360lb Cyclist

[Saluki]

Hi & Welcome to the forums. My hubby started cycling very reluctantly in a 'if you can't beat 'em join 'em' sort of thing. He has gone from 109kg to 92kg in under 2 years. He doesn't eat very healthily though which is why its taken a fair bit of time. He still rides and is keener on it now.

I am sure that you will do brilliantly. Just keep on keeping on and ignore the nay sayers who you will undoubtedly encounter.

 

[ThinAir]

@Baggies Man

Dude. Welcome again.

I'm using cycling to shift weight as well, and it's been one of the best ideas I have had.

Cycling in the gym is all well and good, but getting out and doing for real was one of the best things I ever did. I've only been doing it seriously for around 6 weeks now, but have clocked up my first 20miler and did 30miles in total yesterday, all around Swad and burton.

I'm in that area a lot visiting family, so I am sure we can hook up at some point and get down to the MTB trail at Willesley, it's one I haven't ridden yet, but would like to.

Let me know if you fancy it, good luck, and keep us posted!

 

[bozmandb9]

Hi Mark, well done for getting started. I just lost 3 stone, down from 16 to 13 or less, however it's made a massive difference to my life, I would reckon in the 5 years since I started I've lowered my biological age by at least 20 years, and massively improved every aspect of my life, and this was all before I even discovered the joys of cycling! I think cycling may just get the last few pounds off for that proper six pack, which I always wanted.

You haven't mentioned diet, but my words of wisdom would be change it, but don't go on one! Short term diets don't work, or at least not if you want to lose weight for the long term. The only thing which works is changing the way you eat, eat a natural balanced diet, minimise processed food, carbohydrates, and empty calories. Dr John Briffa has a great book called 'Escape the diet trap' which explains everything you need to know.

Anyway, good luck, and enjoy the journey!

edit to add - no link to Dr Briffa, just that I read the book recently and thought, wish I'd known this stuff before! A lot of the 'conventional wisdom' about what we should or shouldn't do is just plain wrong, and that includes a lot of current advice from government and medical establishment.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

All the best, Mark! I love reading threads like these. I look forward to your future status updates.

 

[puffinbilly]

Go for it Mark - loads of help and encouragement here - a fantastic way to lose weight and get fit, shortly you'll be like a lot of us on here wishing you'd started years ago.
You'll have struggles - we all do - whether its climbing that mountain (which is really a 50ft bump) or wanting to break 15mph for an average - its all relative but there's plenty of know how and encouragement here when you need it - you'll be a chiselled whippet in no time!!

 

[Baggies Man]

Thanks all for the motivational comments.

@Baggies Man

I'm in that area a lot visiting family, so I am sure we can hook up at some point and get down to the MTB trail at Willesley, it's one I haven't ridden yet, but would like to.

Let me know if you fancy it, good luck, and keep us posted!

Yeah that'd be great mate, i'd like to go and take a look at the Willesley trail. Like i said in the other thread though, give us a few weeks first to get saddle hardened and a few more miles under my belt so that i'm a bit more confident on the new bike.

You haven't mentioned diet, but my words of wisdom would be change it, but don't go on one! Short term diets don't work, or at least not if you want to lose weight for the long term. The only thing which works is changing the way you eat, eat a natural balanced diet, minimise processed food, carbohydrates, and empty calories. Dr John Briffa has a great book called 'Escape the diet trap' which explains everything you need to know.

I have changed my diet mate, i'm trying to stick to muesli/cereal for brekky, salmon or tuna salad lunches, and steak/chicken or fish for dinner with plenty of steamed veg, rice or pasta. I've cut down on the beer too which will probably make a big difference.If i get hungry in between i'm eating cherries, grapes, an orange or fruit salad.
I've cut out the burgers, kebabs, crisps, takeaways, and general junk food. I must say, after 3 weeks i've not really missed it much apart from a couple of late night cravings, so if i can keep it up with the exercise i'm sure i'll start to notice the difference before long.

 

[ThinAir]

Thanks all for the motivational comments.



Yeah that'd be great mate, i'd like to go and take a look at the Willesley trail. Like i said in the other thread though, give us a few weeks first to get saddle hardened and a few more miles under my belt so that i'm a bit more confident on the new bike.



I have changed my diet mate, i'm trying to stick to muesli/cereal for brekky, salmon or tuna salad lunches, and steak/chicken or fish for dinner with plenty of steamed veg, rice or pasta. I've cut down on the beer too which will probably make a big difference.If i get hungry in between i'm eating cherries, grapes, an orange or fruit salad.
I've cut out the burgers, kebabs, crisps, takeaways, and general junk food. I must say, after 3 weeks i've not really missed it much apart from a couple of late night cravings, so if i can keep it up with the exercise i'm sure i'll start to notice the difference before long.

Sweet, dude!

Diet is a big thing, but it sounds like you are making the right kind of changes. I used to have a terrible diet... a combination of shift work, long hours, late finishes and such like saw me pile on something like 6.5 stone in just over 4.5 years. I wish I hadn't gotten that far, but the hard work is paying off.

I know some people will knock this as they don't go in for the supplement thing, but if you can hack it and it is something you are willing to try, try something like a meal replacement protein shake instead of some of the fruit. They ain't for everyone, but its just something to consider maybe :-) Fruit is good though, definitely better than chocolate and crisps!

USN make a protein dessert too.... however, this is a really good replacement to nighttime snacking, and something worth considering!

You are making all the right changes though, mate and with your new diet and new exercise regime, you will see some good results and I would say you will see them quite quickly.... looking forward to getting out at Willesley with you

 

[awfulquiet]

I could also recommend you watch the video : Sugar - The Bitter Truth (
View: http://youtu.be/dBnniua6-oM
)

And try a calorie tracking app like My Plate from LiveStrong or any of the others available..

Cheers,
Awfers

 

[Ticktockmy]

Well done Mark,
Now you are finding this cycling bit of a crack, soon you will be addicted to it, but winter is coming, and when the rain is heaving down or it minus degrees outside, the enthusiasm to get out on the bike will fall off. My I suggest that now with consultation with your trainer at the gym, you work out a training schedule incorporating your gym work with your cycling, it will be well worth it. Likewise, draw up a list of different rides with various distances and elevations so that you can vary your rides thus making your cycling more interesting. Buy or get your local library get it a book about cycling and fitness something like: The Cyclist's Training Manual: Fitness and Skills for Every Rider. but most importantly the watchword has to be perseverance, perseverance and more perseverance.

 

[ThinAir]

Well done Mark,
Now you are finding this cycling bit of a crack, soon you will be addicted to it, but winter is coming, and when the rain is heaving down or it minus degrees outside, the enthusiasm to get out on the bike will fall off. My I suggest that now with consultation with your trainer at the gym, you work out a training schedule incorporating your gym work with your cycling, it will be well worth it. Likewise, draw up a list of different rides with various distances and elevations so that you can vary your rides thus making your cycling more interesting. Buy or get your local library get it a book about cycling and fitness something like: The Cyclist's Training Manual: Fitness and Skills for Every Rider. but most importantly the watchword has to be perseverance, perseverance and more perseverance.

Great advice.

Also something someone said to me a Lille of weeks ago... "The hardest part of any workout/training/exercise is the ten yards to front door of your house".

Once you've cracked this you will be flying


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[bozmandb9]

Thanks all for the motivational comments.



Yeah that'd be great mate, i'd like to go and take a look at the Willesley trail. Like i said in the other thread though, give us a few weeks first to get saddle hardened and a few more miles under my belt so that i'm a bit more confident on the new bike.



I have changed my diet mate, i'm trying to stick to muesli/cereal for brekky, salmon or tuna salad lunches, and steak/chicken or fish for dinner with plenty of steamed veg, rice or pasta. I've cut down on the beer too which will probably make a big difference.If i get hungry in between i'm eating cherries, grapes, an orange or fruit salad.
I've cut out the burgers, kebabs, crisps, takeaways, and general junk food. I must say, after 3 weeks i've not really missed it much apart from a couple of late night cravings, so if i can keep it up with the exercise i'm sure i'll start to notice the difference before long.

Sounds great, only tips I'd have are: 1. Minimise the carbs, and make sure they come from unrefined sources, so if you have pasta or rice, make it wholemeal, check out the GI and GL (Glycaemic Index and Glycaemic Load), and keep it as low as possible. Also major on veg rather than fruit, though some fruit is a great thing. For between meal snacks, as somebody else I think suggested, try replacing fruit with protein, nuts, peanut butter, full fat yoghurt, or for convenience maybe even protein snacks, the 'Bounce' balls seem to be pretty clean.

Trick is, never go hungry, oh and also, drink loads of water, but try to make it high quality, so if it's tap water make sure it's at least filtered! Oh, and focus on recovery, and quality of sleep!

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Hi Mark! Well done mate for taking up cycling...it will definatly help you in your aim. I was 23 stone and couldn't ride a bike around the park ...last year I rode a bicycle across the states...there are others on here with similar stories! Good luck and just keep peddaling.

 

[Broughtonblue]

what you have done is make a 'life style' change that will give you a better quality of life and hopefully make it more it enjoyable.
could I suggest though another big change that will transform your life? (possibly more than cycling).............support a better team

 

[Baggies Man]

Thanks for the continued advice & tips all, its appreciated. Through diet and exercise and listening to the advice on here i'm getting closer to losing my first stone.

One thing i did do was invest in a pair of padded shorts/bib, I'm still a bit achy after todays 8 mile cycle, but feeling much better for wearing the shorts, they definately help.

Hi Mark! Well done mate for taking up cycling...it will definatly help you in your aim. I was 23 stone and couldn't ride a bike around the park ...last year I rode a bicycle across the states...there are others on here with similar stories! Good luck and just keep peddaling.

Wow mate, thats a fantastic achievement, well done. I told the missus (jokingly) that i was going to fly to China and then cycle back home. Who knows? one day? I don't think anything is impossible after reading some of the success stories on here.

what you have done is make a 'life style' change that will give you a better quality of life and hopefully make it more it enjoyable.
could I suggest though another big change that will transform your life? (possibly more than cycling).............support a better team

Haha nice one mate. I'm afraid i'll always be a Baggy for my sins.....Boing boing.

 

[ianrauk]

@Baggies Man I know people have already mentioned Gaz and his blog/vid. But drop him a PM to say hi. He really is a great guy to chat to. Good luck on your weight loss.