Pacific Northwest - A Clydesdale tired of pulling the beer wagon

My basic reasoning for picking up bicycling was to lose weight. I have been trying to get my weight down to get my BP down (and get off my 3 BP meds). I did a weight loss contest at work last year that we called Belly Busters. I racked up about 1600 miles in my giant Cypress hybrid bike and lost 47 pounds and won the contest.

Unfortunately I put about 27 pounds back on over the winter so now I am back to losing weight I had lost last year.

I started a blog to track my progress and try to put some public pressure on myself. I can't say that it has helped much but I will try anything.

I would love it if some of you would check it out and comment. I put the link in my signature but messed it up.

The title is "Watch Dave Lose it" and the address is http://wrightideas.typepad.com/watch_dave_lose_it/


This year I upgraded to a Trek Portland commuter bike. I ride 27 miles round trip to work 3-4 days a week. And with my new Garmin Edge 305 I now know that I have about a 750 elevation gain and up to 18% grades on my commute. So it is a pretty tough ride and should whip me into shape.

Hello Dave, you obviously know about the Clydesdales forum and I don't need to say anything more about how great the folks are over at that forum :D .

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

Thanks. I should mention that I am in the Seattle area.

Welcome to BF, jwright!

You'll fine me in the Clyde forum often! Definitely drop by!

Thanks. I should mention that I am in the Seattle area.

So you are! There's a few other Clydes up in the Seattle north end, and there's a sticky for looking for ride partners in the Clydesdale forum in case you were looking for someone to help keep you motivated :) .

East Hill

Best of luck!

Congrads on your road back...

Have you signed up for a motionbased account? They are free and if you have a 305 I would highly recomend it....

motionbased.com

I did sign up at Motion Based. I haven't done much with it yet. I am still really enjoying the graphs that the software makes on my computer. I like the heart rate charts.

I set a new record today!! 1:02:35 so 1 hour is coming right up!!

I rode the triathlon bike route this morning. This was the first time this year and with my Garmin. So now I have a good base point for training. The loop is 12.3 miles, 850 feet elevation gain with the steepest grade of 11%. Good ride!!

We did it in just over an hour. I think I will be able to improve on that and next time I will be able to race against yeaterdave.

We did it in just over an hour. I think I will be able to improve on that and next time I will be able to race against yeaterdave.

Yes! It's always fun to have a riding partner, and that's one reason why--you can feel yourself improving.

East Hill

I dont trust grade read-outs from GPS systems, since at any single point there can be a significant altitude error. If the grades are calculated from height gain over a significant distance i will believe them..

You are correct that GPS is not very accurate in elevation. But that is the difference between the Edge 205 and Edge 305. The 305 has a barometric altimeter along with GPS. Neither by itself is very accurate but it uses both to cross calibrate.

It has a readout that gives the accuracy and I have seen it down to +/- 19ft.

I notice that the grade reading has a time lag or 2-3 seconds. So it takes a few seconds to update the elevation and calculate the grade by dividing by the distance traveled.

It also give you a cummulative elevation gain on your ride. So now i know my ride to work has a 750 foot gain and the triathlon route is 850. So they are both reasonably tough.

Dave: I checked out your blog. Impressive, thanks especially for the review on the Garmin Edge 305. Its a gadget I've been thinking of buying but have held off due to the cost. My wife has a Gamin Navi in her car and loves it. I think I might take the plunge

I'm in the Portland area and am working towards STP next year. Have you thought of doing that 202 mile ride?

Steve

I'm in the Portland area and am working towards STP next year. Have you thought of doing that 202 mile ride?

Steve
Just remember that STP gets filled VERY quickly! Getting a spot after it's been sold out can be done, but it can cost you. Also, finding a place to stay if you do the two day version can be...interesting.

East Hill

Thanks for looking at my blog. I agree the Garmin is a little spendy. My wife bought mine as an early birthday gift. She wanter to get it for my BD but that is in mid-september, about the time I stop riding my bike to work. So she got it early. As a gift I think it is great, a little extravagent and somehting I would have a hard time justifying for myself. So maybe you should just give your wife some hints!

