New Athena
 

Hi Everyone,
My understanding is that an Athena is >150 lbs. So this place seems fitting for me. Especially since everyone I bike with is super fit and light,so it's nice to have a place where there are others on the heavier side. I started out very heavy several years ago, lost 85 lbs but have since gained back 40 lbs in the past 2 years. I had a few injuries, had knee surgery, combined with work/life balance, the weight just piled back on. I am now trying to shed it again. I do both road and MTB. I have never ridden at this weight before, so I'm really noticing the difference (hills are killing me).

Here I was 10 years ago:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=259442

Here I was two years ago:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=259443

Last summer, 20 lbs heavier:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=259444

Here I am now, 40 lbs heavier and officially a work in progress:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=259446

In my road rides, I'm having a tougher time staying with the group once we hit the first hill. On my MTB, I'm walking up a heck of a lot of hills.

Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself. I'm from New Brunswick, Canada. I joined the Strava Clydesdale group and have been following some people on there:) I love Strava as I like to focus on my personal records. It's also quite entertaining as we have very few women on it in my city, so I'm QOM for lots of parts despite my being pathetically slow;)

Cheers!

Lisa

Hi. I rode through NB when on tour a couple of years ago. Looked like a terrific place to ride.

The weight really makes a difference on the hills, no doubt about it. However, you have this advantage - you've lost the weight before, you know you can lose it again. Just keep pedalling.

Walking up hills is GREAT exercise! Ride, walk, crawl....doesn't matter. You're out there doing it!

Welcome to the nut-house. We're looking forward to hearing about your adventures and sharing in your success!

Welcome to the group. This forum is full of supportive wonderful people.

:welcome

Welcome Lisa!

Nice change! Takes a lotta heart to do that! :thumb:

Welcome Lisa. I can relate to the yoyo weight loss. I went from 230# in1990 to 180 on Jenny Craig. By 2000 was at an all time high of 305.

Now I'm in it for life, and communities like this are a great way to do it. So welcome aboard, and don't be a stranger.

I've only been to Canada once, but the other side-Vancouver.

Thanks everyone!

I pinched a nerve riding tonight (sciatic maybe...) hoping it will feel better tomorrow. Would suck to develop an injury just as I'm ramping things up:(

Hi Lisa. I'm glad you're here. There are so few women on Strava. I have been in New Brunswick on a family vacation many years ago and was impressed by the way Canada is so clean and organized. I am only judging by the camping sites we stayed in, but that is what I took back with me. I really like seeing your Strava maps and imagining what the ride was like. My imagination is probably way different from the actual truth, but please don't tell me so.

Hope you're not really injured and will feel better tomorrow.

Welcome Lisa,
Dont worry about walking up a hill as long as you just keep on trying to get up further each time before you walk. Its all about the little progresses each week that when looking back on a year later are really huge leap in progress.

we have all been there on the yo-yo weight battles. i put on a bunch of weight junior year in High School (i think got to 230?) only to drop it by the end of senior year. Then freshman/soph year of college was rocking the sick pack at 155lbs only to put on 30-40 pounds in two years after that. Dropped to a studly self again for a bit. Then had a rough battle with depression which help throw on 50-60 pounds. Dropped 20lbs then had a rough patch in life with a bit of the depression coming back i got up to 300lbs. Dropped that down when i started dating my wife and got to 235lbs, marriage and having a kid i got back up to about 265. Found cycling last year and started jogging and hitting the gym got down to 227lbs. Hurt my knee jogging in November and couldnt jog or lift, biking was too cold for me so gained again and went up to 260lbs. Once it got warm again i got a new bike and i am down to 239 right now, but still eating bad.

its a battle, and so far when i go bad i just try not to gain any more. As i see that the older i get the harder it is to lose it. If i "lapse" and only gain 3-5lbs i call it a win in my books as its like starting where i left off.

I wish you the best, and i know you can do it. Your already motivated to keep up and beat the skinny's you ride with. You came here for support and companionship from fellow clydes/athenas. The fact you Have motivated yourself to do something is the BIGGEST step you needed to take. Soon you will be posting how you are not officially an athena anymore.

Go get em

Love that 3rd picture, you look like you're having a blast!

I tested out an Adamo Road saddle today to see if that would be more comfortable. I have struggled with piriformis muscle and major discomfort in the nether regions for a while. Last night's pinched nerve (nothing like an electric shock feeling going through your groin) was the final straw. The ride today was a huge improvement. I am going to try the Adamo Podium next. They're expensive (and likely means buying one for the road bike and one for the MTB) but if it means riding without pain, it's worth it.

I also rode up a Cat 4 hill today without walking, woot! http://app.strava.com/rides/12579810
Ignore the QOM. I'm the first female on strava to do it;)

CJ - love your post, very inspiring. Let's get off the yoyo for good:)

chaapa (Christine?) - the campgrounds in NB are very clean. We have fantastic national parks here I think. NB is rolling hills and trees. When MTB, it also means a gazillion mosquitoes though;)

psalm - I was going downhill so, yes, having fun:) If the picture had been on a climb, it would be a different face;)

Lisa

I am curious to know how your saddle tests go. Were you on the new saddle when you did the hill today? If so, do you think it made a difference in your performance? I am on a road bike and would love to go long distances, but am way too uncomfortable. I put a new saddle on today, but the UPS truck came just before 8pm so I haven't tried it out yet.

And yes, I am Christine on Strava. I live in SE Massachusetts. We have mosquitos too, but not so many this year.

good luck on the saddle shopping.