Aham - The friends that are telling me that I don't need to loose more weight are actually quite fit. My overweight friends don't have much to say about the subject. I know that I can drop more weight and plan to do so over next winter. For now, I like where I am. I am very happy with the progress of this past year. So, I plan to concentrate on cycling. Its easy to maintain my weight and as long as I continue to see body composition changes, I'm good. :)

Congrats on your achievements!

I hear the same thing from my friends. I am 6'2" and weigh about 195.

First time I've seen this thread, might as well give it a go.
In June '05, I was 5'8.5 and weighed in at an unhealthy 260.
About that same time though, I began to ride my bike the 2 mile round trip to work and also began training at a local 24Hr Fitness place.
Aside from the ride, I also trained on an elleptical/cross trainer for 20 min, and performed various muscle workouts for 40-60 minutes, four days/week.
While sticking to this regimen, I wanted to see what would happen if I cut down soda intake from 24 cans/week, to almost none at all.
Throughout the year, I gradually increased the time and resistance on the elleptical machine.
By December '05, I was down to 215 and had been running the elleptical for at least an hour and performing the same amount, yet intensified muscle build/tone workouts five days/week.
The bike commute was still the same at this point, and the low/no soda plan appears to have worked out greatly. I decided to continue with this intensity level for the next six months.
Once June '06 came along, I was now(and currently still) weighing in at 170-175 lbs, yet most people say I look helluva lot thinner than that. I now tune the resistance to harder levels on the 60-120 minute elleptical sessions and the muscle work-outs have gone up slightly in resistance.
And most of all, my nightly bike commute has gone up to 11 miles round-trip.
However, I was commuting a 24 mile round trip a month and a half ago.
It lasted for a week until my boss decided to stick someone with a car at that post:mad: .
Luckily, the pay is the same at my current post, so I'm not really mad anymore.
Cool thing about this fitness regimen, I only changed my soft drink intake and lost all this weight.
The weight continued to go down and is still maintained, despite the foods I still eat.
But, then again, I only get my "grub-on and never pig-out", like Ice Cube says.

Tom - So, what do you make of it when your friends say you don't need to loose more weight?

bentstrider - Wow! You have made HUGE progress! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your story here with us! I still find motivation within everyone's stories here.

I think these friends mean well and just dont have the correct idea of what a person should weigh and eat. I shouldnt weigh in at 230+ lbs and eat 5000 calories a day. No one should. I carried the weight well at 6'3'' as it all was in my gut. Now I am at 185 lbs, fit, have a healthy BMI, skip fast food, eat health and get comments like, wow you are too skinny. People ask me what diet I am on? Well, I am not on a diet. I am eating healthy. Lean meats and more veggies. Just becuase a guy doesnt eat at Taco Bell or McDonalds doesnt mean he is on a diet. Anyway, just my thoughts. Later.

Hi everyone,
I think I'll jump into this thread. I stay up to date reading everyone else's posts daily, it is very inspiring.

I just turned 29 years old, I'm 6' 0" and on January 1st I weighed in at 278 pounds. I have been trying to eat less and exercise more and as of Monday I was down to 257 pounds. However, I didn't feel like I had much structure to how I was eating, other than just trying to eat less. I felt clueless when it came to knowing what and what not to eat.

Over the weekend, I read the South Beach Diet book and started that on Monday. I explored Atkins in the past, and to me this program seems like a smarter more evolved version of Atkins. It seems like some of the main differences are that South Beach doesn't talk about getting yourself into ketosis (burning fat instead of glucose for the main body fuel), and it also stresses good versus bad fats along with good versus bad carbs.

So, I started following some of the principles from the South Beach on Monday at 257 pounds. So far I've been eating lots of salad, veggies, and lean meat. I've been cutting out all bread and anything else with processed flour. I plan on being really careful with the types of meat I eat, mostly chicken breast or turkey, maybe lean red meat occasionally. The first two weeks are the strictest phase, the book says you can expect to lost between 8 and 14 pounds before you move on to 'phase 2' where you start adding back more fruits and other items you eliminated during the first phase. In phase 2, your weight loss slows to a more normal 1 to 2 pounds per week.

