Newbie Health Benefits?

[SpokeyDokey]

I'm pretty fit as I get into the mountains regular but there's no two ways about it; cycling has helped my aerobic fitness no end.

I have been climbing/hiking for decades and the shock absorbers in my nearly 57 year old knees are feeling descents a bit so cycling is a nice low-impact past-time for me.

I also have Graves Disease (over-active thyroid) for which I am having radiation treatment on 7 Nov - medication for this has been trial and error and my weight has yo-yo-ed. Not sure if has been more yo than yo-ed though - it's the one that equates to gain though!

Cycling - a good thing even though the weather frustrates me!

 

[Mickthemove]

It has had an amazing effect on me! I brought the bike on the 25th May in prep for a night ride to Brighton in July, I weighed about 18 st 12 ish,

This monday after the policing winter sprinter in the morning, I full expect my weight to be under 16 stone! I can fit in clothes I had as a 16 year old casual And I feel better than I have done in 30 years, no out of breath up the stairs ( giving up the fags help) stable blood pressure, stable cholesterol.

Possibly the best thing I have ever done was buy a bike, now addicted and spend what I used to on fags each week getting goodies from wiggle et al (inc LBS) all the time!

 

[The Jogger]

Great result sutts, how old are you and what sort of mileage do you put in? I enjoy cycling and since having to stop running due to knee trouble, the cycling is bringing back my fitness levels. Also starting to look at eating more healthy is bringing down my weight. 55 and wanting to stay fit to enjoy retirement.

 

[bpsmith]

I have had a lot of issues with my joints over the years and got worse this past year. Decided that I was going to get more active again and Cycling was the choice that suited. Took the chance on buying a Roadie, as more choices of hand position and always liked the look of them. Not done huge miles but done half a dozen 20 mile plus rides and loving it! Weather and daylight now being a problem and really miss it now, like the rest of you.

Dr's have narrowed my symptoms down to either Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, which a blood test showed as positive, or Rheumatoid Arthritis, which I am awaiting a new type of blood test to score me at. Fingers crossed that it's neither, as pretty scary stuff, but if it is then at least I can treat it now. I am only 36, but feel a lot older at times. Ironically, it's when I don't cycle that my joints are painful, particularly in the mornings or after periods of rest. Cycling has helped quite a bit, but makes you hungry for more and gutting when no suitable time and weather cross paths.

 

[sutts]

Great result sutts, how old are you and what sort of mileage do you put in? I enjoy cycling and since having to stop running due to knee trouble, the cycling is bringing back my fitness levels. Also starting to look at eating more healthy is bringing down my weight. 55 and wanting to stay fit to enjoy retirement.

Well, I'm 53 and although I started cycling in February, I didn't really log the miles until the end of July. In that 17 weeks I have averaged 167 miles per week (so just under 3000 miles). I'm not a serious cyclist really, well ok, the mileage says otherwise, but I'm past the speed stage (although people of a similar age aren't passing, oh no, it's not happening ) and the distance stage now and I just do either 25 miles or 12 miles a day...I suppose the average week is something like 4x25 and 2x12 (not that I have a day off every week!).

I'm an ex-smoker, I gave up my 50+ a day habit at 40 and I suppose I am just over the moon that I can do this level of exercise after such abuse! My only regret over all of this is that I didn't start cycling at 16 or something. I wish that I had never smoked and I think I would have been really good....but you can't put an old head on young shoulders as they say.

Another health benefit for me is the reduction of stress. I think that if nothing else, cycling gives me good thinking time...and it really helps me.

 

[GreigM]

I started seriously in August, 39 years young and was really unfit, we got a puppy in March and when I was out of breath running about playing with him I realised I had to do something, loved being on a bike when a kid so thought why not can't be that hard, how wrong was I!!! Done 4 miles on a MTB and wanted to die but I loved it, got a road bike off my brother and now going about on that. It's certainly made me fitter already I feel, and it's also changed my diet a bit, still pig out but I used to always miss out breakie but now I am having a decent breakfast so it fuels me for a ride

Sometimes I have wanted to throw the bike away and never see it again, but it soon passes and I really do love getting out on the bike and just enjoying the rides, not too worried about losing weight but if I can lose a stone it would not be missed....

