If so, I have a been involved in a bit of a OU project in order to take it further we’d like to ask for less than 5 minutes of your time
We thank you for your time.
I’m aware that I have not posted anything here for a while , well that’s all about to change, Lance Armstrong has taught me a thing or 2……..For now , i’ll keep quiet, just know, its about to get stormy.
An open letter to the NHS & Jeremy Hunt
Readers of my blog http://39stonecyclist.com know that I am someone who REALLY wants to make a difference to people in the world who are suffering from obesity or eating disorders.
For new readers, I’ll be quick, I was 39 stones (546 Ibs), I cycled to work I DIDN’T have a weight loss operation, I am now 13 stones (182 Ibs), I was on TV for the removal of excess skin as the NHS wouldn’t fund it, I am now an Anti Obesity Crusader.
I am always happy to tell people that over and over again in the hope that the next time I do it will save someone’s life, in the fashion that I saved my own.
It’s been 4 and a half years since I started my own journey, I have been through a lot in that time.
Two and a half years were spent losing the weight, there were accidents, weight gain, broken bikes, broken dreams (albeit only temporarily ), battles, tears, joy, being at rock bottom, building myself back up.
For the last 2 years, I have kept a stable weight of between 13 and 14 stones, there have been eating disorders and not just my Selective Eating Disorder, accidents (a theme maybe). After the rebuilding came the adding of polish, becoming a more than accomplished cyclist, public speaker and multi award winner.
But through it all, I kept grounded and humble, people tell me all the time how much of an inspiration I am, but I don’t get carried away. I’m more than aware I’m just a former fat bloke from up north with all of the usual failings, faults and issues that everyone else faces in a day to day battle with modern life. It’s just that one day I fell in love with the humble bicycle, I set up a blog to keep myself going, that then turned into a blog to keep myself on the straight and narrow by helping others. But it’s nothing no-one else couldn’t do with a bit of planning, thought, application and a bit of good old fashioned will power.
Last year I contacted the Government, The Shadow Health Secretary, The actual Health Secretary and the Department of Health, I pointed out my story, not for personal gain, but to simply say that the NHS needs to look at prevention, needs to look at other ways of beating obesity, throwing Weight Loss Surgery at someone as soon as they walk through the door DOESN’T WORK, Sadly my offer to help was met with a DEADLY SILENCE, so I guess I now have nothing to lose with an open letter.
I was approved for the surgery and the first thing I did was research EVERYTHING about it, the risk, the reward, the success rate etc etc.
That lead me to one place, Obesityhelp.com, an American portal for everything obese, be it Gastric Bands, Bypass, Duodenal Switch or my method, the only thing we ALL had in common was a desire to get better, a desire to no longer be morbidly obese.
I signed up, I was in the minority, being English, I had to learn to talk in Pounds not Stones, I had to learn a WHOLE new culture but to be honest, it was so immersive that it worked, I found out REALLY quickly that being successful wasn’t down to what operation you had.
For it was easy to “Cheat” any of the Weight Loss Surgeries.
The ONE thing every successful person on that site had in common was that they used the tools they were given and worked hard.
The tools could have been Surgery, or like me, a bike and a bit of inspiration.
The other tool everyone needed was their head, for obesity is a MENTAL HEALTH problem and until you fix what makes you over eat, an operation or a bike or whatever, won’t help you in the long run.
THAT I BELIEVE IS THE REASON for the 5% stat. Only 5% of morbidly obese people lose weight naturally and keep the weight off.
So why are the NHS still trying to fix mental health issues with physical operations?
I believe I have the key to that; it’s simply a lack of understanding.
I offered the Government et al the keys to fixing the pandemic that is sweeping the nation, I as one man can’t fix it, but put me in the right place, with the right access, responsibilities and funding and obesity rates WILL stabilise , stagnate then REDUCE.
Sure it’s a bold claim, but I have lived it, I know the mind of someone who has been SUPER SUPER MORBIDLY OBESE.
The way we fix this is by getting SMARTER, by starting with prevention and then by motivating people to put right the CAUSE of the obesity they are suffering from before we even attempt to think about looking at what that obesity has caused.
If you fix the cause, you fix all the co-morbidity issues and there is also a reduced need for things such as excess skin removal etc, honestly, all we need to do here is be much smarter.
So, NHS, Government, Mr Hunt, Or any Private Healthcare Provider, if you REALLY want to stop this ticking time bomb, I’m available on wearyellowcommuter@gmail.com , I cant change the problem on my own as one lone voice, but I want to make a REAL difference in this world, I know its achievable, all I need is your backing. If you want this problem fixing, I’ll await your contact.
