The Pic That Started It All, Gaz @ 34 Stone
Best, Mentor, Ever !
I Was Even Too Fat For The Government To Compute !!!!
At Around 35 Stone, The arms of the chair were removed so I fit, and lowered so it didn't buckle
Could I EVER Be Small enough to wear one of these ?
30 Stone Ish
My Formerself and I
Paul, Gordon Burns, Gaz
Not worn in 11 years
39 Stone "Runner" ?
39 stone cyclist, ermmmm cycling 
Gaz Up Werneth low
39 stone cyclist in Astana Team Kit
Flu Riddled
Team Radioshack !
Diggin The Gown "Gaz"
Pain Is Temporary...Quitting Lasts FOREVER.... DON'T QUIT
2 Years Later, YES I can become small enough to make it fit. LIVESTRONG
Radioshack 2011 Jersey
Team Radioshack
Manchester to Blackpool 2011 Gaz in christie kit
I want my own medals now !
Typical Gaz, at the head of the peloton
Hey Buddy!
What a fantastic blog! I’m well impressed. As an overweight, unfit, ageing guy myself, I’m following (with some trepidation) in your footsteps.
Inspirational.
Thanks.
Mark
Hey Mark
Thanks for the comment, GOOD Luck, if you need anything, just ask and i’ll do my best to help.
PLEASE Keep us updated
Gaz
Came across your story on the BC website, what you have achieved is remarkable.
Allez Gaz !
Thanks Rich
I Really do appreciate your comments
Gaz
Wow! I have a friend that had the same problem… he lost around 125 pounds but then the moral collapse. now he has regain some but I am doing my best to support him.
Keep going my friend you are the whole world his awaiting you now!
Cheers!
Thanks for the comment Michael, its appreciated
Gaz
i found your blog from your signature link .
well done, you’ve succeeded at a mammoth task and you’ve seen through an armstrong-esque personal challenge. it’s a massive achievement, congratulations.
Thank You
Thank you very very much
Gaz
Awesome stuff, you’re an inspiration to us all.
I found this site through a link on the Bournemouth Daily Echo’s cycling blog.
Thanks Man
Appreciate it, Boutnmouth eh ? Thats a new one on my radar for traffic here.
Happy Holidays
Hey,
You’re a real inspiration. I’ve been gaining weight over the past 7 years and finally decided to do something about it.
I’m eating right and walking a lot but I wanted something else to do as well and I think cycling is it.
Keep up the good work.
JB
Thanks Man
Cycling saved my life, I’d ALWAYS advocate it
Good Luck
Gaz
you would not think that is the same person in all those photos, for what you have achieved it shows you truly are an incredible human being that shows that anyone can achieve anything in life it seems, well done
Thank you Kevin, your far too kind
Gaz
Thanks, good luck and always happy to provide bike piccys
I’m curious – with that exercise PLUS the fumes from the traffic PLUS the stress, certainly at an early stage, surely your heart attack risk increased?
Did you follow any eating plan eg Raw Food Diet etc?
Missed opportunity: you should have brought out a Fitness Video…for men.
I have gone from having chest pains walking to the loo, to eing able to push my body through pain and suffering for hours and not get any chest pain, Im probs OK in that department
Missed opportunity ? why missed ? nothing stopping me doing it now ?
Gaz
True but if you had a clip showing your first cycing efforts then another say 6mths later etc then people could see the transition, even go with you on it whereas if you do it now then you’re klinda the ‘finished article’.
damn yeah, I know, I’ll gain 25 stone, then I can do it :0)
I did once – seriously! – think of doing this i.e. getting incredibly overweight and then making the dvd etc but I didn’t do that because a) I am not famous and b) the health risk (plus the cost of the extra eating…but getting tax relief on doughnuts…hmmmm)
But!
an idea.
Now you are a bit famous, become a Personal Trainer and use the ‘I did this, look at me’ approach and find someone very overweight and…help them lose weight AND bring out the dvd.
You are your own advertising hoarding!
Plus, even if you fail, everything you do now you can claim against tax!
Someone’s going to make money out of :
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1360704/Aged-just-17-40-stone-How-Georgia-Britains-fattest-teen-LOSING-14-stone-fat-camp.html
I soooooo want to get a job helping and motivating overweight people lose weight.
