help too big to ride?

bexley5200

im curently 17 st after 6 months off the bike,ive started a diet to get me down to my goal weight of 13st,but im woried about going out on the bike this big and unfit,i know i will have to start somewhere.ive been cycling for 15 years,im male 49,im thinking of getting a turbo trainer

ut_och_cykla

whatever you choose to do - choose something you can do easily - fewer excuses! and start gently. A turbo trainer is not everyones cup of tea... perhaps you could mix it up and cycle out of doors at wekends and turbo weekday evenings? I know this is a bike site but other training will also help at the beginning - just a brisk walk before you go to bed or a swim one evening - everything helps to up the energy burning - when your weight comes down a bit you'll feel more like riding harder . Try and find a cycling goal - a sportive or a fun ride you can do during the late summer - it all helps....good luck

bexley5200

thanks ut-och-cykla,for your comments,i will start with a brisk walk daily,then hopefully get back on the bike soon as possible

ColinJ

There are people riding regularly that are much bigger than you!

Also - it's not that hilly round Northampton. I started riding up here in the Pennines weighing 16 st 5 lbs. There are a lot of very big, steep hills up here and I (just about!) managed to get over them. You should be able to find some nice lanes to ride round. I've been for some good rides in the Towcester area which isn't too far away from Northampton.

Easy riding on a turbo trainer is only going to be like riding slowly on the road. Why not just cycle outdoors at a speed you are comfortable with for a distance that you can handle and build yourself up from there? If that is just 10 miles at 12 mph, then fair enough. After a few weeks you'd be able to do (say) 20 miles at 14 mph.

acidstrato

that weight loss will take time but far from too big to ride. I was near that weight once,
pace your self and keep positive

good luck with it

bexley5200

thanks for the support,ill go out on the bike soon,there are some easy short rides around here

G-Wiz

i was 16st 7 when I started riding, my advice is just get out and do whatever you can handle without killing yourself every time.

It's a struggle to start but after 4-5 weeks, hills you hated become enjoyable as you finally tame them, after that you'll be fine and can start racking up the mileage and intensity.

Just make sure that the first month or so you don't flog yourself, aim to be able to ride whatever distance 2-3 times a week and feel fresh each time. Better that than hammering it and not being able to ride for another week.

Just my opinion, but if you start off on the turbo you'll be bored shitless and give up far more easily. Getting out in the open is far more motivating.

Pokerface

A few years back I was 18 and a half stone. Within 6 months I had lost 6 stone - through diet and exercise (cycling).

Currently around 13 stone (and have been at this weight for 2.5 years now).

When I started riding - it was tough and could only go for half an hour. Then an hour, then 2, then 3. Built up over time.

Just get out there and do what you can. Use the scales to motivate yourself. Watch the weight come down and challenge yourself to lose weight each week.

It won't be easy and you won't always have a 'losing' week - but over time you will get to where you want to be if you keep at it.

and107

I agree with all of the above comments i weighed 17st 11 pounds when i first started cycling last september currently at 16 stone due to not being very active over the winter but i am trying to get out on the bike as much as possible had my first ride yesterday since before xmas and managed 16 miles and today did 21 miles not a massive amount but it all helps i am not a quick rider but i can get round even got in a few hills today.

stokepa31

too big my arse . im 19st 7lbs and today did 36 miles. just go slow and steady to begin with and build it up. it really doesnt take long to build up you're stamina and hills get easier and easier as your power comes up and the weight goes down.

I was 22st when I started. you just have to be single minded and keep going out.

here's my ride data for today. it wont win any prizes but hey, I have a great time. its not long before it stops being a chore and becomes something you look forward too and need. im now blessed with quads like Arnie but still have Jocky Wilsons gut

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/24656282

Cheers
Paul

glenncampbell

Hi Bexley,

The thing is that you're motivated and wantt o do well - a great start. Turbo's are SERIOUSLY boring but better than nothing with the recent weather. Make sure you have some motivational loud music and \ or great videos - tour de france, any films you want to watch, or as you progress log on to www.thesufferfest.com for some seriously hard workouts. As you're new DO NOT do too much high intensity stuff - use a heart rate monitor and pace yourself. Lots of articles on getting fitter here too, and on other forums. Have you looked at joining a local cycling club? Suggest you see you Doctor before you get really into it. Good Luck!

bexley5200

thank you for all your comments ill take them on board.

bexley5200

ive been out on the bike 2 days about 5 mile a day,the hills were slow,but i got up them,diet going ok,early days though.

glenncampbell

Great effort! Just build up slowly and the distance will increase and the hills will get easier. Keep it going!

G-Wiz

Good start, remember to give yourself enough rest days in the first few weeks.
Better to be chomping at the bit for more than overdo it and burn out.

Keep at it!

Pocket Rocket

Pokerface wrote:

A few years back I was 18 and a half stone. Within 6 months I had lost 6 stone - through diet and exercise (cycling).

Currently around 13 stone (and have been at this weight for 2.5 years now).

