Hi all
Since starting a new job in March this year I've stopped cycling, got really unfit generally, and piled on about 2 stone. Yes, two bloody stone since March
- it;s spiralled very quickly and unexpectedly.
My job is now city centre based with extremely good public transport links and it's a particularly nightmarish and unenjoyable cycle, so I kind of just stopped doing it, which I didn't appreciate how bad it would be for me and how much of a knock on effect it would have - I've not been considering what I eat for example, I've become immobile (desk job) and now get out of breath doing basic exercise, smoking has crept back which is just making things worse - just last week I went on a family hike with my wife and son to some waterfalls and after half an hour I was sweating and breathless.
Two years ago I was 12 stone, had just cycled my first century and was routinely doing 50-60 mile stints at weekend. About 6 years ago, even, I weighed 16.5 stone, so I'm heading in the wrong direction and I want to take immediate action.
My weekend commitments pretty much focus on my young son, so Sunday club rides are out of the question nowadays.
I'm just after a bit of advice on how best to get bike fit again, and hopefully drop these extra pounds to boot.
My thoughts at the minute are to ride to work (16 mile round trip) at least 3 times a week. Eat a small breakfast and a sensible lunch, cut out sugar, cut out weekday drinking, cut out smoking.
I'm not in a position to afford a gym membership, so the days I don't cycle I'll be heading out at lunch for a long walk.
I also want an incentive to aim for. I'm thinking of something like the Fred Whitton or a C2C challenge - two things I've always wanted to do.
What do you folks think? How best to regain fitness with such a hectic life?