MikeRides

I was never obese, but I was definitely overweight. I started riding my old department store bike last year before the parts on it started failing, then earlier in the spring of this year I decided I wanted to keep riding so I went out and bought a new bike (this time a hybrid from my LBS). I spent most of June and July riding up to 50 miles a day, tapered off to a one or two rides a week for up to 25 miles a day for August and (so far) for September.

Anyway, back to the point of this topic, I was weighing myself every month and watched the scale dip from 225 to 168 (where I've landed now), but looking in the mirror I can still see the spare tire around my waist. But apparently the weight loss IS noticeable as over the past couple months I've seen a a few people I haven't seen in over a year that all gave me compliments about looking slimmer. One even jokingly asked if I went through liposuction - completely baffled at how I lost so much weight just from riding a bicycle. I explained how I just got out and rode 10 miles a day everyday, with a few 25-50 mile rides on the weekends and quit drinking soda (this wasn't easy to do as I was drinking at least 3 cans of the stuff a day!). I've cut back on fast food, and have been adding more fruit/veggies to my meals but my overall diet hasn't changed a whole lot.

So I now ask you, how often do you get complimented on weight loss?

Turzy

People start complimenting me on my weight loss, altough I haven't really lost any weight.
I went from 318 lbs. @ 42% bf a month ago to 318 lbs. @ 32% as of last week. I started riding on a regular basis a month ago too.
Actually, I have lost some weight when you consider I was at 335 lbs. in january...

WonderMonkey

I used to get it all the time because for years and years even with riding the bike I was overweight. Built like a linebacker that had left himself go. When I lost a bunch of weight over a small (few months) period of time people really noticed and commented in a positive way. One parent even said I was "less intimidating" which was never my intent (to be intimidating).

IAMAMRA

Every other week or so someone mentions it. Dropping close to 150# in a year, people tend to notice it.

mprelaw

For me, it was much more common for people to ask whether I had been sick.

As far as the spare tire goes, it's probably loose folds of skin. Don't know whether there's any easy way to get rid of that, without cosmetic surgery. I have mine, too. 60 year old skin is hard to tighten, I guess. I'm not all that vain. And in any event, I remember the gut I used to have--this is a way big improvement.

Jarrett2

Due to request, I posted this pic on FB last week when I hit 90lbs down and was overwhelmed by the response:



That's a 5x shirt on the left, 2x on the right. I'm hoping to hit 100 lbs down by the end of the year. But pretty much every time I see someone that hasn't seen me regularly in the last 5 months, they say something. For the first 40-50, not much was said. But around 70 forward, people have been noticing and commenting.

IAMAMRA

looking sharp!

kingsqueak

I still wear my old fat clothes often so not frequently in those. When I put on some of the newer clothes that are quite a lot smaller now heh, I get people commenting frequently. My 42's are hanging off of me like farmer pants, no belt and they won't even stay on now, the 40's are also getting loose now, I'm just not committing to new wardrobe until I feel I've settled at bottom, which is another 40+lbs from here.

I was just about 300 when I started dieting over a year ago and as of July, now cycling. People started to notice after I dropped a good 30lbs. People who hadn't seen me in a long time notice it more often.

Turzy

wow ! congrats !

the fly

I had a bunch of comments 6 months into cycling. Then my weight loss stagnated. Have actually gained back bit, although some is muscle from hitting the gym. My favorite comment was from was from this attractive woman I know. She wanted to know if I had gotten sick and lost a bunch of weight. Said I looked good. Unfortunately, her boyfriend could probably kick my butt any day of the week.

WonderMonkey

5 string bass?

Yo Spiff

I've gone from 286 pounds in early 2011 to a touch over 200 now. People started making mention of it when I had lost about 30 pounds. Now it is the normal me, and the only time someone says anything is if it is someone I have not seen in a long time, or if they are looking at some of my older photos on Facebook.

Chitown_Mike

I like the way you matched the pictures, like some crazy wicked tandem!


And I love these threads for the motivation. I do get compliments, although most of my clothing is from my bigger days so now it looks like I wear everything extra baggy but haven't gone shopping because I have more to lose still.

Yo Spiff

Thanks. When I noticed how similar these two pics were, it was the natural thing to do. I should do an after pic in the same spot as the before.

Chitown_Mike

Too bad you can't go back and take all 3 with you on the bike, triple tandem! That would be a neat picture, skinnier you out in front.

Bill Kapaun

I get a compliment every time my friend puts on a few.

goldfinch

I came back from being south for six months and "are you ok?" was the main question I was asked.

But I embarrassed myself by telling an acquaintance that I hadn't seen for a while how great he looked--he had lost maybe 100 pounds. Turned out he was sick.

goldfinch

Spiff, can you post a full size picture of your very cool avatar?

Yo Spiff

Certainly! That is my favorite self portrait. I did that shot for a photography contest on DPChallenge.com. The subject was "You're doing it wrong". My title was "Cycling Tip #1: Rubber Side Down"

goldfinch

Sweet!

jc650

I have lost just over 50 in the last 3 1/2 months, people that see me all the time noticed after 30 and like someone else posted Ive had people ask if I was sick to.

Jarrett2

Si, my other passion. Music is a constant in life, other hobbies come and go.

WebFootFreak

This is exactly what I'm doing.

Actually I've gotten 2 lately... I've been rather bull-necked since HS. The other night my wife was rubbing my neck (we trade neck for feet, lol!) and she mentioned she thought it was getting smaller. I just got the same comment from my mother this morning... so... happy days!

WonderMonkey

Nice, love it.

anthonygeo

My mom does a great job of telling me I'm fat so when she said, "oh your gut is shrinking, good" I knew then I was actually losing weight.