Just sharing a ride with you folks!

[BamaVenture06]

Saturday (9-6-2008 ) the wife and I headed out at 7 a.m. and met up with some of our motorcycling friends for a day ride. There were 9 motorcycles all total - 8 Harleys and us on our Yamaha Venture. It was overcast, damp and foggy, and there was a very light misting of rain. We all stood around talking, drinking coffee, and basically waiting for the weather to clear up a bit so we could head on down the road.

 

The mist of rain finally let up at about 8:45 a.m., but the sky remained cloudy and overcast, and a slight hint of fall was in the air. We saddled up our steel ponies http://images.obesityhelp.com/_shared/images/smiley/msn/horseback.gifand headed east on Hwy. 72 towards the Georgia line, then headed north up Hwy. 79 across Skyline Mountain, with the low rumble of the exhausts echoing through the crisp morning air. When we got to the top of the mountain, the fog was as thick as pea soup, and the temperature dropped several degrees. We pulled over so the others could put on their jackets, but I was actually enjoying the early-fall coolness myself, so I decided to leave mine in the saddlebag. Visibility was only about 100 yards, so needless to say, we took it easy and cruised along at only about 40 mph. We stopped at the only small mom & pop store on top of the mountain for a nice hot cup of coffee and some conversation, and to allow the ladies to warm up a bit. The lady who owned the store had fresh home-made fried pies - chocolate, peach and apple - for $1.00 each. Although they looked and smelled great, I was the only one who passed on them. The others thoroughly enjoyed them, and thouroughly enjoyed telling me how good they tasted. http://images.obesityhelp.com/_shared/images/smiley/msn/lol.gif After about 20 minutes, it was time to saddle up the steel ponies and head on down the backside of the mountain into Tennessee. We skirted around Winchester and rode on into Deckherd, where once again we stopped for a butt break and some more coffee, and to decide where to go from there. After 20 minutes or so of discussion, it was decided that we would take Hwy. 41 into Manchester and stop there for a bite of lunch. Manchester was about a 20 mile ride from where we were. By that time the temperature had risen to a more comfortable level and the ride along Hwy. 41 was really nice. The smell of freshly mowed grass hung in the air, and the locals stopped and waved as we rumbled by.

 

Once in Manchester, we stopped at a local Mexican restaurant for lunch. I ordered the pintos & cheese appetizer (about a 1/2 cup serving) and watched as the others scarfed down huge plates of tacos, burritos, Mexican rice, and chips and salsa. Needless to say, they were stuffed by the time we had to saddle up again, and were probably more suited for a siesta than for motorcycle riding. http://images.obesityhelp.com/_shared/images/smiley/msn/biggrin.gif Nonetheless, we fired up the steel ponies and headed towards Tullahoma. From there, it was on in to Lynchburg where we stopped so a couple of the folks could purchase some leather items they wanted. We strolled around Lynchburg looking at the other motorcycles parked around the square, the leather shops, and gift shops for more than an hour. Then, we headed back towards Fayetteville where we stopped at a gas station for one last cup of coffee and some conversation about the day's ride and events before saying our goodbyes. After the handshakes and hugs, everyone split up and headed on back to their homes. Another wonderful day of riding motorcycles through some beautiful country, the company of friends, and enjoying life was now officially in the books. http://images.obesityhelp.com/_shared/images/smiley/msn/cool2.gif

 

Ahhhhhh, ain't life grand? I know mine's soooo much better since I have lost 135 pounds thus far! http://images.obesityhelp.com/_shared/images/smiley/msn/thumbsup2.gif Ya'll ride safe now, ya hear!!

[86er]

Sounds like a great ride, Bob!

And congratulations on the weight loss!

 

 

[Gunruner]

Thanks for the story! I really enjoyed it..............Mike

[BamaVenture06]

Sounds like a great ride, Bob!

And congratulations on the weight loss!

 

 

 

 

Thanks! Glad ya enjoyed the story!

