Very overweight - where can i start?

Rykard

Where do you live? People may be able to recommend specific shops in that area.

I started on an old rigid mtb and then got a hybrid for this year...

Just getting out there is the first big step, good luck

900R

davepiggott13 wrote:

Great to read your posts, thanks. All is good in my world. Have adopted a healthy eating pattern with a friend i met through this site and we're helping each other to stick to it. Not at work for a few days now (not complaining mind you) so i'm not gonna get my 3 miles home. Have been to the park today with the kids and wife on our bikes. More tiring to go up and down the hills and over the grass than to ride home steadily! If the weather stays dry (bit of a wuss i know) we'll do the same each day i'm off. And if for some reason we dont go to the park i'll take the bike on the train to the next stop and cycle home (that is the 3 miles i've been riding as i have gotten off a stop earlier). If things progress as they have been i'm almost ready to get off two stops earlier but not quite yet. i already feel fitter. Thanks again all

Hi Dave, i'm not realy in to forums, but i have just spent the last half an hour reading your story ! i'm getting a new Gt next week after not having a bike for 7 years.
Good Luck and keep pedling

DevUK

Well, I figure it's time to add myself to this thread! I'm 29 and 5' 7" ish and 21 1/2 stone. I've been overweight forever. It seems to be the thing in my family. Anyway, I'm just starting to cycle more in earnest to loose weight. I normally commute to work and back but it's only about 2.5 miles (though, vicious hill on the way home). I like to think I can cope pretty well on my bike. I can get to work in 10 minutes and home in 12-15. I've been commuting for the last year off and on. Not too bothered about the weather though I could do with some water proofs!

When I started riding again 2 years ago I would do some XC and even the odd mountain ride every now and then, as well as the commute. That dropped off as my riding buddies moved house (we were sharing a house at the time).

Anyhow, I have a Trek 7.5FX hybrid which is doing me well. I'm always a bit concerned about the wheels, but they've been pretty much fine (straightened the rear once in 8 months of ownership so far). This week I've started taking the long way home which takes in some nice scenery and has a few good hills to get up. I'm finding the first hill, which is probably the worst, is already getting easier. My home commute is now 6 miles, making 7.5 miles per day total.

Now I need to sort out the eating patterns. I need to settle into 3 meals a day and leave out the snacking etc. I'm trying to make sure I have more than a cup of tea for breakfast and eat a better lunch. I also need to have a meal in the evening, as this often either gets skipped or is something snacky.

My goals are obviously to loose weight, but really I want to see the waist sizes dropping... That will feel more of an achievement, having been hovering around the same waist size for the last 10 years.

Anyhow. Fingers crossed I'll log my progress here!

Cheers

Steve.

tyax

Good for you Steve! I know what you mean about seeing the waste sizes drop. Since I started cycling earlier this year I've lost about four inches off my waist, it would be more if not for the beer! But I seem to be losing weight from everywhere, even the manboobs are getting flatter I'm still over 20st but I've never been fitter as an adult 8) My goal was always to get fit and not worry about weightloss/inch loss, so I'm quite happy with my results so far.

With regards to eating, you're right about the 3 meals a day, I used to avoid breakfast entirely which meant eating crap for the rest of the day. Now I have a reasonably sized breakfast (60-70g of cereal, fresh orange) and a healthy fruit/cereal bar-type thing in the mid-morning, and I never need a massive lunch then.

Let us know how you get on!

Also, update to my progress: I've exceeded my expectations by managing a 40-odd mile towpath run yesterday, in foul weather to boot! got covered in mud, soaked too, but glad I done it 8) Next is to get in some long runs with hills involved :shock:

MrVanilla

Hi all,
I'm a noob to the forum but also need to get myself in shape. Currently 32, 6"3 and weighing in at around 20 stone, also a 30 a day smoker, and a 6 cans of Kronenberg a night drinker.
Target is to get down to around 16st, non smoker and occasional drinker.
Used to be really into Mountain biking in the late 90's but have let myself slip somewhat (judging by the above, read that as "alot"!). I've got a quit date (for both the smoking/drinking) on the 1st September so I thought what better way to keep myself occupied in the evening than go for a nice cycle.
I bought a Kona Hoss in 2005 that has been used about 6 times so that's my trusty steed. Off to Snowdonia over the bank holiday weekend where I'll primarily be going up Snowdon and then tackling some trails around Betwys-y coed with the missus.
I suspect i'll also have to change my eating habits too as there's definatley too many pizzas in my current "diet" lol.
A bit worried about making all these changes at one time but if I don't start somewhere I can see myself being dead by 40 (thats if the trek up Snowdon this weekend doesn't kill me)
Anyway, i'm off to tackle the Ashover circuit this afternoon from the White Peak Mountain Biking trail book, so wish me luck :-)
Cheers
Leon

Oceanblue

Just wondering if this thread is shut as the last two pages appear to be blank. However if it isn't I've just bought a bike having been 21.5 st last August and been on the turbo trainer for the past 6 months and now weight 18st 12.5lbs. Can't wait to get out as this thread has been so inspirational...

