Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - What is on your "I Love Me!" wall?

Anyone have anything posted to a wall, or bulletin board, or on their desktop, that reminds them of an important accomplishment they and their bike completed? Tom Stormcrowe calls such things a "I love me" wall, and strongly suggests to me that I have items such as the photo of me at the top of Mount Tom stuck up there. I do have a small photo of me riding outside Paw Paw tunnel in 2008 at my desk at work. And I know of a BF poster who pinned over his computer the certificate Tom S. gave him when he slipped below 200 pounds. Anyone else have a display of how awesome they are?

Since most of my touring accomplishments have been motorcycle-based before this year, I've got pictures from long motorcycle rides; I also collect magnets from different places I visit. A photo from my recent bicycle tour will be getting framed and added soon!

I've got my Tour d' Pepper number and Hotter than Hell number hanging on the blinds above my desk.

My 200, 300, and 400k brevet medals and my 1000k total distance ACP medals from last year. My STP, Chilly Hilly, Tour de Cure, 7 Hills of Kirkland and Flying Wheels ride numbers from 2008 (my first serious long distance season in over 15 years).
The 200, 300, 400 and 3000k total distance medals will go up there for this year.

My P.E.

In my case, it's:

- a poster the staff at my gym made when I reached the 100 pound lost mark:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs196.snc3/20370_1263338156038_1607271639_643161_1224766_n.jpg

- a poster made for me by a member of the Great Allegheny Passage Yahoo group:

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs176.snc3/20370_1263338196039_1607271639_643162_1397613_n.jpg

- framed certificates from my winning awards from the Chess Journalists of America.
- framed cert from passing my League of American Bicyclists riding class.
- photo of me at 400 pounds with five time US chess champion Grandmaster Larry Evans, taken at Cambridge Springs, PA, in 2004. While I was honored to meet GM Evans, I'm sorry that I looked like I did.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs435.snc3/25046_1312726550717_1607271639_742889_1616400_n.jpg

I live in a 700 sq ft condo. No storage room. My 2 bikes and trailer adorn my living room. Constant pride and motivation.
In my last apartment, I totally stripped a bike, hung it from my shower rod and spray painted it. Sat on the living room floor and packed wheel bearings, headset, bottom bracket... Nothing I couldn't wash out of the rug with a "rug doctor". I live my love affair with bikes.

No storage room? You have an apartment thats almost twice the size of mine. And I have all of my 3 bikes inside, along with all spare parts, components, and tools. So what do you think about that? :innocent:

nothing
not feeling anything in particular to like about myself right now.
sorry
just being honest

nothing
not feeling anything in particular to like about myself right now.
sorry
just being honest

I find a great deal to like about you. If all you have is "The Historian is my friend", well, at least it's something.

I don't have an awards wall. Growing up I had some success as an athlete. So for me the metals, trophies and awards have lost their luster. My motivation is an internal thing now. I do track my workouts in a database which provides all the motivation I need.
Please don't take this as a put-down for those of you who do display your stuff. Whatever floats your boat:p. I don't judge:thumb:

I was going to say nothing, but that's not exactly true.

I have a map of Seattle and its surroundings, tacked to my bedroom door. When I finish a ride over new ground, I come home and mark those roads with a highlighter. This is a celebration of my cycling accomplishments, I suppose; it's also motivated me to climb some nasty hills that I've been avoiding - some of them for years.

Updated

Great question, Historian. I used to have an "I love me" wall, but when I moved I didn't hang the stuff up again. I have many awards from college and military. Even at work, I have a prestigious award just sitting in a box. It's not that I don't appreciate the recognition, but as I've gotten older it doesn't mean as much. I think it's because I feel like I'm being awarded for doing what I'm supposed to do in the first place.

