How's it like riding the Spyder at half your size?

[daveinva]

Okay, I'm not quite HALF my size yet, but I figured I'd share my experience so I can relate it to my riding :doorag:

Back on 8 November, I had bariatric surgery, a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.

I'm 37 years old, have always been overweight. I had stabilized for a while there around 250 lbs, but the past five years saw me creeping up over 300. A bit of a heart scare earlier this year (nothing, thank God!) finally told me that I had to do something about it before it got completely out of hand. Did my research, did six+ months of classes and education, fought tooth and nail with my insurance to cover the sleeve, and finally went and had the surgery.

Luckily for me, I had a built in support network: my older brother had the surgery six years ago, with tremendous success, and my girlfriend and I both chose to have the surgery together (she went in August, so I had her walking "point" for me ).

Thankfully, my surgery was a complete success, and things are going great since then. I've lost over fifty pounds (!) in less than two months, I'm feeling soooo much better, and being active isn't something I dread any longer.

Still, a long road to go, and take it from me: anyone who says that bariatric surgery is the "easy way out" doesn't know a :cus: thing they're talking about. One of the hardest things I've ever done, and there's no going back (part of the appeal to me, but still... scary!).

Anyway, why am I sharing this on a board filled with friendly strangers? Simple: I want to share how it affects my Spyder riding!

All I can say is: WOW. It's nice to take some of that weight off the seat, ain't it?

Unfortunately, while I was recovering from surgery, I couldn't ride for six weeks. We went through some indian summer here in Washington that positively KILLED me, I wanted to go riding so bad. Thankfully, things are still pretty nice here, so I was able to go riding yesterday for the first time.

Some things I noticed:
-- It's faster than I remembered . I know that's just because I'm not used to riding, but just as a long fast ride on the highway will make riding around town feel like crawling, ditto NOT riding for six weeks and getting back in the saddle. Whoa, nellie!

-- My behind sure hurts now. I guess I don't remember what it was to feel my pelvic bones in a seat-- a lifetime of padding helps hide those!-- but now it's obvious when I'm sitting for a while. I've got an Ultimate Seat on my RS, and I like to swap betweent a Beadrider and an Airhawk R cushion depending on my mood. After just an hour I can say that the Beadrider is probably out for good, I totally feel my bones digging into it in a way that I never did before . Today I rode to work just sitting on my bare Ultimate Seat, and that felt comfortable, but I still don't think that'll be enough for distance. I'm probably going for a longer ride this weekend, so I look forward to how the Airhawk will feel with my new svelte self.

-- Just so everyone knows, I'm going to have PLENTY of nice, barely-used big size motorcycle clothing for sale here in the near future. Thankfully, I still have a pair of FirstGear overpants that adjust tight enough, and my 2XL Kilimanjaro jacket (thanks, BajaRon!) still fits as long as the liner is zipped in. But even those won't last forever... grrrr. (Really, that's the biggest downside of losing all this weight-- I've given more clothes to Goodwill in the last couple of weeks than I have in my entire life!).

Anyway... Christmas is better when I can rid, that's for sure!

(BTW, if anyone has any questions about the surgery, what's it like now, etc., fire away, I'm happy to share what little I know!).

 

[zrc]

I wanted to hop on here and say congrats. About 5 years ago I was hovering at 300, over the course of a year and having to be so discplined it keep me starving for the first 9 months I was able to shed the weight and reach almost 180. Since that time I fluxuate between 190 and 210 basically, knowing that you have 5 lbs sway even when you are at a stable weight. which makes it more like 195 to 205 and working to just stay in that range. Being a short little fella sure didnt help, but I have worked hard, and riding now is much better now because I final have a spyder instead of my 2 wheeler, and because I shed the weight.

I think it is remarkable that you have done this, and you should be proud. Many people talk about it but it never happens. Losing weight is a lifelong commitment and a concious decision, I am glad you made that one, and I hope all good things for you from the surgery and in your life!

 

[FANG]

When I bought my spyder in June 2008 I weighed 345lbs -- I had gastric by-pass in April of 2008 and was loosing weight steadily (398 at my max).

