Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Weight Loss: Post Your Before and After Pics here!

I'll start this off. 359 pound weight loss, 32 inches of waistline gone!

Before:
http://xs106.xs.to/xs106/06375/Before.jpg (http://xs.to)

After (Pardon the dancing!):
http://xs206.xs.to/xs206/06375/Front_Back_Animation.gif (http://xs.to)

Tom, your before pic isn't coming through, not sure what the issue is, I assume it did at some point.

Well guys, hmmm, I started a few years ago at 245, went from driving a desk to a job that was running around all day, that has me down to 210lbs, started biking again this spring, had a crash, and was off the bike for a while, it's an MTB and really is the wrong kind of bike, but can't get another one, so narrower tires, and a few enhancements this winter, plan on doing some long hauls next year. Bought a book, Cycling for fitness, plan on following the schedule in it, next summer. It's some 2800 miles, and hopefully will get me down to the 170lbs I want to be.:D

Tom, your before pic isn't coming through, not sure what the issue is, I assume it did at some point.

Well guys, hmmm, I started a few years ago at 245, went from driving a desk to a job that was running around all day, that has me down to 210lbs, started biking again this spring, had a crash, and was off the bike for a while, it's an MTB and really is the wrong kind of bike, but can't get another one, so narrower tires, and a few enhancements this winter, plan on doing some long hauls next year. Bought a book, Cycling for fitness, plan on following the schedule in it, next summer. It's some 2800 miles, and hopefully will get me down to the 170lbs I want to be.:D
Just for grins and giggles, try reloading the screen ir failing that, here it is!
http://xs106.xs.to/xs106/06375/Before.jpg (http://xs.to)

Direct link: http://xs106.xs.to/xs106/06375/Before.jpg

Same problem for me: Mtn. Dew, nectar of the gods. I've managed to go soda-free for as much as a month, but then have one and it's all downhill from there. Tried going with the diet drinks, but just can't stomach them, no matter the artificial sweetener they use or the amount of sodium. Actually do agree with later poster that Diet Rite is good alternative on the sodium end, but even though it's also the best tasting of the diet drinks IMHO, that still doesn't make it palatable. Plus, with the debate over the safety of artificial sweeteners, including Splenda, and the studies reported about people who switch to diet sodas actually gaining weight, I'll take my chances on high fructose corn syrup until I can get my a$$ in gear to cut them out entirely.

Starting from 255 now on my get-in-shape endeavor (after not succeeding a couple of years ago when starting from 220). But first, there's a 12 ounce can of green goodness and a couple of Halloween candies calling my name.

mike
Mike, I'm not a preacher and I am not judging, this is more of a challenge to your justification... take from it what you will.

A can of Mountain Dew (one can) is 110 calories. So if you consume only one can per day that is about a pound a month of excess body fat. (110kcal x 30 = 3,300kcal. One pound of body fat is roughly 3,500 kcal.) That means 12 pounds of body fat per year.

No responsible health care practitioner would suggest that an extra 12 pounds per year of body fat is a healthier/better alternative than the trace amounts of artificial sweeteners in the diet soda. And this does not factor in the negative impact on metabolism that that "jolt" of sugar does to your insulin/blood sugar levels.

As I said at the beginning, please, don't take this personally. Just looking at it from a different point of view.

Just for grins and giggles, try reloading the screen ir failing that, here it is!
http://xs106.xs.to/xs106/06375/Before.jpg (http://xs.to)

Direct link: http://xs106.xs.to/xs106/06375/Before.jpg

Hooooooooooooooly Crap, well done kimosabe:beer:

Okay so that's cafeine free, suger free, alcohol free root beer!

On the subject of soda pop, especially mountain dew, I used to be hopelessly hooked on the stuff. I managed to ween myself off of it by switching to cappacino in the morning, and juice for the rest of the day, and then eventually I switched to coffee in the morning. Mountain Dew was an enormous part of my problem.

