Brando_T.

So if you look to the left, you'll see I joined here about 11 years ago. And I did fantastic for a while. Then I started a new job, with a commute & a 7 am start. That summer I completed a solo century, about 170km, and then.....stopped. That was six years ago.

In those six years, I put on more weight, basically stopped exercising, developed depression and quit that job. So a great run.

I've tried and tried to get back in the saddle (literally), but it just hasn't happened, even after leaving that job. This saddens me a lot, as some of the best times I've ever had were on a bike.

Finally got for a ride last weekend. Belly slap like never before on my road bike, even though I've flipped my stem to get a bit of a more upright position. Butt callous....gone.

Boy, I've worked myself into a hole here. Anyone who can provide advice?

Jon T

Just keep riding. Ride for fun. The "table muscle" will start coming off.
Jon

Mitkraft

I have a very close friend who is about 6'2" and like me was skinny as a rail when we started college. About 15 years ago he had creeped up well over 300 pounds and had a wake up call. He got serious about losing weight and exercising and eventually started biking (not sure where his weight was when he first started) but in a few years he had dropped all of his undesired weight and became and health/workout nut. Fast forward to a few years ago and due to life changes he put back on nearly all his weight. About 2 years ago I decided to get healthier and get into better shape and as I got more and more into cycling he became interested in riding again and dropping his weight. He committed to doing the MS150 with me last year (two day 180 miles) and began riding again even before he had dropped a good bit of his weight. I think he was 260 when we did the MS150 back in April. Even though he still has a decent belly he is happy as a clam to get out and ride with me and isn't even ashamed to wear his bike shorts and Jersey (heck, he'll even take off the Jersey when I'm too shy to do so!). I know he was struggling to get back on and keep up the effort when he was still out of shape. I know he's feeling better and on his way back to his fighting weight.

I say all that to tell you that you aren't alone. Many others are either just getting started or getting back into riding and carrying around some extra pounds at first. If your belly is physically in your way I don't have an experience to pass along there but wanted to let you know there is a way back and you'll be comfortable on your bike before you know it! Even if you don't lose your belly I know plenty of riders who don't let that keep them off the bike anyways. Just keep pedaling!

OldCruiser

I’ve started back riding regularly two months ago . Over the past four years I’d climbed up to just under the three hundred mark .

I’m 68 years young to boot . It don’t come off like it used too .

I started riding two miles a day for a couple of weeks , then gradually started increasing the distance .

Last week I weighed 280.2 . I was absolutely thrilled. I did 150.5 miles last month

I’m averaging around 5.5 miles per day this month . Hope to get to at least 175 this month .
Just keep at it and don’t over do it .
You didn't put it on in just a few months , it’s going to take awhile to get back to where your goal is .

FBOATSB

Yes. I was in your shoes five years ago. Make whatever adjustments you need to make it comfortable and fun. Bars, saddle, pedals, cushy tires, whatever. You can change things back as your conditioning improves. Supplement with core exercise as well.

BikinPotter

I turned 65 in August & weigh about 213 on a small frame. I decided I want to be healthier, in hope of making it to 80. How many obese 80-year-olds do you see bopping around? So, I got a physical, listened to my doctor rag on me for awhile, got a fitness pass for my local pool where I do deep water exercise 3x a week. I take one rest day. The other 3 days I ride my bike or walk a couple of miles. Slowly increasing my mileage in order to not stress my knees. I have all I need to keep me dry on the bike on wet days. And I track what I eat with Myfitnesspal. Ditched the chips & sugar. I set a date on my calendar to see how much, if any, weight I’ve lost. I have no illusions of getting down to the weight I was in my 20’s, but I definitely will get healthier. Maybe ditch a couple of meds I’m taking. No looking back. No feeling embarrassed. I rode today & I’m feeling pretty good.

Clyde1820

I'd suggest finding an hour per day when you focus on you and your fitness. Join a gym. Start walking. Start riding. Listen to your body, when it tells you it needs rest, when you can "push it" a bit, etc.

Make a few serious changes in your nutrition, to weed out the bad stuff, substitute bad items for good, and to watch portion sizes. Get hydrated and stay that way (with water). In time, it'll likely begin to "click" again.

If you're finding a more-upright riding position is more comfortable, then you can certainly adjust the stem, bars and saddle to be that way; or, acquire a different bike that's got an upright position, while you're improving your fitness.

I did much the same, some years back. Old injuries had frozen up my hips and legs, to the point getting on and off a "normal" bike was crazy painful, and difficult to stay upright. Bought a low-step cheapie, single-speed bike with cushy "balloon" tires. Cycled rain or shine. Kept riding while my gym fitness improved. Once ready, I got a "normal" format bike, again, and have been riding regularly since. Found it was so comfortable, in the more-upright riding position, that that's now my preferred format. Go figure.

Fitness will come, so long as you're consistent and determined to get over the hump. It'll likely take awhile, before the aches and sores subside to the point you look forward to every ride again. But, unless you've got some dire physical impediment that's in the way, the weight will come off and you'll get stronger as the months go by. BTDT, myself.

Definitely consider joining a gym and exercising daily. It'll help.

downtube42

Another voice saying make it fun. Motivation to exercise for the sake of fitness is tough, and not sustainable. Fun is easy to sustain.

iTrek

I definitely relate to OP. Rode hard for a few years then life got in way and a back injury had me off bike for a year and half. Weight had shot up. I climbed on my new bike I had bought and had fit on right before back injury and every pedal stroke was knee in the gut. Back was killing me. So I ended up selling that bike to buy a more upright bike last week, Specialized Roubaix and with a fit I immediately jumped on and knocked out ten miles. Loving it!!!

Oli_Aponte

I can also relate to OP.. Up until a few weeks ago I could barely ride a few minutes on the drops of my bike.. it would feel like a boxer punching my gut with every pedal stroke.. to the point I would feel nauseous. I've been dieting and exercising, down 25 pounds, and I can finally ride on the drops without any discomfort... its also helped with lower back pain, since I dont have as much weight on my gut pulling down on my back while riding.