Introduction to Bloarb

 

I am a fatty.  Here is the twist, though: I am otherwise strong and healthy because I'm a maniac on a road bike.  I love riding.  My journey to 317lbs(144kg, 22.6 stone) was a zigzag.  Gain 20 lose 10.  I have been hovering around the 300 mark since 2017.  I'm leaner than most at this weight because I found cycling.  I also had a good start from playing hockey.  In all these years I have never lost my strength so it stands to reason that I should be able to convert that strength into lbs lost.

 That gets me to where I'm starting from writing this blog.  I'm a fatty, but I also have lots of muscle.  I ride with the medium group in my cycling club.  I could ride with the faster groups, but it's the distance.  I prefer short sprint rides in the 30km range right now, and I go all out.  150-160bpm the whole way through.  I sweat like Chris Farley running a 10k.  If I can lose this weight, I can ride with the big boys.

  I went back to school to get my degree when I was 30.  I graduated last year.  I'm now 38.  Before university, I was thin and healthy.  In the Fall of my first semester I bought a Jamis Ventura Sport on clearance.  I rode very short distances several times before it was too cold.  After that, I was hooked.  In 2019 I bought a 2018 Roubaix Comp.  Last year I did 2.something Mm (1243mi).  So far this year I'm at 1865km. Hoping I can squeeze in that last 135km, but if I don't, I'm not upset.  Next year I want to hit 3Mm.

This will be my first year riding in the Winter in Canada (hence the Leaf).  In order to do that, I need to lose about 15lbs right off the bat to fit into the largest size cycling jacket I could find.  I will be using intermittent fasting only for that short period of time.

Goals:

Learn
First and foremost I'm here to absorb every piece of information from all of you that I can.  Keep it polite if you would, but don't be afraid to give me your advice, tips, anything you might think that could help me.

Live to be 212
This is the most important thing to me. Hopefully science will find the cure for aging.  Moore said it would happen ... at least I think it was Moore.  I could probably Google it, but who has time for that.

First weight goal of 280lbs
I'm already down to about 305lbs, so I've got a bit of a head start.  I will take photos and post them soon, but without my face as I wish to remain anonymous until I'm less of a whale.

Reduce or quit drinking
I love the drink.  I love the taste of craft beer and fine wine.  Twice in the last few years I've gone six months without a drink.  Probably the fact that I felt the need to do that means something.  Alcohol takes away my fight and that brings me to my next point.

Good mental health
I'm a super-positive dude.  I like to laugh with people.  I don't like to be a downer and I won't talk much about my feelings (mostly because they're happy feelings); however, I will talk about what happens when I don't take my meds and stay off the bottle.  I'm a completely normal person when I'm sober and taking my meds on time every day.  When I'm not doing those two things, I just want to sleep all day and let my apartment get messy and not cook.  BTW, I love to cook.  It consumes me.  I want to taste all the beautiful flavours of food and life.  My brother is/was the real deal and he taught me a lot.

Inspire other fatties to ride
You can do it and what's more: No one will laugh at you.  I have found so much encouragement riding.  You people are so beautiful in your hearts.  A few times people have yelled at me encouraging things.  People just say "Good job" as I pass them.  If I was 200lbs, they wouldn't take another look at me.  They see this elephant riding a bike, dripping with sweat, and they just say nice things.  Join me.  I will ALWAYS encourage you.  If you're reading this, you're already doing something remarkable: thinking about your health.