Specialized27

I would suggest a Commencal Normal Disc 09 - A great bike for the money £390 at http://www.bikesapart.com/2009-commenca ... 1411-p.asp

Specialized27

I would suggest a Commencal Normal Disc 09 - A great bike for the money £390 at http://www.bikesapart.com/2009-commenca ... 1411-p.asp

Specialized27

I would suggest a Commencal Normal Disc 09 - A great bike for the money £390 at http://www.bikesapart.com/2009-commenca ... 1411-p.asp

XxxBFGxxX

i think form reading thsi thread i may be the heveast on here.

23 stone and 6 foot 4.

i ride a marin quad link xc for the weekends and a piont reyes every day n and out of work. both good bikes

BigSte27

Hi everyone, thought id add my little bit. Ive been overweight for most of my life, im 6ft 5" tall and at my heaviest i was 32stone (yes 32stone!!!!), ive jsut turned 27 years old. I got bored of being the "big lad" in my social circle so decided to sort it out. Just through eating sensibly and exercising (i bought an exercise bike) i've lost 9 stone since Jan 08, im approx 23stone atm! I told myself as soon as i got down to 23 ish stone i would treat myself to a MTB so i bought myself a Kona Hoss just over a week ago.

My first week with the Hoss has been amazing, i feel like im 16 again razzing about! I now commute to work on it, 18miles EACH way, so approx 36miles a day! Ive been on it every day for a week and ive racked up approx 180miles on it! Ive also found some cycle trails in my area, Sherwood Pines is only about 5miles from me and the National Cycle Route 6 pretty much runs past my house in Rainworth! Im loving it!! The first week alone has seen me lose an inch off my waste and my legs .... wow ive always had big legs but my quads after just 1 week .... they're turning into monsters!! Im off to Ibiza mid July so id LOVE to lose a stone or 2 before then! Bring it on!!

Oh and its saving me a fortune in petrol!! I usually spend £200 a month in petrol, so roughly £50 a week. This last week ive spent £0 in petrol! More spending money for my holiday! I cant think of any negatives. Everyone should have a bike, it should be illegal to not have one!!

Ditch Witch

It'd be really interesting to have some updates from you guys!

davepiggott13

Hi all, hope you are well

Things were going very well for me with my cycling, healthy eating and by default my weight loss. That is, until the weather turned. Yes, it rained! Not acid rain, not hail, just rain. Water.

I stopped cycling, and with that, I stopped healthy eating too.

My weight shot up to 24st 13lbs at my heaviest (that was boxing day morning 2008).

Near the end of January this year, I decided I had to rediscover my juju!!

On Monday 26th January I was 24st 8lbs!!

I got the bike out of storage (not entirely my fault, had a few probs, and also moved house since a couple of years ago), got it serviced, and got very slowly back into the saddle.

Initially, I just went with my sons (ages 4 and 7) and my wife (age denied lol) to the local park, but I found that even a gentle short ride had left me with sores. I was a lot heavier than the last time I got into riding, and I guess it made all the difference.

I gave myself time to heal, and invested in some padded cycling shorts (form Wiggle - what a great site!!).

I started to ride just around the block every few days, and then most days. My 'round the block' is now up to about 5.5 miles, and I do it often. I have also ridden from my house to Canterbury (about 10 miles, and you have to ride up Mt. Kilimanjaro to get there!), from Sittingbourne to my house (via the direct main road way, and also via the twisty country lanes), and most recently from Gillingham to Sittingbourne via a trail route and some back roads.

I am just back from a weekend camping, and I took my bike with me so that I could get some country mileage in, but alas it spent most the time pouring down and the only ride I got in was a 6.5 mile round trip to the shops - downhill all the way there, uphill all the way back with carrier bags on the handlebars haha.

Since my last post, I have also invested in a Wii and Wii fit, which has been great for those days where work (I still work shifts) or something else prevents me from getting out on the bike.

My healthy eating is back, as is my focus, and I have been happy to relax my rules for the odd evening so I can enjoy a good indian or something, safe in the knowledge that I will be back in the zone immediately after.

Weightwise, I am back down to 22st precisely, which is a vast improvement on almost 25 stone in January, but not quite to the low I got myself to last time around.

