My 114 pound Weight Loss Journey
08-18-14, 08:54 AM
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My 114 pound Weight Loss Journey
i just wanted to share. Maybe this will help others who are also on the same journey I am on. In Jan. of 2013 I decided enough was enough. I was 335+ and my diabetes was out of control. My glucose fasting numbers was in the mid 300's and my A1C was above 11 and I was on medication.
I started eating better and looking at food as fuel. Got down to 248 by August and then went back to my old habits and went back up to 285. In Jan. of this year I got back on track. As of this morning I am at 221. I am off all my diabetes meds and my glucose fasting numbers run in the low 70's. My last A1C was 5.8. Normal is 4.5 to 5.6. I have went from a 4XL shirt to a large and from size 42 pants to a 34. I carried most of my weight in my belly.
I bike 4 to five times a week. i get in about 60-70 miles a week and play on my mountain bike on my rest days. I don't have any kind of fancy high end bike. I ride a Giant Anyroad 2 that I have about 1100 miles on. It serves me well and has been a great bike. My mountain bike I just got several weeks back. Its a 2015 Giant Talon 3 27.5. It is at the bottom of mid range but is a blast to ride and it serves me well. You don't have to have anything fancy. You just have to get out there and ride what you got.
I hope this helps to inspire somebody else to take that first step or to hang in there and keep at it. If I can do it you can.
I started eating better and looking at food as fuel. Got down to 248 by August and then went back to my old habits and went back up to 285. In Jan. of this year I got back on track. As of this morning I am at 221. I am off all my diabetes meds and my glucose fasting numbers run in the low 70's. My last A1C was 5.8. Normal is 4.5 to 5.6. I have went from a 4XL shirt to a large and from size 42 pants to a 34. I carried most of my weight in my belly.
I bike 4 to five times a week. i get in about 60-70 miles a week and play on my mountain bike on my rest days. I don't have any kind of fancy high end bike. I ride a Giant Anyroad 2 that I have about 1100 miles on. It serves me well and has been a great bike. My mountain bike I just got several weeks back. Its a 2015 Giant Talon 3 27.5. It is at the bottom of mid range but is a blast to ride and it serves me well. You don't have to have anything fancy. You just have to get out there and ride what you got.
I hope this helps to inspire somebody else to take that first step or to hang in there and keep at it. If I can do it you can.
08-18-14, 09:27 AM
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Great job man!
My story is similar. I was at 405 lbs. in January 2013. Thanks to calorie counting (Lose It! - Succeed at weight loss with Lose It!) and cycling, I was at 260 lbs. this past Friday. 145 lbs down so far. Was at 5X shirts, now at XL. Was at 54" shorts, now at 38". I didn't do a before and after blood test, but I suspect my numbers are much better. I ride about 85-110 miles a week and do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and tennis as well. Really enjoying being active again.
My story is similar. I was at 405 lbs. in January 2013. Thanks to calorie counting (Lose It! - Succeed at weight loss with Lose It!) and cycling, I was at 260 lbs. this past Friday. 145 lbs down so far. Was at 5X shirts, now at XL. Was at 54" shorts, now at 38". I didn't do a before and after blood test, but I suspect my numbers are much better. I ride about 85-110 miles a week and do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and tennis as well. Really enjoying being active again.
08-18-14, 09:35 AM
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Congrats to all those who lost some weight!!
08-18-14, 01:29 PM
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Well done! I can imagine how pleased you must be. I'll bet your MD smiles every time he/she thinks of you.
08-20-14, 11:10 AM
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Great Job Man!
10-19-14, 09:13 PM
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...enough was enough. I was 335+ and my diabetes was out of control. My glucose fasting numbers was in the mid 300's and my A1C was above 11 and I was on medication.
...I ride a Giant Anyroad 2 that I have about 1100 miles on. It serves me well and has been a great bike.
...I hope this helps to inspire somebody else to take that first step or to hang in there and keep at it. If I can do it you can.
...I ride a Giant Anyroad 2 that I have about 1100 miles on. It serves me well and has been a great bike.
...I hope this helps to inspire somebody else to take that first step or to hang in there and keep at it. If I can do it you can.
I'm seriously considering the Giant AnyRoad 1.
I'm not looking for the typical road bike because I'm looking for something more comfortable (and upright). At the same time, I'm not looking for the hybrid / suspension type of bike because it's too casual. I had been considering the "fitness" type of bikes (e.g. Trek FX, Giant Escape, Specialized Sirrus), but they seem to be very close to the feel of a road bike = not as comfortable.
I stopped up to my LBS recently and test rode (briefly) the Giant AnyRoad 1, but it's hard to get a good feel for what the bike will offer on longer rides. Currently at 6'0", 250 I'm not in great shape (yet) so I'm trying to find a bike that will offer a fairly comfortable ride now, and still give me the flexibility later to go on longer rides as my fitness improves...without having to buy another bike.
Do you find the ride of the AnyRoad to be comfortable? Is there anything about the bike that you especially like or dislike?
Thanks again for your post, and congratulations on your progress thus far. It's very inspiring!
Last edited by cycling705; 06-29-17 at 09:44 AM.
