Thursday, July 03, 2008
Due to tomorrow being a holiday, this was a four-day work-week. I only biked to work on one of those days. I had intended to bike all four days. There were various reasons for not biking, none of them very good.
On the other hand, I have been tracking my calories, and controlling my eating. I had been eating too much, especially carbohydrates, and I had not lost weight.
On June 30 my weight was down over 4 lbs to 260.2. I assumed this was just a fluctuation, but it has continued. My weight today is 256.2. This is the lowest weight I've been at since starting this. My last "big" weight loss was April 30, and I'm 3.2 lbs less than that.
I feel good that this is partly due to just the calorie tracking (averaged 1826 calories per day since June 30), and partially a fluctuation. The bike had little to do with it, because I've barely ridden it since Monday. I will be back on it this weekend, and commuting next week.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
This is my life right now:
- Counting calories
- Counting every penny spent
- Counting pounds lost
- Counting miles ridden
I'm counting calories again, because my eating habits got out of control. It is enlightening to see how much you really eat. It's also helpful to know that if you eat it, you've got to count it, no cheating. I ate 1685 calories yesterday, and 1595 today.
I'm counting money spent, everything, even small cash purchases. Like my eating, my spending is a little out of control. Forcing myself to see where it all goes should help. I just started this today. I won't be putting numbers about this on the blog though.
The daily weigh-in needs to be daily. I'm trying to get back to doing that everyday again. I was pleasantly surprised with my weight tonight. I weighed in at 256.8 lbs. That is the lowest since I started. I realize it's just a fluctuation, but I'm going to do my best to keep it there, or below.
My bike has had an odometer since June 17th (two weeks now), and I've put 148.7 miles on it. I'm tracking the mileage on a weekly basis, but I don't yet have any plans to post that here. I didn't ride today. My legs needed the rest after yesterdays hellish headwind on the way home
I do sometimes feel like I'm spending more time counting things than doing them, but If that's what I have to do to get my life in order, then it's worth it.
Monday, June 30, 2008
I love food. I have a problem with eating too much of it, and for the wrong reasons. That is the whole reason for the existence of this website.
I've seen almost no weight loss in two months, just fluctuation. This is discouraging considering the effort I've put into biking.
As of today, I'm tracking everything I eat, and the estimated calories, just like I did when I started this adventure. I done eating for the day, and I've consumed an estimated 1685 calories. That's pretty good for someone who rode about 34 miles on a bike today.
Putting the food I eat in a list, even without calories counts, makes me aware of what I'm doing wrong.
So, I'm aiming for under 2000 calories per day, and biking to work and back (32 miles round trip) 3 or 4 times a week. As always, I'll adjust any of this as I need to. I'd love to see my average monthly weight drop by 5 or six pounds for several months in a row.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
My average weight for the week ending 6/28/2008:
261.3 lbs
Down from last week:
0.9 lbs
Down since I started on 10/31/2007:
35.1 lbs
Looking back, it appears my weight has just fluctuated around 261 lbs or so, for about two months. I've had no real loss during that time.
The biking is good for me, but my eating habits are out of control again. Tomorrow, I begin counting calories again.
Friday, June 27, 2008
I rode home in 90 minutes. Nothing broke. There was a gentle breeze coming from behind me, and it didn't rain. I took about an eight minute break and drank some Gatorade. I couldn't have asked for a better commute.
When I got home, my dogs were very excited to see me. After I took them out, I got out of my sweaty clothes, and laid down in front of the fan for a few minutes to cool off. I'm cooled off now, but I really need a shower.
I'm hoping to ride to Deam Lake this weekend. It'll feel good to go swimming after biking there. I found a
route on back roads that is about 15 miles.
16.3 miles in 1 hour and 25 minutes. Nothing broken. Hope the trip home is just as good.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
I found a new bike shop in downtown Louisville today. It's a short walk (or bike ride) from my office. I brought my bike there, and got a new rear wheel installed. If this doesn't fix the spoke breaking issue, I'll get very angry.
After driving home, I made a quick trip to the grocery store on the bike, in the rain. I didn't mind getting wet, and the fenders prevented dirty road-water from flying into my face.
I'll be riding to work in the morning, barring anything else breaking. There is the potential for some nasty weather, I don't mind rain and lightning, but I hope the wind isn't too strong.
I hopped on my bike to head to work less than a half-hour ago. Less than a mile into the ride, another rear spoke broke. This is the same wheel I just had repaired.
I would have just kept riding it, but the wheel began rubbing against the brakes and the fender. I rode back home. I don't know if I should buy new wheels, a whole new bike, or give up biking.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
I'm preparing to ride all the way to work again tomorrow. I've got my bike fixed, and my legs have had time to rest. I've also re-adjusted my seat for comfort.
This is the route I'll be riding to work. The worst traffic part of it is the interchange with 265. I handle that by riding on the inside lane. It's a divided highway, so that is the safest way to handle it.
On Friday, I have to take my car in for some repairs, so I'll have to go without it for a while. I hope my bike doesn't break during that time.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
My round-trip commute is 32 miles. I decided to do the whole thing by bicycle yesterday. The ride in was pleasant, and took about 85 minutes.
The ride home had a brutal headwind, and it's a bit more uphill. I got home in about 105 minutes. I also had a spoke break on my rear wheel. I kept riding anyway.
After arriving at home, I removed the rear wheel, threw it in the car, and drove to the bike shop. It's $2.00 for a spoke, and $20.00 to "true" the wheel, and it won't be ready until Wednesday.
I got a nice amount of exercise, but unless this bike quits breaking, it won't save me any money. I had planned on riding today also, but I'm almost glad for the break. I'm rather sore.