I took a step on this road yesterday and now its a case of seeing how it develops
Know any production company’s ?
Well funnily enough….I can put you in touch with someone who has been looking to run a business that does deal with overall health, well-being etc etc etc
Send ‘em my way
[...] [...]
Hi Gary
I came to your blog after seeing the article about you in Cycling Active.
I cycled regularly up until about 8 years ago, not being the smallest of guys before (about 17.5 stone) I’ve now ballooned to just under 24 stone. The strange chest pains and gastric problems have just started and the lethargy has been here for years.
Today I go back out on the bike. Your blog has inspired me to get back out there and to ditch the lifestyle before the lifestyle ditches me…….I might even start blogging
Thanks Gary
Well done Stuart
I cant begin to tell you how proud of it makes me feel to inspire other people and then for people to come here and tell me about the journey they are about to start, its crazy, really is.
So what I am trying to say, LOL, is thanks very much for coming here and sharing and GOOD LUCK, feel free to stick around and keep us all updated.
Gaz
Hi Gaz, Firstly well done, I think we may have chatted on the CW web site.
Like you I was big, well not your size but 21 1/2 stone, I’m now about 13 stone and cycling up to 300 miles a week!
My weight gain started when I was 11st 4lb (5ft 10″) and was told I was diabetic, over 10 years I ballooned up to 21 1/2 Stone, I was on 1000 units of insulin a day to control it. I was offered a life line of a Gastric Bypass for diabetics, cured my diabetes and gave me an incentive for life.
I did the L2P last year and am doing it again this year but the long way round. If we do it next year then your welcome to join us?
Good luck and keep it up.
Dude WAY TO GO for turning it around like that, Kudos to you, keep it up
My own tribute blog continues…
http://gazzasblogs.blogspot.com/
Really hurts the nuts, cycling though. Prostate seems numb….too much information?
Did I read a weight gain ?
Sadly, yes. I work from home – it’s difficult to discipline yourself foodwise and not become anal – and unhappy.
However my aim is to a) lose weight and b) get superfit – but (b) not necessarily causing (a).
I don’t think the exercise is going to lose me much weight – but cutting out chocolate, alcohol, biscuits etc will.
The key is to have small objectives. (You do that superbly, here)
And then achieve them.
My weight problem is nothing like yours once was BUT my age makes it more serious, perhaps.
So come on then, what business are you involved in and how’s the career (change?) going using your huge achievement to earn you money?
I bet it damn hard, working from home to get the discipline TBH I’m not sure I could control my weight and work from home …….
I’m not looking to make huge amounts of money, I just want to work in the field of cycling, I love it so much that I want it to become part of every bit of my life, getting qualified as a ride leader is simply the first step on another long ass road.
What brand you do use?
Hi Mary & Gaz,
A year ago I was turned down for removing the excess skin and was advised you could only have the op if you had sores from the loose skin or it was affecting you psychologically, the last bit being the clue.
Go back to your GP and tell them how much it is depressing you and they will refer you to counsellor who will decide.
I have found that 2 years on from the op that at even 51 my skin has shrunk back remarkably with just a small lose bit left of about an inch, my waist now is about 33/34″, apparently the younger you are the greater the chance of it recovering.
HTH
WOW Thanks for the tip, truth be told it IS depressing me, I have an appointment on Thursday, will see what I can do .
thanks again
Mary, it seems like you have already got a willing proposer, I had to do the same thing for when I wanted to come off 6 injections a day and a 1000 units of insulin, the consultant made a special application for funding saying that when it gets his approval it is virtually guaranteed.
Gaz, make sure you shout load and clear about how it is making you depressed, you really need to be shouting from the very top.
Best of luck both of you.
Well, I have my chance at trying to get my point over tomorrow, lets hope It goes well.
[...] Originally Posted by MacReady http://theamazing39stonecyclist.wordpress.com/ Got to be a repost and it's a little cheesy but.. ace! very impressive http://theamazing39stonecyclist.wordpress.com/pictures/ [...]
Gaz, you are an inspiration. I have known for ages that im obese but i started cycling four weeks ago today, around two weeks ago people started saying “have you lost weight?” so today i took the plunge and weighed myself 23.5 stone…….. Also this be my weight or something with the seat binder?
now that i have started cycling i think there is no going back, one day i hope to get down to around 15/16 stone…..
