GNB

Well, I am trying to convince my wife to let me get a road bike so I can get some exercise and have fun at the same time. I run a few times a week now and I have a mountain bike I ride on the road but it is so slow, miserable and not fun I don't really even like doing it anymore. Money is an issue and we are saving the best we can considering we are both students but she wants me to lose 20-30 more lbs BEFORE I get my bike (I am 6ft 230 lbs now)! I am trying to convince her that riding will really help me get back into shape and that I should be able to go ahead and get a bike now. Some good honest stories about weight loss from the forum might help my case. Please help!


-GNB

Sprocket Man

Before I bought my bike, I had C-cup man-boobs. I couldn't see my toes - not even in a full-length mirror. I got exhausted just getting dressed in the morning. I left footprints walking on the sidewalk. Even my teeth were fat.

I bought myself a road bike and within weeks I was a new man. The local college had to ban me from riding on campus because nubile coeds would run into traffic while trying to lick the sweat off my 6 pack abs. I had to change my cell phone number because Jessica Alba wouldn't stop calling me. I went to my doctor for a physical, and they told me that I had -9% bodyfat.

Improve your life - get a road bike.

SDRider

Riding will definitely help you lose weight. The trouble is that you have to stick with it for it to be effective.

I would advise that you couple an exercise routine with a change in your eating habits. Eating right and exercise is a lifestyle and ultimately that's really the only way you'll lose the weight and keep it off.

LIUser22

It's not a story but riding is much easier on your joints than running, I'm only 20 and i need to get bone graphting and cartiledge replacement in my right knee from overworking it from tennis, soccer, and cross country/marathon running.
Just let her know that next time she wants to buy her louis vitton purse or whatever that you didn't get your bike that you will use for years and her purse will give her a season of enjoyment.

If you're going to be getting a road bike later anyways you might as well get one now.

Riding a road bike on the road is much more enjoyabe than riding a mountain bike, i know first hand commuting 33 miles round trip on a mountain bike and of last week riding a road bike.

good luck!!!

TCR

evoke0ne

Ive Had a road bike for nearly 4 days...and i have had no weight loss..but thats because I didnt ride it yet...har har... once I get it and ride it...ill tell you how much weight i lost by going how far, how fast...and such...

But im going to keep track of that and tell you later...

jl0703

Hey

Cycling help me go from 220 lb out of shape middle aged guy, down to 171 lb in shape middle aged guy. I now commute 20 miles round trip 3 days a week, and cycle with my wife 30 - 50 miles on the weekends. Cycling also helped my wife and I to get closer, since SHE now cycles. Since I was diagnosed with diabetes (type 2) 3 years ago, I made myself a pledge that I was going to make the changes and improve my health. Cycling was a *HUGE* part of this.

So....not only did cycling help improve my health, but was a big part in loosing the weight, was a big part in improving my relationship with my wife, and it got me out of the house and away from the boob tube.

Get the bike
Improve your life
Improve your relationship

RichinPeoria

I started riding again about three months ago, 3 to 5 hours a week, and I have gone from a high of 223 to a low of 204. Im 6'2" and Im stuck around 206lbs. The rate Im loosing weight has decreased. I feel better, look better, I can eat what I want within reason without gaining weight...dont wait...buy a bike, set it up and ride it 2 to 3 times a week for an hour or more.

ElJamoquio

March 1st: 183
August 1st: 158

No hunger strikes, etc. In fact I don't recall intentionally going hungry at any point in between those dates. But you need to be dedicated to riding.

grahny

When I turned 27 I was about 245 on a 6' frame. I started mountain biking again (used to ride lots from a kid up through about 20yrs old - then started smoking and drinking too much in my 20's) 10 miles a day, 4 days a week. I lost 45lbs in 5 months... then stopped riding for a while and just weight trained. Started riding again at 29 and went from mtn, to cross, to road... down to 185 these days (32yrs old). All said and done I've lost 60+lbs and put on muscle all over. I was back around 215 when I started riding again (a lot of upper body muscle though, not fat), but have ditched the gym for strictly riding in 2007 since I suck at hills

Hocam

January 2007: 165 lbs
Today: 153 lbs

I'm 5'9"

I know, I know. Not everyone can achieve such incredible weight loss in so short a time and I clearly risked long term negative health effects to do it.

