Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Getting in shape.

I have only been commuting to work and back for about two weeks now and have made a lot of changes to my lifestyle. I have cut down on portions and stopped drinking soda (except for the occasional Sierra Mist).

In less than two weeks I have lost 14lbs (and most of that is immediate water weight) and am currently at 255lbs. My goal is to get down to 215 before winter starts.

I just wanted to start this thread so people can show their progress in getting healthy and getting in shape.

I myself went from 115kg (250lbs) to now 89kg (194lbs) over a period of a year and a half. Take it slow, don't try to rush things. Keep cycling, try to avoid the munchies, drink a LOT(!!!) and you'll succeed :)

Bon courage!!

Amox

I myself went from 115kg (250lbs) to now 89kg (194lbs) over a period of a year and a half. Take it slow, don't try to rush things. Keep cycling, try to avoid the munchies, drink a LOT(!!!) and you'll succeed :)

Bon courage!!

Amox

Yea, I do drink a LOT! I drank a gallon of water just today (over a period of 24hrs that is) and lately I have been eating sandwiches (seeing how I do work at a sandwich shop) and threw away ALL of the chips in the cupboard at home.... I almost cried... :P

I've transitioned from nacho cheese Doritos to plain corn chips with salsa to no chips over the last 6 months or so. That's was good for about 10 lbs. by itself!
You will be gaining muscle, so sometimes you won't feel like you're loosing that much, but the "inches" will still be dropping.
Since the weather has turned nice again, I'm starting to log more miles. The weight has stayed about the same for the last month, but that next notch on the belt has gotten easier to engage.

Yea, I do drink a LOT! I drank a gallon of water just today (over a period of 24hrs that is) and lately I have been eating sandwiches (seeing how I do work at a sandwich shop) and threw away ALL of the chips in the cupboard at home.... I almost cried... :P

I did too, but it was pretzels in my case. Pretzels are allegedly a 'healthy snack', so I used to fool myself by eating them instead of chips.

BTW, there's a poster to this board from Nebraska that's an inspiration to many people, including me. Sometimes when I'm tempted I stop myself and say, "What would Ben do?"

"What would Ben do?"

The better question is "What wouldn't I do"? :p

Oh you meant the other Ben.

So let's see, it's taken a little over a year but I went from 245 to 207 after tonights racquetball game. I stopped drinking alcohol, stopped both diet and regular soda, quit smoking, and have cut out as much corn syrup as practically possible. My meals have become brutally boring with the same three meals for weeks on end. I find the less and less I look forward to meal time due to the monotony, the less and less I enjoy eating past when I feel full. I really think that is the key part, once you get over the love affair with food and begin to treat it for what it is the weight will come off. I've also become much more physically active between cycling, jogging, weight lifting, and now my new love of the only sport where it's great to have little blue balls. Granted I gradually added new activities to my list, but cycling was the first and it is still number one in my books.

Keep up the good work, even if your not loosing much weight your still becoming a healthier person.

awesome! I am on the same journey-I started at 250, am at 242 right now, and am on my way to 210. I am putting a target of december 1 for the goal. I have been improving my diet, etc, over the last couple months, and I am now biking to work every day possible, 10 miles each way.

So let's see, it's taken a little over a year but I went from 245 to 207 after tonights racquetball game. I stopped drinking alcohol, stopped both diet and regular soda, quit smoking, and have cut out as much corn syrup as practically possible. My meals have become brutally boring with the same three meals for weeks on end. I find the less and less I look forward to meal time due to the monotony, the less and less I enjoy eating past when I feel full. I really think that is the key part, once you get over the love affair with food and begin to treat it for what it is the weight will come off. I've also become much more physically active between cycling, jogging, weight lifting, and now my new love of the only sport where it's great to have little blue balls. Granted I gradually added new activities to my list, but cycling was the first and it is still number one in my books.


UGH, NO! No, no, no. Food should be joyous. Sucking the joy out of life is a terrible idea. Between March 2007 and March 2008 I went from 252 to 213 pounds. I am a hobby chef, my housemate is a hobby chef. We regularly fed 8-12 people 3-4 times a week during that entire period. We ate delicious and varied meals and managed to have a spectacular time without sucking the joy from life. We drank lots of wine, beer, and whatnot.

Now, that's not to say I didn't change my diet. I did. I cut way down on snacking, I had a piece of bread to mop up the sauce, not a half dozen pieces. I stopped getting seconds. I changed what I cooked to be a little healthier overall. Now, obviously, that kind of moderate change doesn't explain that kind of weight loss. I sold my car, started bike commuting, weekend riding, and doing basic fitness work at the gym for core strength.

