23.5 kg to be lost

cdaly_

You've already done the SK90 and another 100k so you should have no problem with a 3-day 380k. Just keep building the total weekly distance.

wilmaa

Hi CarrieLou, well done, good target to set, but will be a dawdle for you by then!!! where's the cycle taking you? North - South, or East - West??? Regards W.

High Nellie

carrielou wrote: »

...whole bank hol weekend eating and drinking ... had a great bank hold wknd ... I just might get myself back on track for Christmas.

Reading between the lines, you are wasting your time in the long term with your current way of thinking.
It seems that you are using cycling to compensate for what gives you 'a good time' - eating and drinking etc. You won't sustain that long term - using cycling 'targets' etc to develop to try and motivate yourself towards a healthy lifestyle.

To be succcessful at weight loss in the long term you need a reality check - you need to develop a lifestyle that will keep you healthy without significant cycling. Cycling then is just a bonus - but you need to be able to live healthily without it.

carrielou

Hi Wilmaa, it will touch into every county in Munster and it is on FB https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003018440858. It will be a challenge for me but am delighted to be doing it for this little girl.

Highnellie, my first reaction to ur reply was you are very critical. I dont know how i can be slated for taking 1 wknd of the year to take a break from 5 kids and enjoy myself, and when I say drinking I had like 6 drinks all weekend but the biggest difference was eating a fry for breakfast and 3 course meals for dinner. I fully understand about changin my lifestlye as this is not the first time I have had to do it and I am not using cycling to compensate for the "good life".

I am trying to get fit and lose weight at the same time and unfortunately when you have 5 children, a hardworking man and an ill dad to look after it is not easy to stick with 3 small meals a day with fruit for snacks in between all the time.

Everyone else on here has been so supportive and that I appreciate, perhaps your wording wasnt the best or perhaps I am reading it wrong, but to criticise is perhaps not the best way to help someone like me but thanks for taking the time anyway

Beasty

carrielou

I wouldn't pay too much attention to that "criticsm". We all know losing weight is not that easy, and there is certainly an element of lifestyle change required. However that's exactly what you are doing - cycling is only part of it, and as you stated it was only one weekend when you took your eye off the ball.

Keep up the good work, and you'll continue to see progress (even if it may not be as fast as you may have liked)

carrielou

Thanks Beasty, cant wait til next year when i post my before and after shots

Inquitus

I agree with Beasty Carrielou, we all need a splurge once in a while, but if you can adjust your general day to day eating habits to be better than before, and keep up with the cycling you will see the weight drop off, and the fitness come on. Life wouldn't be worth living if we can't have a few pints and a curry when we are away for a weekend!

wilmaa

Hi CarrieLou, checked out FB and the cycle, good challenge and target, it's good to have something to aim for especially over the winter months.

I have to agree with HighNellie, but also Beasty and Inquitus.

I always think 'it's took me so long to get to where I was (previous lifestyle, previous responsibilities, and family commitments, and not having any 'me-time', all these factor in as to how healthy a lifestyle we can fit in, and then I spent so long thinking about having to change my lifestyle, and now that I am in the middle of trying to change that the occasional splurge does creep in and at times I think should fit in, but the important thing in my opinion is being able to get right back on track and say do you know what I really enjoyed that, it was different, but it's not the norme any more, it was a treat, and we should factor in some treats, not necessarily all foody ones. So I say acknowledge what you have achieved so far, the fact that your lifestyle has dramatically changed and look forward to tomorrow. I'm waffling here now!!! Good Luck.

carrielou

"So its time now to get rid of this excess baggage. Cycling is going good for me but need to completely change my diet. gave up the cigs in January, took up cycling in May and now its time to sort out the weight. In no major hurry to do it, slow and steady will be fine, would be great to have it gone this time next year but even half of it by next March would be fantastic.

5'2" - 86kg () - need to get down to 63.5kg (10 stone is ok for my build as I can then wear size 8-10 jeans, the girls will understand )


Goals: WEIGHT

5 Kg by October Bank Holiday Weekend (Birthday time ) - 81kg

next 5 kg by Christmas - 76kg

next 5 kg by end of March - 71kg

next 5 kg by end of June - 66kg

next 3.5 kg by end of August - 63.5kg

HILLS

Need to just get lots more hills under my belt, am very slow up them but I am sure as I get more training in and the weight begins to drop then I will get faster, I believe they never get easier"

so that was my first post way back on 12/9/11.

Things didnt go as smoothly as I hoped but back on the right track now.

Am finding the minute i take my eye off the ball and relax for a nice weekend away or for Christmas my weight just soars.