I now weigh 190 lbs and I don't notice any difference in how the spyder feels - I just think I can go faster and I am move manuevable -- (notice I did not say the spyder was more maneuveable)

Just go for it -- and congrats on the surgery -- I am so glad I had mine. It saved my life.

 

[Bob Denman]

:2thumbs::congrats: You have to also remember to lean a bit further out off the seat to aid in getting around corners... :roflblack::thumbup:

 

[daveinva]

Thanks all for the good thoughts, much obliged.

And Bob, I'm looking forward to riding my Spyder like this:

 

[NancysToy]

:congrats: I just know you are going to like the Ryde even more now. Best of all, you now have the promise of many, many more rides to come.

 

[CyncySpyder]

CONGRATS*A healthy lifestyle is the BEST present one can give themselves

You have much to be proud of & thanful for this Holiday season, thats for sure. Teddy & I are very Happy for you, & your right, there's nothing easy about it.

I myself grew up being the fat kid my entire life. After divorce & moving back to KY from FL back in 2000, I found myself at 235 pounds while only standing 5'8" & I never knew what it was like to be healthy & active. I dealt with both my parents struggling with health issues their entire life & that reality was going to be mine as well if I didn't make some major life altering changes. I started researching & trying to educate myself about what I could do & what actually works. I discovered the Atkins low carb diet & after 6 months of struggling with how to "get it right" for me, I committed to the program. I went from 235 down to 156 pounds, a weight I could never remember being, not even as a 12 year old kid.

I remember going shopping for clothes one time, & I had gone from an XL size down to Md. Being able to look at the clothes on a manaquin & I told the clerk, I'll take the outfit, just how it is, that was a feeling I had never experienced.

I've since gone off the "diet" portion & to the "maintenance" lifestyle, where you eat more regular food with adding in more healthy carbs, but over the years, I haven't been nearly as disciplined & the junk has once again entered my diet, and so has the weight. I'm now right at 190 & am not happy at all with this weight, more so, with the health implications that come with it. So, lately, Ive been rereading the book & am going to be getting my but in gear to start the hard work of discipline again. Hard as it is, its totally worth it.

I for one would like to thank you for sharing your experience with all of us here. It helps in knowing that your not alone in your personal struggles & that I for one want to remain as healthy as possible so I can cheuffer Teds Red Sled into as many future adventures as is possible. The gift of health is beyond compare. Good luck to you as you continue your journey, IT IS TOTALLY WORTH IT

 

[Bob Denman]

Thanks all for the good thoughts, much obliged.

And Bob, I'm looking forward to riding my Spyder like this:

View attachment 38496

ALL RIGHT!!! :2thumbs::clap::firstplace:

 

[SteveMac]

Congrats to Dave Fang and ZRC and others.

This is a tough thing to do. Trust me. I know. I Ballooned up to about 330+ just before Spyderfest 2011. Several months and I lost 60 and now since late October, have gained back about 15. Very tough around the holidays. So my immediate near-term goal is to drop 40 by Spyderfest 2012 and be down around 250. Long term goal is to be at 199 15/16. I want to be able to say "just under 200" when someone asks what I weigh! And then follow ZRCs advice and get it back under control when it fluctuates 5-10 pounds.

It is good to share I think,, so you know you don't fight the battle alone! And yes dropping those 60 pounds does make me feel MUCH better. And not only in riding. Heck, just tying my shoes is better!

 

[ARtraveler]

:congrats: on your success story. Enjoy your rydes. :2thumbs:

 

[Yeochief]

Staying healthier

I dropped 30 pounds this year after the saw bones told me loose 20 pounds or start on meds :yikes:. I decided to loose the weight. Changed my diet and started dropping a couple of pounds a week. Went from 220 to 188, all my tests are better than they have been in years. At 188, Doc said you know the ideal weight for your size is 185, I could have dropped him. Now that the weight is gone, it is a new life style to keep it off. When I adjusted the headlights on my :ani29: I had to take a 10 pound dumbbell with me to make the recommended 200 pounds. :roflblack: Being healthier means you will get to ride your :f_spider: longer. :yes: