This past summer I decided it was time to reshape my life to get back to the lean person I used to be. What was I thinking? Five years ago before I got back into cycling, I found myself on an exercise binge that consumed my life. I was spending hours running every night to maintain a weight that I felt was ideal. For some odd reason I enjoyed getting out and running and to my surprise I worked hard to eat the right foods and eliminated the savory treats that so many of us yearn for. I would tell myself that if I kept to my schedule for the week and if I did not have any pitfalls such as succumbing to a succulent chocolate morsel, that I would reward myself with a sugary treat. I soon found that when the time came to have my treat I would persevere and deny myself the sugar. This was a great time in my life, I was that fittest that I had ever been. Then drastically in the middle of so much success, I destroyed my right knee for the 3rd time. I was devastated and completely gave up on my lofty goals. My weight ballooned from 200 lbs. to 250 lbs. in the matter of just a year. Again I was self conscious of my weight. It was during this time that I watched the Giro de Italia and took great delight in seeing the fast and fit cyclists cruise up monumental mountains as though they were on motorized bikes moving at incredible rates of speed. I watched and thought “that should be me”. I purchased my first true road bike. The cherry red Trek 1500 SLR that I have talked about in other blogs. This was my baby. I set up a cycling routine and tried to keep to it. I found that with all my other obligations that I could ride about 3 days per week. I slowly built up my stamina and ventured out on longer rides. Then reality hit, my wife gave birth to our first child and the free time that I enjoyed while riding were now being spent changing diapers and cleaning spit-up from my shoulder. Where was my time going? Why was I not being able to participate in the one life changing exercise that I wanted to do? The answer was simple; my life had just been consumed with the cutest little girl that I had ever seen. I found myself now on a regular path of inconsistency trying to ride when I could, but feeling as though I was always starting from scratch and that I was making zero progress in my battle for fitness. I was still struggling with my weight as my rides were not pushing me towards my cycling goals. Over the next 2 years my weight yo-yoed from 240lbs. to 255lbs. It didn’t matter how much effort I put into cycling I could not control my weight. I would start eating the right foods, but I would give up a little while later. This past summer in June, I decided to commit to riding and changing my diet. I pumped up my tires and committed to riding four days per week. Not just any ride, but rides that would make my thighs burn and my heart to pump. My new life started. I started riding anywhere from 20 – 30 miles per day to build up my stamina. I started recording my times on my cycle-computer and through Map My Ride. I set goals to beat my previous record for each ride. I set the end goal of being able to ride with the fast paced group on our weekly Saturday morning rides by the end of September. I now had ambition and something to work for. I told a few of my cycling friends about my desires and they agreed to help me get there. The training rides that I endured throughout the summer took me from rolling hills in Northern Wisconsin, to the flats of Houston and Southern Texas, to the Mountainous Desert of Southern Arizona, and the beautiful scenery of Spokane, WA. I can’t wait to share the experiences that I had in each of these pristine locations, and the way that these places have began to shape my life. I can happily say that I am now at 230lbs. down from the 255lbs. of early June. Now that September is here, I am actively trying to keep up with the fast paced group. I try every Saturday. I keep the pace and even pull for close to 50 miles before I have to slow down my pace and bring myself back to our starting point. I still have the goals to finish with the group and I will do all I can to reach that goal. As far as my weight and personal fitness, I will push myself until I reach 200lbs again. I hope that you feel as motivated and driven as I do. Now go out and make the change.
Atypical Cyclist