On the other hand, the weight loss poster from the gym and the Milestone 0 certificate...those are really cool. Same with CliftonGK1's medals and RossThompson's "hotter than hell" number, etc. etc.... I would hang that stuff up in a heartbeat. I don't have any significant cycling accomplishments like that. I'm starting to think that I need to get off my arse and stretch myself. :) Maybe I should head out to Southern CA and do GMR with Beanz. I would hang those pictures. :thumb:

Updated

I don't really have a wall or anything, but I do have a little space on my desk where I leave my numbers from all the races I've run this year (on foot and on bike) and the medal I got for winning my age group at one event. It's not really there for display, but just for me to keep in sight range for a reminder of what I've managed to accomplish this year.

The CGK1 "Awesome Box, 2009 edition"

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs650.snc4/61065_440690366763_519101763_5090415_2958301_n.jpg

To me, this is more about where I've been and where I am. In April, I was 220lbs, hadn't rode a bike since I was in college (pushing 40, so it was some time ago); today, I'm 175# (goal of 150), in five months I've put 1500mi on my bike and completed 2 centuries. I've started running as well (which I thought I hated, but must have been a bad memory).

I think we all need reminders of where we've been in life. Like the old adage, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I will never been "unfit" again, whether or not I'm a clyde again.


I would LOVE to ride with my wife, but she didn't grow up riding bikes and doesn't like it too much. So, I run with her.

I'm still moving. All my "awards" are in a box in the new attic. Such a wall is in my head, but more important things must get done first. My items are mostly car related, from early days of road rallyes and hill climbs. Although my earliest trophy was for the West Lawn Boy's Bicycle Champ, 1957. More of a safe handling of bicycle event. I was 12 and my RollFast was 4.

I was going to say nothing, but that's not exactly true.

I have a map of Seattle and its surroundings, tacked to my bedroom door. When I finish a ride over new ground, I come home and mark those roads with a highlighter. This is a celebration of my cycling accomplishments, I suppose; it's also motivated me to climb some nasty hills that I've been avoiding - some of them for years.

I have a friend who does this for chess. He marks everywhere he's played a game. His goal is to play a rated game in every club in PA.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs775.snc4/67502_1555466939075_1607271639_1299311_7384371_n.jpg

I found this one tonight, buried on my blog. I'm standing with my team captain, former BF poster Uncadan, at the 20 mile mark of the MS City to Shore in 2007. Nine months previously he gave me my first bike lesson, during which I knocked him and his bike over. This is going on the wall.

Bumped. Someone on Facebook asked me about this, so I thought the thread should go "Bump!"

Great idea to have an "I Love Me" wall or spot.

I don't have one per se, but I do have a thick piece of poster-board behind my bedroom door, to which I have ever-changing items attached. Inspirational quotes find their way up there from time to time. I have kept charts for tracking weight and sometimes I post a weekly or monthly exercise schedule. I work swing shift - often work OT and can work on into the "wee" hours of the morning. I'm also a chronic insomniac and morning is not my strongest time of day. If I've gotten very little sleep, I will let myself sleep as long as it's beneficial in the long run. Long story short, when I get up, I can quickly glance at my exercise schedule to see what exercise I have time for and when I should do it - given the present time. If I didn't post it.... I can easily "dilly dally" an hour away trying to decide what I should do first.

One item that has remained up there for years is a small post card ad for a running shoe. The model running is a short blond woman with strong legs. I love that she has some muscle and is unlike many running models who are incredibly thin. She is a reminder of how much I long to run again. She does not seem to be competing - she is simply enjoying her run.

In an effort to live very simply and with less "stuff" - (I've been guilty of being a pack-rat in the past) - I've gotten rid of most "items" from the past, including medals and race numbers, etc. (Not that I had many medals :o) I've been extremely competitive since I can remember and I've grown to dislike many aspects of the "ultra-competitive me". So for now at least.... that wall-board is for keeping present, in the moment, as much as possible.

