Overweight issues

[mmelindas]

Hey Shasta!

I am now on your same blog!
My blog = http://losing-half-of-myself.blogspot.com/

Everybody, you can go there and see my new bike and my hubby and me up close!!

Hope you don't go blind! Hahahahaaaaa

[uforgot]

Love the bike! You are going to have soooo much fun on that. Way better than exercising to videotapes inside. I've always had the "weight" thing going on. I lost 56 pounds about 8 years ago and have managed to keep that off. I'd still like to lose 20 more, so count me in! I did a 15 mile ride on gravel roads yesterday, probably 30 miles if you count the unexpected hills. (One of my students drew the route, but forgot to tell me about the hills, I let him know about it today...he just laughed) Anyway, I felt great afterwards. (Notice I said "after" not during...) And you know what the great thing about biking is? You can't quit! After I had ridden out about 8 miles, I KNEW I had to ride back, or call someone to come get me, and THAT wasn't happening!

[shasta]

I added you to my links from my blog. I say let's go for it!

I broke down and got myself a mountain bike today. Just couldn't stand it anymore!

Shasta

[mmelindas]

Well, we WANT PICTURES!!!! Tell us all about your new mtn bike!!! yeeeeeeeehaaaaah !!!!

[carimail]

I'm working on my weight, too. I could stand to lose about 40 - 50 lbs. I did complete the Cinderella on Saturday on my bike, though - that's 65 miles and it was through some killer winds and some rain and a few good hills, so, despite my weight, I must still be fairly fit?!

I love my bike. I never ever thought I'd ride a road bike ("those skinny tires will kill me!"), but now when I ride it, I don't even feel the extra weight - I'm as light as a feather! It's almost as if it just propels itself. I know it will be the ticket to good health if I stick to it.

My tips (as scary as they seem): clipless pedals and bike shorts!!

[CyclaSutra]

Just making the point here that being healthy and fit is MORE important than the number on the scale ... I have one of those Tanita scales and I try to focus more on the body fat percentage number than the weight number.

I know that to get my large-boned frame back to a size 8/10, I'd have to lose 30 pounds. But I'm hanging in there at a size 14, body fat fluctuating 25-30 percent summer-winter, and I can keep my butt in the bike saddle for 10 hours. Last summer, I got up to averaging more than 15 mph during a relatively flat ride without drafting anyone. So although I'd like to look better in a bikini, I know that being active is just as important to my health as being "skinny."

Last year was my first year on a road bike, and I trained for a double. My event got snowed on, so I dropped out, but that didn't dull the sense of accomplishment I got out of the hilly 100-somethings I rode. I did get a little bored and lonely training by myself all summer, so my goal this year is to finish that damned double AND ride my mountain bike two days a week and have FUN! The mountain bike days, I'm not worried about heart rate or speed, but about enjoying myself.

I know sometimes it's frustrating to ride with the fast girls and get dropped. But I look at it this way: my effort is 100 times better than the 90 percent of people who don't get off the couch!

As one of my mountain biking friends says on a hard hill, get in that little gear and "Granny on!"

[mmelindas]

"[/QUOTE]I know sometimes it's frustrating to ride with the fast girls and get dropped. But I look at it this way: my effort is 100 times better than the 90 percent of people who don't get off the couch!

As one of my mountain biking friends says on a hard hill, get in that little gear and "Granny on!"[/QUOTE]

I LOVE THAT "GRANNY ON" STUFF! I am a grandma although I seldom admit it! I think all us "Cyclin' grannies" should band together!!

I love your philosophy about those who never get off the couch -- that used to be ME!!!

[cyclingnewbie]

I have the same problem with the drop bars. An easy solution is to add bar top brake levers. I ride with my hands on the top of the bar (and can easily brake with the bar-tops) or, on the hood of the shifters. If you are looking for decent cycling gear in large sizes, try http://www.aerotechdesigns.com/ They are reasonably priced and I like the shorts better than the more expensive Terry brand. Keep pedalling! I'll be thinking about you when I'm working off my own excess weight from the seat of my bike!

