One Year of Biking & Weight Loss

One year ago today, I started on a project. I had looked in the mirror and realized that my body was severely out of shape. I had noticed that I ran out of breath while climbing stairs, and that I was buying larger and larger clothes. I finally stepped onto a scale June 1, 2008 and saw that I weighed in at 285 lbs. That was far higher than I had ever weighed-in before. It was time for a change. I combined many different tricks from different weight-loss plans, bought a bicycle, and resolved to start anew. First thing, weigh every day. Second thing, write down my weight and everything I ate every day. My first bike ride was about 2 miles down by the river in Shelton.

So how did I do in that year? Not bad! A few changes worthy of note:
1. Weight Loss (77 lbs): June 1, 2008 - 285, June 1, 2009 - 208.
2. Clothing Sizes: June 1, 2008 - Size 48 waist, June 1, 2009 - size 38 waist
3. Miles Ridden: June 1, 2008 - 0 miles, June 1, 2009 - 437.69 miles ridden



What's next? Not sure, although the "diet" is not over. The plan is that this is not a "diet plan" but a lifestyle change. I am hoping to stay here as long as possible, or improve. My next goal is to hit 205 lbs. And to ride in an official (charity) ride for 20 miles or more, this year. We'll see how it goes from there.

Gone Fishin'?

From yesterday's ride along the Stratford, CT shoreline. Some days I wish I still owned a fishing pole. Other days, I realize I have forgotten almost all of the skills necessary for fishing, except sitting still.

Great Site to See Baseball Stadiums New and Old

This is a great site that has pictures of old time baseball stadiums. Want to know what the Polo Grounds or Old Yankee Stadium looked like? Just check out this site.

Biking Update - May 30, 2009

Another poor week for weight loss, as I spiked up several pounds over last weekend - for no sufficiently-explainable reason - and had to work hard over the course of the week to get back down. I never got back below 210. I had hoped to get to 205 lbs by June 1 for a larger yearly weight loss, but that is unlikely now.

That being said, it was a great week for biking. We rode first on Saturday with Nick and Nora by the beach in Stratford - a BEAUTIFUL day with sun, a nice breeze, and wind surfing in the background. Afterwards, we had a great cookout at their house, and were joined by St. Patty and his family. Then we also rode along the shore in Stratford on Memorial Day without any of the GNO guys. The sun was stronger but there was still a nice breeze, and we saw more people per square foot on Short Beach than ever before. Finally, we had a good ride up to Captains Pizza for Guys Night Out. Lots of biking for the week, not to mention all the nights spent on the Stationary Bike in the attic.

Not sure what next week has to offer. My Trek Navigator 3.0 went into the shop last night for its annual tune-up, so any riding will be on the Dahon Matrix. Not a problem, but the Matrix is much better on roads than trails.

Nuclear Tantrums are a Bad Thing

Let's be calm and fair in assessing Sotomayor

CNN has up a good commentary calling for calm, deliberate consideration as the Senate moves to consider Sonya Sotomayor as the replacement for David Souter. The rhetoric from some corners of the G.O.P. has been quite strident, and some are clearly seeing this fight as an opportunity to reconstruct the party by unifying it against President Obama's pick. Personally, I think it is an opportunity to try and change the dynamic that has controlled Supreme Court nominations since Robert Bork.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/28/rollins.sotomayor/index.html

I suspect a respectful examination of Justice Sotomayor - even a tough one - will win more converts to the Republican Party and keep more within the tent than another circus sideshow.

Scary precedent

Hat tip to Nick for finding this story.

http://www.10news.com/news/19562217/detail.html

- Mark C
(Sent from my 3G iPhone)