I hopped on the scale this morning just out of curiosity, and it read 250. I'm curious to see if that 7 pounds comes right back or if its actually gone.

At any rate, after reading the book, it makes a lot of sense and I feel like I have some real guidance to base my diet off of. The Glycaemic Index really makes sense to me, and I feel like I am essentially just cutting out all of the junk food (with a few other exceptions like rice, white potatoes).

I'll keep everyone posted with my progress.

I'm now reading 'Eat to Live' by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. Looks like this book is highly recommended all over this forum.

I got upset with my progress. I broke down and started using fitday.com and saw how many carbs I was eating. Well I've done about 70 miles this week, eaten much better, and I've lost the same 7 lbs again. I'm sitting at 230, but with a new plan, and some good weather I think I have an idea of how to get below 220.

Small goals, achieve them, and then make a new goal.

Hiya, new here, here is my story. Always active, rowed crew in college, Marine Corps Infantry etc.. then I became a sloth. Married, kid, teaching. I found myself at 5'10, 265 pounds. In Feb of 2006, I did something about it. Road bike, cut my 2-3 pesi's down to maybe 1 a week. no useless food goes in my body regulary. Basicaly, no white flour type stuff or potato stuff or deep fried chips.
I started treating my body like in the infantry. I would pack a lunch for work, diet crackers, low fat cheese, cliff bar, fruit etc. I would eat 1 thing every hour.

As far as riding. when I first started, 10 miles at avg speed of 8 miles an hour would kill me. I remember seeing my cycle computer, and reaching 12 mph for a short period.

Now, this last week, I rode 30+ miles a day up at lake tahoe, doing the hills. My normal ride here at home is 25+ miles, 6 days a week. my flat ground no wind work-out speed is 18+mph. 20+ when riding with a club I just joined.

I train a different thing each day. Use a heart rate monitor, work-out in different zones, kinda a modified carmichael system I read in one of those books about lance.

So now it is July, and I am down 42 pounds. My whole life has changed. I can go eat MDonalds with my daughter without feeling guilty.Example, I went to disneyland vacation for a week, ate like crap compared to my normal style, jogged for a hour on 3 monrings, and still lost 2 pounds that week.

I can;t believe how much I like my life now. I havnt felt this good since I was in the Corps hanging out on some beach in Thailand or Australia. I am totally addicted to riding, and going to reward myself with a new bike when I hit 200lbs.

But every silver lining has a cloud. In the marines I picked up chewing tobbacco as a habit. When I try to quit, I want to eat. I want to quit, but putting it off for now. I wish quitting chewing was as easy as losing weight. So if you have any hints, let me know!

I hit a final goal, to drop 50 pounds. Thought I'd post a picture. This was taken yesterday, we were 1/4 of the way through a ride that took us up that rather straight dirt road, and up into a beautiful, and I do mean BEAUTIFUL canyon. Total ride was a hair short of 40 miles. I'm averaging well over 100 miles a week on that mtn bike. Loving every minute of it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...Bike7-9-06.jpg

A broader view.. those are the Ruby Mtns in the background:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...1/Me7-9-06.jpg

That looks really fun

Hi Ritz,

I read your post that you starting riding your Sun ez-1 recumbent at 308 lbs and it has been fine. I am so encouraged by your post because I am at that weight and I just bought my Super Cruzer today.

How are you doing now and how much weight have you lost? How often, or how far do you ride? I am so excited to read your post. thanks in advance. Diane

Day one to the site... finished by first ride in 25 years. darn my butt is sore. I got a bike from a friend FREE Real smooth ride... anyways today starts my weight loss program. I will be 41 next month and have not seen my ideal weight in 20.... kinda funny quit riding and the weight came on. ;-).

I decided not to worry about miles - but time on the ride. I rode for 17 minutes one way from the house and then returned. I will do this every morning for 2 weeks. Then I willl do the same in the evening.

I work nights, wife works days, I have 5 daughters 9 7 6 5 2 and attend University of Phoenix Online.

I am at 240 and want to be at 180... hard to set a goal for it all. So I figure 4 months to be at 200. That's 10 lbs a month. I have 40 waist and love to see 32 by the time all is said and done.

