The noticeable changes to me after taking up cycling again

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johnnyb47

Guru
Location
Wales
Hi again
It's been nearly a year now since I've started cycling seriously again after many years of just using my bike now and again. I know I'm only scratching the surface compared to what some of you good members do but I now manage to put in around 120/130 miles a week.
Over the year though my general health and physique has changed for the better though. The first thing I noticed was the tops of my legs getting slimmer. I started to look good in a pair of jeans again. This was followed by the tops of my legs turning more firmer. My butt was the next improve. Its turned from a flabby arse into a rock. I put that down to the hard road bike seat. 5 to 6 months into my years worth of cycling I couldn't help notice how much more my leg muscles have developed. They tops of my thighs in particular but now my calf muscles are now starting to take great shape. Respitry wise is probably the most noticeable difference though. I barely ever get out of breath taking the 4 storey steps at work now. Before I started cycling I would be puffing and panting half way up. On a down side my knees tend to ache more and I seem to suffer more from stiff joints. People have comment about how much weight I've lost to which I can fit in smaller sized 32 " jeans as opposed to 34" .
I'm still trying to lose my belly though. Its just refusing to disappear, but I'm hoping if I carry on the way I am ,it will eventually. Smoking is the next target. I gave up way back in 96..I was smoking around 40 a day back then and was not really to practical when you worked in an oil refinery. Sadly I started again last year back when I learnt of my ex wife's affair's.
I'm so looking forward to the coming years of what I hope I can achieve in my cycling goals and hope this may be inspirational to any newbie's here thinking of taking cycling up.
All the best.
Johnny.
EDIT....
One thing I have forgotten to mention and I think it's been the most important thing of all.
The mental benefits I've gained from cycling have been phenomenal. It really has rebooted my mind set and turned my into a so much more positive thinker. That alone has to be a good reason by it self to take up cycling. :-)
 
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Slick

Guru
Yeah, sounds good, certainly better than I've managed. Stronger lags for sure but no weight loss here. I have long beaten the smokes though, you just have to find what works for you. The weight is my next target, so hopefully I can emulate your success with that. The mental benefits are as you say phenomenal and is enough to keep me commuting even without the weight loss.
 
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johnnyb47

johnnyb47

Guru
Location
Wales
It's back on the nicorette chewing gums for me. It worked well last time I gave up. I did try the nicotine patches but by heck did they give me bad dreams at night. They were giving them away free at work to help us kick the habit. I also got a bad skin reaction to them as well and they kept going out when I lit them :-).
 
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Shut Up Legs

Down Under Member
Of course the irresistable :whistle: appearance is probably largely due to the fact that we do large distances every week. I average about 180 miles or more per week, so that definitely tones the legs nicely, and staves off age as well as anything else, I guess.
 

Globalti

Legendary Member
Cycling does tone the upper body as well, in a subtle way. Apart from the muscular benefits, being a cyclist gives me pride and the hope that I can enjoy a healthy active retirement. I plan to retire around 63 and re-start ski touring, rock climbing and kayaking.
 

BorderReiver

Veteran
Cycling will help with weight loss up to a point but you can't outride a bad diet. Once your weight has stopped coming off you need to start thinking about what goes in your mouth. If you combine a good diet with 100+ miles a week the weight will just fall off, if you combine 100+ miles a week with takeaways and Mars Bars you will never loose the belly.
 
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