maybe you should try riding when you aren't impelled by commuting to work. Find a route for weekends and after work that will give you a one mile loop or a mile to some sort of reward, coffe shop, park, peaceful bench, scenic overlook whatever, an then the return trip. Try doing it once a week until you feel comfortable, or it starts to pale, then up the distance or frequency a bit, generally build up your length, strength and endurance, or try the hill, not for commuting, but just to measure your strength and capability. Think about baby steps for a while until you get the fit, the wheels, the gears all figured out and before you know it, you will be looking forward at riding as a pleasure, and not looking back at weight or condition then. Think of all the room you have to make positive progress now.

Good luck, sometimes just starting out is the hardest thing. Lay out your clothes and gear the night before, get up have a breakfast and a coffee and then go without thinking about it too much or letting yourself stop.

Its all about building a habit.

marni