Warmest regards
Martin
awesome to here mate, well done and keep going, once you have that momentum going, there really is no turning back
Thank you for the response, half my message to you did not come out. I was wondering if you ever had trouble with your seatpost slipping down all the time, as mine is…… I cant keep it at it’s set height for more than say 5 Minutes. So was wondering do you think this could be down to my weight, or the seat binder ( hence the garbled bit in the message).
Kind regards
Martin
I think you have a dodgy seat post bracket, mine ever slipped, even at over 34 stone TBH
OMG, I am so impressed by your weight loss. Great Job!
Thanks very much
Gaz
Well done mate, thats an awesome achievement . That is some discipline
Very kind words Kevin, Thank You.
Gaz
Legend. Fair play to you my friend that’s and phenomenal achievement. Well done. As one cyclist to another, start wearing a helmet ASAP!
Legend ? Who ?
Helmet ? Whats that ?
Thanks for your comment tho dude
I’m sure its never too late to congratulate u on your amazing achievement so very well done. I myself am 6ft 4inches tall and about 25 stone. I currently hoping and praying that my place of work bring back the cycle2work scheme asap as I’m dying to get back in a bike. As a larger lad (well I’m 30 so not a lad) I worry about what bike to get that wont be destroyed under my weight. Any tips? (The cycle to original scheme is run through halfords so anything they have that u can recomend would be great.. I’m looking at the Krakken)
Again massive well done and if i can do half as well I’ll be prob the happiest I’ve been in some time
Thank you, always appreciate it.
at 25 stone, any none budget, hard tail MTB will be fine for you mate
Good luck and keep us updated
Gaz
What an incredible achievement. It makes my half stone loss and 18 mile a day commute cycle (not cycled in 17 years since a kid), look so paltry. Simply incredible.
Weight is hard to lose, so never say that your own achievements are any less than anyone else’s, well done !!!!!
my auntie told me she met you the other day and told me all about your website so i thought i would check it out , i cant believe how much weight you have lost with your will power you must have the patience of a saint . im 20 stone myself at the moment and ive been dieting for nearly a month , cant wait to loose the weight like yourself u look a lot happier !!!
good luck with your weight loss, trust me, you will be so much more happy
Gaz
Wow, incredible! I’m only looking to loose 3 stone and I was finding it hard enough, but you are a real inspiration! Thanks for writing this, I cant wait to get out on my bike now tonight.
Thank you very much, how did the bike ride go mate ?
Congratulations on your achievement. You are an inspiration to others. Thanks for the blog.
Awesome! As a sportsscientist i’m very proud of you!
!
Greetings from germany
Thanks timo
Gaz
Fantastic result. Followed the same journey myself 2 x’s. Was 145 kgs back in the early 1990′s completed an ironman in 1995 and weighed in at 89 kgs on the day. Recently (December 2008) I weighed back in at 125 kgs, now compete in cycling again at 83 kgs and competed in a UCI tour, 5 days in January 2010.
Remember 50% is exercise and 50% is in the kitchen. Great job you have done.
Truly inspirational. I come from a cycling background, rode nationally, did IM tri’s then my wife died and all I went from winning to having no motivation and weight rocketing. I’ve entered IM Majorca 70.3 next year and you have given this once elite bikie, with all the best coaches, the inspiration he needs to go and do it. Thank you.
Ah, heliums balloons attached to rider and bike = easy weight saving
(referring last pic…red and white balloons)
Keep up the good work, you’ve made amazing progress!
LOL – Thanks dude
Good work! It proves it can be done.
Thanks dude
Absolute class story pal. Werneth Low ain’t the easiest to get up from either side
Not easy sure but bloody worth it :0)
[...] [...]
Gary this is an amazing story. I’m a GP and a veteran (in several senses of the word!) of about 6 Etapes & 3 Marmottes etc. etc. but I have never seen anyone, fellow cyclist or patient, achieve the transformation that you have. Well done, you’re a real inspiration and I’ll be using your story to try and get a few more bunters out there onto the road!
Thanks Doc
I’m glad you are impressed and together, maybe we can inspire some of your patient’s to follow my lead and get out there and fix the problem on the road ?
