nerys

I will weigh when I get home. I was 421 last week.

a few months into this I got a scale that can weigh me (at the time I was around 455-460 or so I really don't know for sure that is a guess)

this scale I think goes to 550 so I no issues their.

Welcome wondermonkey. (nice nic)

MattInFla

If you want to get control of your intake, you'll need another scale - a kitchen scale. Weigh out your servings for a couple weeks and you'll adjust what you think of as a single serving of a food item.

Sayre Kulp 

Be forewarned. The Cruzbike is a FWD recumbent. BIG difference. It has a pretty steep learning curve. Trust me on this one. You're going to want to find one and try it out before deciding to go all in on something like that.

As for recumbents, thinking they are only available at $3000 is not very opportunistic thinking. The last recumbent I purchased was a Burley Koosah and I picked it up off Craigslist for $150. AND that included a trailer and toolbox! They are out there. You just have to look!

Neil (if he hadn't abandoned this place) would typically take this opportunity to point out that recumbents are not a "magic pill." I happen to agree. I also realize that if your goal is to be more comfortable so that you are inclined to ride a whole lot more, recumbents are the ONLY way to go.

Sayre Kulp 

Not necessarily a bad idea. Anybody that remembers when I joined the forums knows that I posted my goals and progress in my signature. Somehow, posting it publicly like that made me feel accountable for my successes and failures.

Sayre Kulp 

Good call on this one.

This is more what I was talking about when I referred to "honesty". That means knowing that you're putting 1 cup of milk on your cereal versus a cup and a half. Or 3 oz of meat versus 5. And counting EVERYTHING - even that one Hershey kiss.

JackoDandy

Reading this thread sparked an interest in me for a recumbent trike. Although I cant afford it right now, I found a bunch of 'Only used a few times' trikes on craigslist for around the $700 mark. Still a lot of money but they looked like sweet rides - disc brakes etc.

Sayre Kulp 

That's what I mean. They're out there. My Burley cost me $150 on Craigslist and my wife's recumbent was a trade for a Trek hybrid I wasn't riding anymore anyhow. Sometimes you have to be patient, and you may have to search numerous sources, but they ARE out there.

JackoDandy

This one looks awesome for the bike trails though I am clueless about trikes - $750. Not to derail but how are big hills on a bent trike?

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bik/4116337063.html

Sayre Kulp 

Sun makes a decent entry-level trike. they sit more upright than some other models which can be a bit more comfortable, depending on your preferences, but also tends to be a little less aerodynamic and therefore slower.

It would probably suit you just fine on trails. For point of reference, I rode a Sun delta trike from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, DC almost entirely on trails including the C&O Canal towpath. That was pretty rough stuff. Hills are not a big deal on a tadpole trike like that. You can literally drop to the granniest of granny gears and go as slow as you need because there's no way you'll tip over. Delta trikes have problems on hills because there is no ballast on the front wheel and if the hill is TOO steep, you'd find yourself flipping around like a compass needle pointing right back down the hill.

As for the price... $750 isn't really a terrible asking price if the trike is in good shape and has a few "extras" included. I'd probably offer $550 and wind up somewhere in the $600-650 range if it were me.

JackoDandy

Thanks for the info Sayre. Gosh, I think my wife would throw me out if I brought home yet another bike. I'm tempted though. Interesting about the hills. I also read that you have to brake 'at the same time' else the trike will go sideways if one wheel catches the brake too severly over the other. All things to consider and master. Im already doing the math on how to come up with $600...

Sayre Kulp 

That little phenomenon you described is called "brake steer." Generally speaking, when you squeeze one brake and not the other, the trike will tend to "steer" in the direction of the wheel you're applying brakes to. Typically it's not so severe that you'd lose control if you forgot while adjusting to trike handling. I mean when you apply brakes, you generally don't squeeze the darn thing THAT hard unless it's an emergency. And in that case, I think you'd be inclined to squeeze both anyhow. However if you were going at a pretty good clip and locked the disc up like that, you'd have a whole other issue to worry about as your trike will pretty much turn into a catapult at that point and you will have just become the projectile.

