Quick 20-Miler

Two LHTs at Sunergos

Two LHTs at Sunergos

Tim and I planned an RCCS ride for this morning, but didn’t give a lot of advance notice.  That’s probably why only Tim and I arrived at the ride.

We both rode our LHTs, and it was good fun and good coffee.

Last Night’s Paleo Dinner

I had a (mostly) paleo dinner last night, and it was good enough that my daughter liked it.

I cooked mashed potatoes with the skins still on, covered them with onion and green pepper sauteed in butter.  I then had two pan-fried pork-chops with red pepper served on a bed of fresh spinach.  I had a large glass of water with it.

It was an easy meal to prepare.  Although the potatoes provide some carbs, I’m mostly just giving up sugar and grains.  I’ve found a way of life that is more sustainable in the long-term.

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Weekly Average Weight for February 6, 2010

My average weight for the week ending 2/6/2009:
207.4 lbs

Down from last week:
3.7 lbs

Down since I started on 10/31/2007:
89.0 lbs

My average loss per 30 days since 10/31/2007:
3.22 lbs

Weight until goal:
32.4 lbs

It’s been months since I’ve posted a weekly update.  My weight loss had stalled, so I mostly wrote about bicycle related activities.  That has changed.  I’m losing weight again.  My new diet is working.

I still expect to reach my goal weight of 175 lbs.  I hope to reach it before the end of this year.  My new diet should make it easier to maintain than my previous low-calories diet.

My New Diet Is Working

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my new eating habits are based upon the paleodiet.  Although it took some initial getting used to, I now feel pretty good, and the weight loss has continued.  My weight this morning was 205.0 lbs.  That’s the lowest since August.

The advantages of this diet:

  • No counting calories or restricting myself
  • Better for long-term health (supposedly)
  • I can have a juicy hamburger, without the bread, or big piece of meat

The disadvantages:

  • Finding a restaurant to eat at is difficult
  • Cooking is required much more often (rather than convenience foods)
  • Initially I had a lack of energy and carb cravings; that has passed
  • It can be more expensive to eat this way
  • There is a long list of items that shouldn’t be consumed, including beer.

Once my lack of energy subsided, I was able to ride my bike to work and back again.  I rode the full way on Monday, the full way there (but got a ride home) on Tuesday.  Wednesday I drove.  Thursday I rode a partial-commute each way.  Today, I’m driving because of weather.

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A “Stay at Home” Weekend

I haven’t left the house yet this weekend.  I will later today for some grocery shopping, but I’m driving rather than taking the bike.  I have a lot to buy.

I’m also spending much of the weekend doing this that I’ve been putting off too long.  The house is a mess.  I have a lot to do.

I plan on commuting to work by bike as much as possible this next week.  Not only does it help me lose weight, but it clears my head.  I may have to take a day off to drive to my brother’s funeral, but that’s not been completely decided yet.

I am working on learning, and eating, the paleodiet that I mentioned before.  I think I’m going to end up doing a modified version of it, getting a few carbs here and there from potatoes.  I’m avoiding nearly all grain products.  The worst part is that I’ve given up beer.  Not to say I won’t have one beer on a rare occasion, but it’s no longer a regular thing for me.

One of the advantages of this diet, is that I don’t have to measure and track calories.  I have found that I occasionally binge on too much meat, but I don’t think it’ll be a problem.  Most people who follow the paleodiet don’t eat dairy products.  I still haven’t given up on my cheese though.  :)

My weight is slowly trending downward again.  It could take me a while to get below 200 lbs again though.  This time, I don’t ever want to get back above 200 lbs.  I need to be healthier.  I need to eat better.  I need to exercise more.

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Rest in Peace Michael

Michael in 2004

Michael in 2004

I went to bed early tonight, but was woken by a call from my brother’s wife, Sondra.  I’ve only met Sondra a couple of times.  My brother and I have not been close in years. My brother, Michael Crowell, passed away today.

