HOW CYCLING CHANGED MY LIFE...
Richard Chilvers, 48, wanted to defeat depression and lose weight – going by bike was the best way to do it
Heaviest: 14st (88.9kg) Now: 12st (76.2kg)
WHAT WAS YOUR LIFESTYLE LIKE BEFORE CYCLING?
“I struggled with depression and anxiety. I wasn’t drastically overweight but like a lot of men my age I had put on a bit of a ‘spread’ over the years and was having trouble losing it.”
HOW HAS CYCLING CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
“I basically turned a hobby into a way of life, lost two stone and four inches off my waist. It did wonders for my mental health too. In addition to cycling to work, which is 11 miles there and back each day, I now ride longer distances twice a week. I’ve got a collection of bikes now and I’m massively into cycling holidays, riding in Spain whenever I can. Before the weight loss I’d never have done any of the activities I do now.”
WHAT’S HELPED SHED POUNDS AND BOOST PERFORMANCE?
“I find that cycling at low intensity is great for burning fat – I’ve got my body fat percentage down by 10 points. I always have a Plan B in case of bad weather, that’s either turbo training or just doing a spinning class, which is great cardio. Also really good nutrition and healthy eating are essential, I use Herbalife H24 products to get that right balance of macro and micro nutrients.”
WHAT HAS CYCLING HELPED YOU ACHIEVE?
“I’m in a much better place now when it comes to the anxiety. Cycling is therapeutic and challenging and I always feel so much better after I’ve been out on my bike. I’ve done Ironman triathlons and I ride with a group called the Rock Estate in the UK, and a Spanish group from a cycle shop called Cyclogical whenever I’m there. Recently, in one week, I did a 40-plus-mile mountain bike ride, a 50-mile road bike ride and then an 88-mile road ride, plus my commutes.”