Boulder cyclist finds community competing for Naked Women's Racing
Amanda Cyr, 29, lost 170 pounds in last four years
By Sarah Kuta kuta@coloradodaily.com
Posted: 03/04/2013 09:21:01 PM MST
Naked Women's Racing's Amanda Cyr competes at the Karen Hornbostel Memorial Time Trial last spring. Photo courtesy of Amanda Cyr ( Picasa )
Four years ago, Amanda Cyr weighed 350 pounds. A doctor told her she would die unless she changed her lifestyle.
Cyr, who now races for the Boulder-based Naked Women's Racing cycling team, knew she had to change her lifestyle but had never really participated in organized sports, or a regular exercise schedule.
"Oh yeah, couch potato was a big sport of mine," the now-29-year-old said, laughing.
Today, she's lost 170 pounds, has joined a cycling team and has more friends than she can count, she said. Her life has changed dramatically since she made the choice four years ago to get healthy.
The wake-up call came after Cyr graduated from the University of Florida with a music performance degree. She didn't know what she wanted to do with her life, so on a whim she moved to China to teach English.
Once there, she was subjected to daily ridicule for being overweight. People would stand in her view and point at her, she said, or outline the shape of her body with their hands while laughing. Some taxi drivers refused to drive her because they thought she would use too much gas.
"When you're obese in China, you're a spectacle and it's OK to make fun of that because they've never seen an obese person before," Cyr said. "Emotionally that was really tough. Most days you could take it, but if you'd had a hard day teaching, it was so defeating."
When she came back to the United States, she picked up and moved to Denver for a change of pace. Once here, she looked around and saw healthy people everywhere. About that same time, a doctor told her she was dying.
Her doctor put her on a restrictive diet, but Cyr said without food in her life to keep her busy or dictate her social schedule, she grew bored. So she started running, or "waddling," as Cyr called it.
At first, she could run one city block. But slowly, she began setting goals and picking races to train for. Six months later, she ran a full marathon.
She found cycling after dabbling in both running and triathlons. Running, she said, helped her start exercising, but wasn't her passion. Triathlons seemed fun at first, but then she realized the only part she actually enjoyed was the cycling leg.
A Google search led her to Naked Women's Cycling, the Boulder team with members from entry level to elite cyclists.
Her first race was March 2012, the University of Colorado Stazio Criterium. Cyr came in dead last (the race official had to tell her the race was over because she didn't know how crit races worked), but made dozens of new friends -- women she was supposed to be competing with -- and knew that she'd found her sport.
After that first criterium, she signed up for every race she could find. In total, Cyr raced in 31 races her first season, mostly because of the community she found within the women's cycling world and through Naked Women's Cycling.
"It's the whole package, so that's what clinched it for me. You need to feel community," she said.
To her teammates and other female cyclists, she's the glue that holds Colorado women's cycling together. Cyr chats with the competition at the stating line, cracks jokes constantly and takes the workhorse role so her teammates can podium. Cyr knows "everyone in the peloton," said Naked Women's Racing co-founder Rachel Scott.
Sharon Madison, 51, and Cyr became instant friends during their rookie seasons. Though they're 22 years apart in age, their unlikely friendship started during one of their first races together last year when neither of them "knew what they were doing," Madison said. Now, Madison tells everyone she knows the "Amanda story."
"It's so inspiring," Madison said. "A year ago, she gets on her bike and accomplished what she did in one season. She'd never ridden a bike, was overweight, and then she gets on the bike like she owns it. It blows me away."
It's hard for Cyr to think back to her "old" life now that she's been "reborn," she said. This year, she's officially co-captain of Naked's Cat. 4, or entry-level team, which means more jokes, more racing and more rallying the team together.
"I don't think of life four years ago," she said. "It's hard for me to remember how I was so sedentary. It's hard to remember a year ago, I didn't know 200 female cyclists who would do anything for me at the drop of a hat."
Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new friend
The information / discussion in the Cycling Health Forum is not qualified medical advice. Please consult your doctor.
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Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new friend
Postby Ross » Tue Mar 05, 2013 7:41 pm
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby Parker » Tue Mar 05, 2013 7:57 pm
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby Venus62 » Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:06 pm
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby KonaCommuter » Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:07 pm
- foo on patrol
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby foo on patrol » Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:13 pm
Foo
Goal 6000km
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby Apple » Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:15 pm
Speak your mind,Those that mind dont matter, Those that matter dont mind!!
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby Mulger bill » Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:19 pm
I don't believe this for an instantApple wrote:Can you see what is happening here. she and I have changed places.
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby foo on patrol » Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:21 pm
All the more reason not to give the bike away Apple!Apple wrote:Can you see what is happening here. she and I have changed places.
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby Nobody » Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:33 pm
You just need to get over your phobia of 'bents. I doubt the cost is holding you back. If nothing else it will keep your fitness up until you can ride a DF/wedgie again.Apple wrote:Can you see what is happening here. she and I have changed places.
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby trailgumby » Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:36 pm
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby trailgumby » Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:45 pm
I've had lower back issues for a number of years and while i've still got a.long way to go, the pursuit of the ability to keep cycling pain free is forcing me to face and deal with long term postural and core stability issues that ive had since childhood.
