Watching a Friend Battle Cancer—and His Own Diagnosis—Helped This Cyclist to Lose 168 Pounds
Age: 44
Occupation: Small Business Owner (pedicab and bike bars)
Hometown: Galveston, Texas
Start Weight: 375
End Weight: 207
Time Cycling: 30-plus years (2 years more seriously)
The bicycle has been with me my whole life. I grew up overweight, and I was even given the nickname “Porky.” The bike was everything, but once I got a car, I stopped exercising and gained weight through college.
Eventually, I attempted to go on a diet with a friend when I was 20. I dropped nearly 150 pounds, but I was barely eating and knew this wasn’t the way to go, so I started to study diet and exercise.
Somewhere in there, I jumped on a bike and started riding. In the mid-90s, mountain biking was taking off, and I jumped in. I was lifting weights like a madman and learning to ride. I wrecked constantly as I was always going for it—clipped in. Eventually I just wanted cardio, so I started riding on roads. That first bike I had got stolen, and my brother bought me a Bianchi Veloce.
By the age of 27, I was fighting depression—my cousin went missing on a bike ride and I had lost my job—so I was back to overeating.
I eventually ended up in Houston, 18 years ago. There weren’t many options for bike lanes, and I had too many close calls with cars. Those close calls, coupled with stress and life, made me to stop riding. That mentality lasted and the weight gain continued until about two years ago. I was about 375 pounds, a size 48 waist about to buy size 50, when I realized things needed to change again.
Watching one of my best friends, Big Steve, in his battle with brain tumors inspired me. I put in the time and effort to turn my health around. For that year, I dieted and took time to get out of the house. I started just walking 15 minutes at a time, and would come back and do 20 toe touches, working my way up to walking 45 minutes and doing 100 toe touches.
Some days, I couldn’t do the whole workout or depression crept back, but I would wake up and start renewed the next day. From there, I started to set goals and then reassess, morphing and feeling out what works for my body, eventually getting back on the bike.
Then, in January of 2019 I was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which brought my training to a standstill. Taking time off from exercise and lifting made me realize that I needed a new routine.
In March of 2019, I was down to 230 pounds and had the cancer removed. In May, I could start riding again. By July, I rode 154 miles across Texas for my birthday to celebrate the end of chemo and to show my son that his Dad was back.
Once I got down to 215 pounds, I got back on my old Bianchi road bike. When riding 100 miles became too easy, I upped it to 150. Now I’ll do 200 in a day, and my next goal will be a 300-plus mile ride.
I worked to rebuild my shoulders, mostly using resistance bands and high reps, focusing on form. I learned core strength is key to everything, including posture and alleviating back pain. As a middle-aged man, I learned recovery is key, too. It’s important to take rest days and time for your body to rebuild.
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I eat a high-fat, Keto-based, diet, modeling it off surfer Laird Hamilton. If I mess up, I wake up and start over, I don’t beat myself up. And I start the day with a 20-ounce glass of water. Staying hydrated throughout the day is key. Ever since my cancer diagnosis, I’ve been on a quest to get all my minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins from whole foods, which turned out to be easier than I thought—I’m the veggie monster.
I love cycling. I love the freedom. It always reminds me of being a kid again. The breathing is rhythmic and so addicting to do with a road bike. Now, I’m into mountain biking and the flow and rollercoaster riding. I also live on a beach, so when I don’t have time to get to single tracks, I ride on the beach.
For anyone who wants to start, here’s my advice. Go slow at first! Create a habit—just get to the gym or just get out of the house, even for a 15-minute walk. Finding motivation to ride and just getting out of the house is key. If you can’t ride or your body is sluggish, take the day off, do something else. Find what works for your body.
Cancer stopped me in my tracks, but now I’m clear and appreciate life even more. My mind, body, and soul just need the bike.
Jill’s House is an assisted living and memory care facility started in honor of my cousin Jill Behrman, who went missing while riding her bike in 2000. You can read more about the trial here and donate here.
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