The Smoker
New Member
- Location
- Sheffield / Chesterfield
Evening all.
Well, as per the title, I'm fat, (should be about a 34" waist and high 60's KG, but currently 40" waist and 95 KG). I'm old, (42, bust most morning feel more like 82), and a heavy smoker, (30 odd per day).
There was a time, way back in the late 80's / very early 90's that I thought I was a real Claudio Chiappucci. I used to laugh in the face of even the steepest climbs here where I call home, (the Peak District).
Then I started drinking, smoking, driving everywhere, and as seen as it was the early 90's, lets just say hedonism and rave culture took it's toll on my health.
Fast forward 27 years and I get easily out of breath running around after my daughter. If I don't get fit soon, I'll soon find myself going to the Undertakers for a long nap.
Well, I've always been of the thinking that if you're going to do something, then you might as well do it right. A Boardman X7 at a local Halfords seemed like a good deal at £300. Even more so when I managed to chip them down to £250. Well, if I've bought the bike, I might as well buy some other gear as well, right ? A couple of pairs of Ridge tights and shorts, a few jerseys, base layers and a jacket from various places in the sales kept things bargain-tastic. Shoes were harder to come by, although I eventually got some Shimano RP1's for £35 in my size (46), Shimano pedals and cleats for £26, a used Garmin Edge 500 for £42, heart rate monitor from Halfords £20, and a Garmin Cadence and Speed Sensor that refuses to talk to my Garmin Edge 500 for £48.
I was going to go out for a ride today, but considering it's been blowing a gale and pissing it down all day up here, I thought it might not be wise to go out on a bike for the first time in over 25 years in such conditions.
So, why am I doing this ? Why have I just spent all this money ? Well, I ain't 21 any more. I'm depressingly unfit, I'm obese, and I want to stop smoking. Besides the odd very badly played round of golf, I don't do any other exercise. I think it will be interesting to track my progress over the next 6-12 months on Strava, (if I can ever get my tech to speak to each other). Hopefully I'll have stopped smoking, lost a fair bit of weight and got a fair bit fitter as well.
And one last thing....... Well, you know how I said "if you're going to do something, you might as well do it right" ? Well, erm..... I've just entered my first Sportive. The Flat 100 on June 1st, although I am only doing the baby 25 miler, so any tips on how to prepare would be appreciated. And if you all want to start a sweepstake on whether I complete the course or have a heart attack trying, then please do let me know the odds, as gambling is another one of my bad habits.
Well, as per the title, I'm fat, (should be about a 34" waist and high 60's KG, but currently 40" waist and 95 KG). I'm old, (42, bust most morning feel more like 82), and a heavy smoker, (30 odd per day).
There was a time, way back in the late 80's / very early 90's that I thought I was a real Claudio Chiappucci. I used to laugh in the face of even the steepest climbs here where I call home, (the Peak District).
Then I started drinking, smoking, driving everywhere, and as seen as it was the early 90's, lets just say hedonism and rave culture took it's toll on my health.
Fast forward 27 years and I get easily out of breath running around after my daughter. If I don't get fit soon, I'll soon find myself going to the Undertakers for a long nap.
Well, I've always been of the thinking that if you're going to do something, then you might as well do it right. A Boardman X7 at a local Halfords seemed like a good deal at £300. Even more so when I managed to chip them down to £250. Well, if I've bought the bike, I might as well buy some other gear as well, right ? A couple of pairs of Ridge tights and shorts, a few jerseys, base layers and a jacket from various places in the sales kept things bargain-tastic. Shoes were harder to come by, although I eventually got some Shimano RP1's for £35 in my size (46), Shimano pedals and cleats for £26, a used Garmin Edge 500 for £42, heart rate monitor from Halfords £20, and a Garmin Cadence and Speed Sensor that refuses to talk to my Garmin Edge 500 for £48.
I was going to go out for a ride today, but considering it's been blowing a gale and pissing it down all day up here, I thought it might not be wise to go out on a bike for the first time in over 25 years in such conditions.
So, why am I doing this ? Why have I just spent all this money ? Well, I ain't 21 any more. I'm depressingly unfit, I'm obese, and I want to stop smoking. Besides the odd very badly played round of golf, I don't do any other exercise. I think it will be interesting to track my progress over the next 6-12 months on Strava, (if I can ever get my tech to speak to each other). Hopefully I'll have stopped smoking, lost a fair bit of weight and got a fair bit fitter as well.
And one last thing....... Well, you know how I said "if you're going to do something, you might as well do it right" ? Well, erm..... I've just entered my first Sportive. The Flat 100 on June 1st, although I am only doing the baby 25 miler, so any tips on how to prepare would be appreciated. And if you all want to start a sweepstake on whether I complete the course or have a heart attack trying, then please do let me know the odds, as gambling is another one of my bad habits.
. Well done for making the momentous decision to make a big change in your life. Good luck with getting back on a bike, and i hope you start to notice changes in your weight and general health within a few weeks. But a word of advice. Start out on the bike slowly. Don't try to go to far, too fast, too soon. And good luck.