It inspires me to think that if someone came tosee you for tips on weight loss that you would suggest a visit here TBH
Any plans on any further Etapes ?
Gaz
Probably a Gran Fondo next year – waiting to see what our bunch will be up to.
Sounds good to me :0)
Two Words, JUST FANTASTIC.
2 more, Thank You :0)
Gaz
I would just like to say what an inspiration you are and well done. I am well impressed its a shame your a Man U fan thats the the one thing you have done badly Ha Ha Jim
We all have our bad points
LOL
This is a fantastic result! I thought I had done well by getting my weight down from 16st 7onz to 11 stone 12 onz since retiring in June 2010 but your result knocks mine into a cocked hat. Flipping brilliant mate! Well done.
Gary,
Saw this on the CTC site and what a wonderful example of triumph and determination this is.
On a cycling note what advice would you give to those who want to go down a similar path? What should be the starting distances and how should you go about building it up, week by week?
I know everyone is different but it will give me some guide if you could advise on this , please?
cheers
John
Hi John
It really does depend on your starting point
At 35 stone- a mile a day was the best bet for a Week then ramping it up .5 a mile per day after worked well
Let me know and I’ll try and help some more
Gaz
Hi Gary
Just read your article in the MEN. Inspirationall. Do you think i could achieve good results on the gym bikes as wary of road cycling.
Gary
Anyone who eats less and moves more can achieve what I have – it doesn’t matter what instrument you use to help you !
But that said – it’s too easy to ” not ” go to the gym after a long , hard day at work
Where as if you cycle to work , then you can’t say at the end if the day that you ” can’t be bothered ” if you still need to get home!
Either way I wish you the best of luck
Hi Gary
my plan was to start with 10 mile a day for a week and then step it up each week. I eat quite well but my problem is I can’t stand going to the gym. I, therefore, do no exercise. What I want to know is , will that be a good start?
cheers
John
Bloody eck !10 miles a day to start would be really good
Go for it if you believe you can manage !!
I’ll give it a go and if I can’t reach that immediately I’ll set that as a first target. Thanks for your kind word, Gary.
cheers
John
Your welcome dude , good luck & keep us updated
hi gary
well done on the weight loss,only problem now is you fit the man utd shirt.when it may not be the shirt to wear after sunday, lol.once again well done on the weight loss.
Are we a bitter-blue-nosed-bertie ???
:0)
no. lol.i”m a claret & blue from turf moor.so no axe to grind with you big boys.it was just my attempt at a joke.sorry.
Ahhh a Dingle LOL
Being fromTodmorden ive spent many a night at Turf Moor.
Hi Gaz,
A great story forwarded by a friend and hopefully will inspire me to get off my ass a bit more. I have just bought a new road bike and really enjoy mountain biking aswell.
I struggle off road in particular due to my weight (currently 138KG) and lack of CV fitness.
I also aspire to find some road gear that will actually fit, but hopefully as I get smaller that will be possible.
Did you have any particular training regime, or just cycle as and when you could?
Mr-T
Hi mate
Congratulations and choosing to change
My training routine can be found here
http://theamazing39stonecyclist.wordpress.com/2011/04/03/my-commuter-cycling-training-routine/
Let me know of that helps ? I’ve followed that from day 1 ( but increased the length and difficulty as I’ve gotten fitter and slimmer )
Aero tech are good for larger cycling jerseys . Hot up a google search :0)
Gaz
Thanks for the reply, just had a chance to read the whole story etc after looking briefly at work earlier.
I will do some googling for Aero tech, thanks for the tip, I bought some Pearl Izumi stuff in the USA a couple of weeks ago that kind of fits although I decided I look like Giant Haystacks in the bib shorts.
I think the turbo trainer may be the best option in the winter for me as I can’t really commute to work as one of the places I go every other day is 65 miles away.
Once again congratulations and I will let you know how I get on.
65 miles is a good commuate mate :0)
Turbo’s are good for winter/recovering from injurys but can turn into a borefest TBH……its good to get you going for sure but long term set your target on that 65 miler, it might seem like a dream now, but alll dreams CAN come true !
Good Luck !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The other office is only 10 miles which is easily cycle able. The weather plus stuff to take to work and back are the pain (laptop etc etc). It is Monday Office A, Tues B, Weds A, etc etc.
Weds Cycle to office A will be the aim.
