Back to start over for the 3rd time.

[staceysue]

I don't know if this will help or not, but what has finally got me to commit to fitness is just really paying attention to how I feel when I exercise vs when I don't exercise. There is absolutely, without a doubt, a 100% correlation between exercise and mood for me. Now that I've finally put two & two together (at the age of 40), it's so obvious.

Now, if I'm having a really bad day, wanting to cry for no reason or feeling down and wanting to stay in bed all day, my husband will say "when's the last time you got out and got some exercise?" It's worst in the early spring and early winter for me - when I'm between cycling and skiing weather. Hubby actually went out and bought me a Wii Fit to cover those two time periods, for his own self preservation.

Instead of committing yourself to becoming a great and wonderful cyclist again, or committing to losing 50 lbs, why don't you try just treating yourself nicely? Don't look in the mirror, don't step on the scale, don't keep track of your speed or mileage. Don't push yourself. Just go outside and have a little fun on your bike going whatever speed feels good for as long as you want to go, and pay attention to how it affects your mood and how you feel about yourself. If you keep doing that, pretty soon getting exercise will become a nice thing you enjoy doing for yourself. Once you're really enjoying it again, like you used to, then you can start pushing it but don't lose track of the fun.

[HermitGirl]

Instead of committing yourself to becoming a great and wonderful cyclist again, or committing to losing 50 lbs, why don't you try just treating yourself nicely? Don't look in the mirror, don't step on the scale, don't keep track of your speed or mileage. Don't push yourself. Just go outside and have a little fun on your bike going whatever speed feels good for as long as you want to go, and pay attention to how it affects your mood and how you feel about yourself. If you keep doing that, pretty soon getting exercise will become a nice thing you enjoy doing for yourself. Once you're really enjoying it again, like you used to, then you can start pushing it but don't lose track of the fun.

I hear you loud and clear StacySue. Oh, and the hot flashes, tempermental fussiness, bouts of depressiveness... it's all sometimes just Too Much To Deal (I'm 48). It seems as if my standard of accomplishment has just gotten so fragile and low, that seriously, I just can't remember back so far when my 'par' was endlessly higher. I can't compare myself or my life now, to back then, for that is just the reason which has made me ashamed and unable to start again. I must accept where I am NOW. So yes, just as you say, just learning all over to treat myself nicely is a giant step in the right direction. It will be difficult to not gauge my improvements, as yes, I look in the mirror all day it seems, whenever I pass by one, and step on the scale every morning, and when I ride, I check and document the few miles I did. I think that's okay, but as long as I do it with a smile in the mirror and an "I love you!", and a "Hoorah!!!" for the 3 miles logged, and a "Wow" if I haven't gained any weight. I know what you're saying. I'm teetering, and have been for years now, between going in a better direction, or worse direction. I feel like a berloody weather vane ! ;-)

I know for a fact from experience, that the act of just getting ON the bike and going forward, at any speed ~ just fast enough to keep upright ~ is for now, the biggest fitness goal I should have in mind. Getting to the start point, getting on the bike.... and whatever happens after that is of no consequence. I need to begin all over with "training my habit muscles", as I use to always say. thanks!

[featuretile]

I only started cycling about 1 1/2 years ago. What stopped me from starting for many years was the fact that I live on a steep hill with a very narrow unsafe road. When I finally got over the fact that I would need to drive to a better start location, I bought a bike. I'm so happy that I did. It seemed somehow wrong to need a car to bike. Now, I have discovered many beautiful new riding places that I would never have known about.

It is my understanding from reading cycling books, that it is better to condition yourself initially on long, flat rides. That builds up your aerobic capacity so that you can then tackle hills. So, it seems to me that it would be more positive for you if you did not start riding from your house. Eventually, you will be able to.

I did ride from my house once now that I am in better shape. I still did not like it because it has a 15% grade in places and no shoulder and cars just go too fast. But at least I know it is possible.

[HermitGirl]

posted by featuretile... it seems to me that it would be more positive for you if you did not start riding from your house. Eventually, you will be able to.

