Bike Bod

[indysteel]

I started cycling and practicing yoga at about the same time in May/June and my body has changed quite a bit. I had already been doing some light weight lifting, but didn't see it all together until I started to drop a bit of weight and body fat, presumably from cycling. I have defined arm muscles for the first time ever. I get tons of compliments on that alone. I also lost inches in my waist, hips and upper thighs. I have better defined muscles in my legs and my butt, while still a little on the flabby side, is smaller. I ultimately had to buy a whole new work wardrobe, mostly in size two or xs. I haven't seen those sizes since I was overworked and overstressed in law school over ten years ago. I haven't had my cholesterol checked since this before I started riding. I'll be interested to see if it's changed (it was already "normal"). My blood pressure has always been low so I expect that it still is.

Most of the changes that really matter to me are mental and emotional. The thought of riding more than five miles at a stretch or doing a backbend in yoga were alien concepts to me a year ago. I haven't thought of myself as an active or athletic person since my running days in high school so to do what I do now on a regular basis is a source of tremendous pride and satisfaction. I am an athlete now, and that new image of myself has opened the world up to me in a new way.

Both cycling and yoga are very "zen" to me. I find peace in both--in different ways. They have both helped me stave off depression and are a reliable antedote to a bad day. I've made new friends, too, which is a great bonus as well. I've spent a lot of money on both this year, all of it very well spent. I feel like I've reinvented myself.

[LBTC]

I feel like I've reinvented myself.

Ditto

With serious cycling in the last few years came a new appreciation of what this body can do. I had strength, endurance, power, some skill, and I looked great! Cycling led to more exercise, too. Kickboxing started as a way to cross train in winter and soon became an activity I loved; yoga became more intense, focussed on serious balance and power and mind involvement....

All three activities have a zen element for me. I know I can not do any of them safely without being completely present. That's one sure way to stop thinking about work, the house, whatever.

This year my bike bod (racer body as DH liked to call it), deinvented itself as I struggled with what turns out to be Crohn's disease. I was diagnosed about a month ago and am so far no closer to understanding what I can and can't eat. I am getting over the emotional feeling that I'm suddenly "breakable", but I do go through waves of feeling sad and like I've lost something, to feeling like I will regain my fitness and my athletic self.

This year will be an interesting journey. I plan to train, I plan to ride, I plan to kickbox, I plan to do a peacock pose again, I plan to race.....and I somehow need to adjust my expectations so that I get enough rest when I need it, learn how to recover properly, and am able to manage stress effectively, in order to keep this disease in check. I hope that the effects of the exercise will make a visible difference to my body again. I hate to think that I may have already peaked!

There are many reasons to love riding and what it does for us. For each of us, the mileage may vary.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~