One year ago I went to my doctor for a physical, you know, that annual thing I do every 3 or 4 years. He told me that at 57 years of age my condition was not too bad, but certainly could be better. I would need to start medicine of different types, or I could try getting into shape. I told him I would try a bicycle for that exercise.
One day ago I went for an actual annual physical. The differences were surpirsing to my doctor. My blood pressure has been high for 5 years. Yesterday it was 120/82. My weight one year ago was 257, yesterday it was 230. He started the exam and then said, "Hey, you have developed abs." Then a little heart exam. The result was a restive (sp) heart rate of 78 last year, and this year it was down to 52. The doctor said that was VERY significant. He said to stay on the bicycle, that my results were some of the best he had seen. YEA, YEA, YEA. My goal this year is to take off 20 more pounds and to enjoy my new sport and my healthier body.
buelito
08-21-07, 06:24 AM
like they say, cycling is the 'fountain of youth'... although it won't add years to your life, it will add life to your years!
congratulations on the improvement, and hoping the next year brings even more-
train safe-
Beverly
08-21-07, 07:34 AM
Wow! You've made a significant improvement in the last year. Just think where you'll be next year with another year of cycling.
I went through a similar makeover about 11 years ago. I decided it was time to make some lifestyle changes or start suffering from medical problems prevalent in my family - diabetes, heart problems, cancer, etc. Cycling, diet and other forms of exercise seem to be working for me, too.:)
George
08-21-07, 08:47 AM
congratulations, the same thing happened to me, isn't it great. I still can't get below 200# though, I guess I'll have to try to get off sugar, maybe. By the way, being at 200#, some of the bike shops say that I should have more than 32 spokes, get some stronger wheels. What do you think about that?
Jet Travis
08-21-07, 08:53 AM
As someone say, "You don't stop doing things because you get older; you get older because you stop doing things." Congratulations.
crtreedude
08-21-07, 09:07 AM
Great news - Every time a Doc gets to do blood work on me, they always say the same thing:
"I wish I had your test results."
bac
08-21-07, 09:13 AM
The result was a restive (sp) heart rate of 78 last year, and this year it was down to 52. The doctor said that was VERY significant. He said to stay on the bicycle, that my results were some of the best he had seen. YEA, YEA, YEA. My goal this year is to take off 20 more pounds and to enjoy my new sport and my healthier body.
Hey, good for you BA! Lowering your RHR by over 20 beats is something to be proud of for sure.
Ride on!
... Brad
stapfam
08-21-07, 12:05 PM
congratulations, the same thing happened to me, isn't it great. I still can't get below 200# though, I guess I'll have to try to get off sugar, maybe. By the way, being at 200#, some of the bike shops say that I should have more than 32 spokes, get some stronger wheels. What do you think about that?
Yep. The heavier riders are not only heavy on the wheels- They have stronger legs putting more torque and strain on them aswell.
I know I am paranoid about wheels but I am a believer in Hand built wheels. The Boreas has a set of Shimano Ultegras on it but these were stripped and rebuilt by a wheel builder before I even saw them. The "Training" wheels are mavic CXP rims- 36spokes crossed x 2 to 105 hubs. Not an expensive pair of wheels but they roll superbly and the crossed spokes give some suspension. On the MTB's Hand built wheels again except for the Mavic Crossrides and they were run for 50 miles and passed to the wheelbuilder to tweak.
Now to strength- Everone says 32 spokes but the extra weight of 4 spokes is minimal. AND 36 spokes cures a spoking problem that occurs with 32.
Now back to Bike Arkansas-- That is a remarkable improvement you have made in just a year. Keep it up and see the health improve again.
Artkansas
08-21-07, 01:12 PM
Way to go.
Yen
08-21-07, 01:15 PM
Good job! Not just in your test results but in your decision to make a change and stick with it.
Yen
08-21-07, 01:17 PM
Great news - Every time a Doc gets to do blood work on me, they always say the same thing:
"I wish I had your test results."
That's what the much-younger doc told Hubby before his shoulder surgery..... before he started cycling, but after years of walking. I wonder what his results would be now, a year later.
SaiKaiTai
08-21-07, 01:21 PM
Wow, that's great! You have set the bar for us ol' middle-aged, hypertensives to follow.
Keep on keeping on... just think of where you'll be in another year.
Resting heart rate. I've been so BP focused, I never even thought much about it.
Yen
08-21-07, 01:27 PM
Regarding the lower BP..... did you also make big changes in your diet? Oatmeal every day? Lower sodium intake?
John E
08-21-07, 02:11 PM
Congratulations. Your results do not surprise me in the least; I owe my current health and overall physical condition to my cumulative 100k miles of cycling.
tlc20010
08-21-07, 02:25 PM
One year ago I went to my doctor for a physical, you know, that annual thing I do every 3 or 4 years. He told me that at 57 years of age my condition was not too bad, but certainly could be better. I would need to start medicine of different types, or I could try getting into shape. I told him I would try a bicycle for that exercise.
One day ago I went for an actual annual physical. The differences were surpirsing to my doctor. My blood pressure has been high for 5 years. Yesterday it was 120/82. My weight one year ago was 257, yesterday it was 230. He started the exam and then said, "Hey, you have developed abs." Then a little heart exam. The result was a restive (sp) heart rate of 78 last year, and this year it was down to 52. The doctor said that was VERY significant. He said to stay on the bicycle, that my results were some of the best he had seen. YEA, YEA, YEA. My goal this year is to take off 20 more pounds and to enjoy my new sport and my healthier body.
Isn't it remarkable what a bike can do for a person? Congrats on all the great gains!:beer:
Lowering your resting heart rate is a major deal, also I'll bet that when you really push it and get your heart rate up then stop that your HR drops down very quickly. Another sign of good cardio conditioning.
Keep it up and good luck getting that next 20 pounds off.
LynnH
08-21-07, 02:29 PM
I'm impressed, way to go!!
Terrierman
08-21-07, 03:14 PM
Those are good results, good on you for getting them the old fashioned way.
jppe
08-21-07, 03:40 PM
Good for you-and for those that care about you!!!
jibi
08-21-07, 03:51 PM
I love it when the doc asks my age
"How old!!!!"
keep cycling, keep young.
george
alanfleisig
08-21-07, 03:53 PM
Hearty congratulations. And keep up the good work!
cccorlew
08-21-07, 04:03 PM
Well done. Carry on, young lad.
soma5
08-21-07, 04:03 PM
Congratulations! It's more incentive for the rest of us to keep going.
BikeArkansas
08-21-07, 05:53 PM
Regarding the lower BP..... did you also make big changes in your diet? Oatmeal every day? Lower sodium intake?
Actually I have changed my diet very little. Most of my weight loss etc. has come from the exercise alone. My plan for this year is to work on the diet, so maybe I can lose the other 20 pounds. My diet is not horrible, but certainly not what it should be. I am now in the process of selecting the correct diet for the next year. Not an easy task. Thanks for asking, and thanks to all for the encouragement.