update: Down to 365 fully clothed this morning!! Starting to see some muscle structure and such comign out i have been doing alot of weight traing also lately!

Go for it Z is a G, It's most likely made of steel being a '79 model and all... I would caution though, check the drivetrain for wear. It will cost you more to replace that than you paid for the bike. Keep up the good work and reach your goal! WWW.TOURDEPANTS.COM

Well I thought I'd check in, my life has been so insanely busy I had forgotten all about this.

Good news and bad news....bad news I've only lost about 10lbs over the past two months,
although the good part of that is I haven't gained any either. Managed a solid month of eating
healthy, and midterms came around it just didn't happen anymore. That's the bad news, the
good news is I stuck with my weight lifting much more than I thought I would, and have seen
nice improvements all around. Seen a 70% increase in bench press with similar (although not as
extreme) results in other areas as well. That's about the only thing that keeps me at it.At first
I would do about an hour at the gym, but now I'm doing nearly two hours three times a week. I
commute on a fixed gear now, which is the absolute best thing I ever did for my legs. All sorts
of muscles pop out now! :p

Came to the same realization as before, I'm on the way, but I still need to be putting in some serious
effort if I want to get healthy. I think I lost most of the 10lbs in the first month, and stayed steady
during the second. So, it's time to get back on the diet and stick with it. I can't find too many roads
to bike distances on, as I get a bit bored riding up and back the same 3-5 mile stretch over and over.
And it's a tad hard to zone out when there's traffic everywhere. So this week I'm going to start
running as well.

Doubt I'll make my original goal of ~230 by the end of June (24th B-day), as that would be around
50lbs in a little over two months. But hell, I'll give it a try. My inspiration is my best friend, he's lost
40lbs in the last two months doing no-carb and moderate running/weight lifting. Normally I'm against
no-carb, but it's worked especially well for him as he's diabetic, and has significantly decreased the
frequency with which he takes his Insulin shots.

My other inspiration, is that all the new muscle has really started to show through, and it looks great.
Sounds silly, but for the first time in a while, I can actually imagine myself as being fit and trim at some
point in the future. :o

Good luck everyone! :D

Keep it up! You can do it! WWW.TOURDEPANTS.COM

I just wanted to let you guys know, it felt really good doing a 21 mile ride with a bunch of skinny guys on road bikes (I have a mtb with slicks) and being able to pace them for the whole ride.


(nevermind that they were all at least twice my age)

I would realy like to gett into riding a bike around town and stuff but for now I think that I need some easier exersie regiment . I am 22 and am in college right now. I love college. Its hard but im getting B's so i guess im ok. Anyway I have always been pretty out of shape but recently I realized it more than ever when I was supposed to go out and meet my friends. i live on the 5th floor of my doormitory. The elevator down the hall was temporarily out of order. I was tired already and needed to sit down.So i decided it was to much work and went back to my room. pathetic. I dont know how much I weigh but I maxed out my 350 scale like 2 years ago.Im scared of being this fat and i thought a bike would be good exersise. If the damn elevator worked maybe i could go out to ride a bike after i purchased one

Don't give up MelloneeM! Start now by making small changes. Do one thingdifferently today. If you normally have a soda at lunch, (Even Diet) get water instead. Then whether it feels like it or not, you have made a positive impact on your weight loss. Don't beat yourself up by looking too far ahead, and geting upset that your not thin, or fit yet. Small, gradual changes are what got us to the places we are today, and Small, Gradual Changes are what will get us in better shape. Soli Deo Gloria! WWW.TOURDEPANTS.COM

yeah man dont get discouraged i was 450lbs on feb 1st 2005 and today i am 364 and still loosing it, you can look up my old post and see how strict i have been or shoto me a im or a email i will help you through it man it is the best thing i have ever done in my lie to get into better shape you would be amazed at the changes that you see!!

Well I managed to gain a little weight.

Max: 304
Now: 278

Hopefully I can start reducing my caloric intake again and get the ball rolling again.

