hi everyone, this is Doreen. I just found y'all today. I won a really nice bike last year and have been too chicken to get on it. I haven't been on a bike since I was a kid - that was a 1-speed about 35 years and 70 pounds ago!

I have a helmet, but nothing else yet. What are my "must haves"?

Reading thru these posts has been very encouraging!

I just started eating better last week and have lost 4 pounds. I am diabetic and by not behaving, got thisclose to needing insulin. I just don't wanna go there. I am following the GI eating plan and using fitday.com as my log.

At my heaviest, I was 252 - that was about 2 years ago (I'm 5'8"). I am now at 222. I would like to be 199 by New Year's. I am looking at it in 25 pound segments because getting to my goal is too intimidating otherwise.

I'm looking forward to "meeting" everyone.