OH Juli

First of all, gravel and bikes suck. It's HARD, and you feel like you want to fall over, like the bike is floating. It's the road, not your skill/ability. B. It's a new bike, it's going to feel a bit different. Three- Like Deanna said, take it easy, add slowly. You're not racing anyone. D. Would you have done this a few months ago? Hell NO! You are making huge strides. Take stock in just how far you have come, not how far you think you should be. That's a should've and they along with would'ves and could'ves are not part of the conversation because they do no one any good. Now, go kiss your husband and smile at yourself in the mirror. (Not for any good reason, except I'm bossy and like to tell people what to do.) :biggrin1:

Eddie, You're funny!!!!!!!EEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWW

I get compliments nearly daily. They come from coworkers mostly. I wear a uniform about 90% of the time, which are giant now, because they fit me 70 lbs ago. When I wear street clothes people don't shut up! Watch out, I'll be wearing them every day soon!

It does suck the difference between how people deal with the invisible fat people. Part of me wonders if it's a piece of how I carry myself, I mean I know it's the buttheads who don't see fat as equal, or see fat as less than, but there's also the "I'm in control of my universe" factor, where you can not help but notice me now. I don't think I had quite the same brilliance nearly 70 pounds ago. I know I'm more flirty and I smile much more. I'll take some of the responsibility for fading into the background but only 20%. The other 80% belongs to people being rude. LOL

That's fantastic news Stevie! Very cool. keep us updated!

Deanna, Look at YOU! JC-You're freaking nuts. God love ya. I feel like a slacker. Banannie- There are different levels of interest here, but we do all love our bicycles. You'll find a ton of motivation on this thread. I know I do. Peace Out ya'll.

I have to continue because I posted before I was done....LOL I have friends who battle the same 5 pounds who try to relate to me and somehow they do. I know other people who say they were 25 pounds over weight once in their lifetime so they have walked in my shoes. They don't get it. So depending on how you the skinnier person tries to talk to the fattie you will connect or not. I guess ultimately take each soul for what they are and make their visits about them and not you. Sorry if preachy...but I had to add my $0.02

I just caught this thread....I tell you WasA..it creeps me out just a tad. It's like asking a black person what's it like to black in a room full of white people. (I'm half of an interracial couple...so I go there.) Asking a super obese person how they feel about skinny or skinnier people depends on the two individuals. There are no hard and fast rules and generalizing will only harm you. I have

I find myself staring in the mirror...is that a shadow, or are those actual BONES!!!!!! It took a few weeks to believe they were really there! Woo Hoo. Great happy thread.

Hey Banannie Yeah, this thread is so much more active. Welcome. Sounds like your new bike is super drooly. My entry level bike will do me well this year and next, but I see a new bike happening in 2009, and it's going to cost about $2009 too, I'm sure! Howdy!

Gibson, I'm with you, because I thought for the life of me, it can't be, "nobody doesn't like sara lee"....because that's just ignorant. Goes to show ya.

Yikes gum scares the beegeesuses out of me.

You might want to try Dr. Shumacher sp? in Kettering. I know of Viglianco at Barix in Groveport and then I had Mikami at The Ohio State University. HTH

Finding my collar bones Not worrying about booths at restaurants No more seatbelt extenders Having energy Being a role model for my kid New and improved sex! Feeling athletic Buying clothing at department stores Clearer skin Feeling in control

I really love that. I have a 5 year old, and I'm really trying to teach her about fueling her body so she can do the things she wants to do. It's hard with all the crap directed at childrent, but I'm making progress. Both of her parents are heavy, and she's said, "I want to be a fat, like you two so I fit with this family." :omg: I told her she can't be the fastest runner or get on roller coasters so she changed her mind, but YIKES! I really wish it was a lesson my parents taught me. Alas.

You can take it to a bike shop and see if they can help you out too. Really, many people buy bikes at the big box stores and then take them to bike shops to get them fine tuned. Good lucky.

Okay, I could write a book. About shifting gears I'm trying to really learn that as well. To go long distances, I was told, the goal is to control your cadence, so that you are always peddling, but not killing yourself by using too much effort or be too jerky by not having enough resistence. It's something to work on, but it makes sense. Also another tip: make sure you are drinking plenty of water while you ride. Practice drinking and riding at the same time. The hilly 100 sounds like a blast. I'm falling in love with hills. Crazy but true, but going 35 mph downhill on a bike kind of set the hook! I like the challenge of going up too!

I know you asked JC, but I'm going to give you my opinion. Your leg should be nearly fully extended when you push down, with just a slight bend (very very slight, so as not to lock your knee or hyper extend it.) You should have a slight bend in your elbows when you are seated and grabbing the handle bars. Did you get your bike at a bike shop? If so they should be fitting your bike to your body. HTH. Julianna Christine. I'm a JC too. (My last name is starts with C as well)

Hey my cycling buddies. I'm heading up to Michigan tomorrow. We are planning on riding Friday, Saturday and Sunday. My poor girlfriend, I'm really pushing her limits. I was like, "Let's do 100 miles over the course of the three days!" I'm ready to kick it up to the 30's for my rides. Yesterday she called and said 20 is still kicking her ass...so it looks like we'll not be doing 100... But that's okay, really, as much as I want to push things I don't want to burn out either. So I'll be reporting back, let you all know. JC-You are certifiably insane. Hoosier-there is a 164 mile one day ride called RAIN, Ride Across INdiana. Maybe that could be a long term goal????

I love that bike ticker. Okay, I'm down for the 1/10 of the tour de France. I did 23 miles on Tuesday. I'm planning on riding Friday and Sunday too. Maybe even Saturday. It's a sickness, I tell you, but I love it! I hope everyone had a good holiday yesterday. I'm "fasting" today...not really, but holy crap, I ate too much yesterday.:faint:So it's going to be a light day today.

Pamela- That's freaking awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations for getting all that work done! I hope you and your honey had a nice time together.

Deanna- I did 23 miles yesterday! This weekend I plan to kick my rides up to 30!!! This rocks. J

Hazelbunny, WOW that is some perspective. My daughter is just under 65 and don't carry her often because that's heavy! I'm going to have to pick her up now...that's amazing. Hope your boy is fine.

So I'm going to my first HUGE cookout since being banded this past spring. I don't want to over do it. :hungry: I don't have much restriction so I can do some real calorie damage if I don't have a plan. What are other people doing to keep perspective? Any advice would be appreciated. I'm bringing Desserts, which is good. I'm not making my favorites...hehehehe

I wish I had time to scrapbook, like yarn I don't want to get food on my paper! But I'm in school and working full time. It's so easy to eat while reading. I'll fight the snackasaurous!