For us clydes who have perhaps more reasonable amounts to lose (I don't know about physiology and severity for people with 100+ pounds to lose, and can't claim to speak for them), there's no reason to do that.

I treat food for what it is. A necessary substance for survival. An excuse for social gathering. A source of great joy.

EDIT: I haven't lost (or gained weight) since March 2008 because of an injury and the sedentaryness that results. I just got back on my bike last week, and to the gym this week, so I should get back to shedding pounds in not so long.

Congratulations on your weight loss, I hope you have recovered well from your injury and the return to bicycling goes smoothly.

Being a hobby chef you probably have a different point of view, but food is fuel, nothing more. You almost came to that conclusion yourself towards the end of your post then changed your mind. Food can be joyous but the question is should it? Clearly if we're overweight at some point along the line we have partaken in the joyous aspects a bit too much (barring the mini-hulks). We celebrate with feasts, we self medicate with food when we're upset, for some reason a cake is involved in nearly every social gathering etc, so in my opinion I would say the easiest way to clear this hurdle is to remove the joyousness from food and not life in general. It's apparent by your posts that food brings the joy into your life (you're a hobby chef after all and I am tempted to PM you for a potato salad recipe) and that's great, but your response assumes we all feel the same as you do.

Meh, it's late and my train of thought is still at the boarding the station.

UGH, NO! No, no, no. Food should be joyous. Sucking the joy out of life is a terrible idea. Between March 2007 and March 2008 I went from 252 to 213 pounds. I am a hobby chef, my housemate is a hobby chef. We regularly fed 8-12 people 3-4 times a week during that entire period. We ate delicious and varied meals and managed to have a spectacular time without sucking the joy from life. We drank lots of wine, beer, and whatnot.

Now, that's not to say I didn't change my diet. I did. I cut way down on snacking, I had a piece of bread to mop up the sauce, not a half dozen pieces. I stopped getting seconds. I changed what I cooked to be a little healthier overall. Now, obviously, that kind of moderate change doesn't explain that kind of weight loss. I sold my car, started bike commuting, weekend riding, and doing basic fitness work at the gym for core strength.

For us clydes who have perhaps more reasonable amounts to lose (I don't know about physiology and severity for people with 100+ pounds to lose, and can't claim to speak for them), there's no reason to do that.

I treat food for what it is. A necessary substance for survival. An excuse for social gathering. A source of great joy.

EDIT: I haven't lost (or gained weight) since March 2008 because of an injury and the sedentaryness that results. I just got back on my bike last week, and to the gym this week, so I should get back to shedding pounds in not so long.

Started about three weeks ago at 250, down to 238. Gotta watch it or I'll do like I've done before, gone from just biking, to running and biking. Then, for one reason or another, I stop and balloon up again. I'm really just a fat type A in a B body. At one time, I ran 5 miles five times a week, biked an hour a day, and did 25 milers on weekends. The fat dropped fast.

My goal is to get below 190, but I don't have a time table. At 59, I'm learning the best approach is long and slow rather than fast. Enjoy the ride. Started on my mountain bike, but the effort/pleasure thing wasn't there, so rebuilt my road bike. I'm up to 7-10 milers during the week and did an 18 last Sunday. I'll probably maintain that for until the weather cools down a bit, then move up the mileage.

As for food, its for taste. I love various tastes and textures. There's another place I need to slow down. Its taken me years to realize I eat faster than most, but spend the same time doing it, so eat more. And, I was the slowest eater in my family.

Saw this post and wanted to join in on the fun! Started weight loss program 8 weeks ago, including investing in a road bike a week and a half ago. Started at 246lb, currently at 228, goal is 2lb per week for 20 total weeks. It's incredible how lifestyle changes as your mindset does! All I can think about on my way home is getting on the bike before it gets dark...

Keep up the great work everyone, and congrats to those who have hit their goals!

I returned to cycling last September and was just over 250 the first of the year when I got serious about riding every day. Weighed in at 218 last Sunday. No major diet changes other than eating at least a piece of toast in the morning instead of skipping breakfast, I think a little more about what I eat and I drink more water. I feel like I'm eating more but 100 miles a week of riding allow me to get away with it.

I have went from 261 to 210 since the first of the year. The bike has really really helped. I quit cigarettes to and have radically changed my eating habits.

There are a lot of people on this board who have keep me motivated just by reading the posts. I feel better than I have in years.:thumb:

I myself went from 115kg (250lbs) to now 89kg (194lbs) over a period of a year and a half. Take it slow, don't try to rush things. Keep cycling, try to avoid the munchies, drink a LOT(!!!) and you'll succeed :)

Bon courage!!

