Very overweight - where can i start?

Ditch Witch · June 2009

60 miles! Good christ, girl :shock: You go, lady!

XxxBFGxxX · June 2009

SpinningJenny wrote:

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.

You wouldnt happen to be doing ther london to brighton by any chance.

I know what ya mean about it changing your life mine is completly diffrent than a year ago. I to am doing a chaorty ride at the end of this month the london to broghton. i am still over weight 22ish stone maybe 23. i have lost 3ish stone int otal and want to lose more. Riding to get fit enought to do the london to broghton gave me somthing to focuc on and a goal for this year to prove to my self i can do it. Once i have done this i am sure it wwill spur me on to go further aswelll.

Oceanblue · June 2009

MikeSc wrote:

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.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to this post for anyone new and trying to lose some weight. I've never cycled over 40 mile a week (as yet) and I've lost 4st in the last year. Not sure where he gets his figures from but they make me look like a walking talking miracle, which trust me I'm not.

Eat a balanced diet and stick within your calorie limits, exercise 3 - 5 times a week for 30 minutes to an hour and your body will do the rest. At least thats what worked for me and continues to.

rhext · June 2009

Also bear in mind that the fitter you are (and, particularly, the more muscle mass you have) the more calories you'll burn just going about your normal business. So while you may well only lose a few hundred while you're actually on the bike, you'll bag a few hundred more 'for free' with increased metabolism.

XxxBFGxxX · June 2009

Oceanblue wrote:

MikeSc wrote:

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.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to this post for anyone new and trying to lose some weight. I've never cycled over 40 mile a week (as yet) and I've lost 4st in the last year. Not sure where he gets his figures from but they make me look like a walking talking miracle, which trust me I'm not.

Eat a balanced diet and stick within your calorie limits, exercise 3 - 5 times a week for 30 minutes to an hour and your body will do the rest. At least thats what worked for me and continues to.

totaly ageree mate most my weight came from just starting to eat better. the riding helped. lost aboput 3 stone in 9 month ish.

Oceanblue · June 2009

plus as you are carrying more weight it takes you more energy than an average person to move and therefore more calories.

"all the fat people I see on bikes are incapable of getting up the gentlest of hills"

And as for his comment about the morbidly obese struggling with hills :roll: my advice would be to stick a 4st rucksack on his back and see what difference it makes to his ability to climb. Then stick another 4 on and that might take him to where some of us started.

gb155 · June 2009

MikeSc wrote:

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.

My best AVERAGE MPH over 7 miles was 16.3Mph, Max 38mph (Yes down hill section) There is also a beast of a hill on that too so it wasnt like it was all down hill but every light was green and I was on FIRE that morning, Normal Average is 14mph, All this while at 23 stone

So that put me as you say in the category as a "morbidly obese MTBer" (I ride a GT MTB on slicks) who is the weight of 2 men,

Why can I get those speeds ? Well I have cycled 2300 miles in 11 months, Not missed a single days commuting and by dam I make sure EVERY SINGLE MILES COUNT,

14 Months ago I was as good as dead, I'm not going into this in a half hearted way, Just because I weigh twice most what other people on bikes do and ride an MTB doesn't mean that I don't have the determination of 10 men, I have shocked a few commuter in my time and I just keep getting stronger each day.

to be perfectly honest all the fat people I see on bikes are incapable of getting up the gentlest of hills

No mate those people are people without fight, I have 2 big hills ever day and at 30stone I could get up them, yes I was slow, Yes it hurt but I did it and I have just started to stand up and sprint, I'm still morbidly obese and im stood up stringing up a long steep hill on a MTB, Crazy ? No It's because I want this and I have the fight to push myself out of my comfort zone EVERY DAY I'm on the bike.

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

Not true, The bigger you are the more you burn, Check my sig for proof.

Please dont take my post an a personal attack but if there are people out there in the situation I was in last year then its only fair for me to show them the "other side" of the argument, That no matter what size you are you can ride anywhere, Sure you wont always be as fast at first but carrying that extra weight will build bigger muscles (I have to admit I have quality legs lol) so as the weight falls off your will get a quicker pace.

Gaz

SpinningJenny · June 2009

Ditch Witch wrote:

60 miles! Good christ, girl :shock: You go, lady!

If he's on the back of my bike, i may not make it....

SpinningJenny · June 2009

XxxBFGxxX wrote:

SpinningJenny wrote:

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.

You wouldnt happen to be doing ther london to brighton by any chance.