Well, this being my first post here, I'll start by saying hello and that I've recently found this forum and am very excited to have a community to discuss fitness, bicycling, commuting and everything in between with a group of folks that has similar interests.

Now, for my odd 'weight loss' story.

I'm 6', 218 lbs. currently. I give this as a marker for where I'm at when I've not ridden for about 6 months, at all.

Some background:

I'm 31, have been married for 7 years and have eaten like a total pig. I smoke a pack a day and regularly drink 6-8 mountain dew 12oz. cans a day. I tend to get wrapped up in computer gaming, which is why I've had the hiatus from riding recently, and reflected back on something that took place about a year ago.

On my 31st birthday (June 7) of last year, I was at 289 lbs. (quite literally the biggest I've ever been). I work in an office where stress+sitting in front of a computer is bad enough, but a friend introduced me to a video game, Everquest. After 3 years of doing nothing but sitting at work for 8 hours, then coming home and playing that video game for another 8, then squeezing in 2-3 hours of sleep, its no wonder I was in terrible physical shape. The combination of pizza, fast food burgers and Taco Bell had taken its toll on me.

Needless to say, when my birthday hit, my wife asked me what I wanted for a present. For 3 years prior it was either a)a gaming card b) an expansion to EQ or c) new computer parts; well this time, I did something different. I asked for the one thing I missed most - a bike. We went down to the local LBS and I picked out a Haro V3 (2003) model. I think she and the guy in the bikeshop had the same mentality, that this would become nothing but a 3-month thing and then I'd be back to sitting in front of the computer.

So, from June-Oct. I started doing some strange things:

1. I actually pawned my computer to get it out of my house.
2. I stopped drinking soda.
3. I went on a diet consisting of chicken, fish, fruits and vegetables. I only drank water and the occassional sobe.
4. I still couldn't quit smoking, but I was able to cut back.

I never really noticed it, I always had issues waking up since I was a kid. But, I started deciding to commute the 13 miles (one way) to work. It was impulsive and stupid (to most of those people I knew, including my wife, her family - it was sorta a big joke) but I got it in my head that I was going to do this, period. Needless to say, on a mountain bike it wasn't easy. But I went from taking around 1:15 to get to work down to 46 minutes. I didn't pay much attention to my weight, but in Oct. my in-laws started talking about their weight loss on the Atkin's diet. They purchased a scale and were very proud of their 15 lb. weight loss. They kinda chided me to get on the scale (they said I looked like I had lost a lot of weight).

This is were I lost it. I had gone from 289 in June (sedetary) down to 187 lbs. in Oct.

So, we went out clothes shopping (I was very frugal and refused to buy clothing during this period) because it was becoming pretty obvious that my size 42 pants were literally deathstrapped to me via my belt. I was back into a size 34.

And that's where things went wrong. Due to finances that plummeted faster than the DOW recently, I had to put the bike up for sale (it literally came down to selling it or not being able to feed my wife and son). We were living week-to-week and expenses seem to jump out of nowhere when my wife lost her job. Needless to say, I sold the V3 (I believe we spent $345) for $50 to a LBS.

Fast foward to now:

My wife got another job, I've been promoted and moved up to a better position in my company and can afford another bike. This time, I've vowed I will not let the bike go at any cost. I'm back up to 218 lbs., but know that once I get another bike I can start losing weight fast.

Anyhow, I thought it was an interesting success story for how biking+reasonable diet can = massive weight loss. I anticipate getting my new bike in June (we're holding off so I can buy a decent road bike and hopefully can consider doing a few charity rides next year).

Wow, congratulations. Once you get a plan in your head, you're clearly stubborn enough to make it happen. Good work. :D It sounds like you really showed your wife's family you were serious.

I hope you are able to replace your bike soon. I know if I had to go without a bike, I'd go crazy. It would certainly be a tough call between the bike and food, but I guess if I had a kid, I'd feel obligated to feed him too.

