Riding Outside!!!

On Saturday I took the little girls down to Fort Custer for Snow Stock with the Bike Fort Custer clan. We did some sledding, snowboarding, and had some snacks. It was windy, but it was a fun day none the less. It was nice hanging out with people I haven't seen in months.

Sunday, the plan was to ride the Barry Roubaix course, but the roads are pure ice up there in Barry County. After talking on Saturday and getting a road report everyone decided it was better to skip the training ride. Instead, I stuck close to home and took the Defy out with the CX tires on it. I had to ride outside and I really wanted to put in a solid effort so I headed for the hills. This being the first ride outside this year the hills didn't feel good. But at the same time...they felt good. It was just nice to be riding outside. I headed out of town and around Lake Allegan. The Dam is on the Northern end of the lake. I stopped and snapped the pic below.

Lake Allegan, the road is Allegan Dam Road

The sun was shining and the wind was howling. Temps were in the twenties. At this point I was feeling comfortable so I pushed onward. I headed across M-40 and out to where I know a long climb is located. The segment is 1.6 miles. It is a grind of a climb with a bit of rest after and then another long climb. I kept chugging away. The roads were dry and it felt awesome to be out on the bike. Rode a solid 27 miles.

Weighed in a 246 this morning. Back to 21 pounds down for the year. Feeling pretty good, and with a race in less than a month would love to be under 240 by then. Gotta keep moving! Still on pace to be under 200 by the end of the year!!!

Ramping up

Tomorrow will be exactly 4 weeks until Barry Roubaix. 2 Weeks after that is The Lowell 50. And another 2 weeks after that my true season begins with the Yankee Springs Time Trial. So....I am going to work. Been on the trainer a few nights a week. Eating good again this week after a hiatus last week. Feeling pretty good.

So......4 weeks until the first race......6 to the second race.....and 8 until my first A race. I was 248.5 last Sunday. The following is my projected weights for each race.

Barry Roubaix     238.5

Lowell 50            234.5

Yankee Springs    230.5

I would love to be in the 220's by Yankee but I will settle for 2 pounds per week. I am still on track for my goal of sub 200 by the end of the year so as long as I stay on that track....I will take it.

Training has ramped up...more intervals.....more time....more distance. 4 weeks will fly by and I need to be as ready as I can. I still have a goal of 2.5 hours for Barry Roubaix....that is 14.4 mph for that race.....way faster than my fastest time ever. The difference this year......I am already 10 pounds lighter than two years ago.

Lets do it.

So far....

So far 2014 has been a pretty good year. I have found some determination and have stuck to my diet plan for the first time ever. I am down 21 pounds for the year. I have only ridden 150 miles this year, but my average speed is higher this year than it was at this point last year. Not by much, but I feel stronger. I actually churned out 90 minutes on the trainer last night. It has been a good year. The weight loss is mainly nutrition. My trainer sessions are ramping up now and I am feeling pretty good.


So...21 pounds down. Averaging 3.5 pounds down per week. I am a full 12 pounds lighter than I was at this point last year. My goal for Yankee Springs last year was to be at 240. I am 246 today...and Yankee is a long way away still. If I keep my current pace I will be in the 220's for Barry Roubaix and potentially in the 2 hundred teens for Yankee. My lightest ever. I can't even imagine how much better I will feel when I don't have to drag an extra 50 pounds up the hills of Barry county and Yankee Springs. It is amazing how much better the 21 pounds feel.

So....less than 6 weeks until Barry Roubaix. I really need this snow to start melting so I can get out and ride. Way too much ice on the roads still. I did set my goal pretty steep for BR. A goal of 2.5 hours. That is an average speed of 14.4 mph. Looking back at my training logs I see that my fastest avg speed is only 12.4......so I need to be a full 2 mph faster this year. Well....I am off to a good start....but I have yet to climb a hill on my bike in 2014. I know it will be harder....but I will also have recovery on the downhills....something the trainer does not have.

All I know is this.....I am thankful for my family....my friends...and my support group. You guys know who you are and I can't wait to thank each of you in person!  Keep moving forward!!!!

Stress eating--containment

Over the years I have realized that I am an emotional eater....

Happy...eat

sad....eat

pissed....eat

angry...eat

excited...eat

ect.....eat

You see, it doesn't really matter. Any emotion, food is the savior. Or should I say WAS the savior. I have learned a lot since starting South Beach. I also have a different determination this year. I am more aware of myself...more aware of what I do...and why I do it. I was able to make it through a stressful day without eating any junk. Even being home with junk in the house I was able to avoid the junk for the weekend. This week has been no different. I gave my 2 week notice on Monday. This created some stress over the weekend and more stress on Monday and into Tuesday. It was rough....for sure. I did have some food that I shouldn't have...but it was very limited.

The point is...I knew I was just wanting candy and ice cream and whatever else I could find because I was stressed....and I recognized it. So instead of eating 2 donuts....I cut one in half and that was it. Done. I could have very easily have let myself eat a full donut....and a bowl of ice cream....and a bag of doritos...but I didn't. I knew...so I stopped. 

I am on track. Even did 75 minutes on the trainer last night. Down 16 pounds for the year. Making better choices. Staying focused. Just keep moving forward.

And...with the new job...might be able to get a new bike and maybe a new car!