Michael was my little brother.  As we grew, that phrase became comical, as he got much bigger than I, in both height and weight.  We fought a lot, as brothers do, but mostly we just grew apart as we took very different paths in life.

His path led him to drugs and run-ins with the law.  He had recently gone clean due to health issues, and his new wife, Sondra, pushing him to clean up his act.

The two of them were homeless recently, but were staying with her family in Rochester Indiana.  I had no idea he was even in the area.

He had a seizure, and never came out of it.  Sondra called me, obviously shaken.  She doesn’t know how to handle the arrangements, neither do I.  As I write this, his body is in a hospital in Rochester.  I hope his spirit, soul, or whatever it is that makes us human is at peace.

Mike and I in 1986

Mike and I in 1986

Dietary Indecision

When I lost most of my weight is was with a low-calorie diet.  I had to track everything I ate.  I’ve had more problems doing that now with much more going on in my life.  I’m busier, and more likely to “grab and go” rather than think, eat, and write it down.  This has led to some weight gain.

I did some reading and found the paleodiet.  It certainly sounds good.  It would mean I don’t need to track calories.  I can eat a lot of good food.  This diet may actually work, but apparently not for me.

My problem is carb-cravings.  I’ll do well for a few days then I’ll binge on high-carb food.  One of the main points of the paleodiet is to avoid the carbs.  I seem to have issues doing so.

So now I’m faced with a new decision.  Do I:

  1. Work harder on the paleodiet, and control my eating?
  2. Start tracking everything I eat and control my eating?

Either way, it appears I need more self control.  Self control isn’t fun.  Why can’t it be easy?

Blah.

Oh, it isn’t about exercise.  I get a lot of exercise these days.  I’m a bit bummed out that I’m not riding my bike to work tomorrow, but I really don’t want to get stuck there with snow on the ground.  My wife is out of town until at least the end of March, so she can’t pick me up if weather gets bad.

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My Commute Is Better Than Your Commute

I left a little earlier than normal. I took my time, and stopped for pictures. I also stopped for a donut, diet be damned.

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Saturday Morning Ride

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LHT Overlook

I have a lot of housework to do this weekend, and was considering not going for much of a ride. Having a new bike really makes me want to ride, but I figured I should do something more productive.

I got a text message from Tim asking if I’d like to squeeze in a ride this weekend. I call him, and we planned for this morning.

The temperature started out at about 40F. I tend to overdress, so I opted to go without a jacket. I wore a new jersey that my wife got me with a compression shirt under it. I wore cycling tights, wool socks, and my cycling shoes. I finished it off with a hat under my helmet and leather gloves.

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LHT and Bleriot

I was worried I get cold, or that it would start raining, so I used bungie straps to tie my jacket and reflective vest to the front rack. I never needed those.

Tim came to my house with his Rivendell Bleriot. It’s a beautiful bike, but too small for me.

Our route took us out Tunnel Mill Road through rolling hills until the steep descent into the Fourteen Mile Creek bed. Then the steep climb out made me thankful for the low gears available on my new LHT.

We then turned on Marion Martin Rd. I used to live out on that road, and I knew there would be a beautiful view of Fourteen Mile Creek and a small waterfall. We stopped for a few pictures before continuing up through New Market then to New Washington for a store stop.

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Standing at the Precipice

The ride from New Washington to Marysville was remarkably flat. We had kept up a good pace for most of the ride so far, but we were running out of steam.

Our flat riding continued to Otisco where we had another store stop, and I ate some chicken strips.

We took Leon Prall Road out of Otisco and into hillier terrain. We were in very familiar terrain now. Tim and I had ridden these roads quite a few times, though usually in the opposite direction. It was along here somewhere that our climbing ability faltered, and we would crawl up the hills at 4-5 mph.

It was a pretty straightforward ride back home with only one big climb along the way. We finished up at around 38 miles, but that number is just an estimate. Tim and I both need to do a roll-out calibration on our computers.

Waterfall Below

Waterfall Below

New Bike, Old Bridge

New Bike, Old Bridge

Old Barn

Old Barn

Gate to Nowhere

Gate to Nowhere

Southern Indiana Field in January

Southern Indiana Field in January

My Old Tree Friend and LHT

My Old Tree Friend and LHT

First Commute on the New Bike

DSCF5818I rode my Surly Long Haul Trucker to work today.  The bike now has fenders, front and rear rack, and a computer installed.

I picked up the bike last night and was itching to ride it today.  My panniers wouldn’t easily mount on the rear rack, so I put them on the front rack.  My trunk bag would block my tail light, so I also put that on the front rack.  The bike did handle differently with the weight on the front, but it was still very stable.

I stayed up entirely too late last night, but was excited enough to get up and ride to work today.  Now I’m looking forward to the ride home this afternoon.

I’m still trying to come up with a name for the new bike.

Busy Sunday

Wow, today has been a whirlwind.  I started the day with a rainy but pleasant RCCS ride.  Turnout for the ride wasn’t great, but the weather had something to do with that.  After putting about 27 miles on my new LHT and enjoying good coffee from several establishments, I had to high-tail it home.

After changing out of my soggy clothes, and taking a hot shower to warm up, I drove to Bluegrass Bicycle to attend another session of the Park Tool School.  I’ve been a lousy bike mechanic, and I’m hoping to improve that.  Today, among other things, we changed a brake cable.

Once I got home, I spent several hours working on my daughter’s bike.  I replaced the rear brake cable, trued the wheels, fixed the fender alignment, installed a new rack, and raised the handlebars.

I can see that I’m going to spend money on tools to work on bikes now, but I will eventually save money.

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30 Miles

I figured a 35-mile ride with the SIW would be a good way to spend some time on a Saturday.  The ride started in Sellersburg, so I figured I’d ad another 15 miles by riding to and from the ride.

I rode to Sellersburg, and met up with the other riders.  I had only ever met one of them before.  For the first few miles I kept up with the fast group.  I started losing ground on them, then rode alone.  I was going to finish the ride, but I was hungry, so I turned for home.  I got in a total of 30 miles, and I really feel like I put the new bike through it’s paces.

The ride seemed to turn out similar to my first group ride, which was with the SIW also.

Ignore the ugly, horribly mounted rack in the picture.  I borrowed that one (spray painted!) from my daughter’s bike until I get my new rack.

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A Fling With The Mistress

I picked up my new bike today.  Riding a new bike is much like being with a new woman.  I’m still learning exactly how she handles, but I’m excited, and want to spend as much time with her as I can.

I took a bus from work to the bike shop to pick her up, so I could ride her back to work.  I rode with my daughter to go out for pizza (and beer for me).

Then I rode my 11-mile loop.  I haven’t ridden that route in a while, but it was a quick ride before bedtime with “the other woman”.  Night rides can be very peaceful.  My route takes me out in the country, where I run across more wildlife than humans or cars.  There is barely any sound other than the hiss of the tires on the road, and the wind in my ears.  The new bike is silent, smooth, almost supple.

Don’t bother telling my wife.  I’ve already been caught.

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Car-Free Happy Hour

I attended last night’s car-free happy hour at The Monkey Wrench.  This is a once a month get-together of those that are car-free, or want to be.  There are guest speakers, but the coolest thing is the networking.

This is the first one I’ve attended, and there were about 30 people there.  The collection of bikes out front was quite interesting.  unlike many rides I’ve been on, every bike at this event was set up for transportation and/or hauling things.

I wish I had brought my camera.

I’m going to attend as many of these things as I can.  The next one is 2/16/2010 @ 5:30 at The Bodega on Market Street.

