And to think I have a perfectly good car at home...

       &nb sp;    The bill came due this morning.  After months of sporadic-to-no exercise, daily smoking, and eating either too much or not the right stuff (mostly sugar, which I love), I decided on impulse to bike to work this morning.  I live about two miles from work, separated by a major highway.  This highway has a long incline heading towards work that you have to fight against since there?s always plenty of morning traffic headed towards L.A., and if you get caught at the stoplight, it?s a bitch to have to make the rest of the hill from a starting stop. 

       &nb sp;    Now, since last weekend I learned that starting too fast only burned you out, I was fully prepared to pace myself while still giving it my best effort.  Well, little situations crop up?usually it?s me getting a good pace and then getting cut off by some stoplight, this time it was the dreaded Yellow Eye at the highway entrance.  With a conquering roar, I mustered all the strength in my recently-exhausted calves, music thundering and cracking through my new earphones (Ultimate Ear Super.fi 3), I took the hill like The Sands of Iwo Jima.  It was a mistake. 

       &nb sp;    I made it across the entrance with a minimum of interference to the drivers.  However, my lungs and, to a lesser extent, my legs virtually collapsed.  Moaning and wheezing, coughing up months? worth of phlegm and resin, I coasted over the overpass, the slow, silent traffic headed north to L.A. below and spread out before me.  Through eyes of slitted misery, as I wondered how many more of these it would take before I had really lost any weight, I was grimly grateful to see the yellow light, now my friend and ally, allowing me to take a rest before the slight descent that came after the overpass.  My balance shaky, I wobbled my bike along the narrow shoulder, trying to stay out of the way of the cars, impatient to hit the 5 towards San Diego and all points south. 

       &nb sp;    I managed to make it to work with two minutes to spare after standing in my bedroom debating whether to risk being a few minutes late or to be lazy and drive.  I?ve pondered the decision many times before, and usually taken the lazy route.

Biking is a good start.... now to move on to kicking smoking (which is probaby a big part of your problem) and get to eating better.

That's awesome you're riding your bike to work!  Think about the money on gas you'll be saving!  Ok, I know 2 miles each way is not a lot of driving, but gas is so darn expensive these days . . .

Actually, it's smoking pot...yuck, cigarettes are disgusting.  The only good thing about living in California is medical marijuana.  Granted, I need to smoke less of it...  The funny thing is, I almost never drink alcohol, not even beer.

Thanks for your encouragement re. riding.  I work in a shirt and tie, so I couldn't help but feel conspicuous riding my bike, especially in a city where the only people who bike are either the few too poor to drive or those geeks on the weekends all Spandexed and sponsored up.  Still, I said to myself "What's more important, looking dignified before a bunch of jagoffs you won't ever hang out with (or even see, since I'm moving soon) or get in shape quicker by adding four 15 minute bike rides every day?" (I go home for lunch)

Right now I'm running on a cup of cottage cheese and 6 oz of yogurt...that and two cups of water about every 20 minutes (I'm not obsessive, just bored at work and getting water is something to do).

Lol... still... the smoking isn't helping.

Very true.  The only reason I smoke so much anyway is because I'm bored and don't have anybody to do anything with, and even if there was a way to meet people, I'm leaving this town soon.

This thread has been a lift.  The narrative of your ride was very visual and descriptive, I could almost feel the phlegm coming up (yuck, lol).  Good on you for riding your bike!

I almost cut that part out, actually, about the phlegm. 

I'm still "drying off" from the ride home for lunch.  I must look like an idiot out there...I make all these angry faces when I ride, like I have a personal vendetta against the traffic lights, the hills, and my own failing legs 'n' lungs.  The music helps me keep up...if I get to thinking about my body too much, I'll quit in despair (see recent entry "You Can't Always Get What You Want" in the Motivation section.

Thanks for what you said re. the writing.  I was supposed to be a "good writer" once, but I always figured that was what you told losers to make them feel better at not having a real job or degree (English degree, work as an executive assistant).  I'm trying to make myself do this, if only for my LiveJournal

Hey, I too found the writing very entertaining.  The descriptions were all giving me that feeling as if I was there right with you.   And that's not blowing you any smoke either.

I can imagine it's easy to get in a rut where you just are pretty bored and whatnot.   Maybe once you get in a little better shape you can find a local bike club and join em for a ride sometime.   I'm actually considering that once I get my bicycling legs back.

I'm almost recovered from my ride back from lunch.  I'm really trying hard to stay in high gear, using my calves and thighs to pump the pedals.  I used to bike a lot and my calves got bigger, then I stopped and they "shrunk".  It's funny...on Saturday, I went to the gym and did treadmill and then elliptical, sometimes going past 200 in speed for short bursts, and my calves were bulging in this gross way for days afterwards whenever I would take a step up.  Anyway, I have the feeling they won't be small for long, for better or worse.