WonderMonkey

Which is a big deal for some. Social accountability is like weighing in at Weight Watchers. Does it really matter? No, it doesn't, but in reality it does. At times that little bit is all you need to make a better decision on food here and there.

WonderMonkey

Portion control and tracking ability. That is exactly what helped me these last few months. I got into a system which helped me with portion control and supplements that bridged the gap between what we eat and what we need.

WonderMonkey

Steep learning curve but after a bit you just do it and it works. No issues.

nerys

I have found somewhat affordable recumbent and even the occasional trike on CL but never in "my" class. IE like a terra trike or a sun "HD" trike or recumb. ie ones that can handle my weight.

Weighing in this morning 422. kind of miffed at that. same as last week. I thought I was doing a bit better these past couple weeks. Will keep plugging away and will report weight weekly.

Got some walking in at the mall yesterday. 3.5 to 4 miles or so. (outside) the inside is 1.1 miles round trip and I walked around the outside 3 times.

I was at harbor freight getting stuff for my trailer and boat (I am a cheap SOB so won't buy without using one of my nearly unlimited supply of 20 and 25 % coupons :-) and I won't drive back and forth since that waste gas :-)

SO went to HF bought my third tire. went to see a movie for $5 (machete kills !!) then went to HF again got 4th tire then decided to walk around the mall. it was so stunning gorgeous out (weather) I said what the heck and just kept walking. Went to HF again got the lights for the trailer then went and say another movie (cloudy with a chance of meatballs 2)

I bought "NO" food at the mall (only really bad stuff anyway their) and no soda (I had my green tea with me so no need to waste the money)

CraigB

Their weight also tends to make them slower than other brands/models.

Sayre Kulp 

Don't automatically assume that a bike (or especially a trike) won't hold you. Most manufacturers list a lower weight limit on their products simply to cover their own asses. I have always outweighed the weight limits on ALL my bikes.

What are you doing on a weekly basis to get healthier and lose weight? I know you mentioned walking. Have you still been going to the gym? Hitting the weights can be an excellent way to break through plateaus.

work4bike

Weights are a very good form of exercise, look at some crossfit exercises. Don't worry about all the crazy things they do, there are some very easy non-technical exercises that not only train the muscles but also work your cardio system, because you start out with very light weight and practice the form and that can really get your heart pumping.

Just try some of these things with a weight bar with no weights added; I guarantee you'll be winded by just doing a few reps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4-ReGez5M4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZPl_Y76g48


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO_jfEk-adw

Anonymous33

@nerys
Are you still around?
I have weeks reading all 43 pages of this thread and am interested in knowing how your journey is going.

nerys

I am still around. Just exhausted. Working 2 jobs now so working 7 days a week. Long hours. but am making money at least.

Got enough to get the bike in the shop. its done actually just got to figure out how to get up there and get it :-) (working 7 days :-)

new 40 spoke double walled reinforced tandem wheel with a heavier duty cassette and hd bearings up front for the crank.

They also modified my seat so it sits back further now (I am hoping this stops the seat from ripping my flesh apart when I ride over 50 miles) on the MS150 I was actually bleeding when I got their :-)

Got health insurance so seeing a doctor now. Found out I am quite healthy at least as far as blood work etc.. goes. no issues or problems found in fact he said my numbers and values are all surprisingly good but of course that won't last if I don't shed some weight :-)

My second job is Pizza Delivery for papa johns. so far the tips are pretty good. (which is good because the pay sucks :-)

I think I am going to see good things with this job. although its beating me up I am very active. I am average 2.5 to 3 "MILES" of walking per day every single day tha I work their (5 days a week)

man the first week or so beat the crap out of me but that is starting to let up now (fitness improving) I slacked off pretty badly when the bike broke and I could not fix it.

Did not gain too much weight back (6 pounds) so I did good their.

