I need advice. All I can get.

[DDH]

Hello, my name is Donna and I ran across this forum looking for advice and help on getting started bicycling to lose weight.
I'm not a real novice although it has been years since I have ridden. My husband and I use to ride quite often after I had my son.
I have a Trek mountain bike, but it has street friendly tires. We use to do some off road, but I don't want to do that now. Now I just want to get started again and lose weight. I quit smoking a month ago and have gained weight on top of the extra weight I already had. I need to lose probably 70 lbs. Biking is the best option for me, I'm 42 and have arthritis in my hips and with the extra weight my knees and ankles hurt when I try to power walk.
Anyway, I guess I just need to know how to get started again, and how to set a goal or plan so I will stay with it and keep motivated.
How do you girls stay so dedicated and motivated? I'm in awe of people that can do this on a constant basis. I do really good for a while when I start something and then life gets in the way, and I slack off for a bit to take care of appts for my mother n law, or my mother, or something comes up with my son or husband and then I end up never getting back to it again. I feel like I am taking care of everyone else but myself. Somewhere I got lost in the shuffle and I have lost the ability to even think about myself without feeling guitly. I know I sound very sad!! LOL But honestly, I really want to get back to riding my back and I really wish I had someone around to give me a good swift kick and get me going. Anyway, sorry this was so long. Any advice or help you can give me would be much appreciated.

[mimitabby]

hey DDH welcome to TE
You made a big step, you told us you want to ride a bike. Now a really good way to get started is to start reading this forum during the times you can't ride... and then get on your bike and ride.. and then tell US about it; we really want to hear about it.. We probably can't go riding with you (but there might be a TE gal or two in your area!) but you can sure come back to us and tell us about your joys and troubles.
Keep coming back here, there are a lot of very wise women here!

mimi

[applegum]

Staying motivated is a big issue with me too. I love cycling, but sometimes it's hard to roll out of bed early enough to beat the heat and the traffic. The best I've found way to keep it up is to have someone to ride with one or two times a week, because that way I have someone relying on me to get out of bed. It's too easy to turn off the alarm(s) (I end up setting seven different ones every night) if I'm going out alone. If you don't know anyone who rides, recruit a friend. Since I'm 17 I had to try that option since I don't have any readily available buddies to ride with.

Also, when you're first starting out, pick out some routes you like doing and stay with those. Try not to concentrate on dropping pounds so much at first, but developing good habits. It's way easier to get out and ride if you're not dreading enormous hills or a painfully fast pace.

Welcome back to the cycling world though, eh? The most important part is to have fun while you're at it.

[roshelleuop]

Hi there! I'm also new at this, but fortunately I have a husband that is an advanced rider, so he is helping me put together a training plan. If you ever want to share newbee stories or just need someone to "brag to" when you finally did your first 20 miles or your first 50 miles, please feel free to contact me. I actually just started using this sight today and have already found faith and strength in so many of these women!!!!

[cusepack]

Congratulations for acknowledging to yourself (and the forum) that you want to return to cycling. Once you begin cycling, you'll realize how good it makes you feel and you'll want to continue - dare I say it's almost like an addiction - once you realize how good it makes you feel, you'll want to do it again and again. And, this good feeling automatically flows over into other areas of your life - sometimes without your ever realizing it. You'll also realize that if this makes you feel good, you will indeed make time for it . . . taking care of you in essence is taking care of others as well. If you're not doing well, how can you give and assist others? You deserve as much care as though you care for, but, it's a matter of acknowledging it, believing it, and going out there and doing it.

Keep yourself motivated by the forums, by watching cycling DVD's, by joining a cycling club and, once you begin losing weight (which you will), that will be very strong motivation to get back in the saddle again and again.

[Bikingmomof3]

Welcome and congratulations for making the first steps to improving your health. There a re a lot of very knowledgeable women on this site. It is also great for support and motivation.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You don't need to "power walk" to lose weight- I just walk briskly for 3 miles most every morning, and by doing that alone I have s-l-o-w-l-y lost 20 pounds over 11 months without dieting. That's about 1.6 pounds per months. Could have lost more with cutting back food, but am happy with my acheivements so far. Actually, those 11 months went by very fast and now I feel like i'm "suddenly" 20 pounds lighter. Great feeling.
Now I have added biking to the mix, and my weight loss is happening a bit faster (haven't given up my walking though).
My best advice to you is to keep your bike rides FUN so that you do them more often. Don't make them into a drudgery that you'll start avoiding. Start SMALL with easy goals! When you acheive them, you'll naturally want to do more bit by bit. Remember, this is NOT like some crash diet. It's a lifestyle change, so take your time and make it enjoyable. If you love doing it, you'll do it more!
First, congratulate yourself on your great new attitude. Then, reward yourself with a little spin around the block or down to the store. Make it part of your life. Buy yourself a "lucky shirt" or a nice pair of walking shoes.
You ROCK, girl!!