I went about a year drinking soda maybe once every couple weeks and what helped me was these packets you can buy. Crystal light makes their own version, but of course they are more expensive and do not taste any better. I was buying mine from Walmart, they are about 1.69 for a box of 10 packets, each making 16 oz so for 1.69 you get 1.25 gallons of a tasty drink. Each package has 0 calories, so obviously no sugar either. Being a convenient size made them perfect for the gym and on the road.

I'll start this off. 359 pound weight loss, 32 inches of waistline gone!

Before:
http://xs106.xs.to/xs106/06375/Before.jpg (http://xs.to)

After (Pardon the dancing!):
http://xs206.xs.to/xs206/06375/Front_Back_Animation.gif (http://xs.to)
Holy Cow! Kudos to you for a job well done. You give me hope and inspiration. Hubby (VolnTitan) and I are just beginning to cycle, and we hope to become "addicted". Admittedly, our eating habits are quite horrible. I love Coke and Pepsi (the real thing, not diet) and hubby loves Diet Code Red Mountain Dew mixed with Diet Orange. There are days when I don't drink any water and I've got to change that! Between Coke/Pepsi, sweet iced tea (I am a southern girl, you know) and milk, I tend to ignore good old pure water. We over-eat and our food choices are very poor. We both tend to have addictive personalities in that once we start something, we are pretty regimented about it. Fortunately we don't live near Vegas! ;)

Thanks so much for the suggestions and the inspirational stories we have found on this site! I'm ready to bike!

I'll start this off. 359 pound weight loss, 32 inches of waistline gone!


Was that with or without surgery?

Psst - first page :D

My story certainly isn't as incredible and cool as Tom's, but I figured I might as well post pics. They aren't very good, and unfortunatley I'm paranoid about my identity and so I blacked my face out, but you can see my transition from 220-170.
Michigander, one thing...everybody's story is "cool and incredible"! :D I was lucky, basically. I had to fight for all I've done (Insurance issues, gotta love BC!)

No before pic but here is a current one. I have been cycling seriously for two years now and despite racking up over 2400k. last summer and 2570k already this year and at least 75,000 cal burnt each year, I have not lost a pound. I have not changed my eating habits (I know I should!) but genetics is a huge part of this whole deal. I have included a pic of me and my buddy dirty dave (guess which one he is!) Dave is 80lbs lighter than my 200 and it was quite entertaining to ride the Hastings Hilly Hundred together today. I would blow by dave on every descent without even pedalling, then he would spin past me on the uphill sections (of which there were many). My point is to have fun with it, losing weight is great but the benefits of riding are many even if the pounds don't fall off.

No before pic but here is a current one. I have been cycling seriously for two years now and despite racking up over 2400k. last summer and 2570k already this year and at least 75,000 cal burnt each year, I have not lost a pound. I have not changed my eating habits (I know I should!) but genetics is a huge part of this whole deal. I have included a pic of me and my buddy dirty dave (guess which one he is!) Dave is 80lbs lighter than my 200 and it was quite entertaining to ride the Hastings Hilly Hundred together today. I would blow by dave on every descent without even pedalling, then he would spin past me on the uphill sections (of which there were many). My point is to have fun with it, losing weight is great but the benefits of riding are many even if the pounds don't fall off.
Very good point! Even if you don't lose an ounce, the heart gets and stays strongeras well as the lungs! Ev3ery minute on the bike is two minutes longer you'll live as a result of the exercise!
http://xs306.xs.to/xs306/06370/ridepic.jpg (http://xs.to)

There are many advantages to any exercise that increases your heart rate. I have been out of the personal training game for a while, but IIRC here are some of the goodies to look forward to feeling the benefit of.

1: Increased ejection fraction. Each time your heart beats there is an amount of blood squirted out, this is called the ejection fraction, the more you work the heart the more it squirts each time so the more blood gets around per beat.

