Help Doctors orders

Nothing to be embarrassed about. Who cares what other people think? The point is you've taken that first positive step towards reducing your weight - a step many other people will never make.
The main thing is to purchase a bike that's right for your height. This is fundamental. Most good quality roadbikes will support your weight as the frames are very strong. Bikes such as Bianchi, Trek, Cannondale, De Rosa e.t.c. will support a heavier rider.
Forget the concept of diet. What you have to do is re-educate yourself to eat the right kinds of food and increase the exercise regime. Eat lots of vegetables, fibre, fish, chicken, skimmed milk, fruit, wholemeal bread e.t.c. Avoid diets like the plague but cut out salt, sugar and starch. The odd treat is O.K. though but not too often.
Get a medical before you exercise to test blood pressure e.t.c. You will then need to start at the beginning and ride your bike. Seeing as you need to reduce your weight it would be a good idea to do an early morning ride to speed up the metabolism. It doesn't matter if you feel a bit silly struggling to keep up a steady speed since this has happened to most people and you'll find fitness will improve if you stick at it.
To be honest, what might help is if you purchased a beginners book on cycling and you shouldn't be shy asking advice on this forum. Broadly speaking, however, you need to adopt a common sense approach to your exercise program, get out on your bike and have fun and be patient with regard to weight loss as this will take time.

tlove said:

My doctor let me in on a little secret. I am out of shape and way way overweight. I am 5'11 298lbs. I've always loved the idea of riding a bike for excercise but I am afraid I will pop the tires. Is their a road bike for me????? Can it hold my weight?

Thanks for any and all replys. I would really like to ride a bicycle for excercsie but am embarassed to go to a bike to shop to see if anything will hold me..

tlove said:

My doctor let me in on a little secret. I am out of shape and way way overweight. I am 5'11 298lbs. I've always loved the idea of riding a bike for excercise but I am afraid I will pop the tires. Is their a road bike for me????? Can it hold my weight?

Thanks for any and all replys. I would really like to ride a bicycle for excercsie but am embarassed to go to a bike to shop to see if anything will hold me..

when I got my latest bike a few years ago I weighted about the same close to 290lbs
I got a steel frame and even the Cheap tires like at a department store
will support your weight just make sure they are inflated to close to max,
like Carrera said it will take time but you will start to feel better quicker than
the weight loss will show up

one thing I tried and seemed to help was I now use SeaSalt over regular salt on my food
wife got it for something different and next thing we knew I had droped
quite a few lbs and not changed any thing else
she tried it and also the same resualts she was loseing weight anyway but made a bigger jump and it was more noticable after she started usein the seasalt
you dont need as much
she because of high blood-pressure wasnt eating any salt before
oh havent weighted my self lately but have lost about 50 lbs in the last year
I didnt keep up the riding after I got the bike but have started again
I got a vintage 79 Schwinn Continental and have started cleaning it up and replaceing part here lately so having fun and feeling better both 🙂

As long as you don't get the super-light bikes, you'll probably be fine.

Absolutely agree with Carrera.

And particularly well done you... you've made the right decision, wanting to lose weight and get fitter. Don't worry about what other people think!

Live long and Prosper!

Just remember...baby steps, baby steps, baby steps.You didn't get in this shape overnight, in a week or in a year. You won't get out of it that quickly either. Make small incremental changes to your lifestyle. For me it was getting a bike and occasional rides, to daily commuting, then cutting out french fries, then cutting back other junk foods. It's been 18 months and I'm still not "there" yet but I'm a) on the right track; b) feel like this is sustainable; c) doesn't feel like I'm losing out or sacrificing something.

For the first time, and I've dieted most of my adult life, I feel I'm in control. I feel sane and it's going to work because it's just part of my life. It's "no hassle".

tlove said:

My doctor let me in on a little secret. I am out of shape and way way overweight. I am 5'11 298lbs. I've always loved the idea of riding a bike for excercise but I am afraid I will pop the tires. Is their a road bike for me????? Can it hold my weight?

