Very overweight - where can i start?

davepiggott13

Hi all, I am here with grave news. I haven't cycled (pretty much as expected but would have been nice to get out with family for leisure ride), haven't eaten well (as much as I'd hoped to do better I kinda knew that without the uniformity of day that work gives me that I would struggle). The upshot - I put ON 3.5 lbs. Not good.

Having said that - I feel this was a good result for me. Let me explain ... last week was pretty much the same as this - I ate very badly, no exercise BUT my weight stayed the same. I think subconsciously maybe I noted that I could get away with a very slack week and it wouldn't have an effect on my results. This week has brought me back to real life with a bump. And I am glad it has.

I was actually planning on just carrying on with the slackness for another 2 weeks until my return to work, but I have changed my mind. I don't want to undo too much of my hard work. And the 3.5lb increase today is already too much. So I am back in the zone. Still not sure about a cycle this week but if it dries up I have plenty of opportunity as my eldest is off school all week. My main aim though is to get my eating back under control.

I look forward to reporting a week of success on Monday.

BTW - my toe is ok. The big bandage came off last week and I can easily get a sock and shoe on with the new dressing. Dressing will remain for up to 8 weeks depending on progress, but it does not prevent me cycling. There is no swelling and no pain.

I have found that sometimes I am very much 'in the zone', and unshakeable in my aims and beliefs, and yet others I am as far away from the zone as is possible. If only I could work out how to stay in the zone I would be a very rich man.

I guess I'm not the only one who has had a bad time of late, and I hope I'm not the only who can shake myself out of it too. Good luck to you all.

Dave

p.s. I notice there is only one blank page at the end of this thread! Is it too early to get excited? lol

andyturner28

Hi Dave.

No you are definately not the only one. I had a massive chineese last night to cheer my self up after watching the Grand Prix :roll: Talk about an anti climax.

Even after 7 months of doing it properly i still have to force myself out sometimes, and it only takes something silly like not being able to ride my own bike to make me think "sod it, i'll have a couple of days off. This is one of the reasons i have spent so much money upgrading my bike. A new toy is a big incentive to get out on the bike to try it out. Recently it has been a new front light, and i have discovered i realy like riding in the woods in the dark! Makes it far more interesting.

Also i know it is very hard to carry on eating healthily, especially if you love food as much as i do. The old temptations are always there and i still like my food, but i just make sure i always have plenty of bannanas and searial, so at least if i do get an attack of the monchies i am still eating healthily. Also things like Kellogs Nutri-grain bars, Snack a jacks, and i have become addicted to dates!

On the cycling front, if you have a lot of time on your hands while you are off work, try going for a really long but easy ride. For example a couple of weeks ago on my day off i decided to ride along the sea wall between Whitstable and Margate. I don't know exactly how far it is because i didn't transfer my trip computer from my bike to my Dad's, but it must have been well over 40 miles round trip, but as it is all flat it was a very leasurely ride, and as i kept my heart rate above 120bpm for the 3 1/2 hour ride i still burt over 3000 calories.

Keep it up mate,

Andy.

lost-time

I've reached a plateaux....For the last month I've been 'stuck' at 15st 4lbs. The thing is though my clothes are still getting bigger and my stomach flatter so go figure. It WILL come off soon....My eating is getting better and portion sizes are decreasing still and I'm not feeling that hungry between meals!

Keep at it one and all.

andyturner28

lost-time wrote:

I've reached a plateaux....For the last month I've been 'stuck' at 15st 4lbs. The thing is though my clothes are still getting bigger and my stomach flatter so go figure. It WILL come off soon....My eating is getting better and portion sizes are decreasing still and I'm not feeling that hungry between meals!

Keep at it one and all.

Yer me too. Been hovering between 12st 3 and 12 1/2 for ages now, but i noticed today i can go in another hole on my belt I think with me i have lost most of my exess body fat, and now i just need to tone up a bit. I can't seem to loose it from my hips though, which is driving me nuts. Also i havn't been riding as much as i would like recently due to my rear hub packing up, so i have been using my Dad's bike which is sooooo slow, and not that much fun. Oh well, hopefully will get it back tomorrow, after 2 weeks!