I am really enjoying cycling, and have plans to do a tour of all my local cycle routes, as well as a day at Bedgebury which looks great.

I have invested in a cycle computer, which tells me how far I have gone, my speed, highest speed (32 mph for now), and some other bits, which I like to look at to compare with previous trips - although I have no intention of overdoing anything.

The summer is almost upon us, and I can't wait

It is only a failure, when you stop trying.

Be well ... I'll be back

davepiggott13

Oceanblue wrote:

Just wondering if this thread is shut as the last two pages appear to be blank. However if it isn't I've just bought a bike having been 21.5 st last August and been on the turbo trainer for the past 6 months and now weight 18st 12.5lbs. Can't wait to get out as this thread has been so inspirational...

Hi

For some reason, there has always been two blank pages at the end, I have no idea why, but it is very frustrating! I wonder how many people have navigated to the last page, then given up.

What is a turbo trainer? Sounds great! Your weight loss is fantastic, I have found it harder to lose weight than I found it to stop smoking!

Have you been out for a ride yet? I hope you enjoy it as much as I do

davepiggott13

Thanks to nicklouse for clearing the problem with the two blank pages at the end of this thread

tyax

Welcome back Dave!

Good on you for getting back "on the wagon", I'm pretty sure most people go thru phases with cycling and fitness, but the best thing is you know you've done it before, so you can do it again 8)

As I've mentioned before, I can honestly say this thread was wholly responsible for getting me back on a bike - I googled for "overwieght" and "cycling" or some such, and that's how I found it. Long and short of it is, I've now lost 6.5 stone (am under 20 stone for the first time as an adult!), and my fitness level has gone way beyond anywhere it's ever been in my adult life.

Moved onto a hybrid bike (tho kept the MTB for muddy moments) and I'm currently training for a 70 mile sponsored ride next month... managed 110 miles last week and out tomorrow for a 45 miler Seriously thinking about a road bike, but it'll take a wee bit more weight loss before I splash out :oops:

As so many have said this thread has been inspirational, so CyclingDave MKII - your time has come to inspire more people. Go to it! :shock:

All the best, Dave

BigSte27

Well ive had my Kona Hoss 2 weeks now. The first week of commuting 18miles each way was taking me 1hour 30mins, the end of the 2nd week and i did my PB of 1hour 11minutes to work!! I can say without shadow of a doubt, this is the best thing ive ever bought!! Ill weight myself monday, but im certain ive lost some weight

XxxBFGxxX

hello dave i know how ya feel about beingover wiehgt mate i my self am down to 22 sotne from 25 stone and it feeks greast dont it.

i ride 2o mile a day and ride for fun at th weekends. the weight is fling of me slowly now but that is down to eat pretty much wat iw ant relay need to start looking at healthy living now. Due to other health issuse
any way chap keep up the good work

MikeSc

I hate to sound a note of disbelief here but 17mph average speeds over 10 miles or so are frankly unbelievable to me.

These are the sort of speeds that club riders get, not morbidly obese MTBers who weigh about the same as two men.

Whilst the benefits of cycling are well known and documented it is not a quick route to massive weight loss and to be perfectly honest all the fat people I see on bikes are incapable of getting up the gentlest of hills, let alone whizzing up them overtaking people on mopeds etc.

As a general rule of thumb I reckon that about 100 miles at a good rate that gets you in a bit of a sweat will equate to about 1lb if and only if you do not compensate by eating more.

So, as a realistic guide if you can regularly do 150-200 miles per week for 40 weeks of the year you should be looking at a weight loss of about 60lbs or 4 stones. So, it would seem to me that for a lot of posters here this must be a long term commitment and not something that can be picked up and put down on a whim.

Anyway I have enjoyed reading this thread and hope I haven't upset anyone by mentioning that slow and steady wins this particular race every time.

tozi1

Hi Dave, I've read the whole thread,so a heartfelt welcome back.
I hope it's ok to post on this thread-I don't match the exact profile,but strongly identify with the feeling of the thread.
This thread IS inspirational,life affirming,and supportive,I've cancelled this post several times-anyway,here goes.
I suffer from depression,this had lead,over time,to a drinking problem and five stones of lard.In march I decided enough was enough,got some help with the booze problem,and made a commitment to get back on my bike.
I find,for me,exercise is the best anti-depressant going,and sure enough,i have been feeling loads better,lost weight,got back my mo-jo I guess.
It is great to hear of people fighting their own battles,and using cycling as a tool to change things.Cycling offers a perfect solution if you need to exercise as there is a natural crossover from leisure to sport,so you can approach things in a gradual way.
I found this thread powerful,and often moving,not to mention as addictive as a soap!
To finish up,does anyone think there would be any mileage in organizing a charity run of some sort for posters on this thread,or anyone really,a sort of affirmation run I guess-just a thoght.Kind regards and all the best to all the posters and readers of this thread.
Mike

tyax

MikeSc wrote:

As a general rule of thumb I reckon that about 100 miles at a good rate that gets you in a bit of a sweat will equate to about 1lb if and only if you do not compensate by eating more.