Vomiting

Vomiting helps with weight loss, right?  I’m trying to find something positive about this morning.

Sunday RCCS Ride

I had a lot of fun on last Sunday’s RCCS ride.  I didn’t have time to write about it until today.

Four of us were there for the ride.  I don’t consider that to be too bad considering the late notice.  It was cold, but we were dressed for it and enjoyed hot coffee from Heine Brothers and Sunergos.

Ben, Dominic, Tim, and I followed the route westward to Shawnee Park and back.  It was never meant to be a long ride, just an enjoyable one.  The planned route was about 20 miles, but Tim and I put in about 26 or so for the day.

We are planning another ride for this coming Sunday.  Check the RCCS site for more information.

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RCCS Coffee Ride Tomorrow

The RCCS is hosting a 20-mile coffee ride tomorrow morning.  Cold air, hot coffee.  Sounds good to me!

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Too Cold

I still don’t enjoy commuting in cold weather.  Riding with others in the cold is much more enjoyable than my 16 mile slog to work with temperatures in the teens.

I did ride to work yesterday (Monday), but I was quite cold.  I did have chemical hand and foot warmers, but I was still too cold.  I ended up getting a ride home.

I drove today, and I’m in a bit of a mental funk because of it.

Looking at the weather forecast is just depressing.  Snow makes riding hazardous.  Frigid temperatures make me want to stay indoors, or in the heated car.  It may be a while before I ride to work again.

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A Warming Meal

Tasty!

Tasty!

I met up with five others today for the Ghost Bike Memorial Ride.  It was a cold day for a ride, but I was dressed well enough.  After the ride, Tim and I continued on for a few more miles (after a stop for coffee) bringing the total to 19.

After arriving home I cooked a nice healthy meal of chicken tenderloin with red pepper (I overdid the red pepper), brussells sprouts, and a bottle of Schlafly’s Coffee Stout.  Thanks Tim!

N+1

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Bike with no name

What is the perfect number of bicycles?  N+1, where N is the number you currently have.

Despite wanting a simpler life with fewer toys, I’m adding a new bike to the fleet.  I’ve had two rideable bikes, but they will become three in about two weeks.

I found a 56cm Surly Long Haul Trucker at a local shop that had been sitting in the showroom too long. The LHT is the bike I was writing about wanting back in November.

I took the bike for a spin this morning (it was a bit cold for a lengthy ride), and put a deposit down on it. It will be mine on the 15th.

I sent a picture of the bike to my wife (who is out of state again), and she called me immediately. She had apparently been planning on buying me one, over time, built piece-by-piece to my specifications. Overall it would have been more expensive, but I would have had the opportunity to pick out components. She was also working with a different bike shop.

That’s what happens when you have a secret. :)

Either way, the other shop hasn’t ordered anything yet, but already have some money “on account” that will go toward racks, fenders, a computer, and whatever else I outfit on the LHT.

My bikes have names.  Nermal is my frankenbike-hybrid/commuter that started life as a cheap Giant Cypress ST.  Oria is my long-wheelbase recumbent Bacchetta Agio.  The newcomer doesn’t have a name yet.  I will ride it/him/her for a while to get a feel for the personality first.

Cold Ride to Begin the Year

Tim and I met up on the first of January (yesterday) for a hilly 40-mile route through Hoosier National Forest.  The ride started with temperatures in the teens, which later climbed into the low 20s.

This was probably the most difficult 40-mile ride I’ve ever done.  The hills were unrelenting.  Even with chemical warmers in my gloves and boots, I had issues staying warm enough.

Tim wrote about it here.  I’m just including some pictures.

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Lifestyle Change – Redux

After re-reading my previous post about the year in review, I realize the problem.

I started a true lifestyle change back in 2007.   The changes were drastic, but effective.  I lost weight, and got much more fit.  The changes centered around eating sensibly and getting exercise.

