dexter9326

Well, I thought I'd update this thread after an extended absence. As I alluded in my last post, I had to put my family dog to sleep in May. She was a 13+ year old Golden Retriever. She was a great dog and companion who was there with me during some very dark days at the time of my divorce a few years ago.

I have to admit that it really shook me up and the result was not good in the weight department. I ended up gaining weight back up to 278, and my riding went down to next to nothing. Time to start over.

I eventually got out of my funk and started to ride again towards the end of June. Then July came around and I entered the Map My Ride Tour de France Challenge - which is to ride every day the Tour rides - regardless of weather, excuses, whatever. I set a goal of 250 miles.

In the end, I finished all 21 stages - some in pouring rain and others in 90 deg heat - with a total of 286 miles. I did my longest ride ever - 21 miles and had a streak of 8 straight days over 12 miles AND an average speed over 14 mph. After the "tour", I kept riding every few days and finished July with over 325 miles. I know for many of you that is not all that great, but it is the best month of riding I have ever had. For my "tour" I rode my 1991 Schwinn Crosscut except on rainy days when I rode my 1994 Schwinn Crosstrail - with fenders. The Crosscut weighs in at about 32 pounds and the Crosstrail around 37.

Early August came and I set out on my annual vacation with my two sons. Hoped for no weight gain. To help the cause we did a ton of walking and hiking as we toured Seattle, Mt Rainier NP, Glacier NP, Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP and Salt Lake City. Got back yesterday, got on the scale this morning and the scale read 262.

Looking forward to getting back on my bike today or tomorrow. I am curious as to how my endurance my be affected having spent most of the last 11 days at 5,000 ft+. I'm now back down to nearly sea level.

Edit - corrected a couple of typos

dexter9326

Well, back for another year......

Just looked back on my past posts and found out I lost weight since then. Not much, but I am down to 261.4. Just came off my best May ever w 103 miles. Hoping for 125 in June and hopefully, getting into the 250s

steve2k

Hi Dexter, It was good to read this thread of your updates and set backs over the last year or so, glad to see you're back for more. Sorry to hear about your dog, we got our first family dog 18 months ago (yellow lab) and it's amazing how quickly they become part of your family and your heart.

Your posts struck a chord with me, I get really motivated and go crazy for a few weeks, taking food seriously, lots of exercise, some good weight loss etc. then something derails me and suddenly it's 6 months later and I'm back to my starting weight.

So I just wanted to let you know that I'm following this thread, hoping for good things for you, so keep it up.

All the best,
Steve

dexter9326

Thanks Steve for your comments. My riding in June has been derailed by some really crappy weather, but I've still got 50 mile in so far with a lot of days left in June. Turned to walking for exercise this past weekend.

At any rate, as part of my effort this year - in addition to incorporating walking - I have also changed the way I eat. Everything is working thus far and yesterday, I hit 254.4 pounds - my lowest weight since 2012. (I have some old weight-watchers documentation). The weight is a struggle and I am hoping not to regress.

steve2k

7lbs, that's a great weight loss - well done.
We're about the same weight so I'm going to try and keep pace with you as you continue to lose - although 7lbs is quite a start you've had.

I walk or cycle most days and last week started with the gym at work.
I'm starting the C25K program on the treadmill and the "you are your own gym" strength training program today.

So today should be:
C25K - 5 min walk then 6 x (90s job, 2m walk) then 5min walk.
YAYOG - Push/pull day 1 (push ups, let me ins, dips, pull ups)

Have a good day today and good luck with the continued weight loss.
Steve

Sewellymon

Hi all,

In the 1980's- my fastest cycling times - at age 28 or 30- was when I weighed perhaps 165.

Age 59- sporting 222.

Been riding. Going for a 30K' elevation gain month, so fitness is coming back. But love of food and tequila has to change..

Starting a program under the guidance of a nutritionist July 1. Stand by for tales of success I hope? Wish me luck/ give me support etc etc!!!

JohnJ80

Right answer. Nutrition and weight loss are tricky. Even trickier is keeping it off. This is the kind of help you need.