So, as a realistic guide if you can regularly do 150-200 miles per week for 40 weeks of the year you should be looking at a weight loss of about 60lbs or 4 stones. So, it would seem to me that for a lot of posters here this must be a long term commitment and not something that can be picked up and put down on a whim.

Well that's quite a set of statements there, Mike Can you post some actual proof of the numbers you're talking about here?

I can assure you that thru cycling (and some walking) I've lost 6.5 stone in about 18 months, and my medical records confirm this. I've certainly not been doing anything like your 150-200 miles per week...

XxxBFGxxX

Good thing with my weight loss is its all on my medical records. The nurse was rather happy considering my back ground. Years of abusing my body. Riding has changed my lifes in so many ways.

I do an average of about 150 mile aweek as i ride to work then ride at the weekends. I do rest some days as i make sure i get a lift in at least once a week.

As said above i know the feeling of depretion suffered with my self at still do at times, and yes the riding helps a hell of alot.

i wil be happy if i can hit the 20 stone mark and even happier if i get to 18 stone.

So to all the big lads out there lets keep it up lads its worth t in the long run

geordie

MikeSc

tyaxnoob wrote:

MikeSc wrote:

As a general rule of thumb I reckon that about 100 miles at a good rate that gets you in a bit of a sweat will equate to about 1lb if and only if you do not compensate by eating more.

So, as a realistic guide if you can regularly do 150-200 miles per week for 40 weeks of the year you should be looking at a weight loss of about 60lbs or 4 stones. So, it would seem to me that for a lot of posters here this must be a long term commitment and not something that can be picked up and put down on a whim.

Well that's quite a set of statements there, Mike Can you post some actual proof of the numbers you're talking about here?

I can assure you that thru cycling (and some walking) I've lost 6.5 stone in about 18 months, and my medical records confirm this. I've certainly not been doing anything like your 150-200 miles per week...

Sorry! I certainly didn't intend to offend anyone. As for figures, here goes (and obviously these are necessarily assumptions as variables well vary so much).

Average speed of a MTB going at a reasonable rate 14MPH
Time taken to achieve 100 miles 7.14 hours
Calories per hour at this level of excercise 500
Calories expended in 100 miles 3571
Calories equating to 1lb 3500
Weight lost 1lb

XxxBFGxxX

MikeSc wrote:

tyaxnoob wrote:

MikeSc wrote:

As a general rule of thumb I reckon that about 100 miles at a good rate that gets you in a bit of a sweat will equate to about 1lb if and only if you do not compensate by eating more.

So, as a realistic guide if you can regularly do 150-200 miles per week for 40 weeks of the year you should be looking at a weight loss of about 60lbs or 4 stones. So, it would seem to me that for a lot of posters here this must be a long term commitment and not something that can be picked up and put down on a whim.

Well that's quite a set of statements there, Mike Can you post some actual proof of the numbers you're talking about here?

I can assure you that thru cycling (and some walking) I've lost 6.5 stone in about 18 months, and my medical records confirm this. I've certainly not been doing anything like your 150-200 miles per week...

Sorry! I certainly didn't intend to offend anyone. As for figures, here goes (and obviously these are necessarily assumptions as variables well vary so much).

Average speed of a MTB going at a reasonable rate 14MPH
Time taken to achieve 100 miles 7.14 hours
Calories per hour at this level of excercise 500
Calories expended in 100 miles 3571
Calories equating to 1lb 3500
Weight lost 1lb

cant remember were i read it but i am sure ya avarage wheited person i.e. 70-80gk burn just under 500 calories in 1 hour of riding so surly somone our weight 140 plus kg will burn more.

or am i wrong in thinking this.

MikeSc

I would expect there to be a difference, but you would need to counteract this with the fact that the bike is largely supporting your weight and not you, inertia plays a part so that once you are up to speed you will stay there longer, general level of fitness might mean that you are not going to work as hard as an averagely weighted person.