Andy.

crocky

Hi Dave

This is a great thread. Took me bloody ages to get to the end but it was worth it!

I was overweight for years and steadily gaining. I tried diets and exercise on and off, a pattern which I’m sure many here will be familiar with. I’d do great for a while but then there’d be a few difficult weeks. Maybe I’d rally but sooner or later I’d slip back into the old habits and the weight would sneak back on until I was at square one. Then I’d have another go at dieting and it all started again and I was thoroughly, utterly miserable.

I sat down and thought really hard about what my goals were and why my earlier attempts had failed. My goal was simple enough – losing weight permanently – but why the failures? It boiled down to four things: laziness, temptation, lack of progress and guilt. Sooner or later they’d get me so I had to think how to take them out of the equation for good.

Laziness – I needed a form of exercise that I couldn’t just give up on, so it had to be something ordinary, routine and easy to absorb into my daily life. I live two and a half miles from work so I decided to walk there and back. The first few weeks was a bit hard but now I don’t even think about it. But I still jump in the car if it’s wellying it down!

Temptation – I make sure I leave my cash at home when I go to work. It doesn’t matter how good those doughnuts look, no money no munchy! Instead I take sandwiches and a pile of fruit to snack on. When doing the weekly shop I don’t buy crisps, chocolate, biscuits or cakes. If it’s not in the house I don’t think about it. At mealtimes I had a habit of piling way too much food onto a big plate, so I went out and bought a new set – the kind with a raised ridge. I got into the habit of keeping my meals within the inner area. If I’m peckish I’ll have some fruit or a yoghurt.

Lack of progress – This was incredibly simple. Goodbye scales, I’m in this for the long haul!

Guilt – I have a couple of pints or four at weekend. Once in a while I’ll have a takeaway. Nothing is off limits, only limited. There is no more guilt and it is wonderful!

Seeing it written down here is strange because I really don’t think about this stuff anymore. It was reading this thread that brought it to mind and I thought I’d share in the hope that someone’s lightbulb may go on. Obviously everyone is different – you might not live within walking or cycling distance of work, or maybe you’ve got kids so there are all kinds of snacks in the house. But if you evaluate your own situation you will find areas where you can make little changes. Make enough of them and you’ll soon notice a big difference.

In case you were wondering, I’m 5’9 and wear 32-inch pants and have done for the last seven years. I don’t know or care what I weigh.

Best of luck to you all. I hope you find something that works for you.

crocky

andyturner28

davepiggott13 wrote:

p.s. I notice there is only one blank page at the end of this thread! Is it too early to get excited? lol

Back to 2 pages again :roll:

FickNick

Hi all, I'm new here and have been entrigued and enthralled by dave's exploits as well as everone elses. I have this burning desire to get off my backside and jump on a bike. Unfortunately I have a few things that are blocking me that I wondered whether anyone can give me the kick I need to get on with it.

Here's the mental blocks I have:

1. I'm a big lad (300lbs) and the thought of going to a bike shop and finding the right bike is intimidating (as much fun as going to the doctors) as the fear of getting laughed out of the shop is a real fear I have

2. If they find the right bike I assume they would want me to try it out - I've not riden a bike in 15 years and would rather do this in my time and space rather than with bike experts watching

3. I have a 9 month old baby boy (which is the motivation for doing the riding, - getting fit, living longer and as a minimum being able to take him out when he's old enough to ride). Problem is my usual day is get up with baby at 7ish, give him and bottle and breakfast until my wife gets up. Have a shower and head off to work. When I get home, my wife who has looked after the baby all day is glad to have me back and leaves me to play, bath, feed and put the baby to bed while she sorts out supper. Basically from when I get up in the morning until 8/9pm I don't have any spare time and I don't really want to give up any time I have with my baby.

4. Winter is coming - dark mornings, dark evenings - will I ever get out on my bike or will there always be an excuse

5. Christmas is coming - a bike would be a good present why don't I wait until then

So I have 5 reasons to not start either before Christmas, before spring, before my child leaves home (what happens when we have a second child add more years of excuses on) etc. Can any help me rationalise all of this to be able to get on and get going without neglating my family.

Cheers
FN

Rykard

You have to make that first step.

