Looking for Newbies with a large amt of weight to lose..

[polliwog88]

Thank you for all the supportive words and advice!

I am a Weight Watchers online user. I agree that it is a great way to lose weight sensibly.

I really look forward to sharing and learning from all of you!

[ShubieGA]

I hear you Polliwog...I am starting to ride more frequently to lose weight - along with tracking my calories. I too have a lot to lose, but I still wear the bike shorts. My philosophy has become "if you don't like the view, go around me!" My friends have been very supportive - that helps me stay positive. That, and all the positive vibes on TE.

[mudgirl]

Hey Polliwog!

I've got about 100lbs to lose, too! I lost 92lbs doing WW about 2-3 years ago, and I used to road bike a lot. Then, for too many reasons to get into, I quit riding and gained back all that weight But, I joined WW back in January and have lost 16lbs so far. It took me 2 years to lose it before, 2 years to gain it all back, and now it'll probably take 2 years to lose it again. OH well!

I'm sure I share the same concerns you do. We have tons of hills around here (Fingerlakes area, upstate central NY). There's absolutely nowhere to go where it's flat. Hills were a big struggle for me even at my lightest, and they're even worse, now. My recommendation is to get really big gears on your bike and don't be afraid to use them! It just started getting nice enough to ride around here a couple weeks ago, and I did a four mile ride that seemed like torture. Hard to believe I used to regularly ride 50+ miles!!! But, it will get better. We just have to keep at it!

Brenda

[polliwog88]

Thanks for the reply mudgirl!

I had a realization yesterday while riding my bike. I have to constantly work on not feeling self conscious on my bike, but yesterday I thought about the inspiration I may be giving to other women in my situation.

[jkrcvt]

Hi. I'm not a newbie, but I haven't been on my bike for about 3 years due to a back injury (disc herniation), and I've gained a LOT of weight. I was just searching the site for weight topics and found this thread - exactly what I needed.

I was doing so well with both my riding and weight loss, until the back pain started, then herniated the disc. I had lost about 20# that spring/summer, and I have since put that 20 back on, plus about 30 more. I'm now at the heaviest I've ever been and it's disgusting. I've been walking, doing aerobics, etc. as well as riding a bit on my old hybrid, but what I really want is to be back on my road bike. I just had my bike cleaned, tuned-up, etc. and it's ready to ride again - now I just have to work up the courage to get on it again. I have one pair of shorts that I can fit into (barely), but have NO jerseys.

I was wondering about spinning, but thought I was not in good enough shape to do it. Maybe I should just get over to the Y and talk to them about doing it. I hear you can work at your own pace, is that true?

[bikerHen]

I started riding three years ago to lose weight (100 pounds). I bought a comfort bike and started riding to work a couple of day every week, plus DH and I would hit the local trail on Sundays. That first year I did lose a few inches but since I rarely get on the scale I don't know how much weight I actually lost. As soon as I stopped riding for the winter I gained what ever I lost back instantly!

So the next spring I started all over again. The cycling hook had caught me so I bought myself a road bike for mothers day. And I started riding. And riding and riding. I rode about 1500 miles that year and come winter I bought a trainer and continued to ride indoors. Thank god for MP3 players. I lost about 20 to 30 pounds that year and have kept it off.

So last spring I was ready to ride as soon as the roads were cleared. I did a couple of 50 mile rides as well as my first century ride. The interesting thing about last year, I did lose some weight, but I really started to build muscle because I started to fit into clothes that I had worn when I was about 20 pounds lighter. I continued to ride to work, weather permiting, and rode the trainer all winter. I totaled just over 4000 miles last year. I also bought a sweet new road bike.

Which brings me to this year. I commute to work everyday and try to fit longer rides in on my days off. My goal, starting this month, is to ride a minimum of 100 miles every week. I have mostly maintained my weight loss which I figure is about 50 pounds. As much as I would like the weight to come off faster, 50 pounds in three years is better than nothing. I know it's healther that way, it still is soooooo sloooow!

So to sum this all up, if you get out there and ride, watch what you eat and don't give a damm about what you look like in lycra, the weight will come off! Most importantly have lots of fun doing it! bikerHen

[jkrcvt]

I'm hoping to repeat my weight loss when I do get back out there. I just feel so unsteady and unsure of myself at this heavier weight - and I'm terrified of falling. My balance and such are long gone at this point. My plan was to build up slowly, and I'll probably stick with that, as well as strength training and possibly spinning.

I don't much care about how I look in lycra - I've been overweight as long as I've been riding, but never this heavy. I hate wearing just t-shirts, but have not had luck finding plus size cycling jerseys that actually fit. My latest try makes me look like I'm wearing a "mini mumu" - the fit is ridiculous and I bought it according to my measurements. Guess I'll stick to the t-shirts until I go down enough to wear my jerseys again.

Glad to know there are so others out there who've been through this or are going through it now.

