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

[BikerP]

Hi!

I have about the same amount to lose as well, a little over 100lb. I started biking in March, about 2 days out of the week, when weather permitted. April was basically no good, because of all the rain we got, but I would try and bike on some days. Now we're in May and so far this week, so good. I currently bike about 7.25 miles to work and that takes me about 34 min, however biking home is horrible. I'm going uphill, even though it doesn't seem like it and that takes me about 50 mins to get home. I'm hoping to decrease that time eventually. I really need advice on what kinds of food to eat, as in should I eat before I bike early in the morning? I usually bike to work, then eat when I get here. Also any warm up exercises would be great to hear about. I'm really excited about biking and this thread/posts are awesome. You guys are amazing!!! After June, I will be biking about 9-10miles to work as we are moving. So as you can see, I'm really going to be putting in a lot of biking hours!

[cyclokitty]

Hi!

I have about the same amount to lose as well, a little over 100lb. I started biking in March, about 2 days out of the week, when weather permitted. April was basically no good, because of all the rain we got, but I would try and bike on some days. Now we're in May and so far this week, so good. I currently bike about 7.25 miles to work and that takes me about 34 min, however biking home is horrible. I'm going uphill, even though it doesn't seem like it and that takes me about 50 mins to get home. I'm hoping to decrease that time eventually. I really need advice on what kinds of food to eat, as in should I eat before I bike early in the morning? I usually bike to work, then eat when I get here. Also any warm up exercises would be great to hear about. I'm really excited about biking and this thread/posts are awesome. You guys are amazing!!! After June, I will be biking about 9-10miles to work as we are moving. So as you can see, I'm really going to be putting in a lot of biking hours!

I'm in a similar boat -- I have about 100 lbs to ditch, and I also commute about 20 km round trip 4-5 days a week plus pleasure rides. I don't do any particular stretchs, just a a few touch my toes and arm and shoulder stretches to warm up my back muscles. I usually take the first km easy and then speed up.

I don't like eating before an early morning bike ride because I get naseous, so I wait until I get to work. There's a kitchen at work, so I can nuke some mutligrain cereal with choppped raw almonds, and I bring cut up melon. That tides me over until my breaktime.

My commute to work only takes 40 minutes, but at night it's closer to an hour because of 1 long steep hill, another steadily rising climb, and then two more steep but short hills. The first hill I walk because it is too far for me to ride up without tripping over (and I have). The rest I can do ... now. It took plenty of practice and sheer will (I wanna be home -- that's my mantra).

I learned on this forum (BTW, thanks everyone!) about sparkspeople.com. The advice is good, but I like the tools provided to personalize my own goals, and personal bugaboos (chocolate), and you can rack up points (don't know what they do, but I am a rabid collector of pretty much anything, so rack 'em up I go!).

And, even neater, you get your own blogspace to record, share, and brag. Mine is my.sparkpeople.com/CYCLOKITTY. And I like visitors!

Have fun riding!

[pastrypam]

BikerP,
That is so great that you bike to work. It will really help you with your weight loss. As far as the hills go, just do it. Doesn't matter how slow you go, but in time you will see progress. I use to have to stop a couple times going up a hill I do frequently and now I can go up it without stopping and have seen my speed increase over time. I still find it difficult but I just do it. Even on the days I don't feel like it I still do it.

Go to the free diet website sparkpeople.com and fill in the blanks. They will tell you how many calories you need to eat and even give you menus and recipes. They calculate the calories you burn on a ride.

It helps to write down everything you eat and you can do it all on this site.

Good luck and keep up the good work even though it is hard.
Pam

[mudgirl]

BikerP, I've been trying to to work up the nerve to start commuting back & forth to work as well. Your situation sounds a lot like mine! I live about 7.5 miles away from work, up on a hill, have to go down into a valley through town, and then back up another hill to get to work. And when I say "hill," I'm talking 500 ft of climbing in a half mile... 12% grades and stuff like that. Fun stuff!! There are ways to get around it; such as, I could hop on a bus once I get to town to carry the bike and me up the hill. Like I said, I just need to get up the nerve to do it. I ordered a new road bike that should be in early next week, and part of my deal with myself to buy the new bike was to start commuting to work to save $$ on gas & parking to pay for it!