Can you commute to work? Mine is 3miles each way not huge but a start, until work went a bit iffy 6 weeks ago I was progressing well and had just started taking the longer way home...

Search the sections and read the threads about bikes etc, try and decide what you are after.. full suspension is no good if you are riding the roads all the time.. i am still trying to decide between 26" and 700c wheels..( i am 120kg)

do it in small steps, look for a route around your house, use google maps or something such like. start with a ile loop and slowly increase it.

If you can't get out oin the bike, how about a turbo trainer? Some people will poo poo the idea but it is better than nothing, then when Spring comes get out in the bike...

andyturner28

Hi Nick.

1. Don't be embarrised about what other people might think. If they snigger then just ignore them, as your health and well being is more important. I have spent too many years worrying about what other people think, and this is why it has taken me 15 years to finally get in shape. It was only by accident that i got hooked on biking again, as i only got the bike to save some money by not using the car to commute every day. If i hadn't done this i would still be massively overweight and sitting in front of the TV debating weather to put up with everyone laughing at me at the jim, or scoff another bag of huge white chockolate cookies. The cookies always won!

2. Again forget about what they might be thinking. Anyway it is not only super fit people that ride bikes, i guarentee they see all sorts every single day, and are hopefully mature enough not to stoop to such school boy behaviour such as sniggering at someone because he might be carrying a few to many tyres round his waist. You want the bike for a reason, and you should be proud of the fact that you recognise you have a problem and need to sort it out.

3. Maybe you could sweet talk your wife into looking after the baby for an hour longer, and go for an hours ride streight after work. I am normally only out for an hour and a half, and it has only taken 7 months to loose 3 1/2 stone. You anly have to raise your heart beat for 30 mins a day to start making a meaningfull difference, and if you combine this with a healthy diet the weight should come off in no time. I would advise getting a heart rate monitor as well, as this is the best way of monitoring the improvement in your cardiovascular fitness, and you will also be able to monitor the amount of calleries you burn each session, which will help you deturmine how many you should be consuming during the day.

4. Get a decent light and thurmals. I actually like riding when it is realy cold, as i don't sweat as much.

Hope this helps,

Andy.

cambo

Hi Nick, just a thought, why don't you get the bike 'for christmas', but have it straight away? That way come christmas day you'll be 2 months ahead of schedule, and you'll be able to induge (on christmas day only...) without feeling any guilt. You'll probably find that if you are riding regularly before christmas, one day won't make any difference.

woodywmb

You don't need persuading if you're already scanning this forum. The benefits of cycling would take another forum loaded with posts to explain fully. But ... time will never be on your side if you're getting on with life. You'll only struggle to put your days in when you retire so it's best you sort out a hobby as soon as you can. That baby will be a lad some day and you'll want to accompany him at play - on your bikes, dad and boy together. Another baby will require the same attention but offer even more rewards. Who knows' all the family could be out cycling some day - enjoying each other's company in the healthiest and most social of ways. As for buying a bike, read these forums first. Email any of the posters whom you think is giving the right kind of advice. Buy second hand from the local paper or even ebay if you don't want to be seen. Shops are desperate for trade and are unlikely to give you a hard time. There's a whole new world out there for a man who's fortunate to have a job, a wife and a wean - and an activity that keeps him fit physically and mentally. Try it and write in again after you're hooked. You WILL find the time, especially when Spring arrives.

Grandpa Munster

FickNick wrote:

Hi all, I'm new here and have been entrigued and enthralled by dave's exploits as well as everone elses. I have this burning desire to get off my backside and jump on a bike. Unfortunately I have a few things that are blocking me that I wondered whether anyone can give me the kick I need to get on with it.

Here's the mental blocks I have:

1. I'm a big lad (300lbs) and the thought of going to a bike shop and finding the right bike is intimidating (as much fun as going to the doctors) as the fear of getting laughed out of the shop is a real fear I have

2. If they find the right bike I assume they would want me to try it out - I've not riden a bike in 15 years and would rather do this in my time and space rather than with bike experts watching

3. I have a 9 month old baby boy (which is the motivation for doing the riding, - getting fit, living longer and as a minimum being able to take him out when he's old enough to ride). Problem is my usual day is get up with baby at 7ish, give him and bottle and breakfast until my wife gets up. Have a shower and head off to work. When I get home, my wife who has looked after the baby all day is glad to have me back and leaves me to play, bath, feed and put the baby to bed while she sorts out supper. Basically from when I get up in the morning until 8/9pm I don't have any spare time and I don't really want to give up any time I have with my baby.