2: Lower residual volume. When you breathe in and out there is alway some air left in there, no matter how hard you try to expel it. The more you train, the more you get in and out each time. This is mostly a result of the muscles used to breath becoming stronger. So for each breath you take in you are getting more air and you can get rid of the old stuff and take in more O2 than an untrained individual. If you need to feed buring muscles O2 and get rid of exhaust fumes, the faster you can deliver new air and take out the fumes the easier its going to be.

3: lower resistance in Blood pathways. Bascially your body is full of little tubes that carry blood. If you are a lazy slob these are closed up as your body hates to pay for up-keep on something that isnt being used. The weird thing about the opening of these is that it usually happens all at once, its not gradual. This is why you will start off training and struggle and feel like you are only making a little progress and then WHAM! you feel like you can just keep going and going. All of a sudden oxygenated blood and waste products are being delivered and taken away faster than before making cellular respiration a lot easier and preventing a serious oxygen debt.

4: Lower systolic pressure. When your hear squirts out some blood it goes into the arteries and then the other blood ways, the faster it can drain out of the arteries, the less pressure on the left ventrical of the heart. Severely obese people or uber sedentary people have heart problems because the blood keeps backing up until it puts pressure on the heart valves. If you have lots of open blood ways it drains away so fast that your heart really has a nice time, instead of feeling like a part baloon on the end of a faucet.

5: Blood. Active individuals have more blood than sedentary individuals, so you have more of the the delivery system that delivers O2 and takes away the waste products.

This is going to sound a little caustic, its not meant to be, but its a way of illustrating a point.


I have not lost a pound. I have not changed my eating habits (I know I should!) but genetics is a huge part of this whole deal.

We have well documented proof (POW's and Concentration camps) that show it has nothing to do with genetics. If you want to drop the weight you are going to have to eat the foods that allow for muscle growth (a higher % of lean body mass will burn more calories 24/7) without taking in fuels that dont contrbute to your goals.

Think lots of water (if you are not peeing every 90 mins you are not getting enough water)
Lean meats or fish
Complex carbs (Oatmeal is superb and there are lots of ways to eat it, even like cookies so it feels like a treat, but its actually good for you.
Fruit to feed your brain with glucose
Check wether you are insulin resistant, just get some Chromium polynicotinate and AKG supplements and see if cravings for fats and sweets lessen.
Lots of Vit C for connective tissue repair (you can take as much as 5g of Vit C a day)
For a snack have a Myoplex protein drink from EAS, 42g of protein in each one and they are quite sweet, so if you have a sweet tooth, this will kill the urge.

There are many advantages to any exercise that increases your heart rate. I have been out of the personal training game for a while, but IIRC here are some of the goodies to look forward to feeling the benefit of.

1: Increased ejection fraction. Each time your heart beats there is an amount of blood squirted out, this is called the ejection fraction, the more you work the heart the more it squirts each time so the more blood gets around per beat.

2: Lower residual volume. When you breathe in and out there is alway some air left in there, no matter how hard you try to expel it. The more you train, the more you get in and out each time. This is mostly a result of the muscles used to breath becoming stronger. So for each breath you take in you are getting more air and you can get rid of the old stuff and take in more O2 than an untrained individual. If you need to feed buring muscles O2 and get rid of exhaust fumes, the faster you can deliver new air and take out the fumes the easier its going to be.

3: lower resistance in Blood pathways. Bascially your body is full of little tubes that carry blood. If you are a lazy slob these are closed up as your body hates to pay for up-keep on something that isnt being used. The weird thing about the opening of these is that it usually happens all at once, its not gradual. This is why you will start off training and struggle and feel like you are only making a little progress and then WHAM! you feel like you can just keep going and going. All of a sudden oxygenated blood and waste products are being delivered and taken away faster than before making cellular respiration a lot easier and preventing a serious oxygen debt.