Thanks for any and all replys. I would really like to ride a bicycle for excercsie but am embarassed to go to a bike to shop to see if anything will hold me..

Way to get started!! The hardest pert s always establishing a new good-for-you habits. The bad ones are like falling off a log. You may want to check out a book called "Heft on Wheels: A Field Guide to Doing a 180" by Mike Magnuson.

He details his experiences going from barstool sittin', beer swillin', chain smokin' monday morning quaterback to svelt smooth road racing machine.

amazon.com002 6066178 6919214Open ↗

check back in every so often, let us know what works for you and how your doing.

As far as bikes go most will support your weight, Hybrids are more comfortable to start, but you'll probably want to move on to something lighter and more nimble by next year some time. You (read I) may want to look into a used recumbant.

Everyone THANKS for the help and ADVICE. I'm going to the bike shop tomorrow to take hopefully make a purchase. Hopefully they will have something that feels comfortable to me. Any one have any ideas on models I should look for in a Trek. I would like to be able to ride it around town and on the bike paths. I live in a rural part of Massachusetts. There are a lot of people who ride regularly around where I live.

I would recommend the Scott is a very good road bike for the money. I purchased one recently and it also comes with 3 chain rings for very low gears.
If you haven't rode before I'd also advise you to take it steady. Riding a bike can be tricky in cases where vehicles drive carelessly so the more experience you have on a bike, the better you can spot potential hazards, such as someone opening a car-door on you, or kids rushing out onto the road from behind a parked car e.t.c.
Ruts can be very dangerous. I spotted one the other day that would have ruined my wheel had I hit it. I personally recommend continental tyres for this reason and you need to learn to always watch the road as you ride and brake or swerve around ruts. Always wear a helmet, get lights and bright clothing if you ride at night.
Once you get used to the bike you'll be fine.

tlove said:

Everyone THANKS for the help and ADVICE. I'm going to the bike shop tomorrow to take hopefully make a purchase. Hopefully they will have something that feels comfortable to me. Any one have any ideas on models I should look for in a Trek. I would like to be able to ride it around town and on the bike paths. I live in a rural part of Massachusetts. There are a lot of people who ride regularly around where I live.

I was in the same boat. My BP was through the roof and I had "let myself go". couple things that helped me a ton. Drink a gallon of water every day, throughout the day. Reduce your salt intake. Not completely but tone it down. Avoid super salty foods like pickled foods, processed foods and canned soups (stuff like that). Stop ALL soda/beer. Just empty calories and the ingredients in DIET soda are deadlier than regular. Plus, your body thinks it is getting sugar even though its not because it is sweet and the jury is still out on the toxic effects of artificial sweetners, just drop it. EAT SMALLER PORTIONS. In adddition to how well you eat, limit it. Smaller plates, nothing after dinner and certainly nothing before bed. I counted every calorie for about a month before I got in the groove. 1500-1800 calories a day. Plus all your riding. count your gatorade and cytomax drinks as calories as well. Lastly, don't get frustrated. I gained so much leg muscle initially, I was close to quitting because I thought I was getting nowhere on the scale. Throw your scale away, you are burning fat while you gain muscle and it will take a few weeks before the pounds come off. Measure how you FEEL and start to look in your face and waist. My weight wasn't going down but I tightened a notch in my watch and my wedding ring is looser. Lastly do a little something physical every day. Very easy to get into the habit of not working out. Make yourself do a short ride, or a walk or the gym at the very least. If you feel you must have something sweet or that is not good for you..have a little bit, enjoy it and be done with it. Occasional treats are much better than the binge that is just around the corner from denial for so long. And lastly be good to yourself. You may not see the results each day in the mirror, but tell yourself that today, you are more in shape and thinner than you were yesterday and NEVER GIVE UP! IF you would like, keep in touch with me and we can motivate each other as accountability partners, but find someone who motivates you and pushes you to keep it up. Believe in yourself you can do it. Best wishes and good for you for already doing the hardest part!