Need To Get Serious :) - A fat lad from Scotland

[Pat "5mph"]

Hi there!
I've been chubby all my life, even though I'm in a very active job. Decided last April to train for a charity 20k walk (not ride, ), adjusted my diet (we all know what to do, but ...) and lost just over a stone. Wanted to loose a wee bit more, but it was not shifting! So I started to cycle to work (only 5 miles each way), lost 1 stone and a half without even trying hard. Now I have to remember to eat chocolate sometimes , if I loose anymore weight I'll go bankrupt, it's costing me a fortune in new clothes! Also, all this fresh air puts you in a good mood that not even work hassle can affect
You don't have to spend too much money on your accessories to enjoy your rides, sometimes what suits you best is already in your home: old rucksack, waterproof clothing, sturdy boots.
I recommend, as a newbie, a good relationship with your lbs: my bike man did not take me seriously when I told him that I wanted to commute with my old bike. He changed his mind when I lasted through November, and then bought a new bike of him!
Good luck, you can do it!

 

[brokenflipflop]

WOW
I need to do what that guy did, what a brilliant blog!

I have read in to nutrition, I was with a personal trainer for a few months, that's now ended as I moved away, however I took on board the eating plan and I mostly eat a low carb diet with lots of protein and vitamins, while trying to also cut down on daily calorie intake, my diet has never been better, i have the odd slip here and there but I find most of the time I'm able to have some resilience and not give in.

Sadly I can't keep it in, this will happen rarely, hopefully. I sometimes work 11 hour shifts in a call centre, and there's no places to not let it get wet, I can't bring it inside with me. At home it will likely be kept either inside the house, or in a waterproofed shed. GT85 sounds like a good plan, and I'll look at getting some of that TF2 stuff as well, regarding those is it best to use them before or after? I'm guessing after, after I've given it a proper dry yeah?

I like the idea of a pannier a lot, I think it looks classy with fenders and a pannier and it would have more storage, I will probably take it to the shops and get groceries a few times too so the storage will be really helpful

Thanks for the replies, this is really helpful stuff!

If you work in a call centre, it may be worth tapping up the caretaker/maintenance guy because there is a fair chance that there is a cupboard/Comms room/electricity/utilities room that's indoors and lockable for your pushbike. I've installed phone lines in dozens of call centres and there is always a DP (telephone distribution point) room/cupboard that's plenty big enough for a few bikes. It's worth an ask to keep your bike dry and secure.

 

[BigTam]

Hi there and , fellow fat Scotsman here, now living in the North East of England, I took up a managers post almost 7 years ago, having been a telecoms engineer for longer that I can remember and piled on the weight (it must have been climbing all those poles that kept me trim)

Started cycling again last February, was tipping the scales at over 18 stone, now down to 15 st and hoping to loose some more. As has been said, the cycling has played a big part in my weight loss, but so has staying away from the sarnie shop, burger van and the pub at tea time

Stick at it, it will soon pay dividends, best of luck.

 

[AlexTheory]

Welcome to the forum - I've been in a similiar position (started off at 287lb back in July) and have lost 4st exercising and following the Slimming World plan - as female oriented as most slimming plans are the group I go to are actually very supportive. I don't know if something like that would suit you but as a fellow failed calorie counter I find it a hell of a lot easier to keep on track.

Try to disassociate yourself slightly from people who (for some reason) don't want you to change - I had a few of those people ("Oh, go on - you can just eat a little bit right? they won't know!") but they've turned around now.

Good luck!

 

[vernon]

I have cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats and back and have regularly cycled 100km and 200km Audax events and rarely dipped below 23.5 stones. For the past four years I have cycle camped in France, Switzerland and Germany.

This year I joined Slimming World weighing in at 25.5 stones and in the first four weeks have managed to shed 26 pounds purely from dietary change. The women in the group are more than a little envious but are also very enthusiastic when my weight loss is announced each week. There is an eating plan where you don't have to weigh anything out and there's lots of 'free' and 'superfree' foods that can be eaten with impunity though in reality you'd be pretty full before you overdose on them.

I can not recommend Slimming World highly enough. I've found weight loss to be effortless with their 'Extra Easy' options and recipes. Last Saturday I went out in the snow in the afternoon and did a 25 mile loop out from Leeds to Otley, over the Chevin and back home and managed to enjoy the climb over Otley Chevin.