4: Lower systolic pressure. When your hear squirts out some blood it goes into the arteries and then the other blood ways, the faster it can drain out of the arteries, the less pressure on the left ventrical of the heart. Severely obese people or uber sedentary people have heart problems because the blood keeps backing up until it puts pressure on the heart valves. If you have lots of open blood ways it drains away so fast that your heart really has a nice time, instead of feeling like a part baloon on the end of a faucet.

5: Blood. Active individuals have more blood than sedentary individuals, so you have more of the the delivery system that delivers O2 and takes away the waste products.

This is going to sound a little caustic, its not meant to be, but its a way of illustrating a point.



We have well documented proof (POW's and Concentration camps) that show it has nothing to do with genetics. If you want to drop the weight you are going to have to eat the foods that allow for muscle growth (a higher % of lean body mass will burn more calories 24/7) without taking in fuels that dont contrbute to your goals.

Think lots of water (if you are not peeing every 90 mins you are not getting enough water)
Lean meats or fish
Complex carbs (Oatmeal is superb and there are lots of ways to eat it, even like cookies so it feels like a treat, but its actually good for you.
Fruit to feed your brain with glucose
Check wether you are insulin resistant, just get some Chromium polynicotinate and AKG supplements and see if cravings for fats and sweets lessen.
Lots of Vit C for connective tissue repair (you can take as much as 5g of Vit C a day)
For a snack have a Myoplex protein drink from EAS, 42g of protein in each one and they are quite sweet, so if you have a sweet tooth, this will kill the urge.
I have to disagree about it not being potentially genetic as a component....not the whole issue, but a component. You do give good advice though diet wise. Citing POW's and COncentration Camp weight loss is a rather extreme example though, due to the aspects of forced labor and sub-subsistance level diet. The general reference to genetics currently understood is that there is a definite marker gene that shows up in obese individuals. Under conditions of deep famine as a subsistamce farmer or Hunter/Gatherer this marker gene is likely a survival mechanism, but under current conditions in this modern world, it's a disaster. To properly cite POW's and Concentration Camp survivors in the aspect you did, you need to have a data curve showing rates of weight loss over a period of time indicating a correlation that we all lose weight at the same rate under identical caloric intake/output. This can't be shown even in a medically supervised diet and exercise plan. We are all "one off's", with unique genes and we all process caloric burn at a slightly different rate depending on the efficiency of our bodies. I know you weren't trying to be harsh, but unfortunately, you have taken a bit of a simplistic view of how we gain and lose weight is all.

Quick Edit: Maybe we should start a thread for this aspect of the dialogue? Hopefully it won't turn into one of those threads that sounds like the tone in P&R!

Very good point! Even if you don't lose an ounce, the heart gets and stays strongeras well as the lungs! Ev3ery minute on the bike is two minutes longer you'll live as a result of the exercise!


Tom:

Gotta question for you, at your heaviest, were you diabetic, and if you were, are you still?

If you don't want to discuss it on the group, but don't mind answering the question, then PM me.

As for the photos, I know a few folks who could tape the before and after (the cycling one), on the refridgerator, heck it would work better then locking that sucker up with a Kryptonite U lock and a hunk of cruise ship anchor chain, and throwing away the key.

One thing though about diet, and this is something you probably know, but some others here might not, so I will post it anyway, is if you don't buy it, you can't eat it. Going on a diet with a 20lb bag of potato chips and a case of beer in the house will not work. Toss all that stuff in the trash, clean out the cupboards of everything you should not eat, then start again, with a new trip to the grocery store, and only buy what you should be eating.

Oh well, enough said here, my bike is calling to me to go for a ride:D

...this is more of a challenge to your justification...

Yeah, I know that's just what it is: a justification. My problem is that I have just not chosen to exercise (pun intended) the willpower to do what I know I need to do. Thanks for the encouragement, and the spirit in which you delivered it.