Finances are an issue right now. this time of the year is bad for our business (not the pizza thing thats new) but things SHOULD improve come april/may. (january to april is pretty bad for us)

I hope so. because the pizza job can't pay the bills I need the primary to do that so I can use the income from the pizza job to PAY DOWN the bills and get rid of them all together :-)

I will post some pics of the bike once I get it back in the next week or so. maybe one of the days where I go in at 5pm I will get up earlier and drive up to get it (its 2 hours away)

Anonymous33

Good to hear that your health is good. Gaining weight instead of losing is not good news though. I hope you only deliver pizza and not eat any yourself.

nymtber

Pizza is fine. In moderation, like any other food.

Though myself I have cut carbs very low. Not eliminate, or even a low-carb diet, but low. I feel better since doing so!

nerys, glad to see your still around and motivated Keep at it!

work4bike

I live a very active lifestyle, using a bike as my primary form of transportation and I lift weights and regularly run. However, with all that I can NOT just eat and not worry about gaining weight.

I love to eat and I have to watch how much I take in, despite my active lifestyle. The point being, just because you have not been very active because your bike broke should not cause you to gain weight if you adjust your food intake appropriately.

You don't need exercise to lose weight; all you need is to take in less calories, it is that simple.

How many calories? That's where it gets personal, everyone is different, but I've learned that the body can become very efficient when forced. If you can not see weight loss with a 2,000 calorie diet per day, then forget the "standard", reduce your calories.

When it comes to losing weight, forget exercise, it's all about intake.

Than why do I exercise?

Because, it is crucial for health (not weight loss), but true health, especially as you age.

work4bike

BTW, this is a pretty good article on what the body can do when properly trained; forget standards, like you burn x-calories doing x-activity. The body is far more complex, but also far more adaptable.



Excerpts:


"Torbjorn Sindballe dishes on how he turned his body into a fat-burning machine.

When Torbjørn Sindballe was a professional triathlete, he used the most cutting edge science to make himself the best triathlete he could be. His efforts helped him break the bike course record at the Ironman World Championship, as well as place third there in 2007.

The following is Sindballe’s personal account of how he attempted to make his body into a fat-burning machine, thereby giving his body the most efficient and limitless fuel available to him. It was originally seen in the Nov/Dec 2010 issue of Inside Triathlon magazine.

A good friend of mine once finished a six-hour ride in the mountains on nothing but pure water. No gels, no energy drinks—just water. And he was not out on a Sunday ride—he was hammering, riding hard on the ascents and flying down the descents. Can you do that? Or are you already thinking of how many gels and bars you would need to drag along for the ride?"

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"When we are very fit, our glycogen stores can fuel a six-hour hard ride in the mountains, similar to the one my friend took. But after the ride, the glycogen tank is almost empty. In comparison, even a rail thin triathlete stores enough fat to fuel five Ironmans in a row.

Fat is an almost unlimited resource, but it comes with two problems: The human brain is a sugar lover, and the rate at which fat is burned for fuel is too slow to support a hard, fast Ironman effort. In other words, your body fuels itself with a combination of glycogen and fat (and a little protein), with fat being the source of fuel that lasts but which cannot be tapped quickly enough to keep you moving fast.

The problem of your brain loving sugar can be solved by taking in enough carbohydrates during exercise. And the fat burning problem can be abated by teaching your body to use fat at a faster rate—thus staving off the depletion of the glycogen tank and allowing you to go faster longer. (Once the glycogen is gone, your body can only tap into its fat for fuel, thus forcing you to slow down or bonk.)

The easiest way to improve your ability to oxidize fat—turn fat into energy—is to train for long hours on the trails or in the saddle at a relatively slow pace. Generally, you don’t want to go much faster than your Ironman pace if you’re trying to stimulate your fat oxidation capabilities. While most athletes are well aware of this, there are several diet and training tricks out there that claim to increase the quality of the training stimulus these rides and runs provide. I have researched and tried most of these tricks myself while I was an Ironman pro and now have an understanding of what does and doesn’t work."


Read more here: How To Tap Into Fat For Fuel

TFS Jake

If you can't lose weight on 2,000 calories at 400+ lbs, you are lying about eating 2,000 calories.