Amox
I got pretty excited when I read this. Now there's a diet I can do! Then I realized you meant water... :)

I got pretty excited when I read this. Now there's a diet I can do! Then I realized you meant water... :)

My diet may be slower than his, but it works with the "3-pint rule" (it doesn't count if it's not more than 3 pints). I just made this rule up, but am fairly certain established medical literature can be forged and placed on the internet to support it.

I have a goal to get under 100 (kilos not pounds:)) and into Lewis size 34 and stay there. Two more kilos to go.
Bike helps and also skipping dinner. Stopped the cream for my coffee and went down a kilo in month or so.

I started in February '08 at 230lbs and now I'm down to 209lbs.

OK - the token woman will chime in..I thought it would be good to be honest. Anout 2 months ago April 21 - I started a new plan...new food plan and going to the gym 5 days a week with 40 minutes doing an itread.com workout on the elliptical and some weights...lost 17.5 pounds with the last 3 weeks included about 13 Bike rides..yay got a bike and love it!

This week - dinner out every night - 2 glasses of wine - and not so good! I think it's time I gave up the wine during the week - and really tried not to eat out as much..hard to do with a new client/new job. So anyway - I wil go to sleep soon get out and hit the gym! Bike ride when I get home in 2 weeks...

OK...I can do it.. Must remember it's great to be on a plan and lose - but sometimes life intervenes and I may need to coast...

Drink a ton of water!

Sue

My story:

May 1, 2008: Weight 280 pounds. Blood pressure 154/102. All clothes fit tight, if at all. Running out of breath biking half mile down road. Wife says I'm wasting money on bike since I'll lose interest.

June 25, 2008 (today): Weight 246 pounds. Blood pressure 109/74. Most clothes fit, some fit too loose, can fit into clothes from high school (10 years ago). Now bike 20 miles on long days and 15 miles on light days. Commutes 28 miles to work at least once a week. Wife asks to get her a bike so she can join in.

Of course, I flipped my life upside down. I don't eat fatty processed food anymore. I drink only water, gatorade, juice, and green tea. I eat 90% vegetarian. I also make lunch the biggest meal o the day.

208 from 220 (I'm 6'3" though). Cut ice cream and work snacks.

I started the season around April 1st weighing 222 lbs. I’m currently at 213 lbs and have lost 2 inches from my stomach and an inch from my waist. I’m hoping to get under 200 by the end of the summer. In April and May I rode about 170 miles a month and for June I’m on track to be well over 300 miles for the month. My gains have been slow but I continue to add miles and climbing. Where I see the most improvement is the number of miles I can do in one ride. At the begging of the season 10 miles was a good ride, now I consider 40 miles to be a good ride.

Good Luck to you.

awesome! I am on the same journey-I started at 250, am at 242 right now, and am on my way to 210. I am putting a target of december 1 for the goal. I have been improving my diet, etc, over the last couple months, and I am now biking to work every day possible, 10 miles each way.

Nice! I commute to and that is how I log most of my miles! My ride to work is 14 miles round trip, but recently I have started doing "night rides" off the beaten path to avoid traffic (mainly drunk drivers), about two to three miles a night, nothing big... waiting until I get a road bike and then I will do some longer rides...

I started the season around April 1st weighing 222 lbs. I’m currently at 213 lbs and have lost 2 inches from my stomach and an inch from my waist. I’m hoping to get under 200 by the end of the summer. In April and May I rode about 170 miles a month and for June I’m on track to be well over 300 miles for the month. My gains have been slow but I continue to add miles and climbing. Where I see the most improvement is the number of miles I can do in one ride. At the begging of the season 10 miles was a good ride, now I consider 40 miles to be a good ride.

Good Luck to you.

In two weeks I have logged a little over 160 miles and what I have noticed is that my commute to work is shortening in time and the hills are starting to get really easy. I am considering taking a longer route just to log more miles and make it for a longer ride. :)

208 from 220 (I'm 6'3" though). Cut ice cream and work snacks.

I have not had a single sip of soda in over a month and haven't had chips and salsa in a really long time... :(... sad but I feel accomplished and am proud of myself. My family and my girlfriend have actually told me that they are proud of me and that has really boosted my confidence and drove me to push harder than I ever have.

