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A Slow Start

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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14 Comments

  1. Laura is Undeterrable

    Last year during marathon training we ran on Springwater every week. We saw deer all the time. We were always on the look out for mountain lions. I haven’t been brave enough to bike commute to work yet. I work downtown but live on the west side. I’m mostly terrified of riding downtown. Too many cars!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Mountain lions! Wow! I had no idea they were around Portland.

      Yes, biking downtown is terrifying and I hate it with a passion! But I take the Springwater to the esplanade, over the Steel Bridge and then I only have about 5 blocks of downtown that I have to bike in.

  2. Esther

    I read above that you had a small glass of chocolate milk when you got home from your ride. My trainer told me to think about having a small glass of chocolate milk for recovery after returning home from the gym. I never thought about it because it sounds counter-productive. Thoughts?

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I’ve been drinking chocolate milk as a recovery drink for years now and I love it. A lot of the time I can’t eat something right after I work out, my stomach doesn’t want food but I know I should have something. I use a small glass (not a pint size) of 1% milk or nonfat with a little bit of chocolate sauce. It curbs hunger and gets me through to the next meal.

      What I’ve read is that chocolate milk is good for muscles because it has a high content of glycogen, which rebuilds the muscle tissues. It also has protein, vitamin A and D which help bones and muscles.

      1. Esther

        Hmmm okay…would you recommend white milk with chocolate sauce or already mixed chocolate milk?

        1. Lisa Eirene

          I mix my own. Simply because it’s easier and cheaper. Buying premixed is expensive and it takes up a lot of space. And I don’t have a full serving of it.

  3. Lisa

    Your handlebars are so pretty! I’m impressed with the job Michael did! Many years ago, I bought an old bike and spent (really wasted) a bunch of money (more than the bike cost) on replacing the tires, getting the chain greased up, and getting the handlebars re-wrapped at a bike shop.

    The obsession with cottage cheese must be contagious! All of your pictures of it have made me want it.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Michael does a great job with our bike maintenance and stuff! It helps that it’s his hobby and he seems to enjoy it. I love my new handlebar colors.

      That’s too bad that you had to spend so much on fixing up your bike. I bet it was really nice after that. Oh, and it’s time for me to buy new tires. I’m dragging my feet because it’s going to cost at least $100. 🙁

      Cottage cheese is great! I’m having it for a snack this afternoon too. 🙂

  4. Lori

    Nice ride! We see lots of wildlife around here on the paths (and sometimes the roads). Deer, ducks, geese, foxes, porcupines, woodchucks and lots of birds. We saw a bald eagle one day.

    I wish I burned that many calories riding. I burn about 35 calories per mile. Guess that’s what happens when you are approaching the mid 40s (eek!!)

    1. Lisa Eirene

      That’s cool! I forget that you are kind of rural, I bet you see lots of stuff.

      How fast do you usually ride? And are there hills? My commute has some hills that aren’t HARD but they are steady and get my heart rate pretty high. Or you’re too efficient on the bike! That’s like me in the pool–it’s so easy now I just don’t burn the calories I used to.

      1. Lori

        I’m too efficient. We have *lots* of hills and I average 12.5 mph for most rides. It’s age, too, unfortunately 😀

        1. Lisa Eirene

          “Too efficient” sucks! That’s me in the pool. Sorry to hear that!

  5. Diane Fit to the Finish

    We just don’t have a great place to ride around here so I am limited to neighborhood roads. We do often see animals when we walk though – coyotes, foxes, and deer sometimes.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I’ve never seen a coyote or a fox in real life.

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