[DDH]

Thanks so much everyone. I was so sad this morning. I actually made myself get on the scale. OMG, I have gained 15 lbs since I quit smoking a little over a month ago. I'm so depressed and am determined to get my bike out and start this thing tomorrow. I cannot stand myself, and my legs are letting me know they can't stand it either. LOL

I think just coming to this board and reading your stories and watching everyone else's progress it will motivate me.
Someone told me it takes 21 days to form a habit. I don't know if that is true or not, but if it is, keep your fingers crossed for my first 21 days.

[eclectic]

First of all Many many many congrats, pats on the back and yahoos for quitting smoking - you are already on the way to doing the hardest thing.

I quit smoking many years ago and of course the weight gain ensued - I was a social, oral stimulation smoker more than a nicotine addict. Instead of eating, eating, eating, I would buy mini packs of raisins and eat them one at a time (about as long as a cigarette took) then go brush my teeth

I started walking about 4.5 years ago and walked slowly and not terribly far. The key was I did it everyday, amazing how fast endurance built up. Within 7 months I could do a slow run for 3 miles ! ! ! I was lucky to find a walking partner with a similar schedule - when she didn't want to go I did and vice versa so we always went. If I didn't have time for an hour walk I walked for as much time as I had. The key was we only missed 6 days in 7 months (that wasn't a goal it just happened) She has now moved but the exercise habit was engrained (I really miss her alot she was the best walking partner ever)

I started cycling 4 summers ago casually and more seriously last summer. I don't always feel like going so I'll say "I am just going to ride the trail a little ways and go slow" once I am out there it feels great and most of the time I go further.

As I told a dear friend who also has a hard time fitting any exercise in over all other responsibilities "Your health has to become the priority, the world will still function and other people can step up to the plate you don't need to do it all. Sometimes you need to be selfish in a good way"

Determine your priorities. Once you do that it is WAY easier to say no or I will help you later

Go Girl And keep us posted!

Eclectic

[eclectic]

Suggestion: Stay off the scale for awhile (see a previous thread on losing weight)

If you start riding and walking you probably will lose weight eventually but it takes awhile to get the metabolism reved again and you are going to be developing muscle which weighs more than fat so the scale can be depressing and hard to see progress

Instead grin and bear taking some measurements They are a way better indicator than the scale. And try on some pants and a shirt that are a little (not a lot) snug, try them again in a month BEFORE stepping on the scale

MOST of ALL just start and keep us posted

[eclectic]

I just thought of Floyd and the TDF

Don't get discouraged and beat your self up if you miss a day and don't get out.

Floyd bombed the 2nd day in the Alps, dropped over 8 minutes, everyone ruled him out of contention for winning the race

He thought about it, let it go, regrouped and went on to win.

Don't let a missed day drag you down

[mimitabby]

yeah, be sure to measure your calves (sp?) and your thighs!!

and if you gained 15 lbs from quitting smoking, you're doing good. I heard
the average wt gain is 20 lbs from quitting smoking. so get on your bike!

[latelatebloomer]

DDH, I'm a VWOW (Vuloptuous Woman on Wheels ) myself. I started out close enough to 300lbs that I wasn't getting on the scale anymore. Got scared about diabetes and joined the Y. Later I upgraded to a better gym and started indoor cycling classes. And then put ALL my courage together and took a bike out on the road. The women on this site have supported me from my first struggling three mile rides last spring to my planned 100 mile ride this fall. (I can't believe I just wrote that! )

Something that really helped me after years of feeling only failure about my body. My physician said "Don't concentrate on your appearance. You'll get frustrated and quit. Concentrate on how you feel." Maybe if you know frustration is your real enemy - not your body - you'll be less likely to sabotage yourself and quit.

At first I only rode 3 days a week. My goal was every other day, and if 2 days went by, I absolutely HAD to ride - even if it was a short one. I think the wonderful thing about cycling is how fast the body responds. You have already shown HUGE commitment to your health by quitting the smokes. If you can do that, you have the willpower to carve out some cycling time. I think that once they get used to it, the people around you will respect it.

and keep reporting in! As is often said here by some wise soul, there's no achievement too small to celebrate! You are going to do GREAT!

[makbike]

Donna:

First, congratulations on making such a positive change in your life - giving up the cigarettes. I've been told by family and friends who are former smokers this is one tough thing to do but none of them regret it for a minute.

Second, congratulations on deciding to make other very positive life changes you are going to love your time on the bike. As others have suggested put the scale away for the time being, it will be there at a later date and will register some very good news for you at that time.

Third, you appear to have a strong sense of motivation for you proved that when you quit smoking. What keeps each of us motivated to climb on our bikes each day? The answers will vary from person to person. Some do it for fitness reasons, some do it to ride with their spouse or SO, some do it because it helps to chase the blues away, some do it simply because it is fun and others do it for the challenges that face them. Your motivation may be one of these, a combination of these or something totally different, it really does not matter as long as you find your motivation and embrace it. Time on your bike will become an addiction of sorts and you will soon find yourself trying to decide how to squeeze in even more time (always a good thing!)

You are heading in the right direction, Donna and have made some very major changes thus far to improve your health and well being. Pat yourself on the back, enjoy your time on your bike and most importantly enjoy life.