[cricket]

I also have a bunch of weight to lose and I am a beginning biker as well. So far I haven't felt too self conscious on the bike - I'm too busy trying to figure out how to shift properly! I'm also a Weight Watchers member, and that program is a great way to learn how to change your eating habits - like they say, it's not a diet, it's a way of life. You can do this!!!

[polliwog88]

It has been so great reading all the posts.

Is there a way to keep similar ones going, so we can all support each other on our way to shedding the pounds and becoming stronger riders?

Polly

[cyclokitty]

"...what I really want is to be back on my road bike. I just had my bike cleaned, tuned-up, etc. and it's ready to ride again - now I just have to work up the courage to get on it again. I have one pair of shorts that I can fit into (barely), but have NO jerseys. "


I know how you feel.

When I first started, I wore cotton track pants and t-shirts. They were at least comfortable, but the ride home was gross since I would drip sweat. Happily, I started losing weight - I was originally a size 28 last spring, but now I am a size 22-24! I have slowly purchased shorts, skorts, jerseys and cold weather gear. But if you only have shorts and tees to wear, wear 'em loud and proud! I've had lots of praise from other cyclists in my city, and have been cheered up hills by complete strangers. I have been heckled - a couple of morons in an old beat up car followed me for a block until I stopped somewhere safe - but nothing else.

It's more important to do what you love, than to listen to the puny brained idiots you'd never pay any attention too in the first place. Heck, I'm cheering for you!

[pastrypam]

I have 30+ pounds to loose but it feels like 100. I am riding but not loosing, mainly because I eat too much sugar and other fatty things. I am having trouble getting started on a diet and sticking to it. I see others on this site have joined weight watchers. I am going to look into that too. I need a constant reminder to eat healthy and leave the sugar and fat alone plus the support of others in the same situation.

Working in a kitchen there is food everywhere and it is so hard to resist. I find myself eating even when I am not hungry. I am also having menopausal issues and the extra weight and lack of self control really depress me.

Every morning I wake up with resolve to stick to a good eating plan but usually blow it by lunch. I do better on the days I get to ride. It is so good for my mental attitude.

I love riding and want to be healthy and fit. I Just don't understant why wanting it and doing it are two different things. Food has so much power over me and I just want to take my power back and do what is good for me.

Any insight from you great TE women would be greatly appreciated.
All of you that are on a good program and sticking to it I envy you!! Keep up the good work.

[pooks]

Thanks for the recommendation of sparkpeople. I just signed up and went through the process and liked it.

What I don't like in general about these kinds of things is that I begin to feel like the program (any program) is a huge gnawing weight on my shoulders, and thinking about food all the time (to figure out what to eat next meal, etc.) overwhelms my ability to think about anything else.

But for now, sparkpeople was cool because it automatically figures stuff for me. There are a few things I need to figure out now, but the basic setup was good and I've logged my breakfast and water so far, and after I ride I guess I'm supposed to log that, too!

Again, thanks. This should at least help me get started.

If you tell yourself that you ruined the day, you will end up over indulging for the rest of the day.

You're only one meal away from being back on track, and that's your next meal!

[Jones]

What I don't like in general about these kinds of things is that I begin to feel like the program (any program) is a huge gnawing weight on my shoulders, and thinking about food all the time (to figure out what to eat next meal, etc.) overwhelms my ability to think about anything else.

I feel like this too, but this year I have decieded to just take it slow and lose weight. Meal planning in advance has really freed my mind from obsessing about food. I always have the same thing for breakfast so I don't have to think about that and I try to make a few nights dinner at the same time so I don't have to prepare food or think about food as often. I have totally stocked my pantry and frig with healthy (or at least low cal.) items.

My goal was to lose 70 pounds between January and September, I have now modified that goal to lose 70 lbs no matter how long it takes. I have lost 26lbs so far and although I think about dieting alot I don't feel like it is consuming me like it has in the past.

Slight thread hijack-PastryPam were in California are you? I think I saw before that you are in the So. Cal desert and so am I.

Jones

[Reesha]

I've been spinning regularly and it is true. You work as hard as you can. Your instructor will tell you "turn your knob up a 1/4 turn" or "let's bring this up to a 7/10!" or something like that. As for the first, who is going to know if you don't turn it a 1/4 turn? As for the second, the 10 scale is the maximum effort you can put in while dying and so a 7 would be up to how you feel. And it usually changes within weeks... you'll be able to do more quickly. Within a month of spinning a felt a huge difference in the way I rode my bike. I was a lot more stable and my form was way better. I highly recommend it!

[ShubieGA]

I haven't weighed myself since Monday. I will check on that tomorrow. I too would like to lose over 70 lbs - been there before. I know I can do it again. I was able to ride 29 miles today - my longest yet! The sit bones are a bit sore, but other than that I will sleep well tonight! 60 miles this week - woohoo! It is encouraging that we are not alone out on the trail!