Why I Quit the Gym, But Still Lost 10lbs

in fitness •  6 years ago  (edited)

I wrote this for people who hate fitness. Two months ago I cancelled my gym membership, but managed to lose 10lbs while having fun

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This post is for non-fitness junkies wanting to drop weight, have fun, but still maintain their beer and greasy hamburger diet...I'll let you on a little secret...it's called biking

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Above - shot of downtown LA while on a ride

Note: I don't wear lycra (more on what I bring at the end)

Note 2: I started using "mapmyrides" which is also good for walking or running

2 months ago I cancelled the reoccurring gym membership, bought a $75 mountain bike off craigslist and started riding 15-20miles a day. It takes roughly an hour for every 10 miles on a mountain bike (skinny tire rode bike goes a lot faster, but I'm in it for the workout and not the speed).

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I was spending 2 hours driving to the gym, locker room BS, work out, water cooler talk, etc.

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Now I jump on the bike for two hours and get an intense workout while checking out the city.

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***Above - 44 OZ of PBR - Yes, one or two beers is a must on hot summer rides in the evening

I've biked to the beach and jumped in the ocean for a swim. I'll do some shorter elevation rides and ride around Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign. Downtown, Venice Beach, Pacific Palisades...it's been awesome waking up early and mapping out the rides.

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Donuts make for great fuel

At first I was afraid of riding a bike in LA, but Google Maps does a great job mapping out the bike routes. Helmet, gloves, water and basic rules of biking are a must to feel confident to not get run over. Youtube is a great source of reviewing some basic safety stuff.

Here's the kicker!!!! 1 or 2 hours of intense rides on the bike I have lost 10 lbs in the last month and I haven't changed my diet. I continue to eat lots of carbs, ice cream, hamburgers and consume lots of beer on the weekends.

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***Above - Mapmyride app

I'm on day 3 of "mapmyrides" app which logs all my rides with calories burned, elevation gains, miles traveled and time. Jump on the app and friend me if you're into trying out something new...

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What I bring with me: I usually wear swim trunks which dry quickly, helmet, lock, gloves, water, phone for tunes. I sometimes bring a backpack with my laptop and a change of clothes to do some office time inside a nice coffeeshop. A small towel and a splash of water on the face...I'm good as new.

More city pics from the bike:
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Now get out and ride!!!!

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I need to buy a bike, dude. Nice pictures.

Craigslist is a great place to start for decent bike at an affordable price.

Happy that you found what works the best for you! I personally love the gym here in the city. Seeing others working out motivates me to do better. But I know that many people are not that fond of gyms..

I liked the gym for a time; but doing cardio in a stationary position is tough for longer than 20min...it feels like an eternity. I'm just trying something new.