I ws thinking about STP this year but I was afraid that if I got a group together that they would drop out at the last minute. SO maybe nbext year.

Hey djwright - I'm just west of you in Mukilteo. I started riding last year for health reasons (and because it's fun.) I've only lost 25 lbs, and have seemingly plateau'd at around 220. One of my weeknight rides is an out and back to Snohomish and so I ride part of the hill you ride to work. Only I cheat and take a right at the top of the first hill (heh heh,) I've ridden it all the way up once or twice and it's a killer for a Clyde, but do-able. I'm impressed if you do that every day to work.

You may see me sometime on the river road, I'll be the tall one on the Red Specialized.

By the way, seriously consider doing the STP. I signed up this year and trained pretty religiously for it. I intended to do it in two days. Call me crazy, but I might just try doing it my first time in one day. It's pretty amazing what you can make your body do. I started this year riding only 15 miles each time and slowly built up to 100 solo miles per ride on two consecutive weekends.

So keep on truckin.

I know well the right turn of which you speak. I have taken that many mornings when I just don't feel up to the full climb. It really isn't that much harder to go straight up the hill but some days it seems too much.

I'll look for you on the river road.

I'm trying to lose weight as well by biking. I don't think its working very well. I have cut the rubbish out of my diet and bike for an hour daily. I hope it helps. Any suggestions?

Dave, I am pretty close to you, and often ride down to Snohomish via Cathcart way and Highway 9. I do a fair amount of road biking around Snohomish and on the Centennial Trail. Send me a PM or email to millcreek.cycling@gmail.com if you want to get a ride together.

I'm trying to lose weight as well by biking. I don't think its working very well. I have cut the rubbish out of my diet and bike for an hour daily. I hope it helps. Any suggestions?

Check into the Clydesdales forum. It's not necessary to be a Clyde--but they are very supportive over there, and offer a lot of encouragement.

East Hill

Just track your progress, keep setting mini-goals and keep surpassing them.

thanks, I'll do that.

Dave:

Just what I needed to get me even more motivated. Went over to your blog - love what you have to say. I even put a link to your blog on my mountain biking site:

http://mountainbikingtips4u.com/useful-resources/general-bicycling-websites/

This is what it is all about - keep pedaling!

thanks for the link. I checked out your site, lots of good information there.

I figure the hardest part of my morning commute is turing the pedal the first time. After that it is all a lot easier.

I did the triathlon course again today. Last week we did it in just over 1:01. Today it was under 54 minutes. So 7+ minutes better. That is huge.

Ok for the third year in a row I gave up drinking beer after the 4th of July. (I don't note the date I start drinking beer gain, just when I stop).

If I don't start seeing some weight loss now I will madder than a tick on a ceramic dog.

Ok for the third year in a row I gave up drinking beer after the 4th of July. (I don't note the date I start drinking beer gain, just when I stop).

If I don't start seeing some weight loss now I will madder than a tick on a ceramic dog.

Oh man, think positive!

But I love the 'madder than a tick on a ceramic dog' :D .

East Hill

Yeah I was pleased with that one. I was channeling Ross Perot.

It is all about positive mental attittude (PMA). Every day when I go up the big hill I know I can do it and the only way I can fail is if I talk myself out of it.

I also know that my nature is that if I dont' get results I may lose interest. Nobody wants to work this hard and not see a pay off. I am seeing it in other ways than the scale right now. The ultimate measure is reducing my BP.

(I knew the beer was holding me back so it had to go, now no more excuses).

It's not the beer per se that's holding you back, it's your overall caloric intake. The weight gain over the winter indicates that you're eating too many calories. With exercise you're staying flat, but that's not your goal.

There's a little book by Covert Bailey called Fit or Fat (in various editions) that talks about the relationship between exercise, condition, and metabolism — mostly encouraging exercise. His book The Fit or Fat Target Diet focuses on how to get your caloric intake down. (Covert holds a Ph.D. in Nutritional Biochemistry from MIT, but you'd never know from the books; they are almost completely non-theoretical.)

