With health being one of my highest priorities for 2011, I decided to assemble a support team to help with with this journey. While I am sure others will be added including my Optibike coach with whom I have not yet been in contact, I thought it would be advisable to recognize some of my key supporters in this process.

1. First, I want to thank God, who I hope to glorify and enjoy forever!

2. My wife and two sons are with me and provide me constant love and support.

3. Dr. S and Dr. Roddy, who are there to support me and make sure I am doing this in a healthy manner.

4. Lisa B., Jeremy K., John D., Linda G., and Judy B.; who have encouraged me and supported me to start the Take Shape For Life Medifast program to help me achieve “optimal health.”

5. My brothers, who always show love, respect, and encouragement to me.

6. My co-workers, especially Tim D., John R., Billy B., John B., and Dale G.; who inspire me through their example of putting health and fitness as a high priority in their lives.

7. Craig T. and my fellow Optibike Weight Loss participants. Reading their blogs helps inspire me to persevere.

8. My other friends and family who are so supportive of me. I am blessed with so many friends and family who encourage me daily that it would be impossible to list them all here.

I encourage everyone to consider your support team. We do not all have “Tiger Blood” and the ability to do as Charlie Sheen claims, by winning at everything we do and just willing ourselves to do anything we want. I choose to take a more conventional approach with a solid support team that I know will love me… tiger blood or not!

During my first 13 days of a new diet and increasing my physical activity, I lost 13 pounds. At that rate, I will be less than zero pounds in a year! It seems to come off so much easier at first. The big battle will be to stick with it. Thanks to everyone who cares, loves, and supports me. I am truly blessed to have each of you.

Thank you for checking out my blog. I?m glad you have found your way here so you can see firsthand how an Optibike can enrich your life and why I decided to get one.

I have always been interested in electronics since I was a teenager. My Dad owned a television repair shop so I was able to grow up in that field and build a good knowledge of electronics theory and in repairing consumer electronic items. I used a bicycle quite a lot in those early years going to high school and even commuted during my college years at American River College and California State University of Sacramento. I had a good background in electronics by the time I was going through high school but my real interest was in computers so I majored in Computer Science in college.

The most memorable time I remember back then on a bike was on a long road trip I went on in the late 70?s with the Campus Life Youth for Christ group that I was involved in during high school. This was a long 3 day bicycle ride that I went on with a group of at least 50 other high school kids. That ride took us from Sacramento California through Davis winding through the Napa Valley then off towards the coast to finally end in Bodega Bay. That was a wonderful experience.  I remember seeing on that ride my future wife who I would start dating a few years later. I?ve been married to her going on 28 years this May.

I didn?t ride bicycles so much once I got out of college. Over the years I have had a pretty sedentary lifestyle. By the time I was in my late thirties I was up to as high as 306 lbs. I had a history of high triglycerides and my good cholesterol was too low and the bad cholesterol was too high. Then in 2000, at 38 years old I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and put on daily medication. I quickly learned about what this debilitating disease is and how it can be treated. I had to learn about proper nutrition from a nutritionist. I was supposed to get an exercise plan going. Over the years I have only been able to keep my weight wavering between 285 and 295 lbs. I have joined a gym several times over these years, played racquetball, swam and tried to watch my eating habits but nothing seemed to work for me and I wasn?t consistent with it or determined enough to make it work.

 So in July 2010 I ordered an Optibike. Here was a chance to own the ultimate fitness machine. I could use it for commuting to work and the timing was right since my youngest son, now 19, was needing a car to get to work and now could use mine.

I look forward to this Optibike challenge and know that this will be a year to remember. The length of this contest will help turn this diet and exercise plan into a lifestyle that I can continue to enjoy for the rest of my life!

 My starting weight is 272 lbs.  I?m 6 foot tall and considered obese. I have diabetes and would love to get it under better control and eliminate or reduce my medications. Lets see where I can take it from here. Wish me luck. Thanks for your support!

Hi and welcome to my blog. First, I should start with some background information. In my teens before I got my driver’s license, I spent many afternoons riding my entry level 10-speed bike in Kentucky when the weather permitted (sometimes even if the weather didn’t permit.) My friend David and I called bike riding “exploring.” We would take off with no map and no clue where we were going, just enjoying the ride and exploring where the roads might lead us. We took two “big trips” in our exploring career. First, we road from Anchorage, Kentucky to my grandparents home in Lebanon, Kentucky one day… about 66 miles of beautiful, hilly terrain. We turned around and rode back home the next day. We stopped at every little small town on the way and mailed our parents post cards. I recall mailing post cards from Taylorsville, Bloomfield, Springfield, and Maud (post office was in a house!) We had taught ourselves to play basic harmonica songs, so we would stop on breaks and play harmonicas to the horses and cows. We got pretty good at mooing at the cows. We had several moos we thought were perfect! Our second trip, we packed a tent on the bike and were going on a leisurely 300 mile circuit for Spring Break in April. We left home after school on Friday with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70s. We camped out at a farm the first night at a relative of David’s. The next day, we approached our first destination of General Butler State Park, and the weather had turned to freezing rain. We were totally unprepared and amazingly, left home with no wallet, no money,… just the food we packed. After stopping at a gas station to warm up, David was the first to recommend the obvious solution. “How about I call Mom and have her come get us?” We swallowed our pride, got home, and that night it snowed several inches. Wow, we were young and ignorant! However, we did have fun riding our bikes. It wasn’t for the exercise back then, it was for the “exploring.”

My wife bought bikes for Christmas a few years ago because she knew how much I loved riding as a youth. We went for a short ride and almost collapsed! We were both so out of shape. It was actually dangerous! I didn’t think I was ever going to catch my breath! After a few repeat trips, we gave up. Then I heard about Electric Bikes. After over a year of research, I decided to buy two Optibikes for my wife and me. The bikes arrived just before Christmas. We have been on some short rides and biking is fun again!

First obstacle… I hate to publish this, but it is part of the challenge/opportunity. I have had hemorrhoids for years and my doctor has been encouraging me to get them banded. Well, after about a week of riding, my hemorrhoids were actively bleeding. At my first doctor’s appointment of the year on January 19, my doctor had approved the Optibike Weight Loss Challenge for me, but advised I take care of the hemorrhoids first. I was too impatient, and paid the price. So yesterday, I met with a specialist and get the first of three internal hemorrhoids removed on March 9. In the meantime, I am walking, watching my diet, and getting prepared for “exploring” again. I look forward to a fun and adventurous year.

Oh yes, starting weight on January 19 was 270. At 5’7″ in height, that is classified as at least obese and probably morbidly obese. 2011 is the time to change that!