I’m pullin yer leg dude
I started with just one mile followed by a 45 min sleep :0)
Take baby steps but make them grow into giant strides and you will be fine
Good luck
Gaz
before i seen u was seeing a GP about excess skin did you ever get this looked at or sorted?
Hi mate
Sadly not, my GP/PCT said the funding is not there to help me with it.
thats a shame is there any other methods they have said that can reduce the skin? or is it just a matter of time through exercise?
Sadly, with the amount I have, the only option for me, is surgery and I cant afford it via Private means (£10-£15k)
But I’ll keep up hope !
Wow what an amazing guy well done gaz . A true inspiration to us all I nw want some of ur determination to do what I need to do and motivation well done
hi i have a lot of weight to lose what bike is sutable thanks
Hi David
I posted this last week
http://theamazing39stonecyclist.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/am-i-too-heavy-for-bike-xyz/
It’s a rouge guide but will give you an idea of bike type of bikes can take what weight for you to then chose from.
I’m happy to help further if you want to give more details (weight, goal weight, type of cycling you want to try, area you live in such as hilly, flat, busy roads etc etc etc)
Gaz
hi im 35 stone my goal weight is 20 stone type of cycling is off road nothing to heavy though, i will be riding on roads tracks and there are some steep hills. i have been on a few rides about 18 mile long but the bike i have is no good having trouble with the wheel bearings and spokes. i sed to ride a lot before i put the weight on but not sure what bike will be best anymore thanks
At that weight, your looking for a Giant Yukon, Mongoose, Rockhopper, GT etc bike, New they will set you back around £300-£400
Used half that (Approx of course)
Good luck and keep us updated
amazing…….wish i had ur willpower…alex M
Thanks but im nothing special, anyone can muster the will power to do what I did, if they want it enough
an amazing feat; willpower, determination and hard work. very impressed.
Thanks very much
Awsome work Gary – you are a proper inspiration for 2012.
Thanks Jim :0)
excellent post I’m a big cycling enthusiast from Denmark
Hi mate,
firstly, i wanna say a big congratulations on all you’ve done so far, and i hope you achieve all your goals in 2012!
the only thing that worries me is that in some of your photos (esp. in recent ones) you aren’t wearing a helmet whilst cycling. Having read what you’ve gone through, it’d be a great shame to see it all go pear shaped (touch wood though).
also, i think it might be nice to make a page on here showing the bike’s you’ve owned?
keep up the good work!
Hey Doc
As helmets off little/no protection over 16 mph and I tend to average 18mph, there is little point in me wearing one
HOWEVER as I now have a snazzy helmet camera, since the start of 2012 I have been wearing a helmet every day
re the bikes, I did have a page , it was a prtty long page tho LOL
:0)
Dude, you are f*****g awesome.
Far too kind
On one of the pixs you was using a bike trainer, i have thought of one for my MTB but was unsure if i have to replace the back wheel as its the old nut kind not the quick release is it best with the quick release system or do u think the nut kind would be ok? and well done on all your doing atm
You might be OK. Be’s try thing to do is take a ride to your local bike shit and have a go at hooking it up there:)
Well done only problem the man utd shirts lol ha am from Leeds ha and way 30 stone ish how did you go about weighing yourself cause I struggle to keep track without weighing myself say 1time a month????
Leeds scum: -)
only joking, regarding weighing, in the early sagacity couldn’t, the best scales I got were only upto 28 stone, so I took pictures and started my blog as a way to upload them and watch my progress, it’s now grown into what you see Today
All the best
Your transformation is truly amazing and inspiring! I look forward to reading more of your blog and following you on your journey. Blessings!
You are inspiring hundreds of people. Its amazing what can be achieved with some dedication. Brilliant story and good luck being that front rider! Love the comment you made about when you cycle to work at the end of the day there is no escape from the ride home! Sooo true! Where as with a gym you can just not be arsed. All the best.
amazing. and on a bike (I own four and they keep me sane).
A truly amazing story , one that gives hope.
You made my day.
Awesome to hear, thanks
Wow, a truly inspirational story. It took real guts and determination to achieve what you did. Here’s hoping it inspires many others to take up cycling. Personally, I love my road bike. A 30 mile bike ride beats going to the gym any day!
Thanks man