10-19-14, 10:33 PM
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10-20-14, 06:42 AM
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Thanks for the kind words. About the Anyroad. I am still riding mine. I have got over 1500 miles on it and still putting in 60-70 miles a week on it. I have thought about getting a true road bike but I am afraid that I could not duplicate the comfort level I have now. Took me a while to get the fit right plus I kept having to change things as I lost weight. It is pretty much set now. I changed out the 700x32's to a 700x25 Gatorskins but had trouble with flats so I went back to the 32's. They offer more comfort anyway. As far as comfort goes this is the most comfortable bike I have ever had. The only dislike I could say about it was the BB5 brakes work okay but were noisy. I just got a set of BB7's and they are very nice.
I had a shifting issue when I first got it but they recabled it and that fixed the issue. I got the 2 because I wanted the triple. I don't use it very often but have it when I need it. If you can find a 2014 Anyroad 1 I would get it over a 2015. They downgraded the brakes on the 1 for 2015. The 2014's had BB7's and the 2015 have BB5's like the 2 does. Its not a deal breaker by no means. The BB7's are just easier to adjust for wear and they offer a bigger pad so the stopping power and modulation is better.
If I had the chance to do it all over again I would make the same decision. I love mine. I am so very happy with it and look forward to many more miles with it. One other thing. I have yet to see another one out on the road and I have done quite a few charity rides this year. It is very unique looking and I get asked about it a lot. It seems to garner quite a few looks.
I had a shifting issue when I first got it but they recabled it and that fixed the issue. I got the 2 because I wanted the triple. I don't use it very often but have it when I need it. If you can find a 2014 Anyroad 1 I would get it over a 2015. They downgraded the brakes on the 1 for 2015. The 2014's had BB7's and the 2015 have BB5's like the 2 does. Its not a deal breaker by no means. The BB7's are just easier to adjust for wear and they offer a bigger pad so the stopping power and modulation is better.
If I had the chance to do it all over again I would make the same decision. I love mine. I am so very happy with it and look forward to many more miles with it. One other thing. I have yet to see another one out on the road and I have done quite a few charity rides this year. It is very unique looking and I get asked about it a lot. It seems to garner quite a few looks.
Last edited by Ray Dockrey; 10-20-14 at 06:47 AM.
10-20-14, 07:20 AM
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Thanks for the kind words. About the Anyroad. I am still riding mine. I have got over 1500 miles on it and still putting in 60-70 miles a week on it. I have thought about getting a true road bike but I am afraid that I could not duplicate the comfort level I have now. Took me a while to get the fit right plus I kept having to change things as I lost weight. It is pretty much set now. I changed out the 700x32's to a 700x25 Gatorskins but had trouble with flats so I went back to the 32's. They offer more comfort anyway. As far as comfort goes this is the most comfortable bike I have ever had. The only dislike I could say about it was the BB5 brakes work okay but were noisy. I just got a set of BB7's and they are very nice.
I had a shifting issue when I first got it but they recabled it and that fixed the issue. I got the 2 because I wanted the triple. I don't use it very often but have it when I need it. If you can find a 2014 Anyroad 1 I would get it over a 2015. They downgraded the brakes on the 1 for 2015. The 2014's had BB7's and the 2015 have BB5's like the 2 does. Its not a deal breaker by no means. The BB7's are just easier to adjust for wear and they offer a bigger pad so the stopping power and modulation is better.
If I had the chance to do it all over again I would make the same decision. I love mine. I am so very happy with it and look forward to many more miles with it. One other thing. I have yet to see another one out on the road and I have done quite a few charity rides this year. It is very unique looking and I get asked about it a lot. It seems to garner quite a few looks.
I had a shifting issue when I first got it but they recabled it and that fixed the issue. I got the 2 because I wanted the triple. I don't use it very often but have it when I need it. If you can find a 2014 Anyroad 1 I would get it over a 2015. They downgraded the brakes on the 1 for 2015. The 2014's had BB7's and the 2015 have BB5's like the 2 does. Its not a deal breaker by no means. The BB7's are just easier to adjust for wear and they offer a bigger pad so the stopping power and modulation is better.
If I had the chance to do it all over again I would make the same decision. I love mine. I am so very happy with it and look forward to many more miles with it. One other thing. I have yet to see another one out on the road and I have done quite a few charity rides this year. It is very unique looking and I get asked about it a lot. It seems to garner quite a few looks.
It came with 700x28 tires which probably help, and I did swap in the seat I had been using on my Hybrid, I knew the stock Fuji seat was not going to be permanent by any means :-). Knocked 10 minutes off my best 30 mile elapsed time, I'll give the credit for that to the new bike :-).
I think my hybrid was a good choice because I already had it anyway :-)........I think the new bike rides just as nice over rough stuff. I do hear you about having to re-adjust things as weight drops, I used one seat for a month, it worked starting out but but -16 lbs later it was not working.