End of letter.
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But Dear Reader, you can help too.
The link below is an online form to the Department of Health. Copy and paste the above letter onto the online form and click Submit.
http://www.info.doh.gov.uk/contactus.nsf/memo?openform
Do the same with the Jeremy Hunt The Secretary of State for Health at huntj@parliament.uk
And Andy Burnham the Shadow Secretary of State for Health at andy.burnham.mp@parliament.uk
Also you can find your own MP’s email address here: http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/ whack in your Post Code and that will bring up your own MP and contact details. Email them this letter too.
This is not a Party Political Issue even though it is a Political Issue, hence the cross party emails.
For my readers across the world, please bombard your political representatives with my letter above. Every little helps.
As we all know, the only thing Politicians are interested in is weight of numbers in an issue and votes, so please take the trouble to do this!
Let me know via the comments section of my Blog if you do take the trouble to let our leaders know that we want change and we can help!
You’re all brilliant supporters and I know that you are all fighting your own fight pretty much with your own will power or a small circle of supporters or through blogging. Just think what WE could achieve if we had a Global change in attitude!
As Margaret Mead famously said
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Thanks for reading,
Cheers
Gaz
This week I have been involved in a “Calendar Girls” style charity calendar to raise money for the North West Air Ambulance Service.This service, as some of you may have experienced, offers vital , life saving support in the harshest terrains that we have to offer, it costs £4.2 million per year to run.
As such myself and 11 months worth of cyclists have come together to do something to help raise funds to keep this vital service in the air.
You can now preorder the 2013 Calendar featuring myself and others in “Calendar Girls” style poses, with a comedy element for some of us too, on the following link.
http://britishlion11.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/bikes-and-bodies-calendar-countdown-pre.html
& As a teaser, Check out my Promo, of course, the actual calendar will feature me & others full naked……
Nort West Air Ambulance Shoot.
(This isnt what you think)
See 3 years ago I started to cycle & for the first 6-8 months, it was just that, cycling to lose weight, cycling to work, the bike was just, well, erm , a bike , in the comer of my living room no less.
Oh that hair, oh the SHAME of it.
Now, it was around this time, that I discovered what cycling REALLY meant to me, it started to enrich mylife , save my life and make me live for live.
I’d never really heard of a cancer survivor from Texas called Lance Armstrong but around the time this was taken, he announced his comeback, I was starting to immerse myself in the cycling community and couldnt help but hear about it, in turn research it and the rest, as they say, is history.
Approx 30 months ago, I started to wear a LiveSTRONG Band, it’s the same one I have on today and I have NEVER EVER Removed it, it was there when a van drive hit me, when I slipped off on ice, on the nervy comeback rides, throughout my job interviews, at my therapy , when I was smashing PB’s, achieving goals , I dont normally think like this, but that band saved my life, every time it got hard on the bike I looked down and couldn’t help but get inspired by it to push on through the pain and suffering, all from a bi of yellow rubber.
I owe my life to LiveSTRONG, Lance Armstrong and Cycling, for that reason, my LiveSTRONG band will never get removed from me, regardless of any allegations
Riding With A Pro-Cyclist
Last week, I got to ride a few miles with a pro cyclist, now, out of respect for his privacy (& the fact he wasn’t permitted to ride this day due to an injury) I wont say who it is, nor what the route was, so I’m sure some will disbelieve me but hey ho.
I was on my Single Speed, with a rucksack and baggy coat, he was on a Di2 Dura Ace Dogma, in full kit, we rode together for around 5 miles before he turned off and went for some SERIOUS hills, I , Sadly had to go to work.
BUT it was the proudest moment of my short cycling time on a bike, by the last mile, we were both REALLY turning the screw, it was uphill at an average of 4%, the result was a NEW PB for any single mile, regardless of bike.
For in that last mile, we averaged 26.4Mph, over an average gradient of 4%………WOW……
Not bad for a pro that shouldn’t have been out riding as he was ordered to rest because of injury and a former fat bloke on a Single Speed !
Movember Update:
Looking nicely like a 1970’s Texas Serial Killer now !
I’m A Loser Baby !
I said a few weeks ago that I wanted my trophy back , well after receiving a HUGE amount of nominations, I was told this week that……..
I wasn’t even short listed, ah well, there is still the Olympics to aim for .
Shusssssh…..
