If you’ve been following this infrequently updated blog for more than a few years, you’ll know that I have a serious weight problem. You may remember a time when I followed a weight loss, or lifestyle modification plan; losing 30kg before falling back into old habits. I have been steadily packing on the kilos since then and am not quite sure what I weigh now as I passed the 150kg limit of our scale some months back; my guess is I’m somewhere around 170kg now. I get very little exercise and am extremely unfit. A walk to Pick n Pay at lunch time invariably ends with me out of breath from the slight uphill slope on the way back. I almost always enter the building through the basement parking entrance and use the lift rather than continuing up the slope and climbing the single flight of stairs.
I’ve been well aware that I need to stop this cycle of weight gain and diminishing health but as one does I’ve always put it off for another day. Today is that day. Sitting in the waiting room this morning while Mela had an ultrasound, I picked up a cycling magazine and found an article about Scott Cutshall. Scott is an American that was in even worse shape than I am when he turned his life around. He weighed 238kg at his heaviest and doctors had given him just six months to live without having bariatric surgery; even that was no guarantee as he had just a 50-50 chance of surviving the surgery. Sitting at his window one day he spied a man swooping through traffic on a bicycle and was inspired to begin cycling. After some trouble finding a custom cycle builder that would take him seriously he had his new cycle, one that could support his bulk, and started cycling daily. As you can imagine this was no easy feat but he persevered and aided by a meal plan of his own design, the weight started to fall of. Today he weighs just 78kg and continues to cycle many miles per day.
Reading this article was a tremendous inspiration to me and I told myself that I will follow his example and begin cycling every day. This evening I began, dusting off the bike that I haven’t touched in at least three years and getting out for a short ride around the neighbourhood. I only rode 2.74km today but it’s a start. As I increase my fitness I’ll increase my distance too. We are already makign a point of modifying what we eat so that will help too. If Scott could do it, I don’t see why I shouldn’t be able to do it too.
craniac's place 
Good luck mate. That’s a big challenge you’re taking on and the hardest part is starting, which you’ve already done.
This sounds great and I will be your big encourager. Go go go!!
All the best, Steve!
For what it is worth, I am in a similar position (overweight, little or no exercise, no diet program).
Now I am busy doing light endurance gym (at Taylor’s Gym, next to Woolies / Engen petrol station on hill, not far from your work place). And when I am ready, I am going to do the exercise program my gym instructor worked out for me.
Alternatively, I ride a bike in Technopark during lunch break. Sometimes with colleagues (for both motivation and support). Hopefully you have someone doing it with you?
Otherwise you are welcome to join us, for a ride around Technopark or the occasional dirt ride on surrounding farm lands 😉
It’s rather hot to be cycling around at lunch time, particularly as we don’t have shower facilities here at work. Not sure my colleagues would appreciate sweaty me in the office all afternoon.
This is a fitness blog that I follow.
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/
Good to see a blog that is styled for the nerdy people.
You made a great decision by starting out biking and I hope that you stick with it. You will definitely see the results, but it will take time. Believe in yourself.