Tom:

Gotta question for you, at your heaviest, were you diabetic, and if you were, are you still?

If you don't want to discuss it on the group, but don't mind answering the question, then PM me.

As for the photos, I know a few folks who could tape the before and after (the cycling one), on the refridgerator, heck it would work better then locking that sucker up with a Kryptonite U lock and a hunk of cruise ship anchor chain, and throwing away the key.

One thing though about diet, and this is something you probably know, but some others here might not, so I will post it anyway, is if you don't buy it, you can't eat it. Going on a diet with a 20lb bag of potato chips and a case of beer in the house will not work. Toss all that stuff in the trash, clean out the cupboards of everything you should not eat, then start again, with a new trip to the grocery store, and only buy what you should be eating.

Oh well, enough said here, my bike is calling to me to go for a ride:D
At my peak, I was insulin dependent. I am still technically diabetic, but completely regulated now. Sugars run between 73 and 103 on avg now with 73 @ fasting. 103 is peak. I actually have to be careful about low blood sugar now. My intake is strictly regulated by my activity level. For example, on a long ride, I may take in 6000 calories in a day, but I'm still operating at a deficit that is quite significant with an output of up to three times that on for example my 160 miler in one day over Labor Day Weekend.

I made a thread here: http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=3108506#post3108506

Cool!

At my peak, I was insulin dependent. I am still technically diabetic, but completely regulated now. Sugars run between 73 and 103 on avg now with 73 @ fasting. 103 is peak. I actually have to be careful about low blood sugar now. My intake is strictly regulated by my activity level. For example, on a long ride, I may take in 6000 calories in a day, but I'm still operating at a deficit that is quite significant with an output of up to three times that on for example my 160 miler in one day over Labor Day Weekend.

160 miles in one day, is a heck of a nice distance, if you ever decide to visit us in Toronto, they have a ride called the Hair Shirt (http://tbn.ca/cycling/hairshirt.htm), 200 miles in one day, takes place in June. I am planning on riding it, probably not next year, need a drop bar road bike for that and I don't have one, and about 3,000 more training miles. It was tough getting back on a bike after 20 years, and after a serious MTB crash in April, it was even tougher, tough enough that this clyde (175cm tall, and 95kg), decided that mountain biking was not my cup of Earl Grey, and that road riding would suit me better. Since I can't afford another bike right now, I am planning on doing some conversion work on the one I have, slick tires, fenders, a rear rack, then I can use it for commuting, and that should help the mileage quite a bit. Then maybe pick up a road bike next year:D .

As to weight, I would like to end up around 75 - 80kg (alas no longer a clyde).

I hit the 300 mark around Christmas last year. Scared me a bit! By April, I was down to 275. I've been flutuating a bit around 285 these days, but plan to start riding more this Fall.

My short term goal is to be at 265 by Christmas and then mid term goal under 240 by Summer '07, and long term goal of 215 by Christmas '07.

My biggest weakness is drinking sodas (especially Mt. Dews).

I can give up sodas for a couple months at a time drinking nothing but water, but then I'll have one and I'm back to drinking up to 2 liters a day again!

Any advice on how to give up the one thing that keeps you heavy?

Yep. Mountain Dew has been my hardest thing to overcome as well. I'm 5-8 and 270 lbs. I'm in the same boat as you. A few years ago it was nothing for me to drink a 2 liter bottle of dew a day. I've gone off it cold turkey only to come back. Then I tried to limit myself to one glass a day. That works for a while, but then I start drinking 2 a day and it goes up from there. I have kept myself below 2 liters a day for a few years now. But I have not kicked the habit.

I have not found anything that really helps me keep off dew. But I did find that Code Red upsets my tummy. So if I only have that in the house, I can only have one a day without getting sick. I go back and forth between going without and then only buying code red. The fight continues.

This link inspired my latest effort to give up dew.

http://www.alternet.org/story/33380/

So for now I'm back on leaf-water (tea) and off dew.

