I want to ride it where I like

[rebness]

I'm getting really dispirited with my body betraying me. I have been eating an unprecedented amount of sickeningly healthy stuff, plenty of fibre, following a low-calorie diet, cycling 14 miles to work every day -- uphill, may I add (okay, so coming home is a bit easier) -- and I have lost the grand total of 1lb a week.


And then I had a weekend where I drank some wine, had a takeaway and a roast. And I'm 3lbs heavier today.


AARGH I HATE IT. Yes, yes. Sodium/water weight/a brief glitch. It's still highly dispiriting that I can push myself to the limit for most of the week and see nothing for it, then have this. Grr.


Okay, so here's some more negativity for you: cycling has made me hate the world.



Car drivers: from conversations with my car-loving colleagues, cyclists appear to be the devil's spawn in your world, there to mess you up. The best thing is that I'm currently working for solicitors dealing with personal injury claims. The amount of times a driver self-righteously proclaims that the pedestrian or cyclist (sometimes dead) is completely at fault boggles me.

Here's a secret: when the cycle lane disappears, as it so frequently does, my heart is in my mouth when you pass me in your car. I'm all vulnerable and stuff, trying to stop this jalopy wobbling into the path of your death machine. I assure you, the last thing I want is to annoy you. I just want to live.


99% of drivers are fine and lovely about it. There's always the one idiot who drives extremely close to intimidate me. I can't walk down the street without tripping over my own feet (Bella Swan-esque sigh). I fear this will not end well. :(



MEN ON BIKES: why, why, why are all the men on bikes, save this one sweet man who smiles at me each morning when he passes me on his bike, so horrible? Why do they get really annoyed if I'm ahead of them and have to race past, with their stupid all-over racing kit and helmet and douchey 'outta my way, girly' sneer? Why do they go flying past the cars, taunting the 99% of nice drivers (God, I hope they don't encounter driving-too-closely douche driver). Why are they so mean to pedestrians? Why do they refuse to move to the correct part of the cycle lane when I'm oncoming?  Man, no wonder people hate cyclists.



MEN IN CARS: look, man in car. It's 7:21am. I have six miles more to go. I haven't put my make-up on and I'm wearing horrid exercise clothes. I'm sweating. I'm deathly tired. What makes you think this is the perfect time to shout an obscenity at me? I don't get it! I really, really don't get it why men shout at ladies on bikes. I'm fine if I'm walking down the road; you don't shout obscenties at me when I'm in a car. But a bike, well, I'm just asking for it, the slut that I am. Yes, please comment on the size of my breasts. Please do offer me lewd advice. It's totally hot.



The Council: Hey, taxes are pretty high and you're trying to get the people in this community to exercise more to bring down health costs. How about you use some of our taxes to occasionally clean up the debris from car crashes on the bypass so that the cycle lane isn't littered with huge glass shards every few metres? That'd be super.



Tractors: I can't. I'm just a ball of rage right now.


So... between the daily deathtrap, the bypass, the tractors and the glass, coupled with the body refusing to be nice to me, I feel like giving up. But.



I've suffered hypertension the last couple of years (poor lifestyle choices, weight gain and being a bonne vivante). I've lost what feels like a tonne of weight in the last year and my blood pressure is at Life is Beautiful levels. Ah, geez. I'll continue for a bit longer, at least till the darker nights draw in.

Comments

[laviniaspeaks.livejournal.com]

Listen. Absolutely AMEN to everything you just said about being a biker. TO EVERYTHING. Especially the bit about the men in their little outfits and zippy little road bikes. I'M SORRY THAT THIS IS HOW I GET TO SCHOOL, D-BAG.

Also? Please allow me to release some of my own biker rage. Dear Woman Who Insists On Walking On the Wrong Side of the Trail: When I said, "On your right," what I meant was "Hey, head's up, I can tell you're walking a dog and maybe don't see me and will have a heartattack if I race past you without warning, so here's a warning that there's someone behind you!" I did not mean, "Scoot the hell over, bitch, this is my path." There was no need to look and me and say, "REALLY?" Arrrgh.

And when it comes to weight: I am a professional weight loser. I have done Weight Watchers off and on since I was 17. And some weeks? Some weeks you are SO GOOD and you only lose a fourth of a pound. Weight loss is SO HARD. And it comes off SO SLOWLY. And we live in a culture where everyone is buying lapbands and having their stomach's stapled, and that combined with nasty shit like Hydroxy-Cut makes it look like losing weight could be SO EASY IF ONLY YOU'D TRY, DAMNIT. But that's just the opposite of true. And I am sure you know that. So I feel for you. It's a freaking uphill battle. Keep fighting. DON'T LET THE BASTARDS GRIND YOU DOWN. ;-) Also, it can help if you gauge weight loss by your measurements, not by the number on the scale. =D

Good luck. I hope the motorists chill the heck out.

[rebness.livejournal.com]

I'M SORRY THAT THIS IS HOW I GET TO SCHOOL, D-BAG.

