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Applying for my Emeritus Certificate :)

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Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) Looking to lose that spare tire? Ideal weight 200+? Frustrated being a large cyclist in a sport geared for the ultra-light? Learn about the bikes and parts that can take the abuse of a heavier cyclist, how to keep your body going while losing the weight, and get support from others who've been successful.

Applying for my Emeritus Certificate :)

Old 01-24-12, 08:19 PM
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Applying for my Emeritus Certificate :)

It's been a long journey for me, but I'm here to proudly announce that I am no longer an official member of the Clyde Club! I weighed in at 196 last week and decided to wait a week to make sure it stuck, and I weighed in at 193 this morning Proof!



I'll try to recap some of my story, but I seriously owe everything to bikes!

I was living with a friend downtown in an extremely sedentary lifestyle. I was drinking a ton and drinking before work to loosen myself up and become sociable. This is what I was like before it got bad:



Maybe about 220, overweight but evenly distributed. Self consciousness issues (drinking helped) still around, but I managed. Then, one day, I took one (twelve) too many before work and showed up completely smashed. Spilled things everywhere, slurring my words, couldn't barely walk. I managed to get home on the bus but I was quickly fired.

Thing went way downhill from here. My drinking picked up even more, I was depressed with my education college major choice, felt I couldn't become a teacher and was unfit for society, so I withdrew from my classes every semester, stayed in my apartment and drank. Too lazy to go buy groceries so I ate fast food style stuff every day. A big meal from Panera was my "healthy" dinner. I got up to about 255-260 lbs.

This was me around my heaviest/most depressed:




Eventually the money I had ran out and I had to move home. Back around a more familiar environment and one that was much more conducive to biking than the city, I started to recover. I commuted and finished out the last bit of my college (changed majors to something that wouldn't require student teaching) and managed to get a job right out of school, thanks to people who still loved me and saw what I could do.

Having money and something to fill your days is a huge boost to self-esteem. I was forced to not be stuck with myself all day, moping and unable to get myself out of the house. Around this time, my friends and I started our Bike Club! as we were all unemployed and the weather was improving. I rode a crappy singlespeed I had and breathed harder than I can remember, but it was so much fun.

With my first paycheck, I got the game-changer:



Brand new 2011 Surly Crosscheck. This thing has literally changed my life. I commuted to work every single day, learned to not care about being a sweaty mess, and the pounds started to drop. I've gone sober and have remained that way for about 120 days now. No booze at all and no marijuana. My friends and I did more and more bike rides, our mileage increasing every week, until I did my first century last year:



and then delved into the insane, addicting world of Cyclocross in the fall:



Here was me trying not to die after one race:


And there it is! I was about 205 in that last picture. We're doing a "Biggest Loser" competition at work, one which I am determined to win. I've been losing weight steadily each week since we started and am now at 193 in my boxers, as you can see above. Combined biking with going to the YMCA every three days and lifting weights/doing ab work and I'm really starting to see some major difference!

I feel so much better than I did before and am eager to try all the things I was too afraid/shy of before, like dance lessons! Or rock climbing! I want to do at least three centuries this year and win the 4B race in cyclocross! If I told myself two years ago that I was going to have actual, achievable fitness goals and work towards them, I would have snorted in disbelief.

So everyone trying to do the same thing, don't give up and keep on pedaling! Big things can happen to you if you keep your eyes on the prize and your feet moving
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Old 01-24-12, 08:25 PM
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Sorry for double posting, here is a "wrap-up" picture--me at my work Christmas banquet. Still around 200, but you can see some difference--
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Old 01-24-12, 09:26 PM
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Cool, congrats on the weight loss. Double grats for taking control, nice job!
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Old 01-24-12, 09:34 PM
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Congratulations. Best of luck to you.
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Old 01-24-12, 09:40 PM
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Great Job!!!!
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Old 01-24-12, 10:34 PM
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Congratulations! And I don't mean on the weight loss. Turning your life around was what made the weight loss possible.
 
Old 01-24-12, 11:37 PM
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We all have our excuses - congratulations on overcoming them!
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Old 01-25-12, 06:47 AM
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Congratulations on the great turn around!
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Old 01-25-12, 07:24 AM
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Congrats on the life-changing turnaround. Now go smoke a doobie to celebrate! Just kidding
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Old 01-25-12, 07:58 AM
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Fantastic job!
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Old 01-25-12, 10:57 AM
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Great way to "LOSE," you are the big winner. Good post for a start to today story. Keep checking in with us. Your self confidence is obvious in your pictures.

I guess we need a Greyhound thread around here for you....mmmmmmmmmmmm.
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Old 01-25-12, 11:30 AM
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Way to go!
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Old 01-25-12, 12:19 PM
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great job!
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Old 01-25-12, 12:32 PM
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Great story, congrats.
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Old 01-25-12, 12:48 PM
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Woo-hoo! Congrats!
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Old 01-25-12, 12:57 PM
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Way to whip depression and drinking and come out on top! Congrats and may your success continue, for LIFE! You look much, much healthier, and I bet you feel it, too
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Old 01-25-12, 01:24 PM
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Congrats on the life change and welcome to the Emeritus ranks!
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Old 01-25-12, 01:27 PM
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Stay with it..
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Old 01-25-12, 03:11 PM
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Nice
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Old 01-25-12, 04:38 PM
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Tremendous!
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Old 01-25-12, 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Neil_B
Congratulations! And I don't mean on the weight loss. Turning your life around was what made the weight loss possible.
1000+
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Old 01-25-12, 06:59 PM
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My friend, you are not alone. At the ripe age of 26 I quit drinking, was a heavy drinker and the main reason for drinking was to be more sociable. The drinking was actually for my underlying depression that I did not know about, alcohol was my medicine.
I am 44 now and have not touched alcohol since, have had a great life and never looked back. You are me, when I was younger, thanks for sharing your story. Now, if I can just get these last 20 pounds off, much harder in the 40's.
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Old 01-25-12, 07:37 PM
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Good for you, I hope that in a few months I can leave here too
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Old 01-25-12, 07:38 PM
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Thanks so much everybody! This forum helped me out a lot as I was starting

I'm still the sweatiest dude I know, but thankfully, I've learned to cope!

I guess we need a Greyhound thread around here for you....mmmmmmmmmmmm.
What exactly is this?
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Old 01-25-12, 08:45 PM
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Bravo Fortissimo!

You have done great with the weight loss and accomplishments in life.
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