A coworker from another department caught me pushing my bike through the door to our shop this morning and said "Dang you're gettin' skinny." :thumb:

This week - dinner out every night - 2 glasses of wine - and not so good! I think it's time I gave up the wine during the week - and really tried not to eat out as much..hard to do with a new client/new job. So anyway - I wil go to sleep soon get out and hit the gym! Bike ride when I get home in 2 weeks...

OK...I can do it.. Must remember it's great to be on a plan and lose - but sometimes life intervenes and I may need to coast...

Drink a ton of water!

Sue

Yeah, cutting wine out is something I know that helps - but it is hard to give up:)

UGH, NO! No, no, no. Food should be joyous. Sucking the joy out of life is a terrible idea.
+1 It's so easy to eat healthy while still maintaining the taste and flavor. Salt, pepper, herbs and spices added to fresh food and vegetables can make food less boring and still be healthy.

I've not been on the bike much since the TX heat kicked up but I have been lifting regularly at the gym to get ready to train in jiu-jitsu this fall. I've stuck at 220-225, but I've lost a couple inches trading fat for muscle.

last year i blew my lower back out, meaning 2 blown out disc and one crushed disc inbetween those two, and had to drop some flab. i was already about 15 lbs over weight, but then you throw in a couple months of being laid up.....35lbs overboard really quick. i have dropped 20lbs in the past 4 months by
biking everywhere and hitting the gym 3 days a week, consistently!, i watched what i ate, meaning i stopped eating the random sandwhich in the middle of the day. i also eat breakfast now. it is the most important meal of the day. anyway. my back still hurts, but losing the weight has done it a lot of good, not to mention got me back on a bike and i feel better.

I've not been on the bike much since the TX heat kicked up but I have been lifting regularly at the gym to get ready to train in jiu-jitsu this fall. I've stuck at 220-225, but I've lost a couple inches trading fat for muscle.

What heat?:)

I've lost 12 lbs in 5 weeks. But, it takes a lot for me to lose weight after the initial drop, even with diet and exercise. I no longer purposely diet. As I increase my mileage, that seems to take care of itself. One very noticeable thing, though there's not a great difference in waist circumference, the pants are getting baggy in the hips.

I'm moving out of my current house here soon and tried on some old clothes that I found from my "freshman days" while packing and tried them on.... (dramatic music in the background) THEY FIT!

I'm moving out of my current house here soon and tried on some old clothes that I found from my "freshman days" while packing and tried them on.... (dramatic music in the background) THEY FIT!

Congratulations! I found stuff from the early 1990s, and they fit again. In fact, a shirt I bought in 1995 is now arguably too loose on me. When I was at my low weight of 242 last year, I weighed about what I did when I graduated high school, back in 1984.

After an inital quick loss of 8 lbs, it has been a bit of a slog to keep it going. Still biking the same amount, and eating well, but also had a couple 'nights out' with friends that involved lotsa beer and pizza. However, I am back on the down slope, and if the scale is correct, I am just a hair below 240 this morning, and I know that I am also (re)building muscle in my legs.

My wife says that I look like I lost a ton of weight, too, and she is the most important judge.

Haven't taken my BP, but it has been steady at 110/80 for years, and was so at this year's physical.

I will, however, be really interested in my cholesterol, which, while trending in the right direction, was still a bit high.

Yesterday I was stopped at a light when a kid in a car that had passed me earlier openned his door, looked at me and said, "You fast!" I had been going around 25 when they passed me so it was nice to get some unexpected encouragement for my hard work. I've moved to a tighter belt notch since riding this summer, I'm on the smallest one so hopefully a new belt will be in order by the end of summer, :).

Getting in shape:

1. Body composition - i.e., muscle/fat/bones ratios

2. Cardiovascular health

3. Muscular strength

4. Flexibility

5. Body chemistry - what you eat, cholesterol levels, BP, etc.

ALL are important.

I did too, but it was pretzels in my case. Pretzels are allegedly a 'healthy snack', so I used to fool myself by eating them instead of chips.

BTW, there's a poster to this board from Nebraska that's an inspiration to many people, including me. Sometimes when I'm tempted I stop myself and say, "What would Ben do?"

It depends on the pretzel, just how a bagel is good for you depending on what it's made from.

Getting in shape:

1. Body composition - i.e., muscle/fat/bones ratios

2. Cardiovascular health

3. Muscular strength

4. Flexibility

5. Body chemistry - what you eat, cholesterol levels, BP, etc.

ALL are important.

I agree with you, it is not just about watching your weight go down. My reaction to your reply is as follows...

1. I have lowered my body fat composition down to 20%, which is good seeing how last year it was at 25%.

2. I have stopped using salt (but occasionally use Sea Salt)

3. I improved my max on my bench to 285lbs and improved my squat to 315lbs and can now do three sixty second planks in a row with only 10 sec rest.

