+1 on trying to use this forum as a way to stay motivated. A year ago, I was fit as a fiddle, and I was not visiting the forum at all. Then I tweaked my back, and then winter came, and then I started eating crap, and then I gained about 20 lbs. Now, I am trying to reverse the slide, hopping on the forum most every day.

Through it all (winter, back pain, weight gain), I have managed to keep riding. So, even though I am a good 20 lbs overweight, I never get tired legs anymore. In fact, it has been so long since my legs hurt, that I do not even remember what tired legs feel like. I get winded long before my legs peter out.

Me too. I've been cycling all my life. I am not all that fit overall, but I have gigantic hips and thighs which maintain their tone even when I don't ride. I always, always, always climb stairs two at a time. The muscle tone is such that it feels GOOD to pedal hard, better than not doing anything at all. So that's a goal to reach for. I should say the same to myself for working out my upper body. I am a super weakling above the hips.