So I will log mile in Sept when the kids are in school and I can be gone from the house longer streaches at a time... already looking to get the baby a helmet and a seat!

I will be around off and on during the week.

I ENJOY THE INSPIRATION THAT YOU ALL BRING TO THIS THREAD... now it is my turn.

BIKE ON!!!

The Missing Link in the Weigh Loss Puzzle
 

Hello,

I too struggled with cravings and such as I played with my dietary contents.

What I have found is ordinary foods don't contain the nutrients in quality, quantity or variety needed for cycling.

Give this a good going through and a try: www.GuideByGod.com :)

Troll!!!

Woho I lost 3lbs on average since last month.

Well I have been reading all the threads for the past week. I finally went on a ride yesterday for about 30 mins with my kids. The seat killed me. but reading all your inspirational messages. I'm finally going to take the plunge. I have been sitting on the couch for to long. I'm 6'0 and weight 255 and feel miserable. I want to keep motivated I believe that this will help. Thanks for everyone that was honest with there posting. My milage to work is like 35 miles one way. I would like to make that my goal. It just seems so far. Well Thanks everybody. I'm going to try to just to 45 to an hour tonight.

So, a number of weeks of progress and after two weeks holiday I'm back where I started! I'm back up to 190 after four weeks of one pound a week loss. The weight seemed to go back on pretty easily, I didn't think I was that bad! Anyway, it was a bit discouraging to see that but I have read every message in this thread and there have been a number of false starts, backsliding incidents and what not that others have endured and they all kept plugging away so I will do the same. I guess I just have to be more serious. I'll have to make sure I'm being accurate in my fitday logs because the calories in/calories out balance according to fitday should not result in weight gain. I don't think I'm cheating with either side of the equation, it just may be that their peanut butter sandwich has fewer calories than the ones I'm actually eating! Anyway, it was this thread that inspired me to start losing the weight, and it can inspire me again. Keep up the good work everyone!

Cheers,

James

I guess I might as well start somewhere.

23, 6'0" 250ish, hardly an athletic day in my life, but reasonably active (walked 1-2miles per day from school for the last 8 years)

I'd say my goal is to get to 200 by age 25. but mass isn't so much my concern as is shape and volume. I want to ditch my spare tire and get in good enough shape that I could do lots more athletic riding instead of my current (and recently added commute)

I did also a few months ago become mostly vegetarian. I'm wondering what I need to do w/regards to keeping protein/nutrient levels high enough to be athletic without eating meat.

Jim, this was your quote of Saru's statement "I bike around 150 miles a week and love it"
but I think there are actually two keys to this door :) The second one is in his other statement: "I made some fairly major dietary changes"

I noticed that myself, exercising helps me to drop pounds, but in order for me to keep them off - I have to ear properly. And by that I don't mean major dieting, just being reasonable in what I eat, how much I eat and when I eat. I've done this once already, about 2 years ago I went from 200lbs to 170lbs in about 6 months. Then I stopped exercising (completely) and returned to my bad eating habits, gained everything back in about 1.5 years, and now I'm on the second quest, going from 200lbs as of February, now I'm 175, target - 170 (I'm 5"9).

Exercising - I noticed it's important to vary what you do. Your body gets used to one type of exercise and you stop losing weight until you start doing something else - then you start progressing again. For instance - I mix bicycling (two or three times a week, 11 miles loop, cadence 80-100), tennis (one or two times per week, singles, 1.5 hrs on a court at a time), elliptical 30 mins random program on levels 15-17 one or two times a week and upper/lower body weight training (one or two times a week). Yes, I do at least one activity every day because you have to be agressive to lose weight, while maintaining it at somewhare reasonable level later on requires a lot less dedication :)

Eating habits - I still eat everything I ate before. I like good tasting food and I'm not into calories counting. I eat out for lunch every day! Just a few minor tweaks to my eating habits make it still possible to progress:
1. I make it a point to eat light breakfast, that way I eat less at lunch.
2. I eat 75% of what I feel I want to eat at lunch, allowing myself to get more if I still feel hungry 15 minutes after I finished my 75% (I sometimes I go for more, and sometimes I don't)
3. When I eat out, I try to pick healthier options (less junkier food) and also places where I like the food but I feel like they don't serve you enough of it (when I leave I feel that I could eat more) :) Actually, after some time I feel that the portion is just right and later on - I can even eat less of what they serve.
4. Finally, I try to ear my dinner as early as possible - say at 6:30pm as opposed to 8:30pm
5. I replaced sodas with sparkling water and drink unsweet tea (3 times out of 5) instead of sweet.