Devin

February of 2004 I was 400 pounds, 17 months later I got down to 160 lbs (6'0"). The weight loss totally changed my life. I was lucky in that I was able to lose the weight without having any readily apparent long term complications. (No lasting HBP or Diabetes, I do have some loose skin)

I would never have believed it 4 years ago but eating less and moving more really can work wonders.


http://www.morrow-online.com:8080/Before-N-After-8-2006.jpg

Mike that is awesome. Congratulations. What is you program. Solely cycling?

I would never have believed it 4 years ago but eating less and moving more really can work wonders.


]

Holy Cow Mike!!!!!! Awesome Awesome Awesome.....I had to bring the computer down to show the wife.
Great job

Holy Smoke! Good job!

Outstanding! Great job and congrats!

Mike that is awesome. Congratulations. What is you program. Solely cycling?


When I was losing weight for the first 100 pounds it was all diet no exercise. At 400 pounds EVERYTHING was work, I was worried about my heart and knees, and truth be told I wasn't a big fan of exercise (imagine that *Grins*). Once I lost the first 100 I started walking to build up my fitness level, I walked 5 miles a day every day. If I had it to do over I would have started the exercise earlier in the process. About a year into the journey my wife and I bought a weight system and a Life Fitness elliptical, at this point I switched to the elliptical for an hour a day and lifting about 40 minutes every other day.


My diet was 1500'ish calories a day 6 days a week with one day a week where I would eat out with my wife and daughter an order off the menu skipping bread basket and dessert. The day out had the effect of making my caloric average in the neighborhood of 1750 - 1850 a day on average. I also took vitamin supplements.

Now I really mix up my activities. My wife and I started running triathlons this summer so I run, bike, swim and elliptical on a regular basis. During the nice weather the elliptical doesnt get as much use as I know I will be stuck in our workout room as the weather turns. I try to get at least an hour of cardio a day and lift at least 3 days a week.

My weight has been rock solid + or - 3 pounds for the last year and a half and to that I credit exercise. Exercise is only moderately helpful for losing weight (as it can be quickly undone by what we put in our mouth) but boy can it help one maintain the loss.

WOW! That's awesome!

I am still VERY MUCH a work in progress.

Starting weight was about 370lbs.

This pic taken the night I bought my bike (hadn't even taken 1st ride yet).
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/2074/bikeandme5gv2.th.jpg (http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/2074/bikeandme5gv2.jpg)

These pics taken at about 360lbs (maybe 350 lbs).
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/3866/frontest335rt9.th.jpg (http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/3866/frontest335rt9.jpg)
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/8923/sideest335ek7.th.jpg (http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/8923/sideest335ek7.jpg)


Not a bike picture...but this pic was taken, probably at my best weight (about 307 lbs)...taken January of this year.
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/6821/kt06jan01ug7.th.jpg (http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/6821/kt06jan01ug7.jpg)
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/226/kt06jan20iq0.th.jpg (http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/226/kt06jan20iq0.jpg)

I'm not calling these the AFTER photos...because I'm FAR from done!! I want to lose another 100 pounds minimum!!

Great job!

Man I gotta work on getting some after photos - have way too many befores :)

Mike you were on your way to a short life to now a triathlete. Incredible. Your arms show lifting weights. And your wife is a regular now in your exercise regime. She lose a lot of weight also.

I am still VERY MUCH a work in progress.

Starting weight was about 370lbs.

This pic taken the night I bought my bike (hadn't even taken 1st ride yet).
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/2074/bikeandme5gv2.th.jpg (http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/2074/bikeandme5gv2.jpg)

These pics taken at about 360lbs (maybe 350 lbs).
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/3866/frontest335rt9.th.jpg (http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/3866/frontest335rt9.jpg)
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/8923/sideest335ek7.th.jpg (http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/8923/sideest335ek7.jpg)


Not a bike picture...but this pic was taken, probably at my best weight (about 307 lbs)...taken January of this year.
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/6821/kt06jan01ug7.th.jpg (http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/6821/kt06jan01ug7.jpg)
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/226/kt06jan20iq0.th.jpg (http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/226/kt06jan20iq0.jpg)

I'm not calling these the AFTER photos...because I'm FAR from done!! I want to lose another 100 pounds minimum!!

Absolutely putstanding KT! Good on ya Bro! You're right, we're both works in progress! Keep it up and I'll be pulling for you!

Mike you were on your way to a short life to now a triathlete. Incredible. Your arms show lifting weights. And your wife is a regular now in your exercise regime. She lose a lot of weight also.


Andi (my wife) had a bit of a weight issue long ago when we first met in collage, she lost it 18 years ago and has never looked back. She started exercising regularly a after I had made it a habit. Now we are both quite diligent about it. Here is a picture of her in our first race this summer.


http://www.morrow-online.com:8080/andi.jpg

I'm not calling these the AFTER photos...because I'm FAR from done!! I want to lose another 100 pounds minimum!!


Nice job King!

Slow and steady wins this race! You will get to your goal! Keep up the great work.

I started riding in April of last year.
weight was 255 with a 42in waist.
1.5 years later.....172lbs with a 33in waist
Old me
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/bike04half.jpg

New me

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/8_20_2006_07sm.jpg

Gary - wow! That's what I want to do for myself. I can't believe that second guy is the same person.

http://www.parrottimes.com/forums/images/smilies/bump.gif

Just been reading through the threads. What an inspiration you all are.

I've taken up cycling after 30 odd years of not being on a bike and I'm really enjoying it. I'm very small and I've never had a weight issue - if anything I'm classed as underweight.

However, my husband weighs in at 322 lbs approx and had a major heart attack just over 2 1/2 years ago (he was heavier than that for a while but did manage to lose some weight). One of the activities the hospital recommended was cycling, along with swimming, golf, walking etc. but he did not fancy going on a bike. Since I've got my bike, he's changed his mind and has been looking at bikes. We always do everything together and I think he feels he's now missing out - which he is. I showed him some of the pics before he had to shoot off to meet a client and I think you guys have really made an impression on him.

I look forward to posting his "before" and "after" pics:D

Python, good to hear the hubby is starting to get interested in cycling! Keep him interested and he'll reap unbelievable dividends from it. The only aerobic exercise better than cycling is swimming!http://www.forumjunkies.co.uk/junkies/images/smilies/Wink1.gif

Python, good to hear the hubby is starting to get interested in cycling! Keep him interested and he'll reap unbelievable dividends from it. The only aerobic exercise better than cycling is swimming!
Mrs. Hambone would be the first to admit my... "swimming" is much better due to the weight loss and increased endurance.

Another side effect to be perfectly honest and boringly clinical is that as men age their testosterone levels go down. That is just biology. Compound that by the fact that the fatter one is the lower one's testosterone and along with that goes erection issues, libido issues, etc.

Losing weight for a sexually active male is a win-win-win.

Compound that by the fact that the fatter one is the lower one's testosterone and along with that goes erection issues, libido issues, etc.



That is one area where there definitely isn't a problem;) :D

That is one area where there definitely isn't a problem;) :D
then heaven knows what you could be unleashing on yourself...

February of 2004 I was 400 pounds, 17 months later I got down to 160 lbs (6'0"). The weight loss totally changed my life. I was lucky in that I was able to lose the weight without having any readily apparent long term complications. (No lasting HBP or Diabetes, I do have some loose skin)

I would never have believed it 4 years ago but eating less and moving more really can work wonders.


http://www.morrow-online.com:8080/Before-N-After-8-2006.jpg

Wow, Mike. I am inspired. Really. I am 6'1" and 325lbs. My wife saw your before picture and thought it looked exactly like me. I am built just like that. How did you lose the weight? I just started a new diet and I already commute on bike. I'm hoping its enough.

How did you lose the weight? I just started a new diet and I already commute on bike. I'm hoping its enough.


This is a repost from above:

When I was losing weight for the first 100 pounds it was all diet no exercise. At 400 pounds EVERYTHING was work, I was worried about my heart and knees, and truth be told I wasn't a big fan of exercise (imagine that *Grins*). Once I lost the first 100 I started walking to build up my fitness level, I walked 5 miles a day every day. If I had it to do over I would have started the exercise earlier in the process. About a year into the journey my wife and I bought a weight system and a Life Fitness elliptical, at this point I switched to the elliptical for an hour a day and lifting about 40 minutes every other day.


My diet was 1500'ish calories a day 6 days a week with one day a week where I would eat out with my wife and daughter an order off the menu skipping bread basket and dessert. The day out had the effect of making my caloric average in the neighborhood of 1750 - 1850 a day on average. I also took vitamin supplements.

Now I really mix up my activities. My wife and I started running triathlons this summer so I run, bike, swim and elliptical on a regular basis. During the nice weather the elliptical doesnt get as much use as I know I will be stuck in our workout room as the weather turns. I try to get at least an hour of cardio a day and lift at least 3 days a week.

My weight has been rock solid + or - 3 pounds for the last year and a half and to that I credit exercise. Exercise is only moderately helpful for losing weight (as it can be quickly undone by what we put in our mouth) but boy can it help one maintain the loss.

Gary - wow! That's what I want to do for myself. I can't believe that second guy is the same person.

Thanks for the kind words Gerdz. I can't believe it either. I feel amazing. It is hard for me to believe that I went from being a couch Potato one summer to being a competitive racer the next. Al I can say is that if I can do it then anyone can. No one loves food and drink more than I. It is just mind over matter. One trick I did was to weigh myself everyday so if I was bad one day I would see it on the scale the next. I learned how important being strict on my diet was. No cheating allowed.....

Sorry Mike, I didn't see the post above. I must admit I was in a hurry and only glancing through the thread. I hate it when other people do that so I have slapped myself silly as I wish I could do to others :p

Here's a pic of me. Lets consider this my *before* picture. I'm at 325lbs, down from 345lbs last year. This was taken in August 2006 at Yosemite National Park at Curry Camp. I am going back next year. I hope to get a picture in the same place, but with a different me :)

http://rykoala.org/ryanAug2006.jpg

If you continue at 1700 calories a day and get moderate exercise on a regular basis the weight will melt away before you know it. The weight loss will pay benefits you never dreamed of. I wish you all the best. Keep us up to date on your progress.
Agreed, 100% here! Remember to keep up with your hydration and remember you do need some additional intake on longer rides! Keeping the intake just below requirements for your activity level is important. As you get into longer riding, then you may need to adjust that caloric intake up accordingly to avoid bonking!

Rykoala, best of luck and a pretty much guarantee that you can do it! http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/sportlich/n055.gif

Thanks Tom. Coming from you, that means something. I looked at your pic and thought "wow.... I can do that if I try hard enough!". My wonderful wife calculated that I'm currently eating 1700 calories a day. If I can keep that up for a year or so.... ;)

Thanks Tom. Coming from you, that means something. I looked at your pic and thought "wow.... I can do that if I try hard enough!". My wonderful wife calculated that I'm currently eating 1700 calories a day. If I can keep that up for a year or so.... ;)


If you continue at 1700 calories a day and get moderate exercise on a regular basis the weight will melt away before you know it. The weight loss will pay benefits you never dreamed of. I wish you all the best. Keep us up to date on your progress.

last year at 17 and 206lbs
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/wethepeople101/me/fatjason.jpg

this year at 130, I'll get a better pic later.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/wethepeople101/me/invincible.jpg


Lost it all from biking and rugby, plus just being more active.