I would have thought that 1lb per 100 miles would be pretty good though - a nice one hour ride 6 days a week in exchange for a pound of fat seems like a bargain

XxxBFGxxX

all i need to do relay is work on my diet then i think the weight will fall of quicker

tyax

Can I just say to tozi1 - thanks so much for posting. I first read this thread about two years ago, and you've summed its positive aspects up better than I ever could. You're right - the feeling of the thread is what counts, not the physical profile of the person who has read it. This thread got me into cycling on an MTB at first, on to buying a second bike for road use, and I'm now capable of doing an easy 80 miles a week. If it wasn't for this post, complete with the mechanical problems, motivational issues, and buliding of confidence by various peeps, I don't think I'd have taken my first step. Good on you

Also MikeSc - thanks for posting your numbers... I'm sure you appreciate my skepticism, given that the entire internet is filled with people saying "but... science says this... I read it on the internets, so it must be true!"

I cycled 50 road miles yesterday, and my Garmin (set up for cycling and my weight) reckoned I burned just over 4000 calories - and yeah, I'm still what most people whould consider to be DAMN fat . However, I'm also aware that it's basically impossible to predict the calorie consumpion of an individual based on distance/gradients/speed/time, thanks to the wonders of physiology

As a healthcare professional, it's boringly obvious to me that there is simply no simple way, using any method - invasive or otherwise - to measure calorie consumption. So I'm just going to have to trust my Garmin 8)

Keep at it peeps - it doesn't matter how much you do, it's going to help

tozi1

well Mike, I know that overweght people's bodies have to "run faster" to stand still,so a relatively little exercise can give better results than average,also I would guess that,at least in some cases,the onset of exercise might be combined with a moderate to large change in diet,this could well result in a large calorie deficit and consequent weight loss.Of course,ithe rate of loss will slow,but hopefully,by then a new pattern for life might be emerging.
I would certainly agree with your comments on the 17 mph average,but could only find a post referring to 18 miles in 1hr 11mins- anyway,who knows,a slightly inaccurate mileage,-strong following wind-etc.etc.
I say good luck to anyone trying to make changes for the better,many of the posters to the thread have been brutally candid with their personal details-as i say-good luck to'em all!

Ditch Witch

MikeSc wrote:

tyaxnoob wrote:

MikeSc wrote:

As a general rule of thumb I reckon that about 100 miles at a good rate that gets you in a bit of a sweat will equate to about 1lb if and only if you do not compensate by eating more.

So, as a realistic guide if you can regularly do 150-200 miles per week for 40 weeks of the year you should be looking at a weight loss of about 60lbs or 4 stones. So, it would seem to me that for a lot of posters here this must be a long term commitment and not something that can be picked up and put down on a whim.

Well that's quite a set of statements there, Mike Can you post some actual proof of the numbers you're talking about here?

I can assure you that thru cycling (and some walking) I've lost 6.5 stone in about 18 months, and my medical records confirm this. I've certainly not been doing anything like your 150-200 miles per week...

Sorry! I certainly didn't intend to offend anyone. As for figures, here goes (and obviously these are necessarily assumptions as variables well vary so much).

Average speed of a MTB going at a reasonable rate 14MPH
Time taken to achieve 100 miles 7.14 hours
Calories per hour at this level of excercise 500
Calories expended in 100 miles 3571
Calories equating to 1lb 3500
Weight lost 1lb

First of all, calories per hour has a lot to do with someone's weight and level of fitness. The fitter you are, the fewer calories you consume.
Also, the heavier you are, the more calories you will consume because you're hauling more weight around.

Just one internet calorie calculator gave me these figures for 14mph cycling

70kg for 60 minutes = 588 cals
110kg for 60 minutes = 924 calories. That's 336 more cals an hour or 2400 EXTRA over 7.14 hours.

Consider that a sedentary male of 6ft in height weighing 250 lbs would require 2800 cals a day to maintain that weight. Throw in a very easily achievable healthy eating lifestyle of 2300 cals a day coupled with an extra 924 calorie defecit, you're looking at 1500 calories PER DAY with just 1 hour of cycling every day.

So, a one hour ride a week, even without the change in diet, would equate to more like 2lbs a week, which is a very healthy weight loss indeed.

SpinningJenny

I agree with DW (and not just because she's a woman of the female persuasion!).

I used to be overweight - not massively, but enough. Initially, when you start exercising, you do burn off more, if you're going from a state of inertia on the sofa to moving yourself around and doing physical exercise you've never done before. If you are very overweight, this moving around has more of an impact.

Despite all that, anyone who has lost weight and got fitter and healthier into the bargain should be really pleased with themselves. If someone had told me this time last year that I would be into MTB and entering a 60 mile charity bike ride at the end of this month, I'd have laughed in their face. This has changed my life.