Anyway, have been very good since Christmas as my weight went back up to 85kg but absolutely delighted to say I am now at 79.6kg so under the 80kg which is great.

Back on the bike on jan 15 and done 85km with club, struggled from 60km onwards. tue jan 17 done 40km with severe wind and 7km + of tough climbing (grade 5 and 4 according to map my ride, grade 5 was 3km and grade 4 was 4km)

last sunday done an easy 58km, monday done 40km with a grade 4 climb and plenty more climbing and yesterday done 58km.

Cant get out today, wind too bad and really feel disappointed even tho my legs prob need the rest.

My eating habits have completely changed but i will have my treat once a week and this week is a curry night at the local hotel. have stopped all rubbish and drinking lots of water and upped the exercise.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003018440858 I am doing this cycle in 5 and half weeks time, would like to be near on another stone lighter and much much better stronger and faster on the bike.

GO AWAY WIND !!!!!!!!!

j@utis

What saddle are you using at moment if you don't mind me asking? I'm looking for that perfect one, bought 3 so far and no good

carrielou

Hiya, i had a standard bontrager which was on the bike when i bought it. i now have a Bontrager WSD medium. still not happy though. my sit bones are fine but its just couple of other bits that get sore. am gonna try the chamois cream now to see will that help. my assos shorts are def the best thing i have but cant wear them during the winter our club gear is good but just not good enough for me. what saddles have you tried?

j@utis

I tried the stock saddle that came with the bike (Road Lady VL-4125 by Vélo - copied from the bike specs). I was 'dying' after 15km, absolute nonsense of a saddle.
I've also got Bontrage WSD affinity RL. It feels great for first 20km and then it's okay'ish but I notice myself wiggle around a bit looking for that most comfortable position.
Few weeks earlier my little brain suggested me this idea that maybe my sexy bontrager saddle is too narrow for my double bed size bottom so I went out and got myself Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow. it is wide and heavily cushioned but it's actually worse than bontrager. it started giving me trouble well before 20km mark, it might just that seat is set too high because I was getting some numbness in the back of my thighs but with the weather this bad I have no chance to experiment more. big plus of this saddle that I don't feel rough surface of wicklow roads that much and that's nice.
and the last one is Selle Italia SLK Lady Gel Flow that I'm waiting to arrive in the post next week (bought yesterday because I thought it looked pretty lol). I'm afraid I don't get a chance to try it out soon because I can't stand these freezing temperatures outside.

cdaly_

carrielou wrote: »

assos shorts are def the best thing i have but cant wear them during the winter our club gear is good but just not good enough for me.

You could get unpadded tights and wear them over the assos shorts. Gets you the best padding along with winter leg cover...

j@utis wrote: »

I tried the stock saddle that came with the bike (Road Lady VL-4125 by Vélo - copied from the bike specs). I was 'dying' after 15km, absolute nonsense of a saddle.
I've also got Bontrage WSD affinity RL. It feels great for first 20km and then it's okay'ish but I notice myself wiggle around a bit looking for that most comfortable position.
Few weeks earlier my little brain suggested me this idea that maybe my sexy bontrager saddle is too narrow for my double bed size bottom so I went out and got myself Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow. it is wide and heavily cushioned but it's actually worse than bontrager. it started giving me trouble well before 20km mark, it might just that seat is set too high because I was getting some numbness in the back of my thighs but with the weather this bad I have no chance to experiment more. big plus of this saddle that I don't feel rough surface of wicklow roads that much and that's nice.
and the last one is Selle Italia SLK Lady Gel Flow that I'm waiting to arrive in the post next week (bought yesterday because I thought it looked pretty lol). I'm afraid I don't get a chance to try it out soon because I can't stand these freezing temperatures outside.

I tried out a number of saddles and wasn't impressed until I put on a Brooks B17 which was just lovely. No padding, no gel, just the leather with natural give. Oh, and my boards shorts of course.

wilmaa

Hi there, reading with interest, we are planning a bit of a long haul this August. I've been running over the Winter to try and maintain some degree of fitness, rather than the bike. Decided I better get out and start back doing a few miles on the bike. I've had my current bike some 3 years now and have gotten on quite well, never have had much issue with the saddle, but last week we very nearly fell out!

So would be interested to keep in with your recommendations. thanks W

carrielou

I am pretty much the same with the bontrager, great for the first 40km and then the need to adjust myself a number of times and it is a "pain in the ass" excuse the pun haha. I loose my rhythm and i also then have to pedal like mad to catch up again if i am with a group.