I realize that although I’m still much healthier and fit than I was when I started, my eating habits have slipped  gradually back to horrible.  Overall, I’m still doing well due to the exercise I get but I need another lifestyle change.

I’m considering a six-day diet.  A strict low-carb diet six days per week, then eat what I want on the seventh.  This will allow me to lose weight, yet still go out with Kristy for dinner, or have a beer or three.

The low-carb, high-fat, high-protein diet is a bit controversial, but will be easier to fit-in with Kristy’s cooking habits.  It’s also similar to what I was eating during my best period of weight loss.

I still need to track everything I eat, and weigh regularly.   Both of those things mostly disappeared for the month of December.

Posted in Food, Goals. 1 Comment »

2009 In Review

What a wonderful/busy/crazy/happy/stressful year it’s been.

Weight

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I (mostly) lost weight through the first half of the year, but mostly gained it all back in the last half.  I’m still happier with my weight than I was in 2007 or 2008 though.  I need to have the self-control that I did in 2008 again.

Bike Mileage

Month Miles
01-2009 277.8
02-2009 263.3
03-2009 192.4
04-2009 290.9
05-2009 452.0
06-2009 542.2
07-2009 371.3
08-2009 199.6
09-2009 298.9
10-2009 436.1
11-2009 443.9
12-2009 91.6
Month Nermal Oria Nermal Oria Total
All 2008 712.8 1,525.8 712.8 1,525.8 2,238.6
01-2009 927.6 1,588.8 214.8 63.0 277.8
02-2009 1,004.9 1,774.8 77.3 186.0 263.3
03-2009 1,068.5 1,903.6 63.6 128.8 192.4
04-2009 1,359.4 1,903.6 290.9 0.0 290.9
05-2009 1,501.0 2,214.0 141.6 310.4 452.0
06-2009 1,769.0 2,488.2 268.0 274.2 542.2
07-2009 1,953.6 2,674.9 184.6 186.7 371.3
08-2009 2,024.9 2,803.2 71.3 128.3 199.6
09-2009 2,104.0 3,023.0 79.1 219.8 298.9
10-2009 2,417.5 3,145.6 313.5 122.6 436.1
11-2009 2,765.5 3,241.5 348.0 95.9 443.9
12-2009 2,857.1 3,241.5 91.6 0.0 91.6

I didn’t make my goal of 5000 miles.  I knew I wouldn’t fairly early.  I did ride 3,860 miles for the year, which beats the previous year of 2,238.

Month by Month Review

  • January 2009
    • Biking irregularly due to weather and ice storm
    • First RCCS ride
    • Rode 277.8 miles
    • Average weight of 216.5 lbs
  • February 2009
    • Gave up the idea of living car-free in the near-term
    • I assumed (wrongly) that I’d hit my goal weight by August
    • Rode 263.3 miles
    • Average weight of 208.2 lbs
  • March 2009
    • I met Kristy
    • Rode 192.4 miles
    • Average weight of 204.6 lbs
  • April 2009
    • My car died – spent two weeks without one before buying my truck
    • Kristy and I were engaged
    • Kristy left the state for a few months
    • Rode 290.9 miles
    • Average weight of 206.6 lbs
  • May 2009
    • Rode the 60-mile Tour de Cure
    • Set a new weekly mileage record of 186.1
    • Rode 452.0 miles
    • Average weight of 203.3 lbs
  • June 2009
    • Weight was under 200 lbs for a while
    • Set a new weekly mileage record of 201.9
    • Rode 542.2 miles
    • Average weight of 202.0 lbs
  • July 2009
    • Kristy came home
    • Went to West Virginia with Kristy to meet some of her family
    • Rode 371.3 miles
    • Average weight of 201.8 lbs
  • August 2009
    • Managed a 20-mile ride in Michigan while traveling
    • Almost sold my recumbent
    • Business trip to San Antonio – Too much good food
    • My daughter came to live with me
    • Rode 199.6 miles
    • Average weight of 208.4 lbs
  • September 2009
    • I married Kristy in Florida – managed to bring bikes and get in some riding too
    • Finished The Ride to Conquer Cancer – I enjoyed the achievement, but I’m not really sure I want to spend the (fund-raising) time to do another charity ride
    • Rode 298.9 miles
    • Average weight of 212.4 lbs
  • October 2009
    • Kristy left again for work
    • Rode 436.1 miles
    • Average weight of 209.7 lbs
  • November 2009
    • Went mountain biking for the first time
    • Rode 443.9 miles
    • Average weight of 209.8 lbs
  • December 2009
    • Kristy came home
    • Spent Christmas in West Virginia
    • Kristy left again
    • I’m gaining weight again, it’s going to take work to get back down
    • Rode 91.6 miles – holy crap!  what happened here?
    • Average weight of 215.2 lbs – wow back to January weight