I know what ya mean about it changing your life mine is completly diffrent than a year ago. I to am doing a chaorty ride at the end of this month the london to broghton. i am still over weight 22ish stone maybe 23. i have lost 3ish stone int otal and want to lose more. Riding to get fit enought to do the london to broghton gave me somthing to focuc on and a goal for this year to prove to my self i can do it. Once i have done this i am sure it wwill spur me on to go further aswelll.

Hi XxxBFGxxX - nop, it's the one the week later - smaller event, Capital to Coast. Hove to Hove and not carting me and my bike up to London first!

Bloody well done on your weight loss and good luck for the London to Brighton. Last year, some guys stopped and had a cigarette on the steps leading up to our building (Old College House), opposite The Level, just before they got to the end... mixed messages or what!

Ditch Witch · June 2009

SpinningJenny wrote:

Ditch Witch wrote:

60 miles! Good christ, girl :shock: You go, lady!

If he's on the back of my bike, i may not make it....

Well, you won't with THAT attitude :roll:

SpinningJenny · June 2009

Well, he'd be a bit Depeche Mode, at least

(now go away and think about that one

)

XxxBFGxxX · June 2009

SpinningJenny wrote:

XxxBFGxxX wrote:

SpinningJenny wrote:

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.

You wouldnt happen to be doing ther london to brighton by any chance.

I know what ya mean about it changing your life mine is completly diffrent than a year ago. I to am doing a chaorty ride at the end of this month the london to broghton. i am still over weight 22ish stone maybe 23. i have lost 3ish stone int otal and want to lose more. Riding to get fit enought to do the london to broghton gave me somthing to focuc on and a goal for this year to prove to my self i can do it. Once i have done this i am sure it wwill spur me on to go further aswelll.

Hi XxxBFGxxX - nop, it's the one the week later - smaller event, Capital to Coast. Hove to Hove and not carting me and my bike up to London first!

Bloody well done on your weight loss and good luck for the London to Brighton. Last year, some guys stopped and had a cigarette on the steps leading up to our building (Old College House), opposite The Level, just before they got to the end... mixed messages or what!

a mate that did it lst year said ppl stop for fags all the time ;lmfao

ratty2k · June 2009

Nice to see Dave P back on board

Ok, got down to a low of 16 1/2 St and having packed in smoking (over 2 years now) and being made redundant 9 months ago I've crept up to 18 1/2 St.
Depression set in a little, can be hard to get motivated at times, and other times nigh on impossible... But having re-read part of this thread I can see others all around doing so well, and me wallowing around in self pity aint helping me.
So, got the rowing machine dusted down to just get some more general fitness, and recently got my single speed road bike out again, been doing some rides locally of around 15 miles- no comp on this bike, and got one in of around 30 the other day on it, and found some hillier parts of Cheshire! Weight is down to 18St in what has been a couple of weeks. SO quite pleased with that!

Walked the dog this morning and thought I wont go out on the bike as its pretty windy, but having read the last few pages.... I'll be out on it later- 12-15 miles should be fine today, and again tomorrow... 8)
Been doing some off road rides as ever, but not as much as hoped- but thats mainly the depression holding me back in the week , got a new bike coming this week (if the frame arrives!) So hopefully that will see me out MTB'ing more...

tyax · June 2009

gb155 wrote:

Loads of sensible, awesome stuff

Thanks for posting here Gaz, I've been looking at your blog and it's really inspiring. I think I'm being dedicated but you give dedication a whole new meaning. I'm reasonably sure most people reading this thread will know to ignore MikeSc's post, but you've put perfectly why they should.

As I said, I've lost a power of weight but am still "morbidly obese" as MikeSc so eloquently put it :roll: I'd be happy to have a bet that by the end of this year I can attain 17MPH averages over 10 miles. I'd also like to point out that most club racers/roadies wouldn't be particularly happy with 17MPH, it's just too slow in a world where 19MPH is the accepted "entry point". I know this is the MTB forum Mike, but some of us check our facts

All the best Gaz 8)

gettricky · June 2009

Interesting article on the subject:

http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/mag ... _nutrition

RockyHopperShow · June 2009

I think Mike Sc came across a bit harsh in his first three paragraphs but from thereon made quite a bit of sense, so I'm not going to be too harsh on the old chap.
Slow and steady is probably the way to go for many of us, isn't it?

mtb_addict · July 2009

Hi Guys - I've posted a couple of times in this thread and have had mixed success in trying to lose weight! I suffer from high blood pressure and am on tablets for this.