[Robbin_G]

.....and I can keep my butt in the bike saddle for 10 hours.

I'm not exactly tiny, but there are some bigger girls that can kick my *** on a bike. I'd love to drop 30lbs myself

[mmelindas]

Well, I had to weigh in yesterday....and it wasn't pretty. At the Asthma doc's the scale said "314lbs" and I about had a coronary right there!

Then I weighed in at my primary care manager's office and it was only "304" which was a relief, but I am not sure it wasn't wrong, maybe I broke it!

The doctor didn't rag on my as usual because I told her I'd bought a bike and was trying to ride it and also had gotten a membership to a sports center near me....I think she was going to say something but she only said, "I'll take whatever I can get (me to do)" and I actually loved her in that moment!

I managed to sprain my right knee JUST TURNING OVER IN BED! Boy, does that speak volumes about my weight... and am now couch bound...The orthopedic Dr. put a long mean needle of cortisone in my right kneecap area and another in the top of my left foot! Wow, did that HURT!!

So, I am going to be good and get back to biking and watching what I eat...no more cheating and will eat more veggies and less junk. I am with you Shasta and everybody else who struggles. I lost 90 lbs five years ago, all my symptoms disappeared and now I am almost back to my original heavy weight...how embarassing

[MomOnBike]

Boy, I'd just Love to be (just) 30 lbs overweight. {sigh...}

But if I wait to enjoy life until that day, I won't do anything at all. I finally realized that yup, I'm obese (as in off the scales, obese) and it is $*&^!! impossible to find 1) biking clothes that I will wear in public or 2) daily clothes with style, but this is the size I am now.

I'll struggle with the clothes issue, but I'll be on my bike. I may be slow, but that just means I see more!

[shasta]

I was reading the asthma issue elsewhere as I have exercise induced asthma also. Mine is also affected by certain things I eat such as simple carbs. I notice it is much better when I cut out that stuff, even crackers.

I'd like to lose 80#, 100# could be doable but I'd be THRILLED at 80. Right about now I'd take 10, LOL.

Anyway, I am back on my road bike after a bit of a break due to intense training on a new mail route and it seems it's done me good. My butt doesn't hurt so much and my knees are not shaking anymore. I am on my way after thinking it would never come.

Never say never!

Shasta

[nancielle]

I managed to sprain my right knee JUST TURNING OVER IN BED! Boy, does that speak volumes about my weight... and am now couch bound...The orthopedic Dr. put a long mean needle of cortisone in my right kneecap area and another in the top of my left foot! Wow, did that HURT!!

Last year I had a pretty traumatic knee injury (I'll spare you the gory details.)
Anyway, the orthopedic surgeon gave me some exercises to strengthen the muscles around my knees. Wanted me to start doing them the day after surgery. Despite thinking he was absolutely daft, I tried 'em. Couldn't do it.
However, the following day I could. I've done them since and have found them to be very helpful. Perhaps your doctor could recommend something while you're on the mend.

[Bad JuJu]

Ooh, ooh, me too--I've got maybe 40 lbs to lose, 50 would be better, but like Shasta said, I'd be happy with 10. Heck, I'd be dancin' in the street if I could lost 10 lbs.

I've been off my bike most of the winter due to some back problems, but I've started hitting the road again in the last few weeks. Back pain is the bane of my existence, but I find the more (carefully) active I am, the better it feels. I can walk all day and cycle for miles--I just can't stand still for long, which I suppose is better than having it the other way round.

Think I might join you ladies in your fight against the evil over-fat.

[Bad JuJu]

BTW, I've signed up for a Womantours trip in May--it's just the short, easy, 4-day one, but it IS four days of cycling, so I've started training my out-of-shape self for it. See my training progress on my blog: Works in Progress
It's not that I'm so self-centered I think everyone should care about wonderful me and my training schedule--just that someone who reads might have some words of wisdom to share. So if you do...share away.