4. Winter is coming - dark mornings, dark evenings - will I ever get out on my bike or will there always be an excuse

5. Christmas is coming - a bike would be a good present why don't I wait until then

So I have 5 reasons to not start either before Christmas, before spring, before my child leaves home (what happens when we have a second child add more years of excuses on) etc. Can any help me rationalise all of this to be able to get on and get going without neglating my family.

Cheers
FN

Hi Nick.

I thought I would be laughed out of a bike shop when I was looking for my bike, I'm 23 stones. I visited 4 bike shops and not one of them was anything other than helpful, understanding and courteous.

The LBS where I bought my bike sent me out on a circuit of about a mile. The bike was not the bike I was buying, but a bike of the correct size, just to see how I would get on. I too had not ridden a bike for 15 years. At no point was anybody watching me, They were far too busy selling bikes.

I called into my LBS today to get my bike serviced, I spoke to the owner, he is nearly 70 and goes out 3 times a week on his bike, doing at least 70 miles each ride. I have explained my situation and he offers great advice on how to build up my rides. Like he says, I have done the best thing by getting off my arse and doing something.

It is easy to be lazy, make excuses and come up with reasons not to do something, I should know. All I can say is the gains far outweigh the negatives, get a bike now, you will not look back.

here2help

FickNick wrote:

1. I'm a big lad (300lbs) and the thought of going to a bike shop and finding the right bike is intimidating (as much fun as going to the doctors) as the fear of getting laughed out of the shop is a real fear I have

I also found the shop I bought one at extremely helpful (270lbs here). After all, they WANT to make a sale, not turn down a customer.

FickNick wrote:

2. If they find the right bike I assume they would want me to try it out - I've not riden a bike in 15 years and would rather do this in my time and space rather than with bike experts watching

They didn't even watch when I tried mine out, they just said go ride it around in the parking lot for a bit. Besides, maybe they can point out something by watching you ride. The store is used to inexperienced people buying bikes, you're not the first and won't be the last to buy a bike from them who hasn't rode in a long time.

FickNick wrote:

3. I have a 9 month old baby boy (which is the motivation for doing the riding, - getting fit, living longer and as a minimum being able to take him out when he's old enough to ride). Problem is my usual day is get up with baby at 7ish, give him and bottle and breakfast until my wife gets up. Have a shower and head off to work. When I get home, my wife who has looked after the baby all day is glad to have me back and leaves me to play, bath, feed and put the baby to bed while she sorts out supper. Basically from when I get up in the morning until 8/9pm I don't have any spare time and I don't really want to give up any time I have with my baby.

Well, if you want to get in shape by riding a bike you'll have to do one of two things, either work it into your normal routine like commuting, or make time for it. If you don't want it to interfere with the current time you spend with the baby, you'll either have to get up earlier or stay up later.

FickNick wrote:

4. Winter is coming - dark mornings, dark evenings - will I ever get out on my bike or will there always be an excuse

Notice the pattern here? Fear. Fear of change. I only started riding again about 30 days ago and I was in the same position as you, using the same excuses. You'll never change if you don't take the first step.

FickNick wrote:

5. Christmas is coming - a bike would be a good present why don't I wait until then

Today is always the best day to make a change in your life.

snooks

FickNick wrote:

Hi all, I'm new here and have been entrigued and enthralled by dave's exploits as well as everone elses. I have this burning desire to get off my backside and jump on a bike. Unfortunately I have a few things that are blocking me that I wondered whether anyone can give me the kick I need to get on with it.