4. Getting better at this, I stretch every time I get off my bike.

5. I have started to look at labels for how much sodium and how much saturated fat is in certain foods and have made changes in my main foods that I eat (I have not eaten chinese food in a MONTH!)

I agree with you, it is not just about watching your weight go down. My reaction to your reply is as follows...

1. I have lowered my body fat composition down to 20%, which is good seeing how last year it was at 25%.

2. I have stopped using salt (but occasionally use Sea Salt)

3. I improved my max on my bench to 285lbs and improved my squat to 315lbs and can now do three sixty second planks in a row with only 10 sec rest.

4. Getting better at this, I stretch every time I get off my bike.

5. I have started to look at labels for how much sodium and how much saturated fat is in certain foods and have made changes in my main foods that I eat (I have not eaten chinese food in a MONTH!)

WOW - that's impressive! Good stuff.

Keep it up.

Basically being new at the whole biking thing, I can't say that it's had an affect yet. But I'm sure it will

I did start the year right over 300(303 if I remember right) Today I'm down to 268. Biggest things for me so far was the push to get out and walk more, averaging 4 miles a trip 4-5 times a week. I also cut out the soda and ice tea. I cut my snacking down alot. Actually no desire to snack like I did.

I still eat most of the same foods, not the best. But I can't give up some of my favorites. I am trying to re-learn my eating habits. Cutting portions,and not having to clean my plate each time. Some of this I learned from the Paul McKenna special that was on TLC a few months back.

I am kind of proud of myself. Picked up my bike friday, only rode a mile before it rained. Saturday and Sunday I did around 3.5 miles each day. Yesterday(monday) I upped to 5.2 miles, purposely doing 3 hills. Today(tuesday) I rode to the next town, 13.55 miles round trip. Can't say it was non-stop, I took a few breaks. But I set a goal for the day and made it.

This section of Bike Forums is a big motivation for me.

I've been at it a few weeks now. My clothes are already getting looser, and people comment that I look like I've lost weight. I logged 25 miles on Sunday, my longest ride yet. Hills are getting easier and my endurance keeps getting better. I've cut out all the sugar I can find in my diet, no soda anymore and almost all red meat. I've lost 2 pounds. My next step is going to be lifting, much more mileage and as little calorie intake as I can manage and still function mentally. My goal is to lose 10 pounds by the end of the year. Yes, I'm having a bad attitude day.

Basically being new at the whole biking thing, I can't say that it's had an affect yet. But I'm sure it will

I did start the year right over 300(303 if I remember right) Today I'm down to 268. Biggest things for me so far was the push to get out and walk more, averaging 4 miles a trip 4-5 times a week. I also cut out the soda and ice tea. I cut my snacking down alot. Actually no desire to snack like I did.

I still eat most of the same foods, not the best. But I can't give up some of my favorites. I am trying to re-learn my eating habits. Cutting portions,and not having to clean my plate each time. Some of this I learned from the Paul McKenna special that was on TLC a few months back.

I am kind of proud of myself. Picked up my bike friday, only rode a mile before it rained. Saturday and Sunday I did around 3.5 miles each day. Yesterday(monday) I upped to 5.2 miles, purposely doing 3 hills. Today(tuesday) I rode to the next town, 13.55 miles round trip. Can't say it was non-stop, I took a few breaks. But I set a goal for the day and made it.

This section of Bike Forums is a big motivation for me.

I am glad to hear that in some way we have motivated you even more than you have motivated yourself, keep it up and so will I.

Yesterday I was stopped at a light when a kid in a car that had passed me earlier openned his door, looked at me and said, "You fast!" I had been going around 25 when they passed me so it was nice to get some unexpected encouragement for my hard work. I've moved to a tighter belt notch since riding this summer, I'm on the smallest one so hopefully a new belt will be in order by the end of summer, :).

This story made me grin yesterday when I read it, so imagine my joy at having a similar story to tell today...

On the way in to work today, and as I made the turn into the last road on my way to work (about a mile of straight-ish quiet-ish road, some skinny guy on a road bike coming the opposite way made the same turn a few seconds before I did. I decided I'd try and catch him then keep up for the hell of it. 3/4 of a mile later (at a steady 21/22 mph) he looks behind to turn right (in the UK, so we drive on the left), sees me, does a double take, smiles, waves and makes the turn.

I arrived at work somewhat surprised at having a) kept up, and b) broken a sweat, which I've not really done on my commute for a couple of months which in itself is encouraging...