Virgin Territory

Jul 20, 2016

I have officially crossed over into lowest weight I’ve been since like 1984 omg 229 and still dropping yea me. Okay enough with the celebration and back to work. A month ago I was getting bored with just walking and running. I needed a change I looked over in the corner of my garage and saw my shinny Trek bike sitting just accumulating dust, huh I thought to myself. I’ve never road a bike for more than 5 or 6 miles and just a leisurely pace. We are talking maybe 2 or 3 times during summer that’s it, then snow flies and it’s back into storage. So I figured what the hell I’d give try. It’s not like this Seattle with all kinds of hills its flat you want a hill you head to an overpass. We make up for the lack of hills with wind. There is nothing to block the wind coming from any direction no mountains and very few trees. So you either have to be in super good health or you get an app that tells you when the wind speed will be low and you pray it’s right. I’ve already been on the wrong end of bad forecast those that ride bike know what I mean for those that don’t picture yourself half way through a 30 or 40 mile ride you thought you riding into the wind, but now you know you weren’t as when you reach the turnaround point you discover the forecasted 3-5 mph wind has turned into 25 mph sustained with gusts up to 35. Now I don’t have racing bike I don’t have 10 speed bike I have 7 speed hybrid which lets me ride in a less hunched over form. So there you are you have your bike set on seventh gear peddling to beat hell and you are barley moving practically standing still, oh and did mention your kind of tired already. Your legs ache bit but you solider on it’s a matter of pride you will finish ride wind be damned. You finally make it home as soon as you get out wind and off your bike you realize three things. The first is your legs feel like jello, the 2^nd is you can’t feel your butt, and the 3rd you completely soaked with sweat it’s dripping off you. Ah the joys of exercising outdoors in North Dakota. I know that little story makes it sound bad, but I’ve discovered I really enjoy it. On my bike I can cover more ground see new sites and its lower impact on my body overall. Don’t get wrong now there are days here when everything comes together for a perfect day too, those days are awesome. As for the weather you just have hope for the best and plan for worst and make adjustments accordingly.

 Along the lines of change, I also have added weight lifting to my routine. I try and get in an at least an hr 3 times a week. I would love to say I’m going to be this awesome muscle bound guy, but that’s just in the cards. I will get stronger though and I need too. I let my body go to the point that I need to build my strength up to do basic stuff like push-ups and pull-ups. It’s funny some parts of my body have plenty of strength, weak areas are the stomach and shoulders. I’m making progress it will take as long as it takes. I just want to be able to do those things again and to keep at it. Not everyone has to do that some of us are just fine with not being able to do those things and have lost all the weight with little or no exercise. I just can’t sit around anymore. I had my fill of that for last 15 years its’ time for me to move. I only listen to my books when I’m exercising, so it’s a reward thing for me the time flies by as I’m discovering the world that is outside of my living room more and more each day.

1 Comment