Here's the mental blocks I have:

1. I'm a big lad (300lbs) and the thought of going to a bike shop and finding the right bike is intimidating (as much fun as going to the doctors) as the fear of getting laughed out of the shop is a real fear I have

2. If they find the right bike I assume they would want me to try it out - I've not riden a bike in 15 years and would rather do this in my time and space rather than with bike experts watching

3. I have a 9 month old baby boy (which is the motivation for doing the riding, - getting fit, living longer and as a minimum being able to take him out when he's old enough to ride). Problem is my usual day is get up with baby at 7ish, give him and bottle and breakfast until my wife gets up. Have a shower and head off to work. When I get home, my wife who has looked after the baby all day is glad to have me back and leaves me to play, bath, feed and put the baby to bed while she sorts out supper. Basically from when I get up in the morning until 8/9pm I don't have any spare time and I don't really want to give up any time I have with my baby.

4. Winter is coming - dark mornings, dark evenings - will I ever get out on my bike or will there always be an excuse

5. Christmas is coming - a bike would be a good present why don't I wait until then

So I have 5 reasons to not start either before Christmas, before spring, before my child leaves home (what happens when we have a second child add more years of excuses on) etc. Can any help me rationalise all of this to be able to get on and get going without neglating my family.

Cheers
FN

OK first of, you're amongst friends We wouldn't be here if we didn't have something to loose, and the fact you've posted is the first step, you'll get lost of advice and encouragement.

You've got 5 reasons not to start, how many have you got TO start? The sooner you start the sooner you'll start feeling better, just like lying in a nice warm comfy bed is good, but you feel so much more alive on a bike. you know it's worth it, you just have to kick yourself up the rse, because if you won't or don't no one will do it for you.

1/ As others have said, go to your local bike shop and have a chat, they want your money, they want you to be happy, happy customers spend money ;-)

2/ The LBS will be used to it, and if your worried about the actual riding...don't worry it erm..like riding a bike!

3/ Could your wife get up 20 mins earlier? believe me when you start 20 mins is enough...when she (and you) get used to that, wake her 10 mins earlier (with a long stick just in case) and even just doing 30 mins will make a difference to your fitness...go for the ride in the morning when there are few people about before your shower, by the time you get to work you'll feel great...Also look into commuting if you can...you don't have to do it every day, but every little helps

4/ Buy lights, a pair of gloves, and alight windproof jacket...doesn't have to be breathable to start with..If it's in the morning you'll be showering when you get back

5/ Have a word with Santa and see if he (she) can deliver a bike to you early

muddyfoxquest

Dave
any chance we can have your results early please.



I to need to lose some weight been riding now for only 3 months and love it.
I started walking back in march then jogging but now i have fallen in love with mtb.
I have lost about 2 stone since march.
Reason i started in march was i quit smoking and made a promise to my self that i would not gain any weight.
I ride 3 or 4 times in the week 15 miles a time, and say a 30 mile trip on a Saturday or Sunday.
my weight is now about 16.7 still heavy but going down.
I am 5,10 tall
I don't really count the calories
just be a little sensible what i do eat.
With this routine how many calories should i be eating a day ?
and should it be high in protein ?
I vary my rides but they are quite hilly and my times for the longer rides are 27 miles, 2 hour 10 mins just to give you some idea of my fitness.
nearly forgot i am 36 years old.
Good luck to every one on here.
Andy.

FickNick

I appreciate all the replies to my post so I went out and did it. My LBS was great, plenty of choice and obviously happy for the sale. Why oh why didn't I do this years ago when I had plenty of time on my hands....

My wife and I went in to our LBS fairly apprehensive and we came out an hour later with 3 bike helmets (for us and the baby) and some locks but also having purchased 2 bikes, a baby seat and all the extras you might need (lights, stand, trip computer).

Fortunately as I didn't have a choice of colours I picked my bike up yesterday - it's a shiny new GT Avalanche 3.0 Disc (nearly went for the Specialized Hardrock but this had better brakes at the same price). I switched the mountain bike tyres for 'cross roads' (I think that's what they are a sort of cross between mountain bike tyres and road tyres) to get started

Obviously this meant that weather was always going to be the worst but I found a break in the rain and went for my first ride in 15 years. Well it seems to be true that you don't forget how to ride a bike once you learnt and after a little wobble when starting out it all came back to me. I pottered around for a while and did 2 miles up and down a couple of roads and it felt great - although my legs felt wobbly once I stopped. Nevertheless my heart was pounding and having woken up this morning I have no ill effects which is great.