The biggest offender in the average diet is fat. Fat is a calorie storage medium so naturally it contains an enormous concentration of calories per unit. Lots of fat in your diet means you're eating too many calories without 'over eating' in terms of quantity. What's worse, though, is that the body won't use the calories stored in fat until it absolutely has to. Therefore much of the fat you eat goes straight to your own calorie storage warehouse, your own body fat.

With exercise you've increased your calorie usage. Now you need to decrease your calorie intake. Cut out fats and you can probably keep drinking beer while losing weight.

Btw, biking can increase your beer drinking because it makes you thirsty. Drink a lot of water and you should be able to cut back on the beer without quitting entirely.

djwright, Hang in there, it will eventually pay off. I started riding again last year and over the course of the spring/summer I lost maybe 10 pounds. I think I rode about 1,600 miles the whole year, didn't change my diet at all.

This year I've ridden about 2,000 miles already, mostly training with a goal in mind - to ride the STP for the first time. I started at about 245 and really sucked wind on the hills this year. Wanted to be faster on the hills, I decided I needed to lose some weight. So, I made a more concerted effort to eat better food and was a little more religious about putting miles on the bike each week. My goal weight was 220 and I hit that over a month ago. So now I'm staying about even. (My wife complains that she can get her arms all the way around me now!):rolleyes: I only lost maybe 1 - 1 1/2 pound a week, but over a few months it started to add up.

As for the diet, I just tried to eat better food, cutting down as much processed and fat-laden food as I could (think cookies, cakes, candies - especially anything with trans fats or sturated fat.) I slowed down on the beer, but don't kid yourself, I managed to enjoy one often enough, just not 2 or 3 or 4 at a time.;) Also, because I was riding more (and longer) I tried to focus on eating properly on the bike but more importantly, immediately after. There is a lot of good information on these Forums (look in the training and nutirtion section and/or the long distance section.)

That's what worked for me, now I just can't back-slide this winter (time for a trainer or rain bike I think.)

Welcome:

If you have the commitment to make positive change in your life, I believe the lbs will come off
I was up to near 250lbs (I'm 6'3) and have lost 25lbs thru a more active lifestyle ( biking and hiking) and really watching what I eat.

I encourage you to keep working at it. Good Luck

Lots of good comments here and I really appreciate the time you guys have taken posting them.

For me the problem with the beer isn't just the beer. It is that after a beer or glass of wine or two whatever diet I am on goes out the window. So after a week of eating right I blow it on Friday and or Saturday night. So I have a week long up and down cycle. Lose during the week, gain on the weekend and try to lose it the next week.

I have gathered lots of data on this over the years and it is a pattern that just smacks you in the face.

2 years ago I quit drinking beer on the 4th and lost 12 pounds without doing anything else. Last year I lost 20+ pounds and I was riding my bike. This year I have 10 weeks left until the triathlon and would like to be 10+ pounds lighter than last year.

I have been doing the 6 meal a day diet and I really like it. I can't say I have lost a ton of weight but it seems pretty natural. I get about 2100 calories a day in 6 small meals. With the bike riding it should be pretty easy to lose 1-2 pounds a week. I think cutting the beer will be the thing that puts me over the top.

(I remeber covert Bailey from the 80's I haven't seen him in a long time)

I went to the doctor today. BP in normal range (medicated). The nurse wrote down t he wrong weight though. She added 10 pounds. This is the second time they have gotten my weight wrong. My first visit they wrote down a weight 10-15 pounds lighter than I was. So it still looks to the doctor like I have gained weight.

It is like that Seinfeld episode. You can't see your medical chart, you can't change yuour chart. Overall my doctor has been very supportive. He really liked the Belly Buster contest.

It is like that Seinfeld episode. You can't see your medical chart, you can't change yuour chart. Overall my doctor has been very supportive. He really liked the Belly Buster contest.

Just don't get a rash!! :roflmao:

I know you are making a Seinfeld reference, but you are right about rashes. I use some of that bogy glide stuff at the first sign of chafing.:eek:

It has been raining all weekend, so I haven't gotten to ride. That is one of the challenges of riding in th eNorthwest. Usually it is such a light rain that you can ignore it and ride anyway but the slick roads make me nervous.

