I still have a little weight to lose to be where I'd like to be, but I thought that I'd share with everyone how I was able to lose the first 35 pounds of my weight loss journey. At the beginning of Spring ’08, I was the heaviest that I’d ever been at just over 230 pounds (31yo/6’ 1”/male). I’ve never been one to buy into any of the extreme or fad diets, so I was determined that I was going to lose weight by getting in some extra gym time and watching my meal portions. After a few weeks of not seeing much progress, I began to get a little discouraged. But then something happened that would change my life forever… Gasoline prices rose to more than 4 dollars a gallon. Not that I couldn’t afford gas at that price, but it was something about spending $70 dollars to fill up the same tank that used to cost under $40 to fill that didn’t sit too well with me. I guess 4 dollars a gallon was my “You’ve got to be freaking kidding me!” point. Anyway, with gas at 4+ dollars a gallon before Memorial Day and prices not looking like they were coming down anytime soon, I decided that I’d rather ride my bicycle to work than to continue to pay the extortion money to the Middle East. I live about 10 miles by car from where I work (which ended up being about 6 HILLY miles by bike). The first 3 or 4 weeks were extremely hard because I wasn’t in the best shape. There were times when I literally had little old grey headed ladies pass me on their bikes riding up hills. There were also quite a few days that I gave in and drove to work when I first started. But after about a month into it, I could feel myself getting stronger and the rides to and from work were becoming a lot easier. As riding the bike became easier, I began riding even more. I started riding my bike pretty much everywhere I went from running errands around town to picking up odds and ends from the grocery store. Coincidently, the pounds started melting away and by the end of July I was down to 195 pounds.
I didn’t ride as much over the winter and I gained a little over 5 pounds back which is where I am right now. I’ve ridden a lot since it has warmed up this year but I haven’t been as strict with my diet as I was last year when I was losing the weight. Riding allows me to maintain my weight, but I’m going to have to watch the calories to drop the last few pounds that I’d like to lose to achieve my goal.
I know that it isn’t practical for everyone to ditch their cars and start riding bikes to and from work, but depending on your circumstances it might not be as hard as you’d think. All I know is that cycling has definitely made my weight loss easier and has changed my life in the process. Not to mention all the money that I’ve saved in gas
… Wait a minute, all the would be gas savings and more has been spent on bicycles and cycling accessories so never mind about the last part. 
I didn’t ride as much over the winter and I gained a little over 5 pounds back which is where I am right now. I’ve ridden a lot since it has warmed up this year but I haven’t been as strict with my diet as I was last year when I was losing the weight. Riding allows me to maintain my weight, but I’m going to have to watch the calories to drop the last few pounds that I’d like to lose to achieve my goal.
I know that it isn’t practical for everyone to ditch their cars and start riding bikes to and from work, but depending on your circumstances it might not be as hard as you’d think. All I know is that cycling has definitely made my weight loss easier and has changed my life in the process. Not to mention all the money that I’ve saved in gas
… Wait a minute, all the would be gas savings and more has been spent on bicycles and cycling accessories so never mind about the last part. 
