jazzy_cyclist

Congratulations.

When I stopped (about 25 years ago), it took me about a year to finally quit, but once I really decided in my heart, I knew I would succeed. I still have dreams about the guilt of smoking (being caught). I chalk it up to the power of cognitive dissonance - not being able to reconcile what you think with what you do.

Sounds like your son has decided.

jackb

What's wrong with cruising along at 15-17 mph and coasting downhills, or is this comment a joke?

Beverly

Congratulations!! You must feel a sigh of relief to know he's making this change

robtown

Perhaps most healthy people can walk 4 mph for an hour without stopping. I think most people could not. Americans, as a nation, are in sad shape.

will dehne

Another letter from my son. What do you think?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Dad,
Congratulations on the 188#(I lost weight from 204# to 188# in 5-6 weeks). That is one heck of an accomplishment.

It is nice that both you and mom are so health conscious. As we all know,
there are other options.

For instance, I have a friend whose parents (both) are always sick, always
needing new meds (imagine: they are several yrs younger than you two).
Another friend told me today that his dad had some angio work done to his
heart -- he is only 53. M****'s dad was dead at 54.

Yes, the weight thing is a major challenge for us living in this culture.
Would not for the fact that I quit eating donuts and drinking pop over 20
yrs back, I may now weigh over 300. There were several people at my previous employer
weighing in excess of 350 -- dozens were over 250 (especially the drafters).
Such is not the case here. Everyone here is in reasonable shape. However,
most are shocked that I rode my bike in from Yellow Springs which tells me
that exercise must be four letter word to them too.

It is always "interesting" to hear a non-exercising person tell me (or any
exerciser) that there is something wrong with us because we exercise. I'm
sure you've heard it: "Ride 100 miles? That's crazy. Why would anyone do
that?" Or my favorite: "I would NEVER do that."

Sad thing is (for them) exercising is the root of happiness, best
anti-depressant known to man (nature's opiate). It seems to also stem the
tide of aging. It most likely will keep you off meds. I know it lowers blood
pressure, and studies found that it reduces odds of acquiring adult-onset
diabetes and clogged-up hearts.

So why this isn't shouted from the rooftops...beats me. No money in it?? Go
figure.

bd

Beverly

I think he's doing great

How far does he commute from YS? Can he use the trail system?

I just wish I could get my youngest daughter to realize she needs to change her lifestyle. At 40 she already has health issues and it's not going to get any better unless she changes

cycler0707

I'm one of those guys that initially stopped every few minutes and coasted.............I simply didn't know how to develop a sustainable cadence. I now finish my commute to work each day at a steady cadence of 78 -82 and ride 40 plus minutes without ever thinking about coasting.

will dehne

Beverly-
Yes, he can use the #1 trail to Xenia and next #2 West. I believe it is 30 miles total to his Engineering Company.

Our children often reject our values. My son did/does too. He listens better to guys his own age. I used feedback from the Training and Nutrition to influence him.
He has always been somewhat health conscious except for the smoking. The theory is that he did that to show rebellion to his overbearing father.
That is crazy if you ask me. The human mind is complex.
Good luck with your daughter. We cannot give up.

will dehne

I will let him know.