I finally decided to get of my a*se once and for all and bought a road bike

via my company's cycle to work scheme. I also entered the London Bikeathon which I'm taking part in on 19 July.

With some determination and a goal to aim for - get fit for my 26 mile Bikeathon ride the weight is coming off (I'm down from 15st 7lbs to 13st 11lbs in 3 months) and my blood pressure also seems to have lowered. I'm feeling much more confident (being able to tighten my belt to its highest notch helps!) and really enjoying being out on my bike.

Just thought I'd post this as I'm sure there are others reading the forums who a looking for motivation and I just wanted to show that you can do it - I try to get out on the bike whenever I can and mix it with gym sessions - I'm currently cycling a minimum of 100 miles a week either out on the road or in the gym. Sure I've hit a few plateaus, but rather than lose heart I've just trained harder and eventually the weight does start moving, so don't give up.

I really love my cycling now and just wish I'd done something earlier!!

Good luck to all in a similar situation.

helen984 · July 2009

Aux1 wrote:

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dsmiff
 mountain bikes aren't great on the road.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hmm, I always felt surprised how good you could ride them both on and off road, IMO they are the ultimate multipurpose bikes. I ride mine on road every day and it just flies! I have 26"x1.9" tyres.

I was going to say that too! My hardrock is on 'knobbly' Michelins and it still zips along on tarmac with very little effort! It goes like feck knows what! :O Also, consider pothole potential; mountain bike tyres are cracking on flaky tarmac (Gives a nice advantage in the wet too, more grip!)

Ditch Witch · July 2009

mtb_addict wrote:

Hi Guys - I've posted a couple of times in this thread and have had mixed success in trying to lose weight! I suffer from high blood pressure and am on tablets for this.

I finally decided to get of my a*se once and for all and bought a road bike via my company's cycle to work scheme. I also entered the London Bikeathon which I'm taking part in on 19 July.

With some determination and a goal to aim for - get fit for my 26 mile Bikeathon ride the weight is coming off (I'm down from 15st 7lbs to 13st 11lbs in 3 months) and my blood pressure also seems to have lowered. I'm feeling much more confident (being able to tighten my belt to its highest notch helps!) and really enjoying being out on my bike.

Just thought I'd post this as I'm sure there are others reading the forums who a looking for motivation and I just wanted to show that you can do it - I try to get out on the bike whenever I can and mix it with gym sessions - I'm currently cycling a minimum of 100 miles a week either out on the road or in the gym. Sure I've hit a few plateaus, but rather than lose heart I've just trained harder and eventually the weight does start moving, so don't give up.

I really love my cycling now and just wish I'd done something earlier!!

Good luck to all in a similar situation.

How'd you get on?

Ditch Witch · July 2009

helen984 wrote:

Aux1 wrote:

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dsmiff
 mountain bikes aren't great on the road.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hmm, I always felt surprised how good you could ride them both on and off road, IMO they are the ultimate multipurpose bikes. I ride mine on road every day and it just flies! I have 26"x1.9" tyres.

I was going to say that too! My hardrock is on 'knobbly' Michelins and it still zips along on tarmac with very little effort! It goes like feck knows what! :O Also, consider pothole potential; mountain bike tyres are cracking on flaky tarmac (Gives a nice advantage in the wet too, more grip!)

I agree. I hate riding road bikes around here because the road conditions in Surrey are just appalling, with potholes you can hide a buffalo in.

Hitby · July 2009

Hi all, I've read through this thread and I'm amazed at how well you're all doing - such an inspiration!

I'm 6'2", 18stone, and fed up of my beer belly!

I bought a bike to take out on the trails with my mates but I'm after reading this I'm going to try and get out every other day on the roads. I went out and had a few beers last night and bought peri chicken on the way home - I felt pretty grotty when I got up this morning and guilty so I got up jumped on my bike and went for my first ride

It was great, I love it! I managed to do 8 miles in 45 minutes so I think I might stick to this same route for the time being as it's a pretty nice circuit.

This was my route - http://tinyurl.com/mos8h2

And this...this is my trusty steed. It's an 09 Marin Northside Trail standard apart from DMR-V8 pedals

XxxBFGxxX · July 2009

Hitby wrote:

Hi all, I've read through this thread and I'm amazed at how well you're all doing - such an inspiration!

I'm 6'2", 18stone, and fed up of my beer belly!