Sue it's been a long slog, but it is paying off in so many ways. Its 2 steps forward 1 step back but the trend is in the right direction. Hate to think where i'd be if i'd capitulated
Never give up
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby Apple » Wed Mar 06, 2013 10:57 am
I think I will need to print out this thread and put it on my wall so that I can see it every morning to motivate me to get up and do something just as amazing.
Speak your mind,Those that mind dont matter, Those that matter dont mind!!
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby gorilla monsoon » Wed Mar 06, 2013 1:49 pm
No, you are just weak as p!ss and she isn't.Apple wrote:Can you see what is happening here. she and I have changed places.
Come have a coffee with me some day and we'll talk about lower back pain.
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby Apple » Wed Mar 06, 2013 3:44 pm
Yes you are correct about the P*ss, I amgorilla monsoon wrote:
No, you are just weak as p!ss and she isn't.
Come have a coffee with me some day and we'll talk about lower back pain.
Do you have issues with lower back pain.
mine is getting better since that Sealy bed people made the bed harder.
Speak your mind,Those that mind dont matter, Those that matter dont mind!!
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby Apple » Wed Mar 06, 2013 5:36 pm
correct about the P*ss. She is strong, true.gorilla monsoon wrote:[No, you are just weak as p!ss and she isn't.
Come have a coffee with me some day and we'll talk about lower back pain.
Gorilla, I didnt know you had back issues. Very sad to read that.
Speak your mind,Those that mind dont matter, Those that matter dont mind!!
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby gorilla monsoon » Thu Mar 07, 2013 12:22 pm
I always have pain, just the amount varies but I refuse to take anything strionger than Panadol.
You can only expect the sympathy vote for so long. Swimming and cycling, by the way, are the two types of exercise that are most beneficial for me.
PM me and we'll arrange to get together for a coffee and discuss crook backs. I'm in Sydney on business one day each week so a play date is very do-able. I don't bite, just ask Parker.
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby Apple » Thu Mar 07, 2013 7:08 pm
gorilla monsoon wrote:Yes Apple, I busted my back pretty badly about 30 years ago. It was enough to force me out of work. I couldn't walk when the weather was cold and in warm weather I used a walking stick. Finally got into a rehab program and after a few years I stopped feeling sorry for myself, retrained and got into the job I'm in today.
I always have pain, just the amount varies but I refuse to take anything strionger than Panadol.
You can only expect the sympathy vote for so long. Swimming and cycling, by the way, are the two types of exercise that are most beneficial for me.
PM me and we'll arrange to get together for a coffee and discuss crook backs. I'm in Sydney on business one day each week so a play date is very do-able. I don't bite, just ask Parker.
Impressive, you are my hero, forget the fat chick, she has nothing on you
My back is much better now, seriously don’t let anyone sell you a bed when you know what you want and they convince you otherwise. I have been out of action for 6 weeks but I feel much better.
The bed has been adjusted
I am swimming and now I have the bike set up on the wind trainer, I will make a film video of myself with music in the background, see if I get as many hits on YouTube as the omelette blond bird, I doubt it, maybe it will be popular on the nursing home channel
Speak your mind,Those that mind dont matter, Those that matter dont mind!!
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby Petee » Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:07 am
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby durianrider » Mon Mar 18, 2013 5:32 pm
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby Parker » Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:37 pm
Are you sure?durianrider wrote:Cycling sure is the best activity for burning those excess body fat stores.
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby KonaCommuter » Thu Mar 21, 2013 6:27 pm
Parker wrote:Are you sure?durianrider wrote:Cycling sure is the best activity for burning those excess body fat stores.
Horizontal dancing goes without saying as the most enjoyable activity for burning fat. Sometimes the lady partner puts on weight though
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby Parker » Thu Mar 21, 2013 7:34 pm
Must agree... must also say in many cases the gentleman partner also puts on weightKonaCommuter wrote:Parker wrote:Are you sure?durianrider wrote:Cycling sure is the best activity for burning those excess body fat stores.
Horizontal dancing goes without saying as the most enjoyable activity for burning fat. Sometimes the lady partner puts on weight though
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby gorilla monsoon » Mon Mar 25, 2013 3:41 pm
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby Venus62 » Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:38 pm
Sad but true. There's a paragraph on it here. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/778600" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;gorilla monsoon wrote:Horizontal dancing doesn't burn fat. It's just fun.
"MYTH: A bout of sexual activity burns 100 to 300 kcal per person — With intense sexual activity, a 154-pound man burns approximately 3.5 kcal per minute. However, given that the average amount of time spent during one stimulation and orgasm session is about 6 minutes, this man might expend about 21 kcal total. But, he would burn about 7 kcal just lying on the couch, so that amount has to be subtracted, which gives a grand total of 14 kcals of energy expended."
Back on your bikes, gentlemen!
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Re: Woman loses 170lb from cycling and makes lots of new fri
Postby timber » Thu Apr 18, 2013 4:26 pm
Running must be the best , but cycling is so more exicingParker wrote:Are you sure?durianrider wrote:Cycling sure is the best activity for burning those excess body fat stores.
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