having a "speedskater build", I can't tell you how awesome that is to hear! I have finally found my people ! I have always described myself the same way, and no one seems to "get it" when I say that. Hey, these big thighs are NOT all fat--I have smoked skinny women up hills in my day! (just need to get back into it, that's all )

Linda

[Geonz]

Welcome back "into it"
You can tentatively teeter or peremptorily plunge. Just get pedalin'!

[Duck on Wheels]

... Also, to those of you who described yourselves as having a "speedskater build", I can't tell you how awesome that is to hear! I have finally found my people ! I have always described myself the same way, and no one seems to "get it" when I say that. Hey, these big thighs are NOT all fat--I have smoked skinny women up hills in my day! (just need to get back into it, that's all )

Linda

Oooh! Speedskater build! I wish! My butt and thighs are not all muscle. But I do know what speedskaters look like. I also know what they look like well after sports retirement. We have a few former world champs in town, one of whom was dad to some kids on the same figure skating team as my daughter. These guys do get a more even muscle distribution when they finish their speedskating careers and go over to just working out in the gym, hiking with the family, etc.

[SonyaSeattle]

I found this board while doing research on what bike to get, after not having ridden a bike in over two decades! I did buy a bike - a Giant Cypress DX - and now, with hubby, am planning to get in better shape through bike rides around our area. We live in a place that has a lot of bike trails, so hopefully all summer long we'll be pedalling our butts here and there!

I'm forty this year, and would like to lose about 15 pounds. I was so happy to see how supportive this board is! I'm looking forward to knowing you all better!

Sonya

[biking4health]

I'm relatively new here and just want to say thanks for all the support in this thread.

I'm 5'4 and 230 pounds. I've been afraid to post thinking everyone is tall and thin riding miles and miles each week. Today is the first day I got on my bike (Trek 800) after many years of it sitting in the garage. I rode a little over a mile, but it's one more mile than yesterday and I'll just keep going. It's going to take time to get my body used to riding, but I'll get there and I'll have fun doing it...now I just need the temps to get a big cooler since it's been 99 degrees for the last 4 days.

Carol, near Chicago