I don't have much yet. My main motivation for starting the quest to become and stay healthy are my 2 year old twins. This picture is on my desk (one of my favorites) and it keeps me motivated. They are my favorite thing about my life.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1db08b3127ccefd6e54bda90f00000030O00AYtXDRy0bNmQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

I also have our current swim team picture, which was the deciding factor and made me realize how overweight I had become. That was in January - and it jump started my motivation to lose weight. I have lost 36 pounds since February - and feel great.

I have several goals that I am shooting for over the next year. I am going to compete in my first swim meet since leaving swimming in college, as well as shooting for my first century ride.

Sounds like an awesome idea to do. Thanks for bumping the thread Neil! :-)

I like this idea. I don't really have an 'I love me wall' but I do have a note I wrote to myself the night I weighed myself and the scale read 212 and said enough is enough. Basically it just encourages me to lose weight by saying that I can look good again and every small decision I make (like not to have that snack or that beer) helps. I keep it by my desk or anywhere I frequent the most. It's really helped. On the flip side I record my weight loss progress week by week so I can visually see my results.
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This 10 inch scaron Gina's side is number one! Gina's 2 sons have a kidney disease that destroyed her sons' health. One had been on dialysis for 12 years other than the one more year of normal life Gina's kidney gave him. Now the second son is nearing dialysis as well. Dealing with this bad hand life dealt her, physically and emotionally she worked hard to get a handle on things. She continues to ride her bike 3000+ miles per year while working 10 hour days. Goes to show how strong a person can be if they set their mind to it. Ask me why I have no compassion for the crybabies that whine about not being motivated to ride, not having time due to work, or a having a pimple on their butt etc. There is hardcore then there are the sissies!:thumb:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/5448378720_e7dcef4f5a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40913998@N06/5448378720/)
scar (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40913998@N06/5448378720/) by gulpxtreme (http://www.flickr.com/people/40913998@N06/), on Flickr

Even a little cycling mishap can't keep her down!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3591/3666209402_504f4330b6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35885048@N06/3666209402/)
ouchie (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35885048@N06/3666209402/) by mrbeanz1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/35885048@N06/), on Flickr

Gina's my hero and still mighty purty. Not to worry, she only had 3 bites, I ate the rest bwahahaha!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2396/5773624308_2b970d5e28.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35885048@N06/5773624308/)
IMG_6761 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35885048@N06/5773624308/) by mrbeanz1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/35885048@N06/), on Flickr


I Love me? This picture. Riding a $1000 bike, standard double crank, heavy Deep V rims, $20 tires, outweighing most riders by 80 lbs and still whipping the pants off 2/3 of the field of "serious climbers and riders" on a timed event, 100 miles and 10,000 ft of climbing.

We dont need no expensive fancy junk! :thumb:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3414/3623998990_b7be410168.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35885048@N06/3623998990/)
Bear1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35885048@N06/3623998990/) by mrbeanz1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/35885048@N06/), on Flickr

Pictures like this. Couple years back, actual training dropping 30 lbs then going out to kick more butt on timed events!:D

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/3535347464_6fa52bbdcc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35885048@N06/3535347464/)
GMR51509 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35885048@N06/3535347464/) by mrbeanz1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/35885048@N06/), on Flickr

Astonishing, Beanz, just astonishing.

You and Gina and your love and respect really are a breath of fresh air worth savouring.

Astonishing, Beanz, just astonishing.

You and Gina and your love and respect really are a breath of fresh air worth savouring.

Thanks! :thumb:....I must give Gina the credit for being so strong but yet so soft hearted and loving.;)

I don't have much yet. My main motivation for starting the quest to become and stay healthy are my 2 year old twins. This picture is on my desk (one of my favorites) and it keeps me motivated. They are my favorite thing about my life.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1db08b3127ccefd6e54bda90f00000030O00AYtXDRy0bNmQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

I also have our current swim team picture, which was the deciding factor and made me realize how overweight I had become. That was in January - and it jump started my motivation to lose weight. I have lost 36 pounds since February - and feel great.