When I started riding - it was tough and could only go for half an hour. Then an hour, then 2, then 3. Built up over time.

Just get out there and do what you can. Use the scales to motivate yourself. Watch the weight come down and challenge yourself to lose weight each week.

It won't be easy and you won't always have a 'losing' week - but over time you will get to where you want to be if you keep at it.

That's an inspirational weight loss, and for it to come off so quickly too, and keep it off!
When you were losing a stone a month (3 lbs a week), did you find that this was uncomfortable and you had a loss of energy regularly, was it something that was very hard to acclimatise to?
Well Done btw

Yam Yam Jay

stokepa31 wrote:

too big my ars* . im 19st 7lbs and today did 36 miles. just go slow and steady to begin with and build it up. it really doesnt take long to build up you're stamina and hills get easier and easier as your power comes up and the weight goes down.

I was 22st when I started. you just have to be single minded and keep going out.

here's my ride data for today.

---

Paul, whats is that link from about the Garmin, is that somethign you can by for you bike and download what you have done??

chrisw12

Quite an inspirational thread this, shows the benefits of cycling perhaps more so than any other sport for weight loss!

I was 16.5 st. Got down to 12.5 very quickiy by doing triathlons (now up to 13st) ish) people thought I was ill and all my clothes quickly became too big for me.

Thinking back, it's a great feeling to shed so much weigh and come down to a more natural size. Keep at it though, it wont get any easier, you'll just get faster.

bexley5200

thanks for all your comments,its very insperational,ive been out on the bike about 10 mile today ,hills were tough and i am looking forward to the spring,and longer rides.im also trying to diet,cutting down on junk food.

Pokerface

bexley5200 wrote:

I'm also trying to diet,cutting down on junk food.

Sir - do not TRY and cut down - just eliminate it completely. Do it for ONE month. No junk food. No alcohol too if you can handle it.

And you will see MASSIVE results.


After that one month - you won't miss the junk and you will be well on your way to your goals.

It sucks, but losing weight requires a LOT of will power - but I'm sure every single person here will agree it was well worth the effort.

stokepa31

Yam Yam Jay wrote:

stokepa31 wrote:

too big my ars* . im 19st 7lbs and today did 36 miles. just go slow and steady to begin with and build it up. it really doesnt take long to build up you're stamina and hills get easier and easier as your power comes up and the weight goes down.

I was 22st when I started. you just have to be single minded and keep going out.

here's my ride data for today.

---

Paul, whats is that link from about the Garmin, is that somethign you can by for you bike and download what you have done??

It comes from my gamin 705 computer. The data from the ride is then uploaded to the garmin connect site (free service). I think i works with all garmin devices but others will advise better than me. there are also other websites that do similar things and there is currently a thread running in the buying advice section which talks about the 705.

edit: it was your thread in hre :oops:

Cheers
Paul

chaffordred

Pokerface wrote:

bexley5200 wrote:

I'm also trying to diet,cutting down on junk food.

Sir - do not TRY and cut down - just eliminate it completely. Do it for ONE month. No junk food. No alcohol too if you can handle it.

And you will see MASSIVE results.


After that one month - you won't miss the junk and you will be well on your way to your goals.

It sucks, but losing weight requires a LOT of will power - but I'm sure every single person here will agree it was well worth the effort.

This is very true. The first month was very hard for me, but jumping on the scales at the doctors and looking at the health nurses face in disbelief was my motivation to keep going.

I was at 18st 3lbs at my highest and I am currently hovering somewhere around 12st 7lbs, but would like to be 12st dead during the summer months.

I ate crap, but overnight decided enough was enough and completely turned my lifestyle on it's head. In the first couple of weeks your body craves the crap that you left behind, but then the cravings subside and you wonder how the hell you ate all that stuff.

Six months into my new healthy lifestyle I ran a marathon. The training for this was the hardest thing I have ever done. Getting up at 5am and running 20 miles is no fun. Fortunately getting up at stupid-o-clock and jumping on a road bike is fun and now that's why I'm here.

Bexley, One thing I would do is set yourself motivational targets. This is what kept me going. Good luck.

stokepa31

+1 on having targets. In the old days I would use food as reward for hitting goals - bad idea

I now tend to set myself cycling and weight based reward systems. every time I break into a new weight range (in stones) I allow myself to buy something expensive. When I broke the 20st barrier, I got a road bike

If I do not lose weight on a given week, I am not allowed to spend any money on gear at all.

last year i picked a 50 mile sportive as my end of season ride and training target. this helped hugely in motivating me to keep getting out more and the charity money gives extra incentive

this year I am doing London Paris on May day bank holiday as an early season target and will look to do a century at the end of the year.

staying active over winter is a really good idea. its so easy to sit back and revert to old ways. I joined a gym to get me active over winter and it worked a treat. Only problem is it has tread mills and a swimming pol so now im thinking about triathlon - well maybe next year.

ive now done three weeks without a beer too and not only has my weight loss gone better but I feel fantastic.

Keep up the good work.

Cheers
Paul