J.

dexter9326

Just checking in today after a weigh-in this morning. As I expected, my weight loss has slowed down. Weight was 251.2 this morning.

I actually started my new weight loss program on 5/27/16. Saw a nutritionist who suggested some major changes along with a regular exercise program which for me consists of walking or riding. My weight on the day I started was 268. Most of the weight came off rapidly in the first two weeks and now has slowed to what I hope will be a slower but steady decline - and one which will be safer and healthier. The last 2 weeks have seen a 5 pound loss. I'm using Lose It to track my meals, exercise and weight loss.

As far as riding goes, I'll easily make my 125 mile goal for June despite missing a week due to bad weather. Looking forward to July as I do the Map My Ride Tour de France challenge - which is to ride every day the Tour rides. I'm setting a goal of 250 miles for this year.

dexter9326

Well, today marks 1 month since I recommitted to weight loss with a new nutrition and exercise regimen. Started at 268 on May 27th. Down to 249.6 as of this morning. Total loss is 18.4 pounds. Also of some significance is that my BMI has dropped out of obese class 2 to obese class 1, though the significance of that change is muted by the word obese still being associated with my BMI. Oh well - I earned it.

Like the poster above - I am also 59 - though I will be nowhere near 30K' in elevation gain. Typical ride for me is 10-12 miles with around 400 ft of elevation gain.

I know the weight loss will slow down. Hopefully I'll maintain a steady decline. Best wishes to all.

dexter9326

Doing a Tour de France Challenge again this year. Map My Ride is not sponsoring a challenge this year, so I am doing it on my own. The challenge is to ride every day that the tour rides - for a total of 21 rides over 23 days. For a guy like me, it is tougher than it sounds. Rain is in the forecast for 3 days in the middle of this week, so that could make things interesting. My first stage distance was 15.6 miles. Hoping to log 250 miles this year.

Weight is doing fine. Weighed in at 247.6 today. Down 20.4 since 5/27. BMI is 34.5.

Sewellymon

Congrats on the down 20.4....

I just started my nutritional journey. Clean eatin'... so lets see how far my current 218.6 BMI /30.5 goes......

dexter9326

Thanks - and best of luck to you with your program.

dexter9326

Thought this would be a good day to check in. I just completed the first 9 stages of my Tour de France Challenge. So far I have 134 miles over the first 9 stages. Well deserved rest day tomorrow.

The weight loss has been good. I weighed in this morning at 244.4. So I'm down 23.6 since I started my weight loss program on May 27.

dexter9326

Another good day to check in. Rest day for the Tour and I'm up to 225 miles. My goal was 250 - so I will easily surpass that, but with 5 stages left it will be a challenge to do 75 more miles to reach 300. I'm going to try my best and hope for the best as well. Down to 242.2 pounds.

Sewellymon

I started my program July 1 ..about 3 weeks in down 7 lbs and 4 inches on belly...

been a light exercise month... will up the exercise quotient in August...

dexter9326

Checking in after completion of my Tour de France Challenge on Sunday. I ended up riding on all 21 stage days and finished with 304 total miles - which was my best "Tour" out of the 5 years I've done the challenge. A couple of other bests were my longest distance - 23 miles on the 20th stage and my fastest average speed ever of 15.4 mph - albeit on a short 6 mile ride on stage 21. The first half of my tour was ridden on a 1994 Schwinn Crosscut. The second half on a 1991 Schwinn Crosscut. I did ride two stages on my latest acquisition - a 1991 Schwinn PDG Series 50 Paramount mountain bike. Yes - I took it on the road.

Weighed in Sunday at 239.2. Puts me at 28.8 pound loss.

I will be off the bike for about two weeks as I get ready for and then go on a week long camping trip to Algonquin Park in Ontario.

Sewellymon

congrats on the challenge... weight holding steady week 4 of my program tho lost .5" on the belly, so down 4.5 inches (about 7 lbs...

dexter9326

Thought I'd drop in for another update. Have not been on the bike much since I finished my Tour de France Challenge. For one week, I was out camping with my sons. We did a ton of hiking - so I got plenty of exercise.