I have several goals that I am shooting for over the next year. I am going to compete in my first swim meet since leaving swimming in college, as well as shooting for my first century ride.

What an adorable set of inspirational tykes!! :) Congrats on the weight loss!! :thumb:

Bad cell phone photo from the wall behind me at work..... cycling, hiking, and running represented.

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/255761_1938531955461_1607271639_1912614_7531033_n.jpg

Only thing on my wall are the sections of belt that I've cut off since starting.

going ot start my wall soon. Need to print pictures out. Good rainy day project!

It's a sad story that still bothers me...

Since I'm semi-homeless (living with my best friend while my wife and I try and get our house righted financially) I don't really have a wall to make into an "I Love Me" wall. Though I do have a box with all the stuff that WILL go on it once it exists.

* Picture collages of my beautiful daughter
* A framed copy of the newspaper article about my weight loss journey
* A picture collage of various race photography showing my transformation
* All my race bib numbers
* The handful of medals, mugs and other awards I've won at events
* My president's challenge awards

All the things that remind me why I do what I do and just how far I've come.

As soon as I can get the picture rail completed in the home office, and get a few drywall and paint repairs done in there, I'm putting up a bulletin board with race bibs with event names, dates and finish times written on them, plus the few medals I've received for finishing events, and a couple of old race photos from my younger days.

Professional stuff - my architectural registration certificates, NCARB certificate, USGBC LEED AP certificate and miscellaneous awards - are already framed and need to be hung elsewhere in the office.

sayre: do you have a link to that artical?

sayre: do you have a link to that artical?

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=265144

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=265144

awesome! :D

didn't know the backstory ... :D

nothing
not feeling anything in particular to like about myself right now.
sorry
just being honest

Same situation here. I've been told that I'm far too self-loathing. By nearly everyone I know.

Same situation here. I've been told that I'm far too self-loathing. By nearly everyone I know.

I think you are incredible. Really. I've been following your progress here and I'm jealous.

Who's Tom Stormcrowe?

There is nothing hanging on my wall but bikes.

Closest thing I have to this is a calendar on my refrigerator that I have weekly weight goals written on and I track my Monday weigh-ins on. I also have a bodyspace account that I record my daily lifting routines and personal records on as well, that might also qualify.

* Picture collages of my beautiful daughter
* A framed copy of the newspaper article about my weight loss journey
* A picture collage of various race photography showing my transformation
* All my race bib numbers
* The handful of medals, mugs and other awards I've won at events
* My president's challenge awards

All the things that remind me why I do what I do and just how far I've come.

Couldn't much or all of that be scanned and presented onscreen?

Couldn't much or all of that be scanned and presented onscreen?

Huh?

Huh?

Scan or photograph the items, and post them to a limited access webpage - for instance, a blog that you restrict access to yourself and perhaps a couple of friends.

It isn't that I don't love me... I mean seriously, I'm awesome! I just don't put up pictures of myself or my accomplishments. I do however showcase my photography, my wife and my boys.

It isn't that I don't love me... I mean seriously, I'm awesome! I just don't put up pictures of myself or my accomplishments. I do however showcase my photography, my wife and my boys.
This is called humilty. It is the sign of a self satisfied individual, one who doesn't feel the need for perpetual recognition of his or her accomplishments. You'll find many of history's great personalities shared that same trait.

sayre: finally got a chance to read the artical. It was wonderful. Great story and journey!

This is called humilty. It is the sign of a self satisfied individual, one who doesn't feel the need for perpetual recognition of his or her accomplishments. You'll find many of history's great personalities shared that same trait.

Somebody is confusing the ideas behind this discussion with narcissism. As for "great personalities", try Genesis 1:31 on for size.

Somebody is confusing the ideas behind this discussion with narcissism. As for "great personalities", try Genesis 1:31 on for size.
I know, I know... it just sounded so un-narcissistic coming from him, that it brought out the smarmy in me.