ponzini

What a difference a year makes! Last year at this time I weighed over 300 pounds and, although exercising, was in pretty bad physical condition. I bought a bike and started riding and counting calories. A year later I have lost 90 pounds and just completed a 300 mile, 5 and a half day, bicycle tour for a Rotary charity. We rode through hills and rain and winds, and I feel great. Well, my butt hurts a bit... I cant remember when I've been this weight (213 poluds) but it has to be 20+ years.

I would like to thank all of the people on this forum for the encouragement that was given, some unknowingly, through posting their own accomplishments. It showed me that if others could do it, then I could too!

Thanks All!

jasonmg1981

Thats awesome...way to go. What you did was not easy. I hope I might a year from now make a post like yours. Congratulations....you earned it!

Yo Spiff

WTG!

troutbreath

That is awesome! Congrats!

10 Wheels

You did It.......

Just_Nigel

Great Work!

Cyclist0084

Awesome and way to go!! As other postings gave you encouragement, yours give me hope that I can get things turned around and make progress like you have.

1nterceptor

Good job!

[h=6]He should add "And A Clydesdale" [/h]

ythe1300

Congrats.

chefisaac

congrats. Any bumps along the way?

Evil Mastermind

Congrats! Thanks for sharing your success

TrojanHorse

That's fantastic! Congratulations.

goldfinch

Way cool! Tell us more. I've been interested in doing a multi day ride and love to hear people's experiences.

vesteroid

Nice job, really good to hear about others long term success.

rearviewbeer

Super Congratulations!

ponzini

Not really, I did take a month off the diet over the holidays (Thanksgiving- New Years) to have some fun and enjoythe parties. I continued to work out though. Slow andsteady so I could get used to the new way of eating.

Beachgrad05

Seriously that is AWESOME and so encouraging to me as I am currently on the journey.

mprelaw

Congratulations!!! Now you can inspire others, too. Here's my story, and why I still hang here despite the fact that I'm an ex-Clyde:

I started out at 235 pounds, with cholesterol numbers over 300 and triglycerides over 400. Got the bad news that I'm a Type 2 diabetic in February of 2010. I took charge right away with dietary changes. Started walking for exercise, and started cycling roughly about one year ago, first on a cruiser, then on a borrowed roadie--an ancient Schwinn LeTour. Now riding on a GT GTR road bike.

Within that time frame, I'm back down to the weight I was when I graduated from college (160 lbs). Better than average blood numbers. Off all Rx meds. And just completed a 175 mile weekend charity event for MS, with a 100 mile leg on Saturday. Hanging with the B group riders on club rides and events.

Oh, I'm closing in a 60 years of age faster than I care to admit, but I really feel better and more fit than I was at 40.

I won't say that it's easy, but results come fast if you stay at it.

ponzini

The ride was around northwestern Oh. Some days were 30 miles and some were 60+. The shorter days were for single day riders who did not have the time or stamina to complete 60 miles. We went from Rotary club to Rotary club along the route and they wrote us checks for MESA. MESA is a Rotary organization, Medical Equipment and Supplies Abroad. We collect surplus medical equipment, such as xray eq, hospital beds, wheel chairs and ship it to other Rotary clubs in South America and Africa. Hose clubs get it in the right hands. We have been outfitting a clinic in Honduras lately. This ride is our major fundraiser and the money raised is for container shipping costs. Along the route the Rotary clubs feed us (quite well) and arrange a place to stay at night. Some nights we stay with Rotarians in their home, or at a local college in unused dorm rooms, at a scout camp on bunk beds, cots in a church. About any place we can grab a shower and rest is good with us.

The ride is a blast. People with varied riding abilities usully separate into 2 or three groups. We have a couple support vehicles that provide drinks, Protein bars, spare parts an a ride to a bike shop or hospital should the need arise. Both have. We also store the bike in the support trucks at night.

The group has been doing this ride for 6 or 7 years, I believe. Not everyone makes it every year, but it's like a family reunion for those who do make it, even if they only ride one day. Sure the days can be tough when you are doing 30 or 40 miles into the wind, but the feeling of accomplishment is like no other whn you complete these tough days. I did 3 days last year at almost 300 pounds and it was brutal. This year at 213 was MUCH better. I am already looking forward to next year and will be working onthe planning committee.

We have a facebook page: 2012 Rotary Tour for MESA. You can see how much run these tours can be.

ponzini

Congrats on the weight loss and the century. It's a fabulous feeling, isn't it?

chefisaac

How did you curb the sweet foods? I have a hard time with this.

mprelaw

Nothing like it. I was a little concerned about following it up with another 75 the next day, but it wasn't too bad at all. Only real problem was the last 10 miles of long gradual upgrades with a 10 mph headwind.

What I did was substitute spicy for sweet. At least until I was down in weight and riding enough to add some healthy sweets, like watermelon and bananas. Very sweet fruits tend to spike my glucose levels. But, apples, pears, berries, those fruits are OK for me.

And there's nothing that says you can't treat yourself once a week. Reward yourself once in awhile. Remember---you're not "dieting". Dieting implies temporary, followed by a return to bad habits. You're re-learning how to eat. It's an eating plan. Take your rewards along the way, and you won't feel deprived. Even for a diabetic like me, an occasional step off the edge won't kill me. If someone in the office is having a birthday, and there's a cake, I'll have a small piece.

chefisaac

For me, if I grab one, I want all of them! That is what I need to figure out.

ponzini

That is tough for me but I say "nothing tastes as good as being thin feels". And that works for me.

mprelaw

That's a good approach. My wife (she's on BF as chaapa) has the philosophy that the first few tastes of anything like ice cream are always the best, so there's never any reason to order anything but a small serving.