By Matthew George (@frontrangemountainbiking on IG)

As in 204lbs. At 5’8” on a good day, that’s too much. This winter has been particularly brutal, but this is a product of the pseudo groundhogs day cycle of my life that I mentioned in the Spring to Come article. It’s not my heaviest, that world be 214. That same year, I dropped to 189 or even a bit less during the riding season, I should be 175 though. I’m over it. I’ve started actually taking my medicine, whether it be vitamins, my anti-depressants or my newly found regimen of non-thc CBD supplement. I’m waiting on a delivery of a meal replacement that I really like and this spring will be different. I’ve told myself that before, but some things have changed since the last time I lied to myself about this. I’ve almost completely stopped drinking beer, while I still treat myself, I’ve really started thinking about and acting in food choices, and most of all; I’m forcing self realization and self acceptance, on myself, simultaneously. I was taught from childhood that treating yourself with food was a good thing and raised in a part of the country where the vast majority of people in my parents income bracket were morbidly obese by 35. Hell, I am today, by those standards; a forty year old underwear model. It’s all good.

It’s not though is it. Not that there’s anything to be ashamed about, being 25-30lbs (or 65lbs) overweight. Life happens. Take a look around, most people are overweight. I’m not happy with it though and that’s the part that matters, happiness. It’s all we have really. It’s made me uncomfortable, it affects my self esteem and attitude and hurts my ability to climb our brutal Front Range climbs on my mountain bike. It sucks. It’s nothing new though, I was a pudgy little fella in my youth. Grade school was one trip to the K-mart “husky” department after another. I did lean out in middle and especially high school, getting to a point of being quite fit for many years. Size 29 x 32 men’s pants are hard to come by, yet that’s a problem I’ll gladly accept over the readily available 36x32 of today! I think that I’ve dug into work, personal satisfaction, depression, fatherhood and marriage just enough to be 25-30lbs overweight, and I’m over it. This isn’t a sad story about being a pudgy 40 year old though, nope. Actually, it’s ass kicking time and I’m exclaiming it here. I’ll be writing a few stories here about my progress, methods and motivations, but for now I’ll give you the basic plan to go from FRMB’s “Head doughnut taster” to the stud that my minor body dis morphia shows me in the mirror!

Here’s the plan. I’ve cut alcohol to the lowest levels in many years, I’m going full in on a meal replacement shake called Huel that I’ve had luck with before and really liked, I’m taking vitamins and a non-THC CBD supplement, the dreaded exercise bike is going to get used and last but not least; It’s time for some honesty and self reflection. I’ve never considered myself “fat”. In fact, I’ve told myself that I’m pretty fit in a lot of ways. This in itself isn’t necessarily dishonest, the vast majority of people can’t regularly climb 3-4,000 vertical feet on rocky terrain at elevation, per week. That said, I’ve been fooling myself. Internal conversations like “I just prefer to take pictures of others, I don’t care to see me.” are going to be replaced with smiles and utilized photo ops as often as possible, whether I lose weight and hit my ideal form or not. It’s not just a time for self realization, it’s a time for self acceptance. So, on top of the steps listed below, I’ve agreed to be an Ambassador for the amazing and upscale cycling gear brand Kitsbow, which will require lots of pictures, I’ve purchased new gear (including some very “loud” shoes) and I’m ready to share this adventure with whoever wants to join. I’ll update this story with weights, thoughts, failures and successes as often as I can, so check back. Let’s remember to love ourselves, to strive for improvement and to allow the type of honesty required for improvement to be a positive motivator, not a burden. Please DM, email or comment how you may be getting ready for the spring. Also, hit me up for a little reciprocal motivation, I’d love to hear from you.

If you need help focusing yourself, with nutrition advise, some motivation or specific training for riding; hit up the FRMB Team. I may not be the best to ask, but we have the help you need with our in house nutrition and wellness expert, Jen at Meru Wellness, the trainer of the worlds top riders; Dee Tidwell at Enduro MTB Training and supplement support from the awesome crew at Floyd’s of Leadville. Message me if you want FRMBer pricing at any of the brands or programs listed here and we’ll get you hooked up with the best in the business (and no, we aren’t paid by any of them, we just love them and count on them).