Ha, yes! I want to shout, 'I'm not racing you and I'm not trying to fight with you! I JUST WANT TO GET TO WORK!'

Also? Please allow me to release some of my own biker rage. Dear Woman Who Insists On Walking On the Wrong Side of the Trail: When I said, "On your right," what I meant was "Hey, head's up, I can tell you're walking a dog and maybe don't see me and will have a heartattack if I race past you without warning, so here's a warning that there's someone behind you!" I did not mean, "Scoot the hell over, bitch, this is my path." There was no need to look and me and say, "REALLY?" Arrrgh.

I don't know what it is about some people! I tried ringing the bell as I slowed down and came up behind people walking on mah bike lane but they either panic or refuse to move. Now I just politely try 'sorry, excuse me', which thankfully works on British people, what with our apologising for everything.

Thank you so much for the pep talk with the weight thing. You're so right and it's awesome to see someone realistic about how hard it is. <33

[pointedulac.livejournal.com]

I've never been a cyclist because I'm terrified. I tried to bike to work and back and it lasted for a week. :P

I will never understand why guys in any situation decide to cat-call women. I mean, does that work? Has any woman ever been on her way some place and stopped at a cat call to give out a number (besides a working girl, obviously)?

Weight loss is stupid hard. It's unfair how easy it is to gain it in relation to how hard it is to lose. Have you considered maybe you're not eating enough on days you cycle 1 million miles? Because if you're not, your body will hold onto every ounce of fat it can.

Yeah for good blood pressure. Mine is high for various reasons (I ate too much salt--have cut back--, I'm overweight, and I'm constantly stressed out.)

[rebness.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've been really nervous about cycling because it seems like accidents involving cyclists are always in the news. Unfortunately, there's no bus route to where I work and paying ridiculous amounts for petrol (and being reliant on family for a lift) was realy getting me down, so I thought I'd try keeping!fit and saving!money.

I'm glad that I can do that and that there's a cycle lane for most of the route, but I'm always worried about traffic when I do have to face it. Plus, I really hurt myself a few weeks ago when I fell off my bike so eek tbh...

I think you're maybe right about not eating enough. I thought it was just a presumption that my body would grab onto calories on days I ate more, but I think it's proving true!

I hope your blood pressure learns to behave, bb. >:|

[ukashi-goshi.livejournal.com]

OK, first of all, you are awesome.

Second of all, you are awesome. <3 I'm sorry your body is not giving you the treatment you obviously deserve. Sending awesome metabolism vibes your way.

And much sympathy for the bike woes. I'd be scared too. And OMG the ATTITUDE! >:(

I really, really don't get it why men shout at ladies on bikes.

Prob that you're straddling a hard, vaguely phallic thing. ;) And come on, I thought everyone knows that the best way to get a woman to sleep with you is to shout obscenities.

But here, I've got a great song for you:

[rebness.livejournal.com]

Hee, I did wonder if it was a phallic thing but didn't want to admit to my ~dirty thoughts. ;)

'They stand and stare with that gormless air'

I kind of love you. :D

[ozfille]

As for MEN ON BIKES, I think the same rule applies to them as MEN IN CARS, seated in or on any wheeled object brings out the competitive beast in them. They think they are either running the Tour de France or racing at Le Mans and winning of course. It also reminds me of that cartoon from my childhood Mr Walker and Mr Wheeler where the mild mannered pedestrian becomes Jekyll-like a slavering, raging arrogant monster when sitting behind the wheel of a car.





When Cadel Evans won the Tour de France this year, I noticed a huge cavalcade of helmeted, lycra clad fools hitting the road. An overweight man in lycra puffing up a hill, his paunch and love handles wobbling and his face bright red from exhaustion is not a pretty sight. It's rather frightening too. What if they drop with a heart attack in front of you, you're sort of obligated to help them, kiss of life and all but urghhh!

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, I remember that cartoon!

[rebness.livejournal.com]

As for MEN ON BIKES, I think the same rule applies to them as MEN IN CARS, seated in or on any wheeled object brings out the competitive beast in them.

Hahaha. I suspect you're ritght.

I love that cartoon!

[fioredelmale.livejournal.com]

Thank you. No, really, I'm about to buy a bike, and you post this :D The irony :D

Diets are tricky: I'm trying to lose some weight as well, mostly by educating myself about food and then trying to stick to the rules (the hardest part). I had to increase my protein intake to see some effective results. Anyway, I surely lost some weight in the past few days, since it is so damn hot over here than the mere idea of cooking sickens me. I'm surviving on raw food and sweating like a horse :-/

[rebness.livejournal.com]

Oh, no! I hope I haven't put you off! XD

I wish we'd get some of your heat. It's been mainly overcast for a month now and so it's hard to stick to salad.

Thanks for the tip on protein, though. I'm going to try upping it to see if my body just needs help with energy without ingesting more carbs.