I guess this is the next big step in conditioning my mind, is to get over the elitest attitude I had before that every ride was going to start at my house, back when I dreamed of doing rides from the new house, back when I was fit enough to. It's been a long spirial downward from that attitude which has kept me from riding altogether. I know that once I begin to ride, even if I'm fit enough to ride from home, that maybe my eyes will open to possibility of riding other places off of the mountain, although the mtn is all I really love to ride. Thanks.

[maillotpois]

You're on Mt. Veeder, right? I think I remember you form one of your prior visits here. Beautiful place!

[HermitGirl]

You're on Mt. Veeder, right? I think I remember you form one of your prior visits here. Beautiful place!

Yes, and I am flattered that I'm remembered ! Third time is a charm, right? I came back to beg support for the last and final time. I'm so itching to ride right now AND exercise my dog, that I've decided right now, to try to ride my mtn bike as much as I can of my hiking route. Nothing wrong with pushing the bike where I can't ride. Great way to get back int he saddle, though not the easiest, but it's like, the dog needs to run. Like... DUH ! Tomorrow I'll have all day to myself, and I can hike AND ride road.

[HermitGirl]

I did it ! I just got my mtn bike out and geared up and rode her where I could (which was almost the whole way) where I usually hike, with no real steep sections, sort of two different areas, back to back. It worked ! In fact, I feel worked out. and the dog is worked out as much as a long hike, because of course, she had to run faster . Smart thinking. I think this is going to be my happy medium by which to start back into riding. And, for a while, I'm going to just do the bike in the day, rather than the walking, and if I feel like hiking, well, I can do both in one go (lay the bike down, and walk up some steep areas), or go out a second time later in the day by foot. I'm really psyched. I wonder why this wasn't working before. Sometimes we can't see clearly until we've hit bottom and dwelled there a while, I guess.

ps. I'm trying to post a photo of my bike on my profile page, documenting this morning, coming back to riding.

[staceysue]

I know for a fact from experience, that the act of just getting ON the bike and going forward, at any speed ~ just fast enough to keep upright ~ is for now, the biggest fitness goal I should have in mind. Getting to the start point, getting on the bike.... and whatever happens after that is of no consequence. I need to begin all over with "training my habit muscles", as I use to always say. thanks!

I'm 40 (but had a complete hyster, so I'm more like 50!), and I was never athletic before I started "cycling" about 4 years ago. Can't really call it "cycling" - it was just getting on my beach cruiser and pedaling once in a while for fun.

When I decided to start using it to try to get fit, instead of just for fun I always felt like I had a little person on my shoulder saying "look at you, you loser! Can't you go any faster than that? This isn't a very big hill at all - you're such a weakling!"

One day, I decided to stand up to that little voice. I said "I'm having fun, and as long as the bike is going fast enough to keep upright, I'm doing alright." Many times going up a long hill I had to just keep saying "I'm upright. I'm upright", like a mantra. That's what kept me going.

One nice day when I didn't have any committments I told myself I had all day to do it, and I was going to go 15 miles if it took me the whole day. I filled up a couple of water bottles and crawled along for 15 miles. It took me almost 2 hours but I kept the bike upright. I felt so accomplished - 15 miles was like a marathon to me. Then I decided to ride 30 miles. It took me 3 hours.

Finally, I found this forum and some nice ladies said "30 miles on a beach cruiser? Seriously? You should get a road bike" and I was like "nah, I'm not good enough for a road bike," but they talked me into it. Last year I did 65 miles one day - it took me almost 5 hours, but I did it!

I am just now seriously thinking about putting some real effort into getting faster. I have no idea how to do it because, like I said, I've never been an athlete. I was always picked last in gym class - AFTER the fat kids and the kids with glasses and inhalers.

Maybe it's easier for me because I don't have anything to look back at and compare myself to (except that when I was younger I had a very nice body). It's so exciting to me to do something "sporty" and makes me so proud of myself.

You have your old self to compare your new self to so it's probably harder for you - but as long as you're keeping the bike upright, you're moving forward.

[HermitGirl]

... as long as you're keeping the bike upright, you're moving forward.

funny, how we have the same motto ! ;-)