I have been posting less frequently in the last few weeks and that trend will continue for a short time longer too, for I have 3 REALLY critical exams, 2 of them have been passed and the 3rd is not very far away now, its taking up all my time, effort and energy, so don’t worry, I’m still here, still churning out the miles ( 300 miles so far in Movember), if all goes well then within a few weeks, normal service will be resumed, it’s at this time of the year, when miles decrease and food becomes plentiful that I always worry about my weight, I’m still just hovering under 12 stone 11 pounds & so long as I keep a CLOSE watch on things, I am hoping to get through this winter unscathed.
While NOT QUITE at the conditions above !
It’s official – The Sun has set on yet another year of cycling, for this weekend I put away all my team kit and got out the thermals.
On Monday morning, boy was I glad I did. my Garmin said it was -0.3, I was dressed in:
Oxford “Chill-out” thermal base layer pants (With Lycra pants over)
My Thermal Astana Top
but the REAL gem I have discovered, is my merino wool base layer top, talk about keeping me toasty warm !!!
Last year, I was wearing upto 6 layers as I was THAT cold, while the temp last year did drop to Minus 15, I don’t feel that I’m gonna need so many this year due to my good quality base layers !
During long, hard, hot , summer training rides, I tend not to perspire much, check out what my merino base layer did in 9 miles at -0.3
The great thing being it “Wicked” away that sweat from me, leaving me feeling warm, fresh and dry.
At £14.99 my base layer is cheaper than wearing 6 layers :0)
So for all of those who have heard about, but not tried merino wool , I say this, “Just Do IT”
Road Signs
During discussion with a colleague at work, it was decided, that there are a HUGE number of road signs on our roads currently , many redundant too, here is a comedy take on some of them.
Movember Update:
First off, Cancer, its a bitch and one day, this bitch is gonna get whats owed to it, having now discovered that not one but TWO family members are suffering with it, today I wake up to the news that ‘Smokin Joe Frazier has passed away after suffering from Liver Cancer !
So Fck you Cancer, Gaz and his army are coming for you !….Starting with making my face look nice and stupid for Movember !
Cancer-Killer-Gets-Serious(face)
Be the first to sponsor me and I’ll give you a personal mention in the next blog post I write….now there’s a deal !
https://www.justgiving.com/39stonemovember
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Sky Ride , a campaign to get one million more people onto their bikes by 2013
…..My bike gave to me….6 P U N C T U R E S
Ok, it’s not Christmas and it wasnt just one bike that caused me some woes this week, but you get the idea.
On Tuesday alone I racked up 3 punctures, Thursday night I was a mile from home on my SS and I got a puncture, so I decided to pick up the bike and jog, I’d had enough of inner-tube changing at the road side and its been while since I last jogged.
I made the cardinal school boy error once I was home, I changed the tube and blew it up WITHOUT checking the tyre…PSSSSSSSSST…..ARGH…..then I spent 10 mins checking the tyre and there was nothing in it, that I could find anyway…..ohhh the joys :)….Would’nt change it for the world !
The only bike that didn’t give me a puncture was my MTB 🙂
My Olympic Dream, Picked up by the media:
This week I had a couple of photo shoots and , by the end of the week, had hit at least 4 newspapers (3 national ones)
One of the photo shoots
Click the Picture for one of the articles
The articles are pretty much as you would expect really, there are a few anomalies but on the whole its good and lets just hope that it helps in some way with my “Olympic Dream”
hopefully next week, I will have some good news in regards to an award im listed for and a race that I might be taking part in, so stay tuned.
If you a book publisher reading this, then get in touch, if I get to carry this torch, what a final chapter in the awesome story it will be to write and publish !
Thanks to Paul over on Fat Cyclist and the articles that hit the web, we have had around 7000 extra visitors in the last 2/3 days, so, I thought, as opposed to them having to go through all the site, that I’d make a video to sums things up with regard to me and my journey….As always, turn your sound on !
9/11/11 – We must NEVER Forget !
Finally, 10 years later, we must NEVER FORGET !
….Many things and people, time to rewind…..
Transformation Moment ?? …In order to see what’s actually been transformed we need to take a look back & not just at the physical side either. Most readers here, will have seen this picture MANY times.
But it doesn’t tell the FULL story, the story of:
NO Confidence
NO Self Worth
Self Loathing
NO Direction in life
A TOTAL Lack of belief in myself.
