The Race To The Bottom

Besides run-ins with cars, I have been up to some very positive developments recently. I've dropped some serious weight in the last few months. Serious weight.

On November 5th, I weighed in at 230 lbs or 104 kilograms, or better, 16 and 1/2 stone.

Today, February 24th, I weigh 195 lbs or 88.5 kilos or best, just under 14 stone.That lovely lady beside me is not Claire, mind you but Robin Lee, cyclist extraordinaire. Don't we have cool helmets? Come on Nutcase, we want sponsorship! But here, I'm around 203 lbs so it's not entirely representative.No, this is better this shot was taken up on Orcas Island last week to give you better perspective. Incidentally, this photo features my Valentine's Day present which is a "keeper" ring to hold my now very loose wedding ring on my finger. So yes, this weight loss is showing up all over and in many facets of my life.

There are all kinds of reasons for this weight loss. I was tired of breaking bike parts: two cranks, three pedals, one handle bar, numerous chains, rear wheel damage,.... the whole kit and kaboodle. I was also tired of being a slow climber and weighing 40% more than the average bike racer my height wasn't helping me get to the top of anything.

I was also phenomenally impressed with my wife, who after two kids is magically down below her pre-wedding weight and, though I won't tell you where she's at, looks FANTASTIC! What can I say, I don't want to look like the odd couple.

Even more than that, I got some pretty serious scares and scars last year, I was in the emergency room 5 separate times last year. Once for a fall that gave me a wicked scar on my abdomen, and four times to treat the case of MRSA that erupted from said visit, or as the doctors say, possibly from anywhere. I understand plausible deniability.

No, the truth is that with some pretty damning photos that I saw of myself, in conjunction startling health data I received auxiliary to my ER visits, I decided to get in the saddle and move everything southward. There was no reason why a guy who bikes ~120 miles a week pulling kids and cellos should weigh that much or more importantly, test that high. My glycemic was 106 and my cholesterol was 204 (but down from 225 four years ago). It was time for an intervention.

So here I am. I've lost 35 lbs in in just under 4 months. It feels pretty darn good. I've dropped from a very tight set of 38 inch Levi's to a new, comfortable set of 34's so I reckon I'm down about 5 inches in the waist department. I had to get rid of pair of pants in the process and now only the suit I bought in 1996 fits me. Everything else just hangs and I'm afraid to try on any of my tuxedos.

I'll keep you all posted on method and my future goals, but it has a great deal to do with this photo:
Fausto Coppi and I are the same height.