Would any of you be interested in selling on your old saddles, if they didnt work for you then they might work for me and i am concerned about spending a fortune on new ones as none of them might work, perhaps its the way i am built

The tights with no padding crossed my mind alright but was afraid in case the tights rubbed and done damage but guess i wont know unless i try.

I would love to get on the bike, cycle 80+ km and not have one bit of discomfort as I know it would make such a difference to my cycle.

trying the chamois rub now today will let ye know how it goes, even tho little sore from yesterday.

j@utis

I will definitely be selling some of my saddles later on, most likely in late spring. and my collection is due to grow because I'm very keen to try out some of Specialized saddles that are given so many good reviews. I also thought that it wouldn't be too bad idea to swap saddles with other lady riders for some time just to try them out.

80km? that's some distance! my max to the day is 40km non-stop and it was quite funny feeling when I couldn't get any response from my legs after about 1.5h of riding and had to limp home at turtle pace.

did chamois cream do any wonders?

carrielou

havent been on in ages. 380km went great, surprised myself to be honest but I guess as people have been saying. put in the training and the spin will sort itself out.

Cream seemed to have defo helped, but still feel I need to change the saddle. Due to being on an antibiotic and finishing the night before the 3 day cycle and then being on the saddle for so long on the monday I thought my bits were numb but it turned out to be, for the first time ever, a dose of thrush, not nice very uncomfortable.

Havent been out much until last monday and have started bike and run on every second day. Raised my saddle this morning by about half inch as my legs werent extending out and that was brilliant but still that bit of burning where i dont want it to burn

I am defo going to try some different saddles and I have decided to get a bike fit done.

Delighted to say the weight is now down to 79kg so even though it has been terrible slow I have lost over 1 stone since last September.

Next challenge is Dingle Adventure Race won a free entry so it will be an achievement to accomplish it and only 8 weeks to train so hope to really keep on top of the diet and get the speed up on the bike as well as doing some running.

If anyone fancies selling a second hand saddle I may well be interested.

j@utis

it's nice to see you posting again.
I googled "Dingle Adventure Race" and it came up as bike, hike, run and kayak day event, wow! do you do kayaking as well? I always wanted to try it

carrielou

All I do is cycling lol

Started running this week, done 2 x 20 min on tues and thurs and this morning done 30 min covering just over 4.5km so delighted i just done it.

will be going hiking next week, could be interesting :eek:

haven't been in a kayak since i was 16 and that is a long long time ago but will defo get 1 or 2 goes in before i head to Dingle ............ will let you know how it goes could be interesting also

aim to start a blog to cover my training and diet and the race itself so will post link when i have it up and running.

tired after the run this morning but even tho it was longer it was also faster time than thurs do delighted.

Main love is the bike tho and must get my saddle sorted somehow

mel.b

Way to go Carmel Completing the cycle for sophie was amazing but doing the Dingle Adventure Race will be something else:eek: You have really set a challenge and you wont know yourself!

When I got my bike fit done James suggested this saddle... http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fizik/vesta-womans-saddle-ec023447
I haven't got it yet, back can see how it may relive some pressure. Although getting the bike fit done has certainly helped a lot with that and I hope a new saddle will be the icing on the cake.

j@utis

I have 3 saddles to sell but I'm being so lazy to take the pictures, write descriptions, put the ads up, oooohh maybe tomorrow?

carrielou

j@utis wish you were my neighbour and we could possible between us sort out this saddle issue haha

Ok 3 spins of 36km on Mon, Wed and Fri all in the 1 and half hour bracket, aiming to improve on this big time.

2 x 20 min run on tues and thurs and 1 x 30 min on Saturday covering 4.67 km.

Weight down 5lbs, stuck mainly to no carbs for the week but had two breakouts, one was JP McManus held a victory night (had to go and had to eat ) and the other was a meal booked and really enjoyed it Friday night so all in all delighted with weeks progress.

Was meant to go on long spin yesterday but went to watch the racing in Nenagh instead.

all in all now 7.3 kg down since last Sept

carrielou

popped on to have a look and though I would update this.

Completed the Dingle Adventure Race in 6 hours 10 minutes and 31 seconds. I wont say it was easy but it wasnt as tough as I thought it would be. I know I cold have done a better time but I took it handy enough over the Mt Brandon having chats etc and the road run ended up being 11.5km due to to the tide being out so we had to go further for the kayak. delighted I done it.

Am now down to 74kg and the difference on the bike is unbelievable, still fighting with the hills but overall my speed is up up up.

Just have to keep going now.

that is a total of 12kg gone since last September

lennymc

well done Carrielou! Keep it up