So this is day 2 and I want to get out of work and go out again ASAP. I have to say I don't know how I'm going to get onto the bike with the baby seat attached as it seems unnatural to not get on by swinging your leg over the back of a bike. But need confidence in myself before taking the young lad out.

Thanks again for all the encouragement, any other useful advice on what I should and shouldn't do would be great

woodywmb

Gotcha! Hook, line and sinker. You're one of us now matey. The addiction seems to be setting in already. Enjoy ... and keep us informed. Soon there will be loads of smilin',skinny, skint bikers out there. Well, two out of three ain't bad.

ratty2k

Yey!!!!!!! Good on ya FickNick for getting the bike! Best advice is to take it steady for a while yet. Give your body time to adjust to the new demands you are going to put on it. But most of all enjoy it!! Buy some of the "crud catcher" type of mud guards and then if you feel a bit more adventerous, try a few dirt tracks. Cant beat getting muddy in winter! Also have a look at getting some padded shorts, wear them under a set of tracksuit bottoms or shorts (most do, even the skinny ones!).
The Endura range are what I use-these are what I use- very comfy.[/url]

FickNick

I've managed ride no. 2. I live in Buckinghamshire at the top of a hill (now know as the hill of death) in the Chilterns. Well I snuck out of work early yesterday and got home at 4 so I could go for a ride around the roads near me. Well the one flat road I have near the house was full of school kids and the local ruffians so that ruled out doing a few laps up and down that road. The only choice was to go down 'the hill of death'...well the first 200 yards downhill was easy riding but I didn't know where I was going to go after that. Well I followed my nose and found a track that runs along the side of a dual carriage way and is quite flat. Well 4 miles later I returned to the bottom of the 'hill of death' out of breath but happy with my trip. I walked up the hill feeling a great achievement and I think I've found my route for the next few weeks to get into this.

Quick question, does anyone have links to some cycle clothes that I could buy in the UK, I found a couple in the US but is there anything more local that people use.

Ta for now
FN

Keithp88

as you are a big lad, go into your LBS and try stuff on in there as all the bike specific clothing makers have different ideas about size. Then go home and look it up on google products or something similar. You may find there is no difference once postage is added, but no harm in looking and you will know it fits.

On another note, without knowing all your details, you seem to very overweight so don't push the exercise too hard. It is easy to get carried away and over exert yourself. Someone else recommended a heart rate monitor and I would too. It is the easiest way to actively manage your exercise.

Billy Connoly, the famous Scottish swearing philosopher, said the best way to lose weight is eat less and move more. He is spot on. I have lost over a stone since July following this simple advice and I am was 'only' 14 stone 12lb.

Good luck and i hope you succeed.

Rykard

if you have a decathlon near by, they go quite large...

Grandpa Munster

Well done Nick getting started, good question as to where a big chap can buy some cycling gear, I too will look forward to reading anyones thoughts.

My cycling has taken a dive. I have started a new job which means I spend all week in London, I live in Coventry. The job compared to other jobs I have done is quite physical, so much so, I have lost a just over a stone in less than a week. 6 weeks ago I was 23.5 stones, now I'm just under 22 stones, get in.

I have been out this morning, not what you would call a good ride as I'm too tired and lacking energy. Still, looks like I will have to rely on lugging fire extinguishers around to lose weight.

mtb_addict

Hi all,

Relatively new to the forum - recently bought my first "proper bike" - a Carrera Fury. Like many of you, I am overweight - in my case, my blood pressure was also on the high side and, not wanting to meet my maker at 35(!) I finally got off my backside and started to get some exercise into my daily routine, mixed with healthy eating.

I'm currently mixing rides on the Fury with training at the gym - I try to get 5-10 mile rides in at least 3-4 times a week (and it helps that the weather has been kind recently!).

So far, all is going well - I've lost 1st 3 lbs and have dropped a waist size (yippee!) - put a pair of jeans on today and thought I'd forgotten to do them up...but they were done up...wow, this exercise lark really is good!

Have also now bought roof bars and cycle carrier for the car, so I can take the Fury on away trips and get to see other parts of the country.

