I started riding (after a 15+ year hiatus) to recover from a motorcycle wreck. I got hit by a pickup truck, and broke both wrists, my right ankle, and a few ribs. I was in a full body cast for all of last summer. I lost ~25 pounds (from 175 to 150, basically all of my muscle mass) in 4 months. I had wasted away. 6 months later, I'm up to ~300 miles per week, am considering entering some MTB races this spring, and am in the best shape of my life. I'm still only about 160, but it's all muscle, and my resting heart rate is down to 42. We all get into cycling for different reasons, but the rewards are much the same...
Cheers to you, Trekkie820