[BamaVenture06]

Thanks for the story! I really enjoyed it..............Mike

 

 

Thanks Mike! Glad ya enjoyed the story!

[Bob Myers]

Enjoyed the ride, almost as much as you did. Love riding in the misty fog!

Tell us about the weight loss, how long, what method, you know,, all the things nosey people want to know so they can try to copy you.

[YamaGeezer]

Wow - this really is an eating group with a motorcycle disorder!

[BamaVenture06]

Enjoyed the ride, almost as much as you did. Love riding in the misty fog!

Tell us about the weight loss, how long, what method, you know,, all the things nosey people want to know so they can try to copy you.

 

Bob, my this will be a bit long, but you asked for it. Hehehe!! I was in terrific shape, owned a gym, was a certified personal trainer, ate healthy amd did all the "right" things to be healthy. Still, I had 5 heart attacks in a 3 day span in 2002 even though I was in excellent shape, trained with weights, walked and exercised every day. Doctors said it was a "heredity" thing - "you can't choose your mama & daddy" as he said. I had to have a pacemaker and stent. My health went into a downward spiral after that. I was on 11 different medications, I had no energy and couldn't exercise, gained over 130 lbs., became pre-diabetic, developed sleep apnea, developed congestive heart failure, severe edema and swelling in my feet and legs, and several other medical probelms. It just kept getting worse and worse by the month, no matter what I did or what the Dr.'s tried. I was truly miserable, depressed, and had a very poor quality of life. The Dr.'s, both my cardiologist and family doc, told me that I needed to consider having gastric bypass surgery because it was probably my last resort to live more than another 2 or 3 years at the rate I was going. Additionally, I was told that with my heart history and the other problems, the risks were greater for me if I did have the surgery. Pretty heavy stuff (no pun intended) to hear from your medical experts.http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/forum/images/smilies/frown.gif

 

After some serious soul searching and many sleepless nights, I decided to have the surgery in order to try to improve the length and quality of my life. I researched bariatric surgery and surgeons like crazy and found a great bariatric surgeon, Dr. William Richards, at Vanderbilt. I had the laproscopic gastric bypass surgery on 4/28 and came through it great. I have since lost over 130 lbs. and feel like a new man. I am currently at 236 lbs. and still losing, although slower now, and should get down around 200 lbs., or maybe even less, according to Dr. Richards. Because of the weight loss surgery, I am no longer pre-diabetic, no longer have sleep apnea, no longer have congestive heart failure, no more edema, my cholestrol is great, and no longer have to take the medications. My energy level is getting better with each passing week. The weight loss has improved my heart health tremendously according to my cardiologist. I am also now able to walk the treadmill and weight train again, although I may never be able to train as heavy as before. I mostly use moderate weights now. Although it is a MAJOR life-long commitment and hasn't been without some major changes, I honestly believe it has been a life saver for me. All in all things are really looking much brighter for me and I am now able to actually live life rather than just exist. That is why I cherish every ride or trip the wife and I can take on the motorcyle now, why I truly appreciate being able to play a simple game of catch with my grandkids, and why I appreciate each and every day that I can just get out of bed and feel good and LIVE LIFE!! Like the old saying - "You don't appreciate what you have until it's gone." I thank God I got a second chance to know what I have and to truly appreciate it!

 

That's my story - sorry it was so long.

 

 

June 2002 - 3 months before my heart attacks - 230 lbs

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/BamaVulcan04/9b44.jpg

 

Feb. 2002 http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/BamaVulcan04/Bob20-20CUSmall.jpg

 

Me at 380+ pounds last Christmas

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/BamaVulcan04/100_1153Medium.jpg http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/BamaVulcan04/100_1154Medium-1-1.jpg

 

Me at 250 pounds last month

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/BamaVulcan04/Bob_R__CU_3_-__8-13-08jpg.jpg http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/BamaVulcan04/Bob_R__2_-_8-13-08_Medium.jpg

Edited September 10, 2008 by BamaVenture06