Now back home, I have been getting plenty of non bike exercise - walking the new addition to the family - a new dog. She's a rescue dog - a 2 year old Plott hound who loves to walk. We named her Dexy - after my favorite Jazz artist - Dexter Gordon - from whom my user name is derived as well. Hoping to get back in the saddle this week though as I miss my bikes.

The weight loss has been steady. I weighed in yesterday and dropped to 234.8. Total weight loss is 33.2 pounds. My BMI is down from 37.4 when I started May 27th to 32.7 yesterday. So far, 7 inches have come off my waist. Hoping to be able to continue. I've got a long way to go to reach my overall goal. My short term goal, though, is 229.9 - just to get into the 220s.

Turzy

Congrats!
What does your typical diet looks like?
Anyway, keep at it!

dexter9326

Here's the basics:

I avoid bread and pasta at all costs. If I have to eat a bread it is whole grain or whole wheat. Cut down on alcohol. Eat all kinds of vegetables and lean protein. Protein at every meal. No salty snacks at all - pretzels, chips, doritos etc. no eating after 8 PM. Avoid baked goods (cakes, cookies etc.). Drink lots of water - usually flavored with fruit. Try to get as much exercise as possible - cycling or walking/hiking with the dog and/or my wife.

The nutritionist I went to said try to keep it real. Yes - once in a while you can eat pasta, pretzels, whatever. Try to follow an 80/20 rule. That said, I have had pasta twice since I started and have not had salty snacks.

Typical day

Breakfast - I have a meal replacement shake. I like 18Shake chocolate

Morning snack - usually a fruit - apple, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries

Lunch - a decent sized salad with non fat dressing and occasionally with cheese plus a vegetarian patty. I like Morningstar brand. They have a variety of flavors. I might have soup instead of the salad.

Afternoon snack - I love tomatoes - so I might have 1 or two tomatoes or a cucumber. Other choices might be fruit, craisins (dried cranberries) or some raw almonds.

Dinner -

Salad with grilled chicken

Taco salad made from 95%lean beef served over lettuce, tomato w salsa and sometimes guacamole. No shell, so I eat if from a bowl or plate.

Around here one of the markets (Wegmans) makes vegetable pasta - basically zucchini or yellow squash cut to look like strands of pasta. I'll have that with home made pasta sauce and lean meatballs.

Another favorite is assorted peppers sliced and grilled with chicken or a sausage.

Evening - no eating after 8 PM. If necessary, I will eat a tomato, cucumber, raw string beans, fruit for a snack.

I really love the food I am eating so there are no cravings for me.

dexter9326

Checking in again to update my thread. Hit a milestone today. I'm in the 220s. Weighed in this morning at 229.6 - bringing my total weight loss to 38.4 since I started my eating plan on May 27.

I've been riding again when I can, but hiking or walking with my new dog dog every day for an hour or so.

Sewellymon

am down about 15 lbs in 10 weeks.

no wheat, or sugar, simple carbs (cheat when it's white rice in sushi) or anything processed or in a box (apart from rice or quinoa pasta...)

virtually no dairy, soy, alchohol

lot of veg, mostly organic.

JohnJ80

So, in other words, if it tastes good, spit it out.

j.

Sewellymon

Interestingly... because i am a good cook, I am eating really great stuff.

Lotta grilled veg and grilled meats. Great salads, killer seafood...

I hit the farmers market - so in addition to organic veg, my steaks and chicken come from a local rancher. Local fish vendor typically selling wild, not farm raised.

Also- cooking mostly with avocado oil. Little bit of olive oil for flavorings. No canola, etc..

Little bit of raw honey OK. Ditto goat cheese or aged cheese.

Also trying to give the liver a break. So the theory is stay away from foods not "liver friendly".

Lot of junk science out there. In my case, I hired a nutritionist for a month.

dexter9326

Congratulations and nice work. Seems like we are eating similarly. I like how it's been working thus far.