~Brenda

[BikerP]

**Thank you PastryPam for the encouragement!! I had already registed with sparklepeople about 2 weeks ago. I really haven't had time to look at their site and play around with it. I might this weekend.***

As for Brenda, that sounds like a pretty steep hill. :-) All I can tell you is something is better than nothing. When I first started biking, I biked mainly to work, didn't care to bike home too much. And the sad part, in the beginning, was that I would still be discouraged, because I didn't feel like I accomplished anything in biking, just because I couldn't bike home. And then one day...I'm like WAIT A MINUTE. Just because I'm not biking home doesn't make my accomplishment any less. So I became satisified biking to work, even though it really is the easiest thing to do. This has been my first week biking home, and even though it's been a struggle, I know eventually I will get better. Just as you will. Start off slow, if you can only bike part of that hill, then that's better then leaving your bike at home and not doing anything at all. Also try just biking on the weekends, just to see what struggles you have. I started biking on the weekends to my job, just to see if I would have any issues, and that's how I knew biking home would be my struggle.

Just remember, a little bit can go a long way.

Good Luck!!!

[FrannyMae]

Hi all! I was excited to find this thread, as I was starting to think I was crazy to want to bike my way to fitness. I just bought a new bike, after not having even been on one in 7-8 years! I absolutely LOVE the feeling I get speeding along on my own power...although "speeding" is a relative term!

In addition to wanting to increase my fitness level I would like to lose about 70-80 pounds. Now these are pounds I have lost before, but I keep finding them...along with a few of their friends I know that for me exercise, along with a sensible eating plan, is the answer. So...here I am!

I look forward to hearing about all your trials, tribulations, and victories as we cycle away the weight!

[pammycakes]

Wow!! Each of you is such an inspiration. I too need to loose some weight. 57 lbs actually. Already lost 14. I do love to ride my bike. I started riding last October. I took a few months off this winter then started riding again in April. When I first started I could only ride for a couple of miles and I am sure I was quite comical to watch. Last week-end I rode for 20 miles and feel very confident on my bike. I think just riding gives me a sense of confidence.
Pam

[BikerP]

Yay! I lost 2lbs this week!!! I really don't know how, since I'm not paying that close attention to what I'm eating. I eat a good breakfast, maybe a snack, lunches and dinners vary. But either way I'm glad....I hope to be able to say this by next week, that I lost 2 more!!! Only time will tell!

[JesTutripup]

Polliwog congratulations for getting back on your bike.

life went into a tailspin for me. '04, i left my job; a month later the day before my bday my dad passed. I weighed 320+lbs at his funeral. I just wanted to ride b/c I missed that feeling of when I taught myself how to ride my sisters bike. freedom, happiness and truly focused.

June '05 i got Felty and just rode for the pleasure. I couldn't quiet my desire. during the winters i danced, walked around my apt/the block & shovelled just so i wouldn't become horribly depressed. i just stirred and repeated '05 in '06.

Feb '07 i went to the hospital and was told i weighed 260lbs. i told them the machine was broke. i pulled all of my 'old-not-a-4X' clothing box and fit everything below a 24. All of my Terry cycling outfits (4X) really swing in the wind and I need a tailor to alter my clothes.

I went to visit my LBS owner this April to find he gained the 80lbs i lost. almost made me cry as he's a VERY, VERY HANDSOME MAN! Did I tell you how handsome he is? Mercy! and Taken!

changing the what, how and when you eat and the activities in your life is a life change. everything takes time and I'm in no rush for the next 120lbs to drop. i think i get most of my workout looking in the closet to see what fits for the day. i haven't worn a size 18 in over 20 years..back to the consignment shop and good will.

keep riding, walking, swimming....keep moving and having fun.

[pooks]

I hope everybody is feeling successful right now. I'm absolutely loving posting my info at sparkpeople (even though I'm keeping it all private) and am losing weight, which is phenomenal.

[sundial]

I am glad this thread was started because it's encouraging to see so many people motivated to make a healthy change in their lifestyle. It's nice to have a community of supporters here who understand the struggle to lose or maintain a healthy weight--myself included. I am a newbie that has been lurking and finally joined this friendly forum. I guess misery loves company, lol.

I have been struggling with my weight the past 3 years and I'm once again motivated to cycle again. Ironically, several years ago when I was putting in the mileage, I injured my knee. I laid out for awhile and I'm ready to get back into it. I am going to try the Speedplay Frog pedals in hopes that I won't have to be sidelined due to knee pain.

I really wish the best for the members who have have set a weight goal. Maybe we can all continue to uplift and encourage each other as we work toward our individual goals.

This is a fun forum and I look forward to being a part of this group.