Shawn's Weight Loss Journey

Page 2

 

 

Apr. 23, 2023 (still)

 

I have decided to break up the blog into multiple pages so you don't have to keep scrolling and scrolling... Easier that way...

One thing us "weight challenged" people need to remember is we need a "comfort bike", without the big spring in the middle of the bike. That big spring is wonderful for going off road, but is not really needed for pavement riding. In fact, it takes away your momentum as you pedal. I think this bike is perfectly suited.

This is the bike I will be utilizing for my rides during this change. I had the bike gone through last year at a bike shop, and everything is where it needs to be. Bear in mind this is after I added some things to it, like the dual drink holders, LED head and tail lights, super cushy seat, and more recently, a cell phone holder, rear carrier with cooler and side bags, and who knows what else I'll find... There is a good app available for tracking your exercise, it's called "Map My Walk" which is available for Iphone and Android phones. I really recommend it because it has the GPS and will actually keep track of what you are doing, regardless of whether you are biking or walking and you can even share your great progress on Facebook... Go on, I DARE you!

I took this bike out to the Montour Trail last year (2022) to road test it. The Montour Trail is a really nice rail-trail that is somewhat local to me. I like this trail because it is mostly flat, and the grade it has are very slight, to the point of not really noticing it. I did 10.3 miles on the trail, and will admit, at one point I thought I wasn't going to make it back. In fact, while I was sitting on a rock outside of the tunnel, sweating more than Michael Jackson disguised as a floor lamp at a boy scout convention, I had 2 different people ride by me and actually turn around and ride back up to where I was to ask me if I was ok. It goes to show there are still a lot of good people out there! You would be surprised what a 5 minute break will do for you! The trail is really nice, as you can see below...

The very last picture was rather funny... I found quite a few "doggie care packages" along the ride. Thankfully, most were on the side of the trail, and not on my tires...lol.

How To Lose Weight Cycling... An quick Introduction

So how do you lose weight cycling? Many of us get to a stage for whatever reason where we look in the mirror and think I really need to do something about my weight. I previously had tried jogging, I'd last about five minutes before I would have to stop out of breath and feeling nauseous and after a few days my knees really started to hurt from the high impact. That is where the beauty of cycling comes in because it is very low impact and that extra weight you are carrying isn't going to damage your joints. Also if you are self concious about your weight, with a helmet and sun glasses on no one is going to recognize you on your bike anyway, so cycling to lose weight is a perfect solution. you can also set your own pace a lot easier on a bike. Let's face it... Walking fast can be very tiring when you are overweight, let alone running and I don't know about you but power walking the streets with a big red face is not my idea of a fun day out. Like I have said previously, I still will walk. I mix it up. But at this point, I am definitely not power walking. I'm not anywhere close to that stage yet.

Enjoy your cycling! This is very important don't make every session a hardcore work out you'll get bored and start dreading getting on your bike. Go for leisurely rides to fun places with nice scenery. You could even plan a cycling Holiday, visiting somewhere you've always wanted to go. If you keep cycling fun you'll keep cycling!

Here's a little something I found online... Definitely puts it into perspective to me...

I never realized that there was that much of a difference. But seeing this picture... wow! Another comparison is a conversation I had when I drove school bus a few years ago. One of my 9th graders (Now graduated and an accomplished Eagle scout I might add) and I were talking about weight loss. He was a little heavier than he need be, but nowhere near what I have to lose. 20 or so would work for him. Anyhow, I told him how much I needed to lose and he said.. "you are going to try to lose more than I weigh!" Ouch..., but he was correct... and it sent me a message that still sits in the back of my mind... Oh, by the way, he has successfully removed his excess! Way to go!

 

332.5... Good weight if you play offensive line for the Pittsburgh Steelers, not so much for anyone else. Especially me. I have developed the hair brained idea that I am going to complete a whole pullup come the end of this year. More precisely, TEN pullups. How many can I do now? Nada, zip, zilch...Big fat ZERO! I attempted a pullup two days ago. I KNEW I wouldn't succeed. But I didn't think I would fail so horribly, and horribly is the best way I can describe it... I couldn't even get 2 inches off the floor. Not even close. So, I set out on how to find a way to train my body for this impressive monumental task. About 2 years or so ago, I joined up at Planet Fitness last year... But let's ask how many times I have been there... Again, see above...Nada, zip, zilch... Another big ol' ZERO.

 

 

Until now... Holy crap, I came back here! What the hell are all these machines??? I hate these machines, I can't understand why people enjoying being on a hamster wheel... Looks as though It's time to bring out my inner hamster. Like the late John Pinette says... I don't do ups, sit ups, push ups, chin ups... I do downs... sit down, lay down, chow down... Ups defy the law of gravity, and I obey the law! lol...

I NEED to be there...

The human body is capable of amazing things! But without the proper mindset, it is nothing. Get your mind in gear and the body will follow!

Be selfish about caring for yourself, you deserve it! And when you are done... These babies await...lol

I just LOVE the hydromassage bed... I could lay there for hours... But they only give you ten minutes... but, you can do it more than once!

I don't know if I mentioned it or not, but I am driving for a US Mail contractor, and I am loving every minute of it...

But, being out there on the road does present its own set of challenges for weight loss, and, although I am home every single day, there are a TON of other truckers who are not so lucky. As we all know, truck stop food, as good as it may or may not be, is generally loaded with grease. After having a nice big dinner from the truck stop buffet, I was stuffed. I ate so much they almost needed to roll me out of there in a wheelbarrow. As I was sitting in the drivers seat recovering from what I had just put into my body, I noticed several things. First, I saw the guy next to me trying to climb into his truck. He was a big dude, way bigger than me. It was almost comical watching him (but not really). In order to get into the truck, he had to do it one step at a time. As he reached the top step, he sort of had to swing his body in. It looked like simply climbing into the truck was extremely difficult and challenging. You need to keep in mind what the word "buffet" actually means... “Big Ugly Fat Fellows Eating Together. I took the liberty and changed the 4th word to fellows instead of...well, you know...lol.

Umm, No, I don't wanna be like this... Especially picture 3, The Liberty Bell has less crack!

One day a while back, I saw another driver walking towards the truck stop. He had gained weight so quickly, apparently, that his gut was too big for his shirt. The bottom of his gut was completely exposed. Unfortunately, that wasn't the first time I had seen that, and wasn't the last. I used to look like that at one time! Truckers gain weight very quickly.

I don't know what it was that particular day. But I had an epiphany. There was no way in hell I was going to end up like one of those guys. I have unfortunately already started up that path, and I'll be damned if I'm going to allow it to continue. There are plenty of healthy foods out there that fit into the KETO lifestyle. You can even try this...

 

Enough about me... Let's get this journey started!