Overweight issues

[uforgot]

Congratulation mmelindas! Keep it up, you have made so much progress, you are an inspiration. Now if we would just hear from Shasta...

As for the crunches and neck pain, if you pretend like you are holding a grapefruit under your chin, you will wind up using your abs for crunches, not your neck. (look up, not at your feet). I was taking an aerobics class once, and she said to do this, and "voila". I realized how wrong I had been doing them!

[Pachyderm]

mmelindas,

Thanks for the welcome, and well done! You have achieved fantastic things I hope that I can advance as quickly as you have, and loose weight as quickly as well!

Thanks to everyone for their replies on the ab exercises. I tried walking while holding my stomach in today, and the lower back pain was immediately reduced. Trouble was I kept forgetting to do it, and went back to sticking my belly out. Guess I am going to have to practice that until it just becomes my natural way of being.

[mmelindas]

Thanks for all the support gals, Pachy and Plantluvver, and the regular posters!! I always love the kudos I get from you gals and love meeting you online. The things you all post make me laugh, or cry, sigh, learn and want to be a better biker!

I think from my experience at least, the more overweight you are, the faster you lose weight, and the smaller in lbs you are, the harder it is to lose. Before my bad car accident in late 2001, I weighed 321 lbs in January of 2001. I was a walking "Jabba the Hut!!" It took me six years to pack on all that blubber and I did it by eating junk and not exercising a single bit. (I had been going to college to become a teacher, and raising three boys as a single mom, working three jobs sometimes. I had no time for exercise and no time to eat healthy....at least that's my excuse.)

I got very sick in January of 2001, from an allergy reaction, lost my appetite and lost 15 lbs in three weeks. I said to my obese self, "Self, you have started on a roll, now try to keep it going". So, I started exercising a tiny bit -- and I mean a TINY bit -- like lying in bed watching the Tonight show and just holding my legs up for a minute or so..Each day I did a little more, tried a little more.

Pretty soon I felt strong enough to get on my passive exercycle (that had been used for a coat rack for years!) and pedal for about five minutes. I sweated and huffed and puffed and felt like I would die, but every day I did a little more. I started paying attention to what I ate, and whether or not I was hungry vs bored... Would you believe the next month I lost 25 lbs?

I started working on being able to get down on the floor (if you are too deconditioned to get back up, you better not get down) ... to do situps (yeah.....all of five the first time) and being able to do floor exercises with baby bell weights... and also started walking a bit. (I had a handicapped parking permit and had not been able to walk but a block, or climb stairs just once or twice a day for years, previously.)

The next month, with careful healthy eating, and regular mini-exercising I lost 18 lbs!! The more I worked out, the more I could work out! My medical problems started disappearing! Aches and pains of fibromyalgia went away, blood pressure lowered and asthma totally faded away. I was so stoked by each tiny success, it spurred me on. (I had sold my bike a few years back, when I got so physically deconditioned, or else I would have been riding it.)

By the sixth month of eating right, working out, walking, I had lost another 32 more lbs (a little less weight each month, although the exercise was increasing because I was probably replacing "Jabba fat with Lance" muscle), and I could power walk three miles, (starting from months earlier when I could barely walk a couple blocks).... every tiny success got me going, working harder. I actually found my wonderful-in-great-shape husband on the Internet, and we got married (at age 57 for me, age 55 for him) and have been married five years! He is so supportive! I weighed still over 200 lbs but he saw potential he says, so he married a still-chunky Melinda.

A bad car accident just six weeks later put me out of commission for three years. I slowly have packed some pounds back on and health problems returned with the weight gain. My doctors all say that I could get rid of all of them by losing 150 lbs (or even less - just 40 lbs could stop the diabetes totally, my new doc said.)

We got bikes a few years back and I started riding a little, but then hubby went into trucking and I traveled with him -- bad for both of us, we gained weight and got de-conditioned. Before I went out with him, I had worked over months back up to an unbelievable 450 situps consecutively in a row, and working out at our home gym for two hours a day - had lost 25 lbs.....but that went all down the tubes with trucking. No biking of course...