I'm really glad I had the sense to get the bike and start cycling more seriously...it really does work and I feel so much better for it.

Good luck to all those of you on a similar mission and particularly Dave.

Regards
Rob

davepiggott13

Hi.

My name is Dave, and it's been two weeks since my last confession.

The last two weeks have been the same as the few previous, in as much that I have been eating absolute junk (and too much of it), and not cycling either.

My weight has now gone back up to 21st 6lbs.I was 20st 5lb at my lightest, so have managed to put on over 1st in only a few weeks.

I am back to work tomorrow, and back to cycling too. I am back to eating right again today, folowing the very simple and satisfying rules that I had set myself at the start of this. I am gonna go out later today to my bike to check it over, make sure it's ready to go tomorrow and basic things like tyre pressures/lights working/etc. I am charging my iPod now, getting it ready. I'm not letting anything give me an excuse not to ride - not that I'm looking for one right now, but i do sometimes not ride for the lamest of reasons - so I'm taking the lamest of reasons away!

I am going straight back to the ten mile route which I am used to, but won't be doing it with any speed. Just getting home. As long as it takes. I can build my pace up again once my legs are used to cycling again. Unfortunately I won't get to cycle much this week, just one of those things really. My first ride will be tomorrow, then will need a day off to rest muscles. Thursday is poker night and will be going straight there from somewhere else wearing a suit so no riding after (I'm looking into getting changed somewhere). Friday I am out with the wife at a works awards evening, Saturday I am out for a drink as a friend is leaving work. Sunday is the final of our poker league, I plan to ride home so will be ride number two (or maybe three if I get one in Thursday). This is not a typical week, I will just have to make do - it is what it is, and look to the following week(s) to get more rides in.

My cupboards are empty of junk food, and full of my favourites - Granary bread, pasta, tuna, etc. My mind is empty of unhealthy ideas, laziness and pretence. Nobody is gonna lose my weight for me, nor put the miles in for me.

It is down to me, and me alone. It's ok to have a bad meal, bad day or even bad couple of days for the right reasons, but there was no excuse for the last four to five weeks. I have undone so much of the hard work I had already done.

I'm really glad to see that fresh faces are still being drawn to this thread, and being made to feel welcome too. I'm really glad this survived the move from the old place.

I hope you are all doing well in your challenges, whatever they may be.

I will be back in seven days with positive news.

muddyfoxquest

MTB ADDICT,
Rob

I too had a visit to the doctors back in march to find i had high blood pressure 140/90 because of exercising my blood pressure now has dropped to 126/73
I first bought my bike in july it was now or never if you get my drift.
After the first few rides my bum was sore now
I try and get around about 100 miles a week on the bike.
lost 2 stone also so i am pleased.
good luck
Andy

markyboy2005

Dave,

One thing is for sure....almost every challenge people set themselves in life cannot be graphed in a straight line. The analogy I was given once was that as long as you know where you started and where you need to go, it is like flying a plane. What happens in between will not always be "on course" you may arrive at your destination a little late or a little early, but as long as you arrive there safely then you will acheived your goal.

Sounds like you hit a bit of turbulance along the way, but are now more determined than ever to hop back on again, so good luck and make sure that no mater what, you continue to enjoy the journey.

I have really enjoyed following your story on this board and get well dissapointed when there is no update on a Monday (it's like misssing an episode of 24).

All the best.

Mark

Eranu

Keep going Dave. I started doing this about the same time as you and have had my ups and downs aswell. The main thing is to keep getting back on the bike and keep eating the right stuff. If you have a bad day then just start over the next.

lost-time

Don't worry Dave. We all have ups and downs and you're not turning a blind eye to the fact that its' just one of those things. You mention you're already are back on the bike so those lbs that crept on shall easily fall off.

As for myself...I weighed myself last monday and was 14st 12lbs. So I am finally under that 15st plateau. See, if I can do it, you can too.

Keep up the good work everyone.

Paul

Rykard

Hi Dave,

it's been a while since anyone has posted. I was wondering how things were going. I've found it tricky to get back on the bike since working long hours at work. had a gym session this week and am still sore lol. but at least it's some exercise....

keep going strong

muddyfoxquest

Dave
Hope all is well and you have some good news to tell.