How to lose 50 kg and become Russian champion: personal experience of cyclist Pavel Alexeev

cyclist, Master of Sports of the USSR, Russian record holder in the hour race

“In the matter of weight loss, and not only in it, the key factor is motivation. Without it, it is difficult to achieve results and maintain them, because achieving certain goals is always about overcoming yourself”.

Pavel Alekseev is a multiple prize-winner and winner of the USSR championships; bronze medalist of the World Cup in the category “Masters” in the individual pursuit race on 3 km; champion and prize-winner of the Russian Federation in the category “Masters” in races with a separate start, group races on the highway and track.

The cyclist is an example of willpower and perseverance. For the sake of health and return to sport he was able to lose 50 kilograms without the help of specialists. Pavel assures that on the way to slimness and good health no difficulties should not be higher than the desire. The cyclist shared his weight loss story with “Championship” and told what sports goals he is setting for himself in the near future.

The pursuit of muscles played a cruel joke

I have been involved in cycling since childhood, I was a member of the Moscow national team and even a candidate for the USSR junior national team, and I fulfilled the standard of master of sports at the age of 16. Due to many circumstances in 1992 I had to “quit” sports and look for a job.

Nevertheless, sport still remained in my life – it was at that time very fashionable bodybuilding, the key point of which is nutrition. Without the right diet, it is impossible to gain the necessary muscle volume, along with which fat tissue grows.

At that time there was not much information available about bodybuilding, but one thing was clear – you need to eat often and a lot, which is what I did for many years. My maximum weight was about 130 pounds. At that time I wore a size 60, so it was difficult to buy quality clothes.

Pavel Alexeev

I did not like it, but it did not interfere with my life, so I continued to increase my volume without thinking about discomfort and possible health problems.

The decisive factor in my case was not weight, but health problems, which over time began to manifest themselves more and more: high blood pressure, headaches and joint pains, heavy sweating. At the same time, I discovered that it was hard for me to get dressed, tie my shoelaces, drive a car and even walk through a doorway!

I did not pay much attention to this and was sure that my lifestyle was correct and healthy. And yet somewhere in my subconscious mind there was a thought that it was wrong, and especially the bad habits I had acquired.

The critical moment was May 10, 2014, when after a heavy meal I had an attack of gout, and my doctor informed me that now I would have to go to clinics all my life, take pills and sit on a special diet.

This information affected me like an ice-cold shower. Literally in a couple of days I made a decision that from that moment my life would change a lot.

The first thing I did was to give up bad habits, normalize my diet and introduce daily physical activity. Keeping a food diary and counting calories was key. I eliminated sugar and salt from my diet and added more natural products. Every day I walked 3-5 kilometers in the morning on an empty stomach. The main goal was weight loss. By that time I had stopped working out, but continued to do push-ups and work out on the bar.

Pavel Alexeev

It is worth starting, even if no one around you believes in you

I lost weight on my own, without the help of nutritionists. I studied all the necessary information in available sources, analyzed and tried it on myself. It was interesting for me to do it. I still keep a food diary, follow the news in the field of dietetics and the fight against excess weight.

No one supported me in the idea of losing weight. Many people did not understand why I was doing it – they liked my “old” body and lifestyle. At first I was even ridiculed and poked fun at, but then they were amazed at my will and results. Eventually there was elation and requests for counseling. The reactions of family and friends followed a similar pattern, but most of all they were happy that I finally gave up my bad habits.

I am now a role model in my social circle, setting a healthy tone of life and good habits, and my approach is working.

The triumphant return to cycling was by fate

I had no plans to return to cycling. My main goal was to change my lifestyle, lose weight and solve my health problems. When I was young, I devoted 12 years to the sport, and it was not so easy. Moreover, by the time my sporting career ended, I had a grudge against sport and everything related to it.

But still, I never lost contact with cycling. I regularly communicated with my colleagues, sometimes came to competitions and was more or less aware of what was going on inside. Some of my teammates didn’t quit the sport, they took their time riding and even took part in amateur races, which didn’t inspire me much, although the guys constantly suggested me to start training.

When I weighed 115 kilograms, for some reason I wanted to get on a bicycle, although I was embarrassed by the weight. Luckily, my comrades supported me and even helped me buy the right product and equipment. That’s when I went for it! To my surprise, I quickly regained my skills, remembered my youth and found that I was losing weight faster.

Pavel Alexeev

At some point I took part in an amateur race and even won it. This event was the starting point for my return to cycling.

I got to the right condition very quickly. My weight reached 78 kilograms, and with that I started wearing size 48 clothes. In the process, I changed my closet, social circle and even my job several times. In 2016, I achieved very decent results and took part in the Masters World Championships on the track in Manchester (UK), where I took third place in the three-kilometer pursuit.

Pavel Alekseev

The first victories finally inspired me to lead a healthy lifestyle

Now I train every day according to my own program. In fact, I lead the lifestyle of a professional athlete, actively participate in amateur competitions, and also have a good understanding of all the intricacies of cycling.

Now the question of losing weight is no longer on my mind, I maintain and manage my weight. Nutrition is fundamental to this process – it must provide energy and make up for the losses that occur during physical activity.

Pavel Alexeev

At the moment I continue to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, keep a food diary and cook from natural products, watch my sleep schedule, do not use alcohol and nicotine.

In November I set a record of the Russian Federation in an hour race. With this I summarize a kind of intermediate result of my new sports life in a new body. Now I plan to spend time to recover and realize the events that happened during this period. I will continue to train, but for now I will limit myself in competitions. I don’t exclude that I will take up coaching.

Convince yourself that a body without excess weight is extremely important and vital!