We got out of trucking last summer but packed on even more lbs through eating out too much, after we moved to Utah where we found all our favorite restaurants. (Most restaurants and fast food places are deadly to healthy eating, I've since learned.) Thanks to my new doctor in May, we are back to eating right, swimming, and biking again. I am seeing my back and leg pain disappear as I get stronger...and weight loss for both of us. He's lost ten lbs in two weeks.

It can be done, and I know for me, exercise is the key to turning back my health problems and weight-induced diabetes. Biking is fun for us now, not in great amounts, not tons of miles, just six so far, but we are looking forward to riding more and more. Like weight loss, getting to be a strong biker takes time and lots of patience and sticking to it.

The TE posts and so supportive feedback has helped motivate me even more!! I am so grateful for all you gals, new and old members. You inspire me, educate me and give me great hope!!

I love you all for being just who you are!!

[plantluvver]

Wow,
I am really inspired by your story. I am 47 and feeling old. Not riding much yet. But since your doing it, I can't make up any excuse that will hold water.

One ab tip for neck pain. I would stretch my elbows to the sides, so that I knew that I was not lifting with my neck. Also, I had a video by Tony Little. He only did a few exercises, but he spent a lot of time talking about isolating your muscles. I haven't done the Firm, so I can't compare them. Also, I am not trained in this stuff, so I don't know if his exercises were the best to do.

Mary

[Tuckervill]

One ab tip for neck pain. I would stretch my elbows to the sides, so that I knew that I was not lifting with my neck.

And just place the tips of your fingers on the back of your head, far apart from each other. Can't lift with your arms that way.

Jazzercise, anyone?

Karen

[faroe78]

I just joined this forum. It's my 46th birthday today and I weigh over 200, I'm diabetic, and tired of it. I have started researching bikes online, going to visit some bike shops next week, and I am getting a bike this summer, maybe even this month, if I can swing it. I'd like some suggestions as to what I should look for in a bicycle. I have not ridden since I was 15 or 16.
My goals are to burn a little less gas by using the bike to go to the grocery store, maybe use it to exercise my German Shepherd, and definitely to exercise ME. I'll be using paved roads.
I've been reading some of this thread and I must say, you ladies are inspiring!

[Geonz]

Welcome, welcome!! Hop on board and hang around, these ladies are amazing... and before long somebody else could say that about you :-)

Mainly get the bike that feels good **to you** - that's the one you'll get out and ride.

Bikes have gotten a LOT easier to ride since you were 16 :-) I recommend a bike shop as opposed to Wally World and what have you... you want to build a relationship with the bicycle and the activity, and a good bike shop will be able to guide you (and maybe give you the funny helmet cover they find in the back of the warehouse).

[kiwi in oz]

Happy Birthday Faroe78! And welcome.

I'm pretty new at this myself, so won't be much help. I can say though, that I agree with Geonz in regard to going to a proper bike store. I bought a bike earlier in the year - for much the same reasons as yourself - and bought a cheapie from a toy shop as I had some doubts about my ability to stick with it! I kept a diary of all my rides - starting from a few km's around the local park.... a couple of months later my partner bought a bike from a bike shop - only about $200 more than mine, but sooo much easier to ride! Everything worked beautifully and smoothly - unlike mine (but of course I didn't realise this until I tried his). So I bought a new (and much better!) comfort bike with semi slick tyres (kind of knobbly tyres but the centre is smooth) which suits me fine for riding on pavement or off road through the park when I need to. Plus our local bike shop services our bikes for free for a year and have been a really useful source of info. I have since bought a road bike too.... it's addictive!!

Good luck!

[Denise223]

Hi everyone!
I found this site the other night and I am very happy that I did! This is a great thread, full of so much information & advice. Thank you all!

I'd be considered a definite novice at cycling. My husband & I got a couple of bikes in 2004, (George Fisher hybrids). I don't think my bike has even 20 miles on it!! I've heard a lot about "bike fittings", and I really don't think my bike & I are a good match, at all.

Truth be told.....I am terrified of traffic - We live in a very busy city with extremely aggressive drivers. And, a couple of years ago I was heavier than I am now - approximately by 45 pounds. I now weigh 185 @ 5'2". (my highest weight was 290; but that was almost 6 years ago).