Here's to sustainable lifestyle changes. (don't worry, it's Sobe) :beer:

Go Man, Go! WWW.TOURDEPANTS.COM

Weighed in this morning. I am down to 359!!!! Thats 91lbs on the ole ticker!!

WOW Big Lug!!! That is awesome! Congrats!

Wow, great job. Keep going!

Thanks guys!

Big Lug you are going to have to change to a smaller moniker! LOL! Maybe Mini-Lug? Funbun! Glad to see your post friend! How goes it? WWW.TOURDEPANTS.COM

Hi folks (newbie here <grin>)--
I've lost 72 pounds in the past year.

Diet: Sugarbusters (works esp well for me as I have diabetes) and I drink ONLY water (about a gallon a day)

Exercise: Yoga (daily without fail) and recently added biking for cardio

Hey, I just found this forum and thought I'd do a quick introduction.

I just started riding again (since I was a kid) and am trying to commute to work at least 4 times a week (I have to have a car the 5th day). It's not a long commute at 3.5 miles each way, but it's enough to keep me moving for 40 minutes a day. And with living in California with gas at $2.69/gallon, it's helping out in other ways.

I'm not really tracking my weight right now, but do now that last month I weighed in at 220 pounds at the doc's office. Right now my main concern is getting some cardio work in -- my pulse and blood pressure aren't in danger zones, but I can seem them from here.

I'd already been making changes in my diet over the past year -- more fruits, less bread; more home cooked, less through-a-window.

So I have no idea if I've lost weight over the past month or so. I do know I enjoy my trip into work more and I'm in a better mood when I get home (work gets lost in the ride through a nice neighborhood). I know that I feel less "guilty" when I eat that nice meal on the weekend.

And I'm hoping that the Fresno summers won't wreak havoc with the fun that my commute is now. Any tips on hot weather riding (we're talking 100+ afternoons on a regular basis)?

And, good luck to everyone out there! Any change can be daunting, but almost all change can be good.

Jennifer

Hi Jennifer!
Good luck with the biking in the heat. I don't have any good suggestions except drink a ton of water!
I used to live in Fresno and was back to visit friends there this past October. I forgot how HOT it is there! Even in October I was sweating to death!
Enjoy the biking!
Gypsy :D

Yeah, get a good hydropack.

Wow, I bet you diabetes has gotten easier to manage with losing that much weight.

Glad to see that you understand that WEIGHT is NOT equal to FITNESS. As a matter of fact when most people begin any physical fitness program they tend to gain weight. Lean muscle weighs more that fat and as you start building muscle mass you body will retain more fluids to help nourish the new muscle you build.
Bicycling is a great method of weight loss as it requires you to use the largest ( and most metabolicaly active) muscles in your body.
I would suggest, from personal experience, that you invest in a heart rate monitor. When you exercise at a heart rate of 60-70% of your (Theoretical) Maximum Heart Rate, you are in the correct "zone' for burning body fat and building muscular and cardio endurance. The reason I suggest you use a monitor is that I believe that most will ride at a higher heart rate which, if you are riding for longer periods ( 90 min). may actually break down muscle tissue for fuel. The less muscle mass = less energy expended throughout the rest of your day.
Of course this is just general information. I would always suggest you educate yourself about how the body works, On-line resources are great, but a Nutritionist and/or Personal trainer :rolleyes: ( SHAMLESS SELF-PROMOTION ) can condense all the information out there down to bite size chunks that may be easier for you to swallow.
So keep up the good fight and happy trails

Captain Chaen

Okay, its time to enter the Magnuson Zone! This is the radical departure in the way I've been eating. (I.E. The Wrong Way!) Get ready to see some big numbers fallin' ! WWW.TOURDEPANTS.COM

Well I turn 35 this year and i'm about 350lbs lost both parents to heart issues, so I am thinking of buying a bike and I need some guidence in my choice. I was thinking of a Giant Suede 7speed comfort bike... Any help would be great.
Thanks in advance