I bought a bike to take out on the trails with my mates but I'm after reading this I'm going to try and get out every other day on the roads. I went out and had a few beers last night and bought peri chicken on the way home - I felt pretty grotty when I got up this morning and guilty so I got up jumped on my bike and went for my first ride It was great, I love it! I managed to do 8 miles in 45 minutes so I think I might stick to this same route for the time being as it's a pretty nice circuit.

well done chap

and i am lad i am on a not drinking thing at the moment. well its been 2 weeks but thats good for me.

Hitby · July 2009

Nice one, to be honest, I don't think I'll ever give up the alcohol, I enjoy it too much

I quit smoking though a year ago after 15 years of that so never say never.

Congrats on two weeks off the booze though :shock: Got to be hard!

edit: oops - just realised I'm posting in the wrong thread lol. I should be in the fat club thread!

XxxBFGxxX · July 2009

Hitby wrote:

Nice one, to be honest, I don't think I'll ever give up the alcohol, I enjoy it too much I quit smoking though a year ago after 15 years of that so never say never.

Congrats on two weeks off the booze though :shock: Got to be hard!

edit: oops - just realised I'm posting in the wrong thread lol. I should be in the fat club thread!

it is mate i drink all the time but am getting sick of waking up feeling like shit to be honest.

Hitby · July 2009

XxxBFGxxX wrote:

it is mate i drink all the time but am getting sick of waking up feeling like shoot to be honest.

Yeah, I think that's my problem, I don't really suffer from bad hangovers (unless I've been on the vodka redbulls), If I did it might make me more likely to try and give up. One step at a time though! Food is my major downfall though, I love it

puffingirl · August 2009

1st time on this kind of forum, so hope I am following the procedure ok.
I noticed at least one other person cycling at 22 - 23 stone, and I wanted to know what kind of bike (or maybe what kind of wheels/tyres) they have? I never had a bike as a child, and only rarely used one as an adult. I have now become massively overweight, and it is a struggle to cycle at all, but I am determined to get going, as it is something we can do as a family. I am also too overweight to do much in the way of walking.
My concern is whether my bike/tyres/wheels can take my weight. I have a ladies mountain style bike with steel rimmed wheels with road tyres. My concern about whether the tyres are flattened when I am on the bike is distracting me from the basics like balancing! Do those of you who started at 20st. plus have special tyres?
Hope this makes sense, and if not, then at least gives you a giggle.

TimesLikeThese · August 2009

Hi Puffingirl
you may want to look at the fat club thread
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12628247
There is a link to a FAQ in the opening post about weights on bikes and so many other starter questions it may be useful.
Some of our members put 30+ stone on their mountain bikes so your light weight should be nothing to worry about. A regular mountain bikes tyres will be able to handle it. If your tyres are pumped up towards the top end of the pressure range you should be fine. So you may need a pressure guage on a pump for that.

backtocycling20 · August 2009

I find reading all this such an inspiration to myself. I actually am sorting out my mountain bike this weekend so that I can get back out there.

I am 15 stone 4 and I just want my fitness back to chase my little girl of 3 round more. I had a very bad pregnancy and actually lost weight pregnant, then when I could eat I did, that along with other personal problems. I can not afford the gym but in any case I just love being outdoors so going back to cycling seems ideal for me, be it off road as I am not that confident on the road.

So I will defo be joining you all and catching up with how you are all getting on. Can anyone recommend how long a ride to go out for at first and how often? Also how often to increase the length of time etc. I also dunno how I can get a sore bum with so much padding but I do so any tips on that appreciated.

Many thanks.

reckless_rat · August 2009

GO FOR IT FAT GUY !!!!! I WAS ONCE 20 STONE 6FT 1 TALL ANT TO BE HONEST I USED TO RIDE ONCE A WEEK THEN TWICE NOW I RIDE 4-5 TIMES A WEEK BETWEEN 2 -3 HRS A DAY AND IM AROUND 17 STONE - I COULD LOOSE MORE WEIGHT BY EATING A LITTLE MORE HEALTHILY BUT I LIKE MY PIZZAS TOO MUCH LOL

JUST BECAUSE YOUR BIG DOSNT MEAN U CANT RIDE I HAVE A TREK 6700 AND A GIANT TRANCE 2 !! THERE BRILL I GOT THEM WHEN I WAS 20 STONE AND THERE STILL GOING STRONG !!!

reckless_rat · August 2009

Backtocycling !!

Take it easy for the first few rides try 1 hr 2x a week - just to get you out of breath as your muscles will ache for a while too then steadily increase the length of the ride to 90 mins - when the little one gets older put her in a trailer and go up hill as you will be fit enough by then and tis will gefo increase your cardio fitness !!

go for it girl - nuff respect !

Very overweight - where can i start?

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