Overall

I’m happy with what I’ve done for the year.  I met a wonderful woman, fell in love, and got married.  Looking back at my posts from the past year, many of them seem rather negative.  I guess it’s easy to focus on the times when things aren’t going as planned.  Things usually don’t go as planned, but work out alright anyway.

That doesn’t mean I give myself a pass on not losing the weight and keeping it off.  I very much intend to achieve my goal weight of 175 lbs, and stay there.  I’m hoping I can do it before December of next year.

Happy New Year everyone!

Things Change

I re-read a previous post “Shifted Priorities“, and realize I was in the middle of a mistake at the time.

I had talked about the fact that I ride for fun rather than weight loss.  I was dreaming of buying a new bike, though I have two perfectly usable ones.

Since then, my mileage is way down, and my weight is up.  I can make excuses about being busy, but the truth is that I haven’t been trying hard enough recently.

I do spend a lot of time thinking about bikes.  I spend more time thinking about bikes than riding them.  I have spent very little time thinking about my eating habits recently.  I haven’t been tracking my calorie consumption or my weight very regularly.

This has led to a 20 lb weight gain over the last five months.  So, I lost 100 lbs, but gained 20 of it back.  That is frustrating.  I feel like the “Fat Guy” that I used to be.

Not Totally Negative

I did ride to work yesterday.  Then I ran some errands around Clarksville Indiana by bike.  I traveled Eastern, Lewis & Clark, Greentree, and Veteran’s Parkway.  I have never considered riding those non-bike-friendly-roads until yesterday, but it wasn’t as bad as I imagined (even with holiday shopping traffic), and I had a good time.

My ride terminated at Feeder’s Supply where I bought 50 lbs of pet supplies, and waited for my wife to pick me up in the truck.  I had 32 miles for the day, not bad for simple utility cycling.

Now What?

Ride more, eat less!  I need to start carrying around paper and pen to write down everything I eat.  I normally track it on my computer, but if I’m not near a computer, it may not get recorded.  I need to track it even I don’t have time to calculate the calories.  I need to hold myself accountable.

I briefly considered posting everything I eat here, but that would truly make this a (more) boring place.  :)

I need to post here more often.  Writing about my weight loss attempt keeps me focused.  It keeps my goals at the front of my consciousness.

Merry Christmas everyone!  I’ll try to keep my snacking on sweets to a minimum.

Snowy Morning Commute

I’m not a big fan of snow, but the little bit in the grass this morning doesn’t bother me.  The roads were mostly clear.

The snow did help put me in a more festive spirit, which matched the Christmas lights I put on my bike yesterday.  My daughter snapped a couple of pictures before I left.  One is with the flash, my reflective bits are very visible, but the Christmas lights aren’t.  The other is without the flash, but the lights are very visible.  Either way, motorists should be able to see me.

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Still Struggling

I’m still not losing much weight, mostly because I’m still eating too much.  We had a birthday party for my daughter on Saturday, and I consumed way too much food.  I need to stop doing that.