But

It was worth it.

mtnwalker

I started full time commuting March 1, '07. Thats 22 miles rt, 5 days a week. I was 175 then and I'm down to 155 now. My goal is only 5 more pounds away.

666

I went on a crack binge once and lost 20 lbs in a week.

entukay

I rode hard and didnt lose any weight like maybe 1 or 2 lbs. when i changed my diet and starting eating less and better i lost 15 lbs.

FranckCisco

nah...just do what I did: spend 5 grands for 5 pounds off your bike:

GNB

So far so good! Keep'em coming people! Also, let me clarify a bit more. Over the past 6-8 months our eating habits have improved GREATLY! I have already lost 20 lbs just from running and eating better!! Now it's time to ride! Also, please submit real, TRUE stories...no co-ed fantasies, crack-binge stories or other randomness! :-)

euphoria

I lost about 100lbs. in a year and a half, and despite allegations of cocaine abuse and an onslaught of cancer, I keep singing "consistency is the key," but it falls on deaf ears.

AdamJaz

45 lbs, mostly from running, cycling, diet, and gymming.

I am now 159 @ 6'1.5, I was 203 at the doctors office, my highest "official" weight.

casicua

June 07: 180
Today: 165

I went balls out from near atrophy to 15+ miles/day avg.

FranckCisco

dude.

CastIron

There was a time when I was fat. This ain't it.

ridethecliche

If you're sick of your mtb but can't afford a road bike here's a fix that should get you going (assuming you don't have this stuff yet).

1) Get slick tires for your mtb - They're going to reduce rolling resistance and let you go much faster on the road.
2) Tighten your fork (if you can) the fork on my mtb can be almost 'locked' so the travel is significantly reduced.
3) Get a cyclocomputer: This will let you track your miles and see how fast you're going which is a fun way to motivate yourself. Pushing yourself to go longer, harder, and faster is a good motivator.
4) Get clipless pedals/shoes or powergrips so you can have a more full pedal stroke.

This should cost about 100-200 bucks tops and will make you go faster.

Also, you live in Atlanta! Why not check craigslist for an older road bike? If you find something you like, talk to us about it in the classic and vintage forum and we'll let you know more about it. 80's touring bikes are built tough and should give you good performance. You can possibly also find a used cyclocross bike!

Good luck! I'm an undergrad who started riding last year (my freshman year) and I feel your pain. Bikes and gear are awesome, yet expensive. I've had to pick and choose from many things I've wanted, but I really enjoy riding and feel that it's totally worth the sacrifice. I'm probably going to stick with the bike I bought for a few years unless I get really itchy to buy a new one since I'm at college and I'd rather not have a 1500 dollar bike stolen from my room.

obanta

I was ~220 at my heaviest and several events, such as being winded while running around the back yard with my kids playing soccer and seeing myself in pictures, I decided to get back in shape. My first ride back was on July 11th, 2006 on my 10 year old MTB. I rode 8 miles and I thought I was going to die the last 7. On July 18th I bought a Bianchi Giro (fell in love with the celeste) and started keeping track of mileage and calories like an obsessed person. I lost just under 50 lbs in 3 months and 2 weeks after riding ~2000 miles. Earlier this summer I rode my first century on my single speed Karate Monkey on mostly gravel roads and limestone bike paths. I have well over 2000 miles already this year and still look forward to jumping on my bike and either commuting to work or going for a long ride on the weekends.

I not only lost the weight, but I feel so much better. If more than a couple of days go by where I can't ride, I start to physically feel ill.

If you're serious about riding and your health, getting a road bike is an incredibly cheap investment. Now if I can only convince my wife that all of my recent bike purchases are a good investment... (3 road bikes with Campy Record, SRAM Force, and Shimano Dura Ace component groups and a PF ZX3 frame on the way)

666

Who said my crack binge story wasn't true?

Dr_Robert

Wanna' see some amazing results? Check this thread out:

https://www.bikeforums.net/clydesdales-athenas-200-lb-91-kg/228767-weight-loss-post-your-before-after-pics-here.html

This is Tom Stormcrowe, a local mod & major success story: