Suggestions for Beginner Rider Schedule?

[shoerbee]

Thank you SO much ladies!! I cannot tell you how much all of your input is helping me! I love the riding and eating advice. What gets me very excited is to hear how you all started, got into it, and saw improvement in your riding (and body) !!!
KEep the suggestions coming! I appreciate all of the input, and am eating it up with a passion!!!
A VERY lovely name indeed Grog!!! I have never met another Brigitte!!! Mine is the German pronunciation...assuming yours is French?
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
b

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Welcome friend!

This is a great support team place.
One thing I would recommend is to be sure you drink plenty of water when you ride- stop and drink some every 15 minutes or so. And I would not recommend going for a long (more than say 30 minutes) ride without any food in your stomache.
If your body runs out of calorie fuel, you can actually feel suddenly ill and be unable to continue riding. Nibble little snacks like apple, granola bar, fig newtons, banana, nuts, pretzels, etc. before and/or during your ride. The saying I hear is "Drink before you are thirsty, Eat before you are hungry".

It's true that after a month or two of regular biking, you may notice changes in your body shape more than changes on the scale. But it's GOOD change! You may lose fat while gaining muscle, thus staying the same weight for a while. You will start to LOOK different however.
Don't be discouraged!
Keep your goals do-able, concentrate on slowly improving your overall health instead of the weight thing, and keep looking at your little accomplishments along the way. Focus on stuff like "Hey, I rode for 20 minutes three times this week instead of last week's three 15 minute rides!" Don't focus on the stuff you can't do (yet), don't beat yourself up. The more FUN you make it, the more you will want to keep doing it. Remember you are already DOING it, you are starting to get fit ALREADY!