The Bicycle 15

A recent study and flurry of articles (see "Study: Women average 20-pound gain in 16 years, but don't have to") got me thinking about what I like to call the Bicycle 15.

When I started biking to work three and a half years ago, it was tough going. After being a pretty bad high school athlete and semi-active in college, I had fallen off the active living bandwagon and gained a good 20 pounds. But apparently, I didn't have to!

Initially my bike commute was just 1.5 miles to the MARTA station and another 1.5 miles home. I didn't see much improvement at that point - I was riding slowly and not going far. But once my commute jumped to 2 miles one way (I know, lucky me! I've always placed a high priority on living close to where I work) it started to make a difference!

Then my commute jumped to a whopping 8 miles one way. I confess to an ulterior motive for biking to work - this was the year I got married. When I went to try on dresses, I was two sizes smaller! I hunted around for a scale, and there it was - a number 15 pounds lower than what I'd weighed before I started biking to work.

The other part of the "Bicycle 15" for me is the additional time it takes me to get places. It really only kicks in if I'm going more than 3 or 4 miles. Under that distance I usually beat people to our destination if they are driving. Any speed advantage they have is usually negated by the additional time to park, or by both of us stopping at red lights and in traffic.

So there you have it - one woman's personal weight and wait history. Thank you, bicycling!