10-20-14, 12:19 PM
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I did about 1800 miles on my Trek 7200 Hybrid. This is day 9 (and raining today) of having my Fuji 1.5 road bike...116 miles in the first 8 days. The transition was not utterly seamless, there was some pain as weakness left new areas of my body...upper arms and lower back, however I did a 32 mile ride yesterday which was pretty nice really....well I hammered and felt the exertion, but no major body complaints out of the ordinary...so I think it will work out :-). 32mi was a "long" ride on the Hybrid, my typical has been 20-25 a day....did a metric on the hybrid early on...and a 75 mi ride about a month ago.
It came with 700x28 tires which probably help, and I did swap in the seat I had been using on my Hybrid, I knew the stock Fuji seat was not going to be permanent by any means :-). Knocked 10 minutes off my best 30 mile elapsed time, I'll give the credit for that to the new bike :-).
I think my hybrid was a good choice because I already had it anyway :-)........I think the new bike rides just as nice over rough stuff. I do hear you about having to re-adjust things as weight drops, I used one seat for a month, it worked starting out but but -16 lbs later it was not working.
It came with 700x28 tires which probably help, and I did swap in the seat I had been using on my Hybrid, I knew the stock Fuji seat was not going to be permanent by any means :-). Knocked 10 minutes off my best 30 mile elapsed time, I'll give the credit for that to the new bike :-).
I think my hybrid was a good choice because I already had it anyway :-)........I think the new bike rides just as nice over rough stuff. I do hear you about having to re-adjust things as weight drops, I used one seat for a month, it worked starting out but but -16 lbs later it was not working.
Interesting that your hybrid saddle works. I usually see saddles for a more upright posture on hybrids...
10-20-14, 01:43 PM
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Actually the saddle I had on my hybrid is a forte pro sl saddle that is probably more of a road saddle , but I have a flat bar on the hybrid so I do not sit totally upright. I do typically balance easy and hard days but the end of the riding season here is fast approaching so the tendancy has been to do what is fun :-)
10-20-14, 04:14 PM
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That explains it, cool that it worked for you on both!
GUYS!
Why all the, well but's ... on some pretty fantastic bikes.
The anyroads are marvelous! Flat bars are are great.
They are designed to do, and they do it well...
Drop bar bikes aren't better, just built for different usages!
If I was a city commuter, you know it would be a flat bar!!!
It'd have to have a rack.
GUYS!
Why all the, well but's ... on some pretty fantastic bikes.
The anyroads are marvelous! Flat bars are are great.
They are designed to do, and they do it well...
Drop bar bikes aren't better, just built for different usages!
If I was a city commuter, you know it would be a flat bar!!!
It'd have to have a rack.
10-20-14, 04:16 PM
#21
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Oh and BB7s rock... Gotta be adjustable, just gotta.
Hey, for such a fundamental component that's a cheap and REALLY good upgrade!
Hey, for such a fundamental component that's a cheap and REALLY good upgrade!
10-20-14, 04:47 PM
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Congratulations on taking back control over your life! Awesome results. 
10-20-14, 05:24 PM
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Congrats! That is a huge accomplishment!
10-21-14, 11:49 AM
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Thanks for the kind words. About the Anyroad. I am still riding mine. I have got over 1500 miles on it and still putting in 60-70 miles a week on it. I have thought about getting a true road bike but I am afraid that I could not duplicate the comfort level I have now. Took me a while to get the fit right plus I kept having to change things as I lost weight. It is pretty much set now. I changed out the 700x32's to a 700x25 Gatorskins but had trouble with flats so I went back to the 32's. They offer more comfort anyway. As far as comfort goes this is the most comfortable bike I have ever had. The only dislike I could say about it was the BB5 brakes work okay but were noisy. I just got a set of BB7's and they are very nice.
I had a shifting issue when I first got it but they recabled it and that fixed the issue. I got the 2 because I wanted the triple. I don't use it very often but have it when I need it. If you can find a 2014 Anyroad 1 I would get it over a 2015. They downgraded the brakes on the 1 for 2015. The 2014's had BB7's and the 2015 have BB5's like the 2 does. Its not a deal breaker by no means. The BB7's are just easier to adjust for wear and they offer a bigger pad so the stopping power and modulation is better.
If I had the chance to do it all over again I would make the same decision. I love mine. I am so very happy with it and look forward to many more miles with it. One other thing. I have yet to see another one out on the road and I have done quite a few charity rides this year. It is very unique looking and I get asked about it a lot. It seems to garner quite a few looks.
I had a shifting issue when I first got it but they recabled it and that fixed the issue. I got the 2 because I wanted the triple. I don't use it very often but have it when I need it. If you can find a 2014 Anyroad 1 I would get it over a 2015. They downgraded the brakes on the 1 for 2015. The 2014's had BB7's and the 2015 have BB5's like the 2 does. Its not a deal breaker by no means. The BB7's are just easier to adjust for wear and they offer a bigger pad so the stopping power and modulation is better.
If I had the chance to do it all over again I would make the same decision. I love mine. I am so very happy with it and look forward to many more miles with it. One other thing. I have yet to see another one out on the road and I have done quite a few charity rides this year. It is very unique looking and I get asked about it a lot. It seems to garner quite a few looks.
I guess the search continues...
I wish you continued success!
Last edited by cycling705; 10-21-14 at 11:55 AM.