A week ago we took our bikes out of storage & went for a ride. Well, I stayed in a huge parking lot & my husband went out for 7 miles. Even though I was riding in a lot, I would have to say that "riding really felt pretty good to me".... I'd have to say that losing weight (25 lbs. since 2005), must've really helped me feel a lot more comfortable!
Even riding around in the lot, I was getting this itch to really, "get out there & ride". But, (at least for now), I do not feel comfortable riding in my city...

So ....we are going to put our bikes on our rack & head out to a bikeway not far from home & go for a ride, this afternoon! I hope that the rains stay away, as it has been pouring in our area all day yesterday & last night, early AM.

I also do want to add that over the past 25 years, (I'm 45 years young), I had 20 +/- hand,wrist,thumb operations, and both of my wrists are "fused straight".
I have absolutely ZERO up & down motion. I'll have to really check out how my arms/wrists feel when I ride. I didn't do enough in the parking lot, but a couple years ago, I remember feeling that "I was all stretched out" & riding was uncomfortable. I have fibromyalgia as well.

I REALLY want to enjoy riding!! And, I want to be a good rider. It has been 30 years since I've been on a bike.
I desperately want that.... I hope that my bike & I can "get along", at least for awhile. We purchased our bikes at a bike shop, but I don't recall having a "proper fitting". I should have spent more time trying out different bikes-but, I didn't.

Hope everyone has a great day/night!! I look forward to reading everyone's posts on this thread!!

[faroe78]

Thanks for the advice!
I live in the Eugene OR area, and it is way bike friendly. We have a number of bike shops to go to, as well as REI. I've been checking out their site and they have a K-2 that might be good. I know I'm going to do fact finding before I settle on one. Next weekend, our local REI is holding a women's bike workshop, teaching about gearing and such--it's for beginners. They invite you to bring your bike and they will be having a bike ride too, but since I won't have a bike yet, I'd like to sit in and learn what I can. I'm trying to smarten myself up.
Wally world is totally out for bike buying, as is Target etc, and I loooove Target. But at barely 5'3", I know I need a properly fitting bike. And I think I need the handle bars to be higher than my seat. I've had carpal tunnel surgery to both wrists. They're fine, but not the same wrists I had 30 years ago. They don't like too much pressure on them.
I have a cervical disc which needs fusion or replacement. My new neurosurgeon told me artificial disc replacement would be available next year and I am trying to hold out for that, since it's a better option.
So I'm trying not to aggravate my neck and shoulders in the process. At the same time, if I can get this lard off, I'll be in better shape for surgery, and the dr won't have to cut thru so much fat. I have a short neck anyway, and it's fat.
So that's more of my story.
BTW--my real name is Susan. The Faroe part comes from the fact that I collect stamps from the Faroe Islands, and I graduated high school in '78.
Happy Sunday, all, and good road!
Susan
PS--who says "Get 'er done"? It seems familiar but I can't place it.

[kimct]

Susan, git-r-done is Larry the Cable Guy! From 'Blue Collar Tour' with Jeff Foxworthy. A must see if you haven't seen it! I'm from the south, so maybe it's more funny to me...lol. And happy (late) birthday! Hope it was a great one! (ETA-- Larry apparently got a call from the US Air Force asking him how much he'd 'sell' the phrase for...he told them to take it! Great patriot! He coulda made millions on those few words! So now it's the official Air Force slogan...or will be...I caught the interview awhile back!)

Denise, whereabouts in NE are you? If you don't mind! I'm in Connecticut...the Navy base.

It's so inspiring to see everyone's stories whether you're all just starting out, or have been riding for awhile with incredible mileage!

I like this forum because it doesn't seem like anyone is a snobby sort...and almost all of us seem to have a weight concern here and there, wether it's alot of poundage, or a few extra! I love that aspect!

Kim

[faroe78]

Susan, git-r-done is Larry the Cable Guy! From 'Blue Collar Tour' with Jeff Foxworthy.....I like this forum because it doesn't seem like anyone is a snobby sort...and almost all of us seem to have a weight concern here and there, wether it's alot of poundage, or a few extra! I love that aspect!