I've rediscovered my cycling mojo and will be back out every weekend for rides which, in conjuction with the Slimming World eating plan will accelerate the weight loss with a bit of luck.

Go for it. You've got plenty to lose

 

[Roshan Mani]

I would highly recommend the following essential accessories:
1) a shackle lock (aka D-Lock) and extension chain. Get the Bikehut combi pair..
2) a pair of mudguards, the full length ones, not the rooster tail or crud catchers..
3) Helmet. Bell makes fairly decent ones and they're not expensive..
Halfords is doing a 3 for 2 on accessories at the moment. All three above are available there. Only watch out for the sales/service guys there.. They'll push the cheaper stuff on this 3 for 2 deal. They'll also push you to get the crud catchers, but they're useless as mudguards. The service staff are also pathetic at fitting the mudguards.. I'm going to have to do a bit of DIY on mine to get them to sit properly..
4) High-viz jacket and trouser clip.. Get this from a Pound Store..
5) Set of Allen keys to get your bike adjusted to your liking.. Go for the ones with a long stem and with ball ends.. Get from Halfords or Amazon..
6) A chain guard, if you cycle with trousers instead of shorts.. Again Halfords, but they did a really bad job on fixing mine.
7) LED headlight and tail light if you're out in the dark.. I'd recommend Halfords or Amazon.. Am yet to get a pair for myself..

I expect the whole lot will set you back by upto a 100£..

 

[snorri]

The OP last seen on 7th Feb., I fear his serious regime has slipped.

 

[GraeX]

The OP last seen on 7th Feb., I fear his serious regime has slipped.

NOT AT ALL MY GOOD MAN!

due to having to move home not long the 7th of february, my plans were put on hold, I continued to put on weight de to the stress of the move and one of my cats dissappearing for a few months during the move (we got her back, yay)

So on the 29th of may I was weighed in at 378.5 lbs at my local Slimming World club. Someone had been telling me to go for weeks, one day I just woke up and it was like a switch in my head, I knew then I was mentally ready for the challenge of losing weight. I cycled to the group, up a hill, tired and exhausted, I got on the scales.

I went back a week later and had lost 12.5 lbs

Since that time I've lost 46.5 lbs overall in 9 weeks, down from 27 stones+ to 23 stones 10 lbs
I regularly cycle 9-15 miles 2-3 times a week along Cycle route 73 between Kilmarnock and Springside (the distance may be inaccurate, i measured it using a map, having trouble with my new cycle computer!)

I've got a nice Giro Hex helmet, a rear mudguard (bought a front one but it attaches to the bottom of the frame behind the front wheel, and my brake cables are there so that's a no go, need to find another one that goes with it.

I have the Carrera Subway 2012 but it has got disc brakes so I'm having a lot of difficulty finding a way to put full fenders on that go right around the wheel, which i'd really prefer but the disc brakes get in the way of the stays, I'm considering taking the thing to a LBS to see if they can fit them for me, since I have very nice SKS fenders

I've got some HBH leisure cycling shoes that really help me, I was using a pair of soft soled running shoes for months until a work colleague advised me to get some harder soled shoes

 

[snorri]

Welcome back GraeX
It sounds as if you are now in a good frame of mind for the challenge, I wish you well and hope you can maintain progress.
Perhaps you would consider working up to the Pedal for Scotland event, no time pressures on this run, you can take all day. (almost!).
http://www.pedalforscotland.org/register.aspx

 

[GraeX]

Oaft, 47 miles? I don't think I'd be able to make that just yet, maybe next year though I will definitely keep that in mind for when I am ready in future!

 

[sawyer280769]

Do you live near Kilmarnock? I live in Prestwick and have been doing a few routes around Dundonald, Troon and Symington. Try Dundonald Hill. I have lost two and a half stone in the past 6 months.

 

[GraeX]

Do you live near Kilmarnock? I live in Prestwick and have been doing a few routes around Dundonald, Troon and Symington. Try Dundonald Hill. I have lost two and a half stone in the past 6 months.

I'll give it a go, don't know how to ge to Dundonald from Kilmarnock, I only moved here a few years ago, but I'd like to get started travelling around mroe on the bike soon, seeing a bit more of the surrounding area and all that. Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out when we get a bit of nice weather here!

 

[sawyer280769]

Its just south of Killi on the old road to Troon.