Riding to Lose Weight

[Tuckervill]

Just keep riding.

So far I've lost 42 lbs, and it wasn't all from riding. It also took me 17 months. Everyone I know who has lost weight and kept it off has started with exercise, but didn't overdo it. Just a little bit at a time.

I'm slow on hills, too, but I'm getting faster! Last weekend I conquered my nemesis hill (so-called Church Hill). I was still going 8 mph when I got to the top! YAY ME! I was with a bunch of racers taking a day off, and they were SO encouraging and congratulatory when they found out that was my nemesis hill. Of course, they neglected to tell me it was on our route until we were at the bottom and I didn't recognize that road until I got there! yikes. I might have backed out had I known ahead of time, so that's good.

I've decided that I'm going to exercise in some way for the rest of my life (indeed, that's the only thing I have to do to keep my weight down). So, it doesn't matter what I do, as long as I'm doing something. If I were riding for weight loss alone, it would take some of the fun out of it for me. I focus on the fun, instead, and weight loss is a pleasant side effect.

I'll caution--I didn't lose like I thought I shoulda when I started riding. Don't put all your eggs in that basket. Be prepared to make other changes in your life, too.

Karen

[Zen]

13 mph and 40 mile rides will do it.
As long as you don't sabotage all that riding with huge portions and overindulgence in baked goods, buckets of chicken,frozen custard or whatever your weakness.