Read about the inspiring weight loss success story of Toby Field and how cycling saved his life.
My name is Toby Field, I’m 33 years old and I’m fit and healthy. I live in Eastbourne and I cycle to work every day. This is thanks to the Cycle to Work Scheme.
I wake up at 6am and I’m out of the door by 7, come rain or shine. It’s a way of life for me, but that wasn’t always the case. Two years ago I was a very different person. I was super morbidly obsessed, at 21 stone (294 lbs.) and at high risk of health problems. My dad died at the age of 55 as a result of obesity. I was following his footsteps. His death obviously didn’t have the impact on me at it should have at the time. It took one cheap bike to spend quality time with my kids, to change things.
March 2010, marked the last time you ever saw the old Toby. The Toby that didn’t care what he ate, didn’t care that none of his clothes fit, who just sat around on his back side all day wanting to change things but was too lazy to do anything about it. Since then, it’s been an exciting, painful, and gratifying journey.
I chose a bike and accessories on this game and kept the cost on an affordable repayment. I worked out that I could make the bike pay for itself if I cycle just over a hundred miles a month when I’ve only used a car. In the beginning, it still seemed a little farfetched.
I started off by putting the bike in the car and cycling a total of three miles in a day. At 21 stone, that was a real challenge. My new diet helped me shift the weight and cycling got a little easier. I was able to increase my mileage for the same effort. I then started to take the train for some of the journey, instead of the car and was riding about half of my 10-mile commute. In under two months I managed to cycle the whole commuting and back again in a day.
The feeling of freedom that cycling gives you, the weight loss results, the fear of failure, peer pressure, the friends I’ve met through cycling, my family, my late father have all been my motivators.
In the two years since I first got a bike on the Cycle to Work Scheme, I’ve ridden about 10 thousand miles, two thirds of those have been commuting miles. I’ve heavily reduced my particles and I’ve also helped the environment. I’ve lost 8 ½ stone in weight (119 lbs.) and become fitter than I ever could’ve imagined. I’ve found the new me. So can you.
If you want to connect with Toby, follow him in Facebook or Twitter.
https://twitter.com/FatCycleRider
https://www.facebook.com/tobyfield
Can’t find a bicycle that can support your weight? Visit ZizeBikes.com to learn about bicycles built for every body including heavy riders up to 550 pounds.
Watch this video of Toby Field to see more before-and-after pictures of his weight loss success story.