I'm actually pretty light now at around 179, but I was 205 at one point.

I've watched my resting heart rate go from the mid 80's to 57. I have no idea what it was back when I was in shape (before I got out of shape) because I never monitored it before.
I pretty much caught myself getting out of shape before I really got too far out of shape, to be honest, and that's a good thing.

I remember my first ride on my brand new bike that I spent so much money on and was determined to ride. I made it about 2 miles and thought I was going to have to call an ambulance...then after resting for a couple of minutes, I figured no ambulance, but I'd have to walk my bike back. I made it home on the bike just fine, but man was I nearly dead the rest of the day.

I thought something was wrong with me...it was a couple of years before cycling really caught on and I was finally determined to either die or get it. I'd go to strava Segments and see how I did -- I'd nearly be dying and finish in like the last 5-10 places. A few months of serious training got me to top 10's (bigger local segments with like 200 riders) (I was also rehabbing a broken ankle that left me pretty laid up for 2-3 months, so I was able to get muscle back very quickly). I'm happy where I'm at...sometimes we look back and forget how hard it is to get good at cycling, but it is hard, no doubt about it. We just kind of get to a point where we take it for granted and forget...I won't forget. I will always remember that dying feeling. That's one of the reasons I like to get local people out on rides if/when I can...and be as supportive as I can be with them. I want them to experience what I did.