[fioredelmale.livejournal.com]

Oh, no! I hope I haven't put you off! XD
No, you didn't :P

I wish we'd get some of your heat.
You don't, believe me :-/ I wish for some of your clouds though, if you can send them my way!

Thanks for the tip on protein, though. I'm going to try upping it to see if my body just needs help with energy without ingesting more carbs.
Of course you need to reduce your carb intake as well. Try having more protein at breakfast (shoud be easier for you that it was for me, Italian have sweet breakfast, usually) and at dinner. Good luck :)

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

Ugh, yeah. LA is good about bikes for some things (all buses have bike racks, for instance), but there are hardly any bike lanes, so probably 99% of my riding is just in traffic, trying to stay as far to the side as possible and hoping no one runs me down. (Also hoping no one parked whips open their car door right in front of me without looking.)

[rebness.livejournal.com]

Yes! Drivers can be really bad for not looking before pulling out or opening a door. It's a shame, because I think biking is a real pleasure and a great way to lose weight, but it's so inherently dangerous in a city.

[jaffacakequeen.livejournal.com]

awsome post.

have you measured yourself? its true what they say muscle weights more than fat. you could be shrinking and toning up, or building up muscle.

Plus, with all that exercise, your body is holding onto everything you are giving it. Hence the 3 lbs weight gain when you ate out at the weekend. It refused to burn it, it stored it. Your body is panicking and holding on to your food.

you may find you need to up your protein, to cope with the all that biking. Add an extra 200-300 cals a day, an extra chicken breast, or a protein shake.

And a strong caffeine coffee in the morning.

[rebness.livejournal.com]

Hey, you! <3

I do seem to be shrinking. Like, my torso is firming up, but the scales are just really depressing me. My family and colleagues keep saying I've obviously lost weight, so there's that, I suppose.

I'm going to go on your advice and that of fioredelmale above and up my protein intake, see if that helps.

[ukashi-goshi.livejournal.com]

Just one thing about the scales - muscle is heavier than fat. You've been getting great exercise. I wouldn't be at all surprised if you're losing plenty of fat (as everyone seems to be telling you!) and gaining muscle, which could easily make the scale look like it's not even moving.

[nightfall404.livejournal.com]

As a pedestrian, I cannot really comment on motorist/cyclist interaction but, as a pedestrian, there are some things cyclists do that irk me. Like, you're either a road user or a pavement user. Pedestrians track objects moving along both courses to make sure they're not heading for us. If you suddenly switch from one to another, that doesn't help. Also, if you're on the road, don't just ignore traffic lights. Cars aren't allowed to.

[rebness.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hate it when I'm walking and a cyclist comes right up behind me. It's dangerous and irritating.

I'd have to say there are two caveats to this, though: pedestrians who insist on walking in the bike lane and the fact that, unfortunately, the council here at least loves disappearing bike lanes. They apparently think it's okay to make it disppear for a few metres every mile or so, leaving the cyclist with no choice but to go on the bypass with cars flying past at 60mph or to mount the kerb. Le sigh.

[cloudsinvenice]

On the nature walk in our neighbourhood, which is used by pedestrians, cyclists and dog-walkers alike, a certain kind of male cyclist, always approaching from behind, will make a point of BUZZING me with (literally) an inch to spare, even though the path is spacious enough that there is almost never a need to squeeze past anyone, even if two couples pass each other walking abreast, and one of them has a dog.

And they don't ring a bicycle bell, because either they honestly believe that everyone is capable of hearing the near sub-audible whisp of an approaching bike (which I rarely do, especially not when I've got my noisy shopping trolley), or they have failed to notice that approximately every third human being anywhere at any time is listening to an iPod. So I can only conclude that they're doing it out of sheer dickishness and a misapprehension that the path belongs to them alone.

Probably it's not even context-specific. If they were motorists, they'd be the sort who crowd cyclists while revving their engines threateningly, and I'm fairly sure that if they're businessmen, they expect the nearest female colleague to make the tea all the time... even if she outranks them.

[suureal.livejournal.com]

Awww... I know what you mean! My body has betrayed me too, so I stopped trying to force it into a shape it didn't want to be in, not that I feel any more comfortable, heheh... sport never worked for me, ever... .so... gl with your cycling and all the mad people you out there! :) For now heat stops me from eating, I hope that helps, eaiting healthy didnt for me either.

[saffronlie.livejournal.com]

Isn't 1lb a normal rate of weight loss, though? IDK, things sound better in kilos. So you put on 1.5 kilos over the weekend, but .5 of that is probably just normal fluctuations, so it's all good? But what do I know, I'm about to pay ridiculous amounts of money to walk and cycle indoors and have someone show me how to lose weight.

I understand your fears, though. I seriously cannot ride a bike, and even if I could there's no way I could ride to uni or anything. I'm unco, and Sydney drivers are insane. Riding an exercise bike is fun though. :D

Let's up our protein together. I've only been to the gym twice so far, but it is messing with my metabolism and I am OMG SO HUNGRY.