My wife is out of town and I have been a slug all weekend. motivation level -2.

It has been raining all weekend, so I haven't gotten to ride. That is one of the challenges of riding in the Northwest. Usually it is such a light rain that you can ignore it and ride anyway but the slick roads make me nervous.

My wife is out of town and I have been a slug all weekend. motivation level -2.

Oh, you are a bum and a scoundrel! I went out today for not only one go around the Lake Youngs reservoir, but TWO times around.

I got muddy :D . It was very good riding.

East Hill

Thanks for the support. I beat myself up plenty as I lay on the couch watching the tour de france.

But the rest of the week is supposed to be nice so I should get 4 rides in before the weekend.

My legs will be rested and strong.

Thanks for the support. I beat myself up plenty as I lay on the couch watching the tour de france.

:roflmao:



But the rest of the week is supposed to be nice so I should get 4 rides in before the weekend.

My legs will be rested and strong.

Man I hope so, it was starting to spit rain as I left to come in to work :p .

East Hill

Ok I have already raved about my Garmin. But one thing I like is that I didn't start out using all of the features. I haven't put the cadence sensor on yet, but I am saving that.

The last two days I have been using the profile view when I ride to work. It shows my course in elevation mode and the position of my virtual pacer. It has really motivated me. This morning I wasn't having a very good ride, but I used the pacer to post a respectable time.

Then on my way home I came within 22 seconds of my all time record (which I set when following a faster rider across the long flat). It really helps to make that afternoon ride a good workout.

There's always motivational factor going when following someone faster. I like having a riding partner for that reason.

Excellent job!

East Hill

ON my training rides for the triathlon I ride with a partner. She is faster than me going up the hills but I catch her on the way down (when gravity is my friend).

She claims she impaled her foot on a bamboo stick this week so she isn't riding with me this weekend. I think she is just trying to get out of it. With the computer we cut 7 minutes off our loop.

No I hope she gets better so we can continue training. She and I crossed the finish line together last year. (you can see that picture on my blog site).

ON my training rides for the triathlon I ride with a partner. She is faster than me going up the hills but I catch her on the way down (when gravity is my friend).

She claims she impaled her foot on a bamboo stick this week so she isn't riding with me this weekend. I think she is just trying to get out of it. With the computer we cut 7 minutes off our loop.

No I hope she gets better so we can continue training. She and I crossed the finish line together last year. (you can see that picture on my blog site).

You are doing a great job! I hope you get off that plateau soon.

I once managed to get stabbed by a bamboo stick, and it was not happy :( . Tell Jane to heal up quickly.

East Hill

Thanks. I thin I am about ready to hit some new weights and some new speed records.

Last year at this time I lost weight up until Aungust 15th (the end of the Belly Busters). then maintained until mid-september for the triathlon and then was already regaining weight by the time I did a 10K in October. This year I want to keep losing weight at least until the 10K and then maintain through the winter.

I am thinking I might still be able to take the bus and ride my bike home. (more light in the afternoon).

Not a good week for me. I only rode to work one day. I had a flat again in the morning. That really sets me back. I don't have time to fix it so I had to drive. I don't think I found the problem last time.

So I have been working arounb the house and that has been my exercise. I doubt it will keep my aerobic conditioning up to snuff.

Tomorrow we will float the mighty Pilchuck river in celebration of summer ease.

Tomorrow we will float the mighty Pilchuck river in celebration of summer ease.

We'll need photos :) .

East Hill

Of course
I posted a couple of pictures on my blog and a link to a bunch more. A good time was had by all. FYI the river parallels the Centennial trail in this area. It is a nice ride but an even better float.

http://wrightideas.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/08/09/p1120117_2.jpg

http://wrightideas.typepad.com/watch_dave_lose_it/images/2007/08/09/p1120117_2.jpg (http://wrightideas.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/08/09/p1120117_2.jpg)

GREAT photo!

Any fishing or other fun stuff going on at the mighty Pilchuck that day, or was it just the straight float?

East Hill