You aren't properly cooling down.

That is you are working the legs hard and then stopping I bet.   So the blood pools in your legs and they look more pumped up.

I didn't know about this ... and after running one day (I'm on a learning to run program that's on this site) I was at home and my wife noticed a small bulge on my leg.   It was pooled blood.   I did cool down mind you, but just not nearly enough.

So... try to take it easy when exercising to not skip the cool down.... it's just as important as a good warm up.

I know it's not much, but would flexing the calves for a bit post-workout help in cooling down?

I thought of cooling down during the long quarter mile stretch of road before my building, but I decided to push myself until I got to the edge of the driveway.  I probably looked ridiculous getting in, sweat pouring off my face.  I get beet red when I exercise, get upset, etc., as well.

You really need to work on your cadence. Straining you leg muscles will make them bigger and stronger but your knees will pay the price. Shift into a lower gear and try keep the pedals spining around 85 RPM. This will help you lose weight faster. To cool down pedal slower the last 1/2 mile or so.

So it's better to keep a faster pace with less resistance?  Those lower gears are so low for me I cant see how anyone can get power from them.  I tend to use just two or three gears.

I just realized that I haven't hit the gym today.  Ugh...that means a ride home, change, and then ride to gym, where I'll do another 40 minutes of cardio, then ride home.  Is that too much?  I really need to push myself, so I don't want to slack, but I don't want to end up sick, either.

Basicly you want to keep your heart rate in the 50-70% range. Try and match the gear to your cadence. If you are spining too fast go up a gear and if to slow shift down. Don't worry about power or speed it will come later as your endurance improves. Your knees will thank you for it.

They put all those gears on the bike for a reason.  You should shift to maintain a constant cadence.  Spinning is easier if you have toe clips or clipless pedals.  I don't recommend using headphones while riding in traffic but to each his own.

I like everything I've read so far. Your a very discriptive writer. The others are right. Gears are on a bike for a reason, to help make peddaling easier for you. It's not all about speed. trhawley is also right about the music. We want you to get there alive not entertained. The being late thing is cured by getting up and going earlier. Bag your suit and find a place to change at work and wear something comfortable instead, they make cycling clothes now that look just like casual wear.

We care about you so please, please, please, lose the smoking habit. It ends in a horrible death. I know I watched my mom, a four pack a day smoker die. Helped me quit. I smoked for 22 yrs and can now do century rides standing on my head... well not quite standing on my head but you know what I'm getting at .

Keep up the good work it only gets easier. -jiggles

I also enjoyed your writing :o)

Another point which I will make.....even tho you don't smoke ciggies, pot is worse.  A joint is like smoking several cigarettes, not to mention it causes depression, de-motivates and messes with your state of mind, especially with long term regular use.  All points which I am sure you are aware of, and I'm not trying to criticise but to get healthy your body would greatly appreciate you not smoking.

Fantastic job on 'getting on your bike' and pedalling to work and like everyone says as cliche as it is, it definitely does get easier.  In the summer I ride to work 5 miles each way and it takes the same amount of time as driving well actually less after I had been doing it a little while, but the weather here isn't always accommodating as I'm not in sunny LA (I'm in the UK).  Going to the gym gets better too, as I never ever in a million years thought my lips would utter the phrase 'I enjoy going to the gym'......but I do now.

yes, i too enjoyed your writing - you have talent.  i used to ride like that when i was a kid (without the smoking of course). your descriptions put me on your san diego hills riding like a kid again. i wish i lived only 2 mi from work, i'd be biking to work too. good for you!

Thanks, everyone, for what you've said.  I'm actually trying to post to LiveJournal at least once a day (maybe I should post the link *lol), especially now that I'm going through some major issues (see Motivation forum, "You Can't Always Get What You Want") and need to vent.

I'm not worried about the music.  I'm pretty aware of my surroundings (famous last words *lol) and honestly, it makes the journey 100 times more enjoyable.  I listen to a lot of film music, and the ride is often my little "adventure" (as dull as the route is...I had more fun navigating the rush-hour traffic on Santa Monica Blvd.).

I don't wear a suit to work, just a shirt and tie.  It's no biggie, really...I'll get a bit sweaty around the edge of my sleeves, but nothing gross like my armpits.

I hang my head a bit in shame to say that I realize I do need to quit smoking so much pot.  It's hard for me, since I have no friends and am currently living in a temporary situation.  I want to relocate to a new state, but I have to wait for my job to let me go.  I know it's been planned, as I have little to do (which is why i can post so often) and the company is going under, but it hinders any ability to make friends or anything.  Besides, I've always been a loner...my interests are a bit esoteric...I can't stomach "American Idol" or Adam Sandler movies.