 

[NEO]

Started road cycling again earlier this year to try and lose weight as I was over 15stone @5'10" first few rides nearly killed me lol as it's quite hilly. Tried doing the same ride so I could log my progress and after a few weeks i was doing it easier each time. Not seen much weight loss yet but already feel fitter. My plan was to go to the gym in winter to keep my fitness levels up which I have for last couple of weeks but I really miss being on the bike I find it s good stress reliever and time to think but I have no winter clothing but I think I'm going to have to invest in some as I don't think I can now go through all winter without cycling.

 

[Steve T]

Been getting out on the bike quite seriously over the 5-6 weeks, once you get over the initial inertia shall we say I find it gets a bit addictive, any spare time and getting mamilled up and going for a spin. Also waist size has shrunk too!

 

[Steve T]

In reply to Neo above, aldi have got some very good quality cheap cycling gear for sale at present, some is half price at present.

 

[david k]

I'm pretty fit as I get into the mountains regular but there's no two ways about it; cycling has helped my aerobic fitness no end.

I have been climbing/hiking for decades and the shock absorbers in my nearly 57 year old knees are feeling descents a bit so cycling is a nice low-impact past-time for me.

I also have Graves Disease (over-active thyroid) for which I am having radiation treatment on 7 Nov - medication for this has been trial and error and my weight has yo-yo-ed. Not sure if has been more yo than yo-ed though - it's the one that equates to gain though!

Cycling - a good thing even though the weather frustrates me!

i have graves - had rai around 3 years ago, gone underactive and now have the opposite problem of trying to keep weight off!

 

[snorri]

Sorry I can't translate my metric weights for you all,

No need for apology Victor, we've been metric here in the UK for donkeys years ..

 

[compo]

i have graves - had rai around 3 years ago, gone underactive and now have the opposite problem of trying to keep weight off!

I had Graves, with all the usual overactive symptoms. I was taking Carbimazole but eventually it stopped controlling the condition so I had RAI about 5 years ago and for some reason it hardly touched me. Because of previous exposure to radiation they didn't want to repeat the treatment so I had the thyroid surgically removed completely. I now survive on Thyroxine and have the same problem of keeping weight off. Unfortunately I am now losing the battle and the weight is creeping up.

 

[david k]

I had Graves, with all the usual overactive symptoms. I was taking Carbimazole but eventually it stopped controlling the condition so I had RAI about 5 years ago and for some reason it hardly touched me. Because of previous exposure to radiation they didn't want to repeat the treatment so I had the thyroid surgically removed completely. I now survive on Thyroxine and have the same problem of keeping weight off. Unfortunately I am now losing the battle and the weight is creeping up.

i had a large dose of rai and it did the job, was on 125 levothyroxine, but it was too high, now on 100 and my heart rate is better and my eyes are coming down a bit

its tough keeping weight off but what can we do?

 

[compo]

i had a large dose of rai and it did the job, was on 125 levothyroxine, but it was too high, now on 100 and my heart rate is better and my eyes are coming down a bit

its tough keeping weight off but what can we do?

I'm on 200mcg daily. As for the weight, thyroxine is funny old stuff. So many people complain of weight gain even when on fairly high doses but it is very cheap so the NHS don't take any notice.

 

[david k]

I'm on 200mcg daily. As for the weight, thyroxine is funny old stuff. So many people complain of weight gain even when on fairly high doses but it is very cheap so the NHS don't take any notice.

surprised rai didnt work for you, hadnt heard that before to that extent, i know some people have to have it twice. they thought mine hadnt worked at first and then it dropped like a balloon!

hows your eyes? mine havnt been great but on selenium and the drop to 100 seems to have helped. the anti bodies are very high so not a surprise