600 miles and 40 pounds

[dagray]

So since I started cycling (road bicycle) in September I have just today put enough miles to be about 605 miles ridden, and I am down 40 pounds in weight.

I pulled 14.5 miles today with four small hills in just over an hour with half that ride being into a 10mph headwind. https://www.strava.com/activities/291431736

[limige]

congrats

[dagray]

Thanks Mike. Back last year a couple miles and I was done. I have slowly increased speed and distance, and have lowered my insulin intake and also my blood glucose level is getting lower.

[rickztahone]

I use to love mountain biking. It would astound me how easily I would get winded. I did that for a couple of months straigh and I noticed my endurance was better and better every time. I felt more energized, and felt overall more healthy. Riding is a great way to get uppers in my book . Good job Dave. Keep it up!

[limige]

that's fantastic, I need to get back to exercising. as a first step I gave up pop, was drinking 3 liters of mt dew a day. last year I hit the gym until hunting season, failed to start back up in January, so much to do right now its tough to give up the time.

[Phillydubs]

Congrats to all those working on their fitness!! I too am back on the gym grind hard and trying to go as many times a week as I can. My basketball game and wind has improved ten fold and the pounds are slipping off!

I too quit soda and replaced it with seltzer and that has helped so much!!

I still have quite a ways to go but I'm getting better day by day and that's what counts!!

Keep up the great work!!

[dagray]

Rick,
I primarily ride skinny tire road bikes, but have a Raleigh Talus 29er I use to pull a Burley trailer with my four year old in tow. I pull him around for a few miles, stop at a park for him to play, go a few miles, stop at a park, go a few miles and get him tater tots at the local drive-in, and then go a few miles to the last park, and then home. I have my oldest son riding too

Mike,
Make the time, you can do it (even if it is only 20 minutes a day).

Phillydubs,
Keep up the good work on your end too remember it is one day at a time, and don't forget to allow yourself some treats once in a while so you don't go binging

[rickztahone]

Nice, love the look of those Raleigh bikes. I don't have a 29er but was looking around for a really long time. Was about to drop $800 on a bike and ended up with discus instead, lol.

[MKD]

Congrats Dave. How you found time to do it and wc . Hope i can drop some pounds some days.

[dagray]

Congrats Dave. How you found time to do it and wc . Hope i can drop some pounds some days.

You plan for it. I have a 14 year old son who gets drafted to help since I have to get up over an hour early to get him to the bus stop he gets to help take up some of my slack Even if he doesn't help due to being gone I plan my rides and set aside the time, and if I am real busy I will take my ride on the trainer inside so I can quit a ride with enough time to shower out and go take care of the other tasks.

Rick, I know about money going elsewhere. I had the VA doc write me a script for one hour exercise daily while using a heart rate monitor.... I took a pay cut to stay a federal employee as I had 19 years in when my job went away due to base closures, and so I save a few dollars here, and a few there to use for other interests. It was way less expensive for me to buy a bike than to keep taking the medication I was on ($100.00 every two weeks for Victoza which is a non-insulin injectable for diabetes that you take along with your insulin).

[brewmaster15]

Keep up the good work Dave! After the winter we had here, I am a itching to get out hiking again...I could use to lose a few kilos!

al

[blueluv]

Congrats Dave. I was 200 lbs and have lost about 25lbs.

[dagray]

Thanks all

Al,
Look into the BKool Pro trainer/simulator as you put your bike into it and the software can be run from your smart phone, a computer or a tablet (not a kindle). This gives a video game feel to working out as you put your bike in the trainer and you can ride a number of courses to include courses you input via GPS data files (a $15.00 premium membership for this and other features). It displays heart rate, cadence, speed, the grade of the road, calories spent and power output. To display cadence and heart rate it does need you to have a heart rate monitor that will pair with ANT+ and a cadence sensor. With a premium subscription I can ride my trainer at my house and go an a virtual ride with someone (or a group of someones) anywhere in the world if they are riding their trainers. The feature of being able to do a group ride was awesome this winter where I would ride with the bike shop spin class group twice a week..

I have put miles from October last year until last month on the trainer due to weather and daylight.

[dagray]

okay, I did what my parents told me to do all those years ago when they wanted to get rid of me.... I went and played on the freeway.

20.2 miles with half being uphill on a 2-3% grade https://www.strava.com/activities/293315768

so 327 miles for this year on the bike

[Second Hand Pat]

Dave, I think it is great that you are doing this, finding renewed health and freed from some of the meds. Way to go man.
Pat