Spin 'til you're thin
An inspirational weight loss story...
Author: Kris Cormier

The heaviest I've even been was at the end of my 5th pregnancy - I was over 80lbs heavier than my ideal weight (which was before my first pregnancy!). With more than 80lbs to go, I broke up my goal - I would lose 55lbs to reach my short-term weight loss point. In the first few months post-pregnancy, I did some walking and other light exercise and managed to lose 20lbs of pregnancy weight. In Spring 2005, with a new baby in tow, I started my fitness plan and set out to lose even more.
A big part of my plan was havnig a plan in the first place! Being accountable to write down what steps I was taking was a big motivational factor. I started off with a 10-week "phase", in which my goals were: Walk at least 3x per week (or other exercise) to lose 10 lbs and to fit back into pre-pregnancy jeans. By the end of Phase 1, my goal had been accomplished - I'd lost 10lbs in 10 weeks. It was during this phase that I got a gym membership and starting attending the Spinning classes there.
As someone who tends to get "bored" with regular fitness activities (spending a half hour on the treadmill is not my cup of tea!), I really liked Spinning from the get-go! I started out with Endurance classes (yes, it does take a while for your "glutes" to get used to being on a bike for that long at a time! Give it 5 or 6 classes total if you're a beginner!). During the 2nd Phase, I lost another 8lbs and lost inches as well. With Phase 3 starting in September, I increased the Spinning even more, this time trying the Interval and Strength classes. I did at least one Spinning Class per week for those 10 weeks! By the end of Phase 3, I was down another 12lbs, for a total weight loss of 50lbs (30 of this during the 3 fitness "phases").
During Phase 4, I lost 5lbs to bring me to my short-term weight loss goal of 55lbs lost. The "treat" I'd planned for myself was going shopping for a nice new top, and as soon as I saw my magic # of the scale, I went out shopping for my "reward"! I went on to lose another 5lbs durnig this phase, which put me at -60lbs at the end of 2005.
Durnig 2005, I must have done dozens of Spinning classes. But am I sick of it? Nope. What I love best about Spinning is the variety it has space for. The music changes, different teachers have different styles, the "course" described changes, your co-Spinners change, and the inspirational and motivational statements change. Whe I'm doing my own workout, I still try to hear one of my fave Spinning instructor's call to "pick it up! pick it up!". When I'm Spinning, I get to focus on myself, on my fitness, on how my body feels and to what levels I can push it.
Almost 2 years later, I'm still Spinning. I've unfortunately had flare-ups of my old whiplash injuries (from getting rear-ended by a minivan while at a dead stop at a stop light in 2000), so I have not been able to keep up my old Spinning schedule, but I keep trying to get back in the saddle! I truly hope that I'll be able to enjoy Spinning for a good long while! ;)

New "Rainbow Biking" Stores!

I've opened up some cycling stores inspired by my fitness and weight loss journey. I am proud to have lost 65lbs during my one year of very intensive Spinning classes! Shop at one of my stores to wear your own sporty and colourful biking gear!