Thats' pretty much it. Worked well so far for me, see if any of this can help you, even if a little bit - it still helps a lot :) Don't give up, keep posting your progress!

I feel like I must introduce myself to this thread. I just turned 19 and at 5' 11" my weight is hovering around 245lbs, I feel like a blob. My highest weight was almost one year ago and I weighted 267lbs, I have not been trying very hard, but I think the 20lbs. lost was due to me cutting red meat out of my diet in January.

I have not eaten red meat nor fast food since January, but about two weeks ago I felt it was neccessary to take the next step. I have cut down on junk foods, and I make sure I eat enough, but lots of chicken, fish, and vegetables.

For excersize, I ride my road bike a few days a week, depending on the weather, and I go to the gym around 4-5 days a week. Typically I do some mild cardio and then lift 4 of those days, and then the fifth I do intense cardio or spinning. I am hoping to raise the cardio level soon, and to start dropping the pounds.

I have two current goals. First, I would like to be down to 210 or so by the end of December, my grandparents are taking the entire family on a cruise and I want to be in decent shape to pick up the ladies:p . My second goal is to complete and do well in a 5k run that my dad and cousins participate in every spring. Are these goals attainable? I am pretty dedicated, and I know a decent bit about both nutrition and excersize.

This is both so inspiring and so damn depressing I can't even express it all...

Got back to riding in May to get ready for a Century this fall, weighing in at about 215 (was 220-something last winter...) and since then I have not lost a thing worth mentioning.

I'm getting faster, I'm getting stronger, and I'm getting more endurance, and I've had some folks tell me I look thinner but the scale is just NOT COOPERATING :)

FWIW, I'm 6'3", would love to get to around 185-ish, or at least under 200 sometime this year. Fifty miles at a stretch on flattish ground is no problem, planning for a metric century sometime in the next week or two, but the weight is just not going down.

I've been pretty cautious about food, but am consuming carbs while I ride in training for the event... hopefully this is just fat turning into muscle, but the fat %age on the scale hasn't dropped either.

For what it's worth, this thread continues to inspire me. Every time I stop in, I leave feeling that weight loss and fitness is a real possibility — one that doesn't require ridiculous diets or whatever. Lately, as my weight has gone the wrong direction again, I've been spending more time here looking for continued inspiration. And I always find it. So thanks to all of you who tell your stories and struggles here. It helps! :)

its kind of cool to read about all of these success stories. ive been struggling to lose weight for a while now and its nice to have some inspiration. I decided to document my successes in this thread (if there are any). I think that telling people, people i dont know, will encourage me to keep it up without having to feel embarrassed about my weight. Maybe this is just the thing i need to keep me on the right track. I have a weight loss goal of 17 lbs. And I'd like to lose it by October 1, 2006. That means that I'll have to lose approximately 1.7 lbs per week. I know that I can do it because I've done it before, it's just a matter of disciplining myself. I get my new bike next week and, once I get that, there will be very few minutes in my day that are wasted on this computer or watching tv, so hopefully that will help as well!

I currently weigh 163lbs @ 5'9". 16 months ago I weighed 202lbs @ 5'9".

During the winter of 04-05 I discovered that it was possible to commute using a bike. An unrelated google search brought up BF and enabled me to make this discovery.
After my wife was involved in a car accident, I decided to give it a try. At the start I could hardly ride 2 miles and now I ride 250 miles a week on a tour bike. Next year I plan on picking up a race bike. Maybe to actually race. Maybe not. Maybe I just want to go fast :)
Anyhow, if I can do it anyone can.

I couldn't imagine 16 months ago I would be wearing spandex shorts and cycling jerseys.
....also I originally set my weight goal to be 160lbs. Almost there!
It will also be strange when I start having issues keeping weight on. However, I will believe that when I see it.