Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - The "After" Picture

I don't have a before picture. But I've dropped 58 pounds from 205 to 147. I'm going to keep eating the way I have been and the weight loss will stop when it settles out. To be honest. If I don't lose any more, that'll be fine with me.

So here it is. From today's ride when we stopped in the bike shop for an odd part at the tail end of the ride. I have a couple of layers on top, and my jersey is still pretty dang big on me. I need to go shopping!

http://www.jspublications.net/images/bikes/ridephotos/08-12-27/Joel.jpg

I don't have a before picture. But I've dropped 58 pounds from 205 to 147. I'm going to keep eating the way I have been and the weight loss will stop when it settles out. To be honest. If I don't lose any more, that'll be fine with me.

So here it is. From today's ride when we stopped in the bike shop for an odd part at the tail end of the ride. I have a couple of layers on top, and my jersey is still pretty dang big on me. I need to go shopping!

http://www.jspublications.net/images/bikes/ridephotos/08-12-27/Joel.jpg

I47! Do you disappear when you turn sideways? :lol:

Wow,that's good, but not sure if I know anyone under 147 lbs.:D How tall are you?

Lose the beard, maybe 135!:p

Wow,that's good, but not sure if I know anyone under 147 lbs.:D How tall are you?

Lose the beard, maybe 135!:p

I'm 5'7". And no way I'm going to lose the beard. It keeps my face warm in the winter. :thumb:

:thumb: Congrats JoelS! That's awesome!

Wow Joel, that's amazing. The Colnago is a work of art.

The weight loss is awesome as well:roflmao2:

Seriously, that's an amazing result of what I'm sure has been the result of much hard work. May I ask if you could share your diet approach, as well as your riding schedule and other work out methods you have used to lose the weight?

Congrats! You have more than earned a new jersey, or two, or three!

looking great awesome job

Looking good there JoelS. Man, after my initial 10 pound loss I have been on a plateau ever since. So dang frustrating. Keep up the good work.

great work.. Nice bike.

Wow Joel, that's amazing. The Colnago is a work of art.

The weight loss is awesome as well:roflmao2:

Seriously, that's an amazing result of what I'm sure has been the result of much hard work. May I ask if you could share your diet approach, as well as your riding schedule and other work out methods you have used to lose the weight?

Congrats! You have more than earned a new jersey, or two, or three!

Thanks.

Ok, I'll tell everyone how I did it. Again... :roflmao2: Seriously though...

I cut out sodas altogether. Sure, I'll have a very occasional one when we go out, but less than 16oz. a week. I stopped the booze. I stopped drinking beer. I drink mostly coffee and water.

I don't eat much anymore. I tracked calories for a few days to get an idea of what I was eating, then cut back to about 2000. I significantly reduced the amount of meat that I eat. No more than about 4oz. in a meal, often less. That helped more than any other single thing. Cut back on protein.

I did not stop eating carbs. I did not go to a veggies/fruits only diet. Just a solid well balanced diet of less than 2000 calories a day, with lots of water.

I ride a pretty good amount. Yesterday was about 46.6 miles. Avg of 15.8, 2700 feet of climbing on mostly rollers. It was a fast ride. I also put in 5 hours on the trainer over the past week. 2 sessions of 2 hours, 1 of 1. Trainer rides are Monday, Wed, and Fri. Then a road ride on Sat or Sun. I watch old races when on the trainer. On the flats, I pedal easy. When they climb, I shift down and crank up the resistance and climb. I worked it out to where I can simulate a 9% grade. When they crest the climb, I drop the resistance and recover.

I wear a HR monitor. I try to keep my HR at 140 or more. Even on the trainer. Yesterday, I spent over 1/3 of the ride in HR zone 4 (Google that if you need, I can't really explain it).

I'll come out and say it. Fad diets don't work! Atkins, no carb, south beach, LA, etc. They don't work. They don't teach you to eat healthy. Learn to eat healthy. Learn to eat small portions. That's the best way to go about it.

I'll come out and say it. Fad diets don't work! Atkins, no carb, south beach, LA, etc. They don't work. They don't teach you to eat healthy. Learn to eat healthy. Learn to eat small portions. That's the best way to go about it.

:thumb:

Exactly. It's taken me about 13 months to drop 75 lbs. I still need to lose a bit over 45.

I'm also losing weight to live longer. See here for an example (http://fatguy.org/2008/12/28/living-longer-blood-pressure/).

Seriously impressed. How long did it take?

Congrats, JoelS! Your story will undoubtedly inspire many to lose weight the right way.

Seriously impressed. How long did it take?

I've been at it since the tail end of April.

good job!

your right a well balanced diet is key...but protien is a great thing when you want to build muscles...its essential actually.

Chad

That's awesome.

good job!

your right a well balanced diet is key...but protien is a great thing when you want to build muscles...its essential actually.

Chad

True, but too much of it will put weight on you that you don't want.

Lookin' good, Joel. I'm in and out of Clydesville lately, hovering mostly just under 200 (which ain't too bad for 6'-2", but I'd still like to drop about 15). I've totally given up on dieting until the New Year, but my wife went all vegetarian on me so when we eat out we go to the vegan place, at least some of the time. Between her healthy eating habits rubbing off on me, and my riding, I seem to hold steady without sacrifice. A little sacrifice, I hope, will make those 15 lb. melt away.

True, but too much of it will put weight on you that you don't want.

thats when you hit the gym. and free weights.

I take in about 200g of protien a day give or take.

Chad

Ah, see, that's where I'm lost. I have so many problems with my joints that moving heavy weights is out as exercise. About all I can really do without replacement surgery of several bony parts is ride my bike. So that's what I do. Might do as much as 3 hours on the trainer tomorrow.

Congrats JoelS! I'd be much more impressed if I weren't so envious! Just kidding, I'm inspired by stories like yours. Thanks for sharing!

Congrats! What an accomplishment!

That's very impressive weight loss, what way do you eat, and what, that has worked so well for you?

Joel, I am blown away. If I simply could cut out the sodas (i drink about 3 liters a day) I would lose weight but I am heavily addicted to them. Then to hear that you cut out alcohol and modified your diet also is amaizing. Great job!!!!!

Joel, I am blown away. If I simply could cut out the sodas (i drink about 3 liters a day) I would lose weight but I am heavily addicted to them. Then to hear that you cut out alcohol and modified your diet also is amaizing. Great job!!!!!

holy crap @ 3 LITERS!!! thats an insane amount of soda...good luck with stopping/slowing down...

Chad

holy crap @ 3 LITERS!!! thats an insane amount of soda...good luck with stopping/slowing down...

Chad

Yeah I am heavily addicted and can't seem to find something I like to take the place of the sodas.:( My doctor said that with cutting out the sodas and a few days of riding the bike each week the weight should start falling off of me. I just have no will power!

Joel, I am blown away. If I simply could cut out the sodas (i drink about 3 liters a day) I would lose weight but I am heavily addicted to them. Then to hear that you cut out alcohol and modified your diet also is amaizing. Great job!!!!!

:twitchy::twitchy::twitchy:, Please tell me that they are at least diet.

Regular Pepsi is my curse!!!

Ah, see, that's where I'm lost. I have so many problems with my joints that moving heavy weights is out as exercise. About all I can really do without replacement surgery of several bony parts is ride my bike. So that's what I do. Might do as much as 3 hours on the trainer tomorrow.

You might be able to lift lighter weights. As one guy with joint problems to another, my trips to the gym became a lot more pleasant when I realized it was silly for me to get into a contest of "how many plates can you stack?" So my lifting program isn't to build big muscles, but to tone what little I have and slowly add to it.

Oh damn :eek:. Dude, can't imagine what your blood sugar is. Hopefully you can find something better for you this year as a replacement.

Yeah I am heavily addicted and can't seem to find something I like to take the place of the sodas.:( My doctor said that with cutting out the sodas and a few days of riding the bike each week the weight should start falling off of me. I just have no will power!

Decafinated or herbal tea worked for me. I generally brew it myself so I can control the amount of sweetener I consume.

Yeah I am heavily addicted and can't seem to find something I like to take the place of the sodas.:( My doctor said that with cutting out the sodas and a few days of riding the bike each week the weight should start falling off of me. I just have no will power!

well with caffine you have to "wean" yourself out of it...and honestly 3 liters a day is one of the highest I've ever heard of. do you drink from 12oz cans? if so thats pretty easy to slow down.

just have ONE less can each week...yes each week. that way your dependency of the caffine will slowly decrease.

Chad

Regular Pepsi is my curse!!!

How horrible. At least, if you must, drink the Real Thing.

Believe me gang I ain't proud if it. Years of a unhealthy lifestyle with fast food and sodas has been very hard to overcome. I love riding my bike but I just can't get my diet in order.

All it takes is willpower. Alternate a soda and a big glass of water. Before you know it, you'll have cut way back on the soda. That stuff is evil.

The fellow who taught me to be a cyclist, a fellow Clyde poster, was very strongly against drinking soda. "No athlete should ever drink it" he wrote me once.

The fellow who taught me to be a cyclist, a fellow Clyde poster, was very strongly against drinking soda. "No athlete should ever drink it" he wrote me once.

tell the guys on the tour that get it in their lunch bags...can't thing of the french word....mazette? spelled horribly wrong I'm sure.

all joking aside of course.

someone once told me "Moderation..."

Chad

Believe me gang I ain't proud if it. Years of a unhealthy lifestyle with fast food and sodas has been very hard to overcome. I love riding my bike but I just can't get my diet in order.

try the once a week cutting back deal....let us know how it goes.

Caffine is extremely addicting, and I'm sure if you tried quitting cold turkey you would definitely have withdrawl symptoms

Chad

All it takes is willpower. Alternate a soda and a big glass of water. Before you know it, you'll have cut way back on the soda. That stuff is evil.

First of all Joel that is good advice and I am going to try it.:thumb: And secondly I didn't mean ot hijack this thread which is about you and your awsome achievement. Congrats on a job well done!

First of all Joel that is good advice and I am going to try it.:thumb: And secondly I didn't mean ot hijack this thread which is about you and your awsome achievement. Congrats on a job well done!

No worries. I hope the water idea works out. Once you get used to it, go to a soda and 2 glasses of water. Before you know it, you'll be off the pepsi and the weight will really start to drop.

I sure hope so. I will give it a try.

Joel, I am blown away. If I simply could cut out the sodas (i drink about 3 liters a day) I would lose weight but I am heavily addicted to them. Then to hear that you cut out alcohol and modified your diet also is amaizing. Great job!!!!!

soda (Coke) is my problem too, probably average 4 cans a day. Oh yeah, and the beer too.

Soda:
I am also addicted to the sparkle.
Perhaps you could try some "apple-schorle" as a kind of fix. A very popular drink in Germany.
A fifth of the glass of apple juice and then filled up with cold club soda. Certainly a step up from any coke.

I tell you this. A woman in my office drank at least 8 cans a day at work and she gave it up cold turkey. Had head ache and all sorts of addiction issues, but after a week off the stuff, she was good. She lost 35 lbs just from not drinking the soda's. She said she changed nothing else.

I don't post here often but I have been following this post. Kenseth03, I used to chew tobacco and the way I cut way back was to make myself drink a bottle of water before I could put in a dip. That way at least I was doing some good. Sometimes I would chug that bottle down just so I could get a nicotine fix but as time went on I would forget that I needed the buzz as I was drinking the water. Like I said, at least I was getting some water out of it which I didn't normally drink.

Might work for you also. My demon is sweets and baked goods, I don't have too much of an issue with pop although I do normally have 1 a day.

Good Luck

Way to go!

Christmas night the doctor said I have a kidney stone and should not drink soda or caffeine. It was that simple and I haven't touched it since Christmas. Can't say I miss it or even notice a change. I also cut 1-1.5qt/day of milk to 1pint every couple days. I do miss my milk with chocolate instant breakfast mix.

JoelS - its awesome you can control your diet so well. I tend to binge eat. I know how to eat healthier its just hard to turn that switch and stay the course.

Congrats Joel - a great story.

Mine is similar, but not quite as impressive yet.

My diet plan is simple.

no sugared soda - soda is a hard one for some folks - I know it too.
no Slurpies (slushies) - I was major addicted to these in the summer
and they are like concentrated soda.
say no to dessert most of the time
slightly smaller portions when I remember

That's it for me so far, no other changes.

I bike what this board would consider a small mileage really. Try to train a bit for the spring MS-Tour, and keep going over the summer. This year, I did all my trips within my small town via bike, but I still commute via car since it's 35km one way.

I'm down abut 35lb so far, currently 185 - aiming for 20 more to go or so.

I need a winter activity now or a trainer, so I can do something during this weather (-25C)

I once heard that people that drink diet soda drink 3 tp 4 times mores soda. I can't speak for the acuracy of this statement. but I tend to think it's true.

[QUOTE=mncyclist;8116976... the way I cut way back was to make myself drink a bottle of water before I could put in a dip. That way at least I was doing some good....

Good Luck[/QUOTE]

^x2 (except replace Dip with Mountain Dew). This method works great with Soda, since it fills you up a bit before you even touch the soda. One of the 'neat' properties of soda is that it can fool the body into thinking that it is not 'full', and thus you consume more-this is why FF chains push it so much....'Supersize!!'....but think about it. If you are consuming that much soda, which I used to (2+L per day) you are also eating more than you should because you don't 'know' you have had enough.

I found that when I quit soda, I filled up a lot quicker at meals. I replaced it with water mostly, but Iced Tea (real brewed stuff, no HFCS) sometimes, and skim milk at home.

As for the original subject of 'the after pic' DAMN. Thats all I can say. Nice work.