vincenzosi

Hi guys!

So I used to be really active both on this forum and cycling in general. I joined back in 2004 and was really into it. Had a new bike, was in the process of getting healthy again and I went from 357 down to 269. I rode easily 200+ miles in my first year back on the bike, and I even did the MS Bike Tour in New York City... 30 miles. I was so proud of myself.

Then work and life got in the way and I got lazy. I stopped riding, sold my road bike and kept just my Raleigh C30. Riding disappeared to nil, but I always said I would get back on my bike.

Weight? Damn. Not good. Went back up to 388. I was sick to my stomach with myself and on January 1, I said I was going to get back down, get back on the bike, and do right by myself. The bike part never came, but walking and geocaching helped me get back into better shape, and since January 3, I've lost just around 50 lbs. I'm doing better and I'm happy to have come this far, but I know I'm not done.

On Saturday, my (future) brother in law and I went for a ride. My first real ride in a REALLY long time. 15 miles in Westchester. Mostly flat, with a few low grades. You know what? I did it. The last mile coming back was hard, but I did it. It took a ton out of me, but to go from zero to 15 miles in one ride REALLY made me happy. My brother in law, a young dude in really good health was stunned. "I never thought we'd do all 15. I thought we'd turn around halfway through."

I told him "I don't see myself as a fat dude, so I don't use being a fat dude as an excuse. I wanted to do this, and I did it."

That's me. I don't see myself as the fat guy I really am, and I know I can do better than this, so I'm working on it. I won't do the "get lazy" thing again; I simply can't afford to.

Anyway, I wanted to share my story for people my size who are told over and over again that "you can't do that; you're too fat." Tell those people to drop dead. Do what you want. Ease into it if you have to, but do it. Just frickin' do it. Nothing else matters. Talking about it isn't doing it. If you struggle, use that as motivation to get better.

Tomorrow, I'm going out again. Maybe not another 15 miles, but something. I'm going to strike while the iron is hot. That bike that sat is going to be my ticket to getting back in shape and that's that, and thankfully I have someone to ride with now which I've never had before. In and of itself, that will make for a better experience.

I'm happy to be back and I really hope that my story and my little pep talk helped someone like me ambivalent about getting back on the road. It's trite but it's true: JUST DO IT.

DEK

Welcome back and good for you! Keep up the momentum.

vincenzosi

Thanks DEK!

Neil_B

Welcome back!

vincenzosi

Thanks!

bautieri

Good to have you back, now keep on pedaling!

Pachydermatous1

Welcome back! I'm hoping to avoid what happened to you. I can't afford to stop. I love riding so much more than any other exercise. I wish I had some flat place to ride, lol. 15 miles sees like forever when the first small hill I hit kills me right now. I'm going on vacation for two weeks in HHI, SC at the end of September. I plan to ride, ride, ride while I am there. Max elevation on the island: 28.24 feet above sea level, lol, I'll be knocking out the miles.

Well good on you for starting back up. Keep it up and keep in touch.

(And if I ever vanish like that, you all have permission to email me and swear loudly at me to get back on it.)