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

[Spinster_Sister]

Hello Ladies! Excellent thread and one which I can completely identify with!! My name is Vickie and am also a newbie rider on a quest to regain my health/figure.
I have about 90lbs to lose but am dealing with some arthritis in my R hip and boy does it smart! I'm doing my treadmill for 60 minutes at a pop and can't wait to at least get in some spin time before heading out into the wild blue yonder.
How many of us, newbies are terrified of the darn traffic?! I'm afraid I'll hit the riders so I give 'em a wide berth - often taking two lanes if possible to give 'em space, but how many will give me some room when it's my time to hit the road?
Anyway, great thread and even greater board! Can't wait to join you official ladies of bike one day!

~Vickie

[Ghostie]

Hi Ladies,
Well a bit over ten years ago I quit smoking, and the weight has been slowly but steadily going up since then. I'm now at the point where I should lose 60 to 70 pounds.

In the spring of 2006 I was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer. I spent most of 2006 going through surgery, then chemo, then radiation therapy. The combination of these treatments, especially with the relatively new chemo drug that I was given, left me incredibly weak and sore. It was a painful and draining task just to walk to the bathroom.

In the fall of 2006 I got the first bicycle that I'd had in at least a decade. My trip to the LBS was rough because I was wearing a wig and didn't want the young salesman to know it... and I was scared to death that the wig would come off with along with the helmet that I wore for a test ride! But it ended up being ok.

I rode the bike a few times in the fall. I could only make it up the street to a couple of houses away. Then it was time to wrap it up for the winter.

Last spring I started up again. Little by little I could go just a bit more each time, though it was still very painful. When I got to about a 2 mile round trip around the neighborhood, I discovered area bike trails. I soon became hooked.

I began by cycling 3 days a week. Each week I'd add 1/2 mile to my total trip mileage. It was very painful and difficult, but each week I could see more progress. I worked myself up the about an 11 mile ride, which takes just about an hour for me. But I was not losing any weight. So several months ago I increased to 5 days a week riding. The most I've gone in one ride is 16 miles, because I find that one of my knees begins really hurting at somewhere between 10 and 12 miles. A few weeks ago I finally went to an orthopedic doctor about it, and now I have a brace to wear on that knee when I ride, plus I take an anti-inflammatory. I have noticed an improvement because of these.

I've still not lost any weight, though. I seem to justify eating extra food by the fact that I've done so much exercise! I know that's not the way to go but I love to eat, what can I say.

Hills are pretty tough for me. I'm sure that if my weight dropped they would be a lot easier. As far as clothes go, about half of my clothes are mens riding clothes, because women's in my size are tough to find. I wear bicycle shorts with a pair of regular shorts over top of them for modesty. I do like tight fighting athletic tops, even though I know they're not flattering.

I'm now at about 990 miles for the season, and should break 1000 soon. Unfortunately, fall weather is here and I won't ride when it's cold. But when I think back to just 7 months ago and realize how far I've come, and how much I've improved, it's amazing. I love to cycle and can't wait to do it every day that I go out!

[sbctwin]

Welcome to TE, Ghostie...You have been through a lot and just your effort to ride your bike says a lot. I hope you continue to read the TE forum. The ladies (and gents) are fabulous and so very supportive. Introduce yourself in the 'get to know you' thread. You are amazing to have accomplished what you have so far. Reading your post, I felt very inspired with your determination and your success....

[Kathyrides]

Very impressive everyone~

I'm at the end of my weight loss journey having lost over 90 pounds and have about 15 more to go. It has been a long journey but great....so far it has been 4.5 years, but taking my time has made it become a way of life not a diet or quick fix.

I also have fallen in love with riding...'05 I think I rode about 1600 miles, last year 2600 miles and this year I hope to hit 4000 but I think I'll be a little short.

I really can't ride enough. I do triathlons and my coach has to keep me from riding more.

I remember when I first got my road bike back in '04 riding 6 miles was so hard. In time my body adjusted, I ride longer, and got faster, leaner and fitter. Cycling is such a blast!

I live in MA and ride all winter so those of you thinking you can't or don't want to ride in winter...you can. I ride if it is above 20. You need to invest in good quality winter clothes that are wind proof. Really it is the wind that makes me cold more than the temp.

[Idealmuse]

Hi Everyone -

I'm curious to see the update how's everyone doing?

Like Kathy above I've lost just under 90lbs but the difference there is I'm not yet done. I still need to lose about 65lbs more. I know 100 sounds like a lot, but if you just take it a small bit at a time it's not so bad. I went from size 26 (Tight!) to mostly 16's now. (I'm 214 and 5'5) I haven't weighed this little for 15 years.

The thing I've found is that I feel SO much better then I did last time I was near this weight because my fitness level is so much better, and I'm a whole size smaller too.

So not only am I biking but I just signed up for my first triathlon this summer and I'm in the middle of learning how to run. I could NEVER imagine that before.

Keep it up!

[Tuckervill]

Way to go! I'm down just 30 lbs in a little more than a year, but it's all good. I'm having a bit of trouble with motivation currently. It's pervasive in every aspect of my life, actually. I went on a cruise in January, thought it would help get some perspective, but it's been worse. The weather has not helped at all. I'm needing a large block of sunshine. When it's nasty I can barely get out of bed. I'm probably depressed but I can't tell if it's just the season or a serious depression. Ah well. I'll figure something out.

I'm going to go back and look at my posts earlier in this thread. Could be good, could be bad.

Karen

[Grog]

Welcome to TE Idealmuse, I hope you find more inspiration here.

[Melalvai]

Like Kathy above I've lost just under 90lbs but the difference there is I'm not yet done. I still need to lose about 65lbs more. I know 100 sounds like a lot, but if you just take it a small bit at a time it's not so bad. I went from size 26 (Tight!) to mostly 16's now. (I'm 214 and 5'5) I haven't weighed this little for 15 years.

Wow. You are an inspiration! I've never been much overweight myself, but I really admire people who can do that.