Some interesting stories!

Last year about this time I decided 220 was a little much. I'm a skinny guy hiding in a fat man's body. At age 45, it's mostly gut. So I started riding. I hadn't ridden regularly since about 84-85, and I was very out of shape. (I used to ride a lot and even race a bit back in the day) So I started with short 9-10 mile rides a couple times a week at a fairly brisk pace... 15mph is brisk for an old, out of shape fat guy! Then winter hit and the riding stopped. I got a little more serious this year, cranking out at least 3 15 mile rides over hilly terrain as fast as I could manage comfortably.

By June I was up to about 100 miles a week average and had started going on some longer, 40-50 mile rides occasionally.

July was a solid 100 miles per week minimum and a 55-60 mile ride pretty much every weekend.

August I got serious. Averaged about 125 miles a week and did 2 centuries. I was slow, but I got 'em done.

And now my milestone. I weighed in a couple days ago and I'm 199. Finally below 200! Woo hoo!

My ultimate goal is about 185, but at this point it's just numbers. I feel better, I can eat like a horse and still lose a couple pounds a month, my cholesterol is down so that I don't have to take medication, and my blood pressure is 94/40. My doctor says that my health is very good and to keep doing what I'm doing.

No problem, riding is fun.

Good luck to the rest of you guys!

Az