Has anyone ever gone from overweight and lazy af to become an avid cyclist

[Workdilemmas]

Just this really.

size 18/20. Easy to blame weight on ill health which is a factor but don’t move anywhere near as much as should.

trying to play forward in my minds eye to be someone that rides and gets endorphin highs but getting stuck on point that I wobble and am scared of road riding in traffic!

Have you thought about a peloton or something similar? I am completely addicted to mine and you definitely won’t get hit by a car!

Well, I do cycle to work in fairly heavy traffic at an average speed of 20kph but I don't know if I'd describe myself as avid 😁

What I have become is an avid martial arts practitioner - in the past two years I've gone from a size 22, extremely unfit with high blood pressure and a tendency to end up with swollen feet after a day sat at my desk, to a size 14-16 (35kg lost) with healthy blood pressure, no health complaints, able to cycle to work, do a full day, cycle home, change, then go and do between 45 minutes and three hours of taekwondo or kickboxing in the evening, four days a week, and love every minute of it. I even do extra practice in my free time.

You can do it! Start slow - remember every single step, every metre, every mile is one more than you would have been doing before. Challenge yourself gently to start with, you'll soon learn where your limits are - once you get used to being out of breath, aching a bit the next morning, or being a bit sore and notice that you're still basically fine you'll be flying!

Thanks both

re peloton. It’s actually the getting outside bit that appeals to me about cycling. Suffer from depression so hoping I can find a way to get endorphins flying and some fresh air!

amazing progress gliblet - very inspiring

I enjoy cycling, similar size to you and cycle both solo bike and tandem.

Recommend cycling some off road tracks first to get some practice in.

Completely get that. I’m too scared to cycle outdoors though. What about lots of brisk walking whilst listening to podcasts (another of my addictions!) and maybe moving to running as you feel fitter?
Ill let the cyclists answer your questions and butt out now as that’s what your post was about! Good luck xx

Is there an organisation like Outspoken near you that offers adult cycle training?

Try and find a Cycling UK club or Breeze ride - they are excellent intros to group riding.

Does it have to be on roads? I know facilities and options vary completely depending on where you are but have you looked/asked around locally about off road cycle tracks, cycle paths, parks where you could do laps, towpaths? Even plotting routes in Google maps with the directions set to cycling can be helpful to find quiet routes that keep you off busy roads (sometimes you find paths you never knew were there) and your confidence with things like hand signals and overtaking parked cars will soon increase.

Thanks - I guess not necessarily roads, so the off road advice is good!

@Cyclistmumgrandma have you always cycled? Is the getting anywhere from where I am now that I’m nervous about

I’ve got into cycling alone these last two years. I love being in nature and am so lucky to have canals and old railway tracks around here to ride on. Being surrounded by greenery, the quietness away from the roads, the glimpses of nature does wonders for my wellbeing and as soon as I set off I can feel my spirits lifting.
I’m about a mile or two from the start of off road trails and I hate the initial ride through the traffic, if it’s busy I’ll get off and push. I feel competent to ride on the roads but a lot of other road users are not considerate and might not see you.
Getting up early helps as traffic is so much quieter and you have the benefit of having done some exercise at the very start of the day with the rest of the day free.
As a pp said, have a search on line and facebook for cycle uk and breeze. They have organised rides and ride together so no one is left behind. Breeze is to encourage women back onto bikes and has women only rides. You may also find that your town has it’s own facebook cycle group that have weekly organised rides.
There are loads of bike groups on Facebook, my favourite are Cycling UK canals and old railway lines and Women cycling over 50 (cos I am 😁).
Both of these are supportive and friendly groups. There was a larger lady posting this week about loosing weight and doing her first ride of just a few miles and everyone was very supportive. Remember, an avid cyclist is a starter who never gave up and a mile is still a mile no matter how long it takes.
Is it possible to take your bike by car or train somewhere more suitable to ride?
Or putting a shout out to look for like minded people.
Once you start looking, you will find a lot of information, routes etc. out there.
Enjoy it

Yes I joined a Couch to 50k run by the local council. I now go out regularly with the same group.

I'm a lot slimmer now!

@Workdilemmas also curious as to where you roughly are, as there must be cycle tracks near you that could be recommended.

I’m a disabled size 16-18 closer to 18!

I got an (electric) folding bike during Covid because I was finding the long bus journey's in a mask difficult.

I absolutely fell in love with it!

igot it thinking at best due to my health il use it march to oct and can fold it away the rest of the year. That first year was using it in the rain in dec-jan!

iv not really been on it as I had to have surgery then on its first outing after I burst a wheel I was really annoyed as it had been great getting back on it!
I sorted the wheel but because I had to replace it the gears won’t align properly so I need to take it in to the shop but I can’t wait for it to be up and running again!!!
this isn’t a big problem for most but my health has meant it’s taken a bit longer to sort than most people.

infact I’ve realised that I’m definitely a bike person now so I’m hoping to sell the folding electric bike to get a full size one as the wheel size will make it more suited to other types of riding but also I know I won’t put it away for half the year now I own a bike!

I cycled around my local few streets for about a month just taking small ten to 20 min practice sessions as was really nervous at first. And my friend used to walk hers to the local park and just go round and round at first because she didn’t feel confident to ride to it.

I cycle alone but only because the groups don’t fit with my schedule, as for roads etc. I found that.
1, once I got used to being on them (having not been on a bike since school) I’m much more comfortable and confident.
2, once you actually start actively searching for cycling routes you find an amazing amount of places that are off road or have a low amount of roads that connect off road cycle lanes. I’ve lived here for years and never noticed hardly any of the ways I use to cycle now!

to add in terms of weight and fitness. While I didn’t think it had had an affect at the time because I didn’t think I felt I was losing weight, I remember lightheartedly complaining to my neighbour about it lol 😂 now that iv had to stop cycling for a while both my weight has shot up and my fitness feels less so it was obviously doing a good job.

