Introductions - Hello, I'm back to cycling 'cause I'm too fat!

I'll handle this like a 12 step program:

"Hello, my name is mistercindy, and I'm a fat white 43 year old male who can't jog anymore because my knees hurt, so I've decided to get back into cycling."

I used to ride a lot, but stopped in 1990 when I went to graduate school and I never got into it again. While I've always fought weight, I always ran and stayed fairly fit, but a couple of years ago I stopped that because of sore knees and the weight started piling on. Well, not unexpectedly, the blood pressure is creeping up, the blood sugar is creeping up, the cholesterol is creeping up, etc... My body is telling me to get a handle on this or suffer the consequences. :cry:

Any advice and/or encouragement is appreciated. Thanks.

Welcome,
a lot of us are middle aged, and in roughly the same boat. There is a lot of good info in the older posts here. Mine are especially good :D

Good for you mistercindy. Im gonna start cycling so i can get in better shape too. You should post your progress so that you can motivate us all. Good luck!!!!

look into weight lifting as well. I have found that I can feel more fit and keep more weight off with just a couple sessions a week.

We have a great thread in the training and nutrition forum for posting your progress. You'll also find a good bunch of folks doing the same thing.

Good luck and welcome!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=370435#post370435

I'll handle this like a 12 step program:

"Hello, my name is mistercindy, and I'm a fat white 43 year old male who can't jog anymore because my knees hurt, so I've decided to get back into cycling."


Any advice and/or encouragement is appreciated. Thanks.

Great.

But, unless you enjoy the cycling for the cycling, you will not keep it up, even if you want to lose weight.

Enjoyment first, getting in shape 2nd, weight loss 3rd.

A number of us have lost weight, but it must involve a change in eating habits also.

I am 64 yo, have recently lost some 30 pounds.

I bike about 3,500 miles per year, lift weights several times per week, and have changed my eating habits.

You need to lift weights to avoid muscle loss - in fact, you can even gain muscle.

I have good success with the "Body for Life" regimen.

Good luck!

mistercindy,
Welcome back to the bike riding world!! ;) There have been a lot of changes to bicycles since you last rode a bicycle, so I hope you'll find one that will help you achieve your goal. I'm a far cry from my racing days myself of teh 1990s, so while I know I am considerably younger than you, I can understand about that. Bikes have got substantially lighter...I think the 1992 Cannondale I got and then had to sell to my dad as it was too tall for me (I'm about 5'10 1/2" and he is about 6'4") weighed around 40 or so pounds and the Cannondale I have now, a 1997 M700, is around 25-30 pounds in weight, both being mountain bikes and his being the top of the line model that year and mine in the middle of the 1997s). As others have said, it is probably not wise to just ride for losing weight, but for the enjoyment of riding. Hope it will help you in your quest and that you will regain the love you had prior to grad school for riding, and please do post how you are doing!!

~James~

Hi! A welcome to you from a Brit.

No one has suggested it yet,but if you are working regular and live within a reasonable distance of your job place,consider cycle commuting as an exellent way to stay healthy, fit etc.