Today, however, I am:
Brimming with confidence, to the point of it over flowing
I KNOW What I want in life & How I will get it
I LOVE the personality I have grown into
The Statistical Changes:
Before: After:
Waist 68-72″ Waist 30-32″
Weight 39Stone 13Lbs . (560 Pounds) 13 Stone ! (182 Pounds)
Shirts 26″ Collar or 8XL 15″ Collar or Medium/Large
BMI over 70 BMI 22
Resting Hear Rate OVER 130Bmp Resting Heart Rate 36 BPM
Miles Cycled ZERO Cycled over 18.000 Miles
I checked my weight loss by wrapping I now check my weight with scales
my fingers round my wrists….
THATS A Transformation moment , But how have I changed not only the outside but also, what’s INSIDE too ?
Without wanting to sound like I am blowing smoke up anyone ass, there is a long list:
Lance Armstrong – Taught me that the ONLY way to train was at 110% & when you are done and you think its all over, give 150% then 200% & Dont EVER EVER Stop until your body wont allow you to carry on
LiveSTRONG -Taught me that NO MATTER What the odd’s against you are, YOUR future is in YOUR Hands (Or legs)
The Biggest Loser – Taught me something I could never have believed had I not seen it myself – Obese people CAN work out and workout HARD !
Meat Loaf – Taught me to love Grid-Iron , In Turn I love the San Diego Chargers – In turn they inspired me to lose enough weight to wear a Jersey !
You see where I am going here, every turn in life, there is inspiration, we all look at it in unique ways, you do what YOU need to, in order for it to work for YOU !
I have been told that I am an inspiration to others & that humbles me !!!!!! I have also been told that people are willing to donate in order for me to fulfil my dream of not having excess skin, well, there is a button at the bottom of this post, if you donate then THANK YOU !, If not, don’t worry, If you have a business and want a corporate sponsorship deal , leave a comment (I wont publish it) with your details & we will take it from there.
My journey is finished from a weigh loss point of view, however I am here now to stand tall and inspire others.
EDIT: The Paypal dontate button isnt showing, any tips ?
I have decided to declare this week as “FEEL-GOOD Week”.
Things round here have been ultra focused in recent times, now, its time to enjoy it, look at what inspires me, look at what/who inspires others.
Oscar Brogden, is someone who I have know for approx 12 years now & someone who I class as a good friend and a great person, for those that don’t know him, allow me to explain:
WHEN a bicycle gets broken and chucked away, it’s a great idea to . . . recycle it. And that’s just what Oscar Brogden has done with an astonishing 3,000 of them. Then Oscar, an engineer who’s a dab-hand at repairing bikes, has given them away to local youngsters.
Oscar devotes much of his spare time to fixing broken and damaged bikes that have been thrown away and are destined for the tip
Today, after a meeting , I caught up with Oscar, he told me that he was just a few bikes away from handing over his 3500’th !, that’s amazing and I take my hat off to him, I have never owned one of his bikes, they are for people in genuine need & youngsters. People who cant afford to pay for one, and that’s something in this day and age, that is just amazing !
Oscar, its been a pleasure knowing you for all these years, long may it continue, YOU are someone who has done more for cyclists and promoting cycling than I could ever hope achieve !!!
As I mentioned the other day, I am in the middle of refreshing my bike stable.
See, for a while there, I lost my way, I was so ultra focused that I became a PURE roadie and nothing else mattered, thing it, It lost a bit of the fun factor. This week, I have rode 4 different “Types” of bike, each one of them has put an AMAZING smile on my face, so, The stable ?
Its important to note that this “Refresh” has cost me NOTHING !!!
Enjoy this post and keep an eye out for an inspirational post coming up this week:
A few weeks ago I finished my FM015 build, and inspired by how AMAZING Team Radioshack are, I “Tarted it up” a little with some tyres and decals.
Turned out quite nice eh ?….Well, yes it did and I am sure the new owner will LOVE it (I DIDNT Make a profit or a loss from this project, but I gained a LOT of knowledge building it)
I rode a full canal commute on the repaired Planet-X Uncle John one day this week, damn that bike + mud = FUN !!!!
Then it was time for some Single Speed action on the Langster, this too was so much FUN, I managed a couple of 16.5Mph average commutes despite a relatively small GI , Sadly, Gaz the Bike KILLER Struck on Friday and the left crank became lose, being second hand, its one of those things, its not gonna cost a lot for a new one and I know what I am doing to sort it, so it should be back , ready for action next week.
This weekend, I did something that I didn’t think I would do again, I got a MTB and again, taking life a little less seriously, I had sooooo much fun down the canal and even up BHOD
So, for now, that’s the stable refresh done.
So that’s where I stand, no more “Just road bikes” for me, it is, once again, all about the PURE FUN FACTOR.
Gaz
RideHARD
but
HaveFUN
Cycle Of Life - Fix You 