Thanks therebythegrace - lots of good tips! You sound like how I want to be

am in south bucks, so definitely trails around I guess I was really looking for motivation from people like yourself to get me to start!

thanks

I’m very much a hobby cyclist who ambles along at a slower speed and takes in all my surroundings.
I’m about 3 stone over weight and carry it on my chest/back and belly, size 18 top, 12/14 bottom with skinny arms and legs! I do it more for wellbeing I think, although the exercise is a bonus and I can see my legs have trimmed up.
Always a bonus if there’s a cafe on or just alongside the route, you need to top up with food/drink even if you’re trying to loose weight.
When I started I didn’t really have anything suitable to wear and was raiding DH’s wardrobe for baggy grey/ tops and that actually made me feel baggy and grey!
I’ve since gone on line to treat myself to some bright/pretty cycling gear and it certainly makes a difference to how you feel in yourself. Cycling clothes come up tiny but there are companies on line that do ‘normal’ sizes. I’ve had loads of compliments about my gear from people that I meet en route and it’s nice to chat to those people to find out where they’ve been and how far are they heading.
I actually have an e-bike which I love! I live in South Wales and there are hills everywhere. Since I’ve had it I’ve gone further than I ever could and no where is now out of bounds. In the past I wouldn’t have gone one way as I couldn’t get up the hill, now I can and it opens up all routes.
I hope you enjoy it and continue, there are amazing routes around the country.

Not cyclist but a swimmer. Size 16-18

Started with 8 lengths now do 80. So now I swim 3-5 times per week and do 1-2k each time

I tried cycling and didn't like the traffic but you may become with that and the principle is the same.

Decent equipment but start of small eg don't by a 7k bike tomorrow
Little and often
Build it into your day
Stick at it
Get a tracking watch if you don't have one and join Strava
Don't expect to be a star player
Keep turning up!
Watch people in you tube

6 years ago a had lessons so I could go to the pool with DH who is a obsessed. I never did u til a year ago when I was feeling really unwell and tired and unhealthy.

. I swim for 30-40 minutes. I'm out the house for about 1 hour 20 mins. But I'd be 20 mins int eh shower at home

I haven't lost weight (I'm a bit worried about this) but I feel great and my confidence is better and the endorphins are real.

@isitfridaay
have you been measuring though as I know some people who while the weight hasn’t changed their body became smaller waist hips arms legs etc
muscle and fat weigh the same but muscle takes up less room than fat so your body may be leaner and of course stronger but your weight hasn’t changed.

i wouldn’t put too much thought into it though you’re doing great keep it up!

@Ginkypig not really I should look at composition but I'm not too bothered as
I Think I am leaner overall and I feel better in my clothes so either more confident or actually do look better!!

I'm a size 16 rather than 16-18 too

I started cycling in November 22 using a cycle to work scheme. I find cycling early in the morning or late on means less traffic. I am really enjoying it. It is built into my day now and I only don't cycle if it is icy or very wet.

My husband has in the last few weeks also got himself a bike. He isn't cycling much yet, but we have been to a few different places with the bikes on the weekends for enjoyment rather than to get from A to B.

I went from not cycling since childhood to having 3 bikes and going on cycling holidays.

I really missed riding a bike, and had some time off work so walked into a bike shop and came out with a cheap but perfectly OK hybrid bike.

I very quickly went from not being able to ride 3 miles to doing 45 mile charity rides and volunteering with British Cycling. I now have a road bike, mountain bike and go to the velodrome for track sessions.

If you want to cycle, just go for it. You won't regret it.

See if your local council runs cycle confident classes, look up led rides in your area from British Cycling or your local cycling campaigning group, cycling UK and even a local cycling club.

Download Strava and use its heat maps feature to see where it is popular for other cyclists to use, this usually is a very good indicator of safe routes.

And to build it into everyday, worn out if you can cycle to work. When I first started I couldn't do the whole 10 miles so I cycled to the tube station, parked the bike and would pick it up on the way home. Then I had enough stamina to cycle in but not home so would leave the bike at the office overnight etc.

I have always cycled. I was riding my sister's bike (she was 8, I was 4) before I could reach the saddle so just had to stand on the pedals. However, the best way to gain confidence is to practice. Is there any way of getting your bike into the back of the car and driving to an off road track? Failing that, rent a bike from near a track and have a go. We live near the Peak District and there are many cycle hire places on the various trails. (Manifold Trail - Brown End cycle hire, Tissington Trail - cycle hire places at both ends - at Ashbourne and at Parsley Hay, Monsall Trail - Hassop Station).

Yes. Started cycling in Covid, size 18. Now a qualified cycling instructor and take groups out most weekends. Actually I’ve always cycle commuted but no long distances like I do now.

So my local bike shop does cycling with confidence courses for free as well as taking group rides out. You might have something similar. If you’re happy to say roughly where you are I might have heard of a women’s cycling club which has a beginner section. Check out Breeze rides too.

Sorry, seen you’re in south Bucks. I don’t know any groups. There is a fb group called VeloVixen you could ask on.

Look at off road cycling eg gravel trails or old railway lines or canal paths. On You Tube you might find blogger Katie Kookaburra of interest. Hers is a journey of being 100kg young woman to being a cyclist/ influencer. She does road and off road stuff. Also Juliette Elliott and Amy Cycling Adventures. Think about getting the bike in the car to get to a starting point.

try the Komoot app for rides near you as well.