Does my stomach make me look fat?

Inspired by the bicycle in which I lap the Twin Cities, I am working toward a goal of dropping to around 200 lbs. by the end of the year.

How will I do this, you may ask?

Well, first off, I have emptied my cupboards of candy and snack food. No more chocolate and no more cookies. I am also not getting the rare candy bar on the way home or the fast food route.

I looked at my stomach, well, all of the time. It has never been as flat as it could be and I can see the signs of muscle underneath, many due to cycling a lot this summer.

But the trick to being a better cyclist is not lightening up the bike, perhaps, but in lighting up the rider. The average Tour de France rider, while being 5'9", is also 160 lbs. I am 222.5. I could shed 10 pounds easily and healthily if I really want to and I really want to. This is the first time, in a long time, that I am close to the 220 barrier. If I can drop below it will give me enough confidence to get to 210 and, hopefully, 200. According to ancient statistics, the idea weight for someone my height is 188. Really? I like to lift weights, thank you, and I don't plan on atrophying my body so I think I can just increase the burn.

Well, wish me luck.

And... GO OBAMA!!!

Be afraid of the biker shorts!

Today I went out for a ride. I told myself, last night, that I was going to go for a ride in the morning. Understandably I was tired from working the night prior but I was determined to do it. I had all the gear ready... accept for the shorts.

I bought a pair of cycling shorts when I got my other clothing. But today was colder and, well, I am not the most slender of people. I have nice legs but, after trying the things on, I decided against it.

But I did wear my biking cleats. I was nervous about getting the shoe clips, hearing about dropping ones bike on themselves and all but it went smashing. I used to sell the things, for crying out loud! I knew how to put them on and take them off so it wasn't a challenge. Not even the first time I had to stop and get out of the clip.

I did about 4-5 miles, I wasn't counting. I just rode until I got to a comfortable distance and then turned around. It was therapeutic, to say the least. I recommend it to everyone, since gas is going supernova.

See you on the trails!

Peace.

I like to ride my bicycle...

Okay, I haven't picked it up yet but, Saturday, with a feeling of adventure, I purchased my latest toy: A road bike.

I went to my old company, Erik's Bike Shop, and bought myself the bike I always wanted, sort of. It isn't the latest nor greatest but it will be great for me. Thanks to the tax check most of us will be getting, it will also cost me very little out of pocket.

I am looking forward to a healthy escape from my daily life and this just may be the answer I was looking for.

Normally I am one to go half-hearted into working out. Sure, I lift weights occasionally and, even more ocassionally, I go to the gym but this could be just thing I am looking for.

Most times when one goes out in a car or on foot they have an intention. I drive to a certain place to do a certain thing. With a bike you don't need to have a certain place to go, just the adventure of it.

I will be posting more about my adventures in cycling and hope that I get something out of it. Stay tuned.