Thanks, Kim! I knew I'd heard that somewhere. I have a Blue Collar CD.
I, too, like that no one on this forum seems like the snobby sort. Far from it, everyone seems very friendly and helpful.
I am going to treat myself today--it's my day off--by going and looking at a couple of bike shops. I can't just walk in and buy one, which is just as well, it will give me time to see what's out there, and learn what I want in a bike.
Here's a question: what are disc brakes? Someone at work told me I'd be well off to get them.
Susan

[Denise223]

I'm in Massachusetts, not far from Boston.

Hope everyone's having a great day!

Denise223

[faroe78]

I had to go out and pay rent, so when I got done, I went to a bike shop and test drove a Trek Navigator 200. He also showed me a Trek 7200. He was very helpful, and said they'd give me lessons, because there are a few things I am not sure about.
Bikes are made so much easier now! I loved the gearing (?) on the Nav 200. Very easy to understand. It rode like a dream. I only went out a quarter mile and back, and was a bit winded. I went to an allergist once who suggested I might have exercise-induced asthma, but he also wanted to take away some of my pain meds and I fired him. Petulant of me, perhaps, but with my neck pain, I get kind of funny about stuff like that. I'll be glad when I can have surgery and do away with a bunch of the meds. What he really talked about doing away with was the NSAID, which I need daily to keep the inflammation down. It was Mobic, and a really good med.
Anyway, afterward, I went to REI. The kid down there was a pretty good salesman. No, I didn't buy a bike, but he seemed to know what he was talking about and we discussed a couple of different K2s and something else I can't recall. He was showing me a lot of the other biking stuff, such as bike shoes and cleats etc, and explained why they were used, how a hydration pack was safer than a water bottle, and so forth.
If I get so disposed in the morning, I am going just down the street to another bike shop and see what he has there.
Riding that bike today felt really good. It's something I want to do more of already. The only problem I had was when I got back to the shop and wanted to stop. The brakes worked fine, but I fell over just the same. But I was on grass, so it was OK. However, I don't want to keep falling down.
Keep on biking! I'll catch up sooner or later!
Susan--who wishes she could buy a bike instead of air-conditioners next week

[Pachyderm]

Faroe78, Hi and welcome. Sorry that I have not responded earlier. This is a great site for advice and support.

The bikes you have been looking at are exactly what I would suggest. Hybrids are great for new cyclists and they can be used both on the road, and on gentle off-road options. I went straight for a racer when I started cycling. I do love the speeds I can get up to on it, but it is not as comfortable as a hybrid on poor roads. I can never take it onto a gravel trail which does limit my options, and if you aren't used to drop handlebars, or haven't used them for a while, they can be very uncomfortable. A mountain bike would also be less practical if you want to cycle on the roads, as the wide, knobbly tires and suspension mean you put in more effort to go the same distance.

I've just been looking up your Trek Navigator and found this review:

"Pros
Versatile, inexpensive, fun, comfortable. Good frame

Cons
not for serious cycling, weak components

The Bottom Line
This should be available used for a song, and will be a great second bike or starter bike

I bought this bike to induce myself to get out and exercise, 3 years ago. It now has almost 4,000 Spring through Fall miles on it. Great frame, long like a tourer, it smooths out bumps. the factory tires are still good. The chain wore out at 3,100 miles, and the bottom bracket too. Replaced both with better quality units. Great bike as is from the factory for rail trail rides and smooth pavement as well as rough, and light off road trails. The upright position is tough in headwinds, but great for sore backs. I added triathalon style aero bars for head wind use. I also switched to 1.5 in 100 psi slicks for a recent MS150 ride. the shifters are not well suited to heavy use on tough hill climbs. This bike is good for rides in the neighborhood and local tours of up to 20 miles at about 12 - 15 mph average speed. Longer rides like the MS150 are better with spd pedals and a narrower saddle (I put welgo spd/street dual use pedals on and a Brooks Conquest saddle)"

Don't know if this is any help. I also found reviews for the Trek 7200 on the following website, you will have to copy and paste the information into the address space on the computer (I don't know how to insert a hyperlink I'm afraid)

http://www.epinions.com/content_131788672644

And they also do reviews of K2s, but I don't know which type you were looking at.

http://www.epinions.com/bike-Bicycles-All-K2_Bike

I hope you find this helpful,

Good luck with your cycling!