Cycling surgeon ready for slice of American pie

Cycling surgeon ready for slice of American pie



Dr Chris took ‘physician health thyself’ to heart and lost more than 12 stone – now he and his daughter are ready for 3000-mile US journey.THE ten steps leading to spectacular views from the Great Wall of China had Dr Chris Oliver completely defeated.



Puffing his way around one of the wonders of the world, frustrated and angry at how his 27-stones bulk was holding him back, he knew something needed to change.Motel Deborah Long Sleeve christianlouboutinshoes in Black.“I thought, I’d rather be dead than be the way I was,” he admits. “I couldn’t get up ten steps without being exhausted. I was so unfit.”Ten steps today, however, pose no problems for the superfit cycling surgeon. For he has a much bigger distance to conquer, one which just five years ago would surely have been impossible.



Early next month, the orthopaedic surgeon at Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary will arrive in Los Angeles with his daughter Catherine, ready to embark on a staggering 3415 miles trans-Am journey, from east to west, all of it on a bike.On the way, father and daughter will tackle the intimidating Rockies and the searing heat of Death Valley, they’ll pedal across the Midwest and soak up the glorious scenery of the Great Lakes.Jovani designer backpackfactory and celebrity style evening gowns. A final thigh-burning push will take them over the Appalachian Mountains before coming to an end in Boston, Massachusetts.



It’s a breathtaking endeavour, made all the more remarkable to think that just five years ago Chris was barely able to walk upstairs without getting out of breath.Even more amazing is that he’ll be doing it – burning up at least 6000 calories a day – while still restricted by the life-changing gastric band which dramatically curbs just how much he can eat.It means that while Catherine, 22, is looking forward to enjoying extra large American portions on her way across the States – vital fuel for the 80 to 100 miles they’ll be covering every day on their bikes – Chris, who is left feeling full up after the smallest of snacks, will be desperately trying to take in the calories to see him through.



“I know I’m going to have trouble managing to get the calories I’ll need every day,” says Chris, 53. “At the moment, I’m struggling to eat more than 1000 calories a day – 6000 is going to be really difficult.“The main problem I’m facing is not so much worries about injuries or climbing up the Rockies, it’s running out of energy.”



The consultant trauma orthopaedic surgeon underwent gastric band surgery in February 2007 after his weight soared to more than 27 stones, leaving him struggling to move. He was so large,Wholesale diorhandbags Online 2011 Free Shipping. his blue surgical gown had to be specially made in a 2XXL size to fit his 56-inch chest and waist.It was a far cry from his younger years as a medical student, when he ran marathons and enjoyed thrilling action-packed sports like kayaking and white-water rafting – all sidelined as his work demands took over.



Acutely aware of the health risks he was facing, the doctor – whose body mass index was 50.6, twice the recommended level for a man – made several attempts to diet down the years, only to become increasingly frustrated as nothing seemed to make much difference.



“I couldn’t get diets to work,” he recalls. “It was around 2006 when I went to China for a business meeting and ended up at the Great Wall of China.“I was so unfit that I couldn’t manage to get up ten steps.Designs louisvuittonborse sale Free shipping !”Back home, he organised surgery to have a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band fitted. The inflatable silicon belt-like device fits around the top of his stomach, creating a small pouch which greatly reduces how much food he can eat at any one time.



Within months he was on his way to shedding more than 12 stones, transforming him from ticking health time bomb to being unrecognisable to patients, many of whom still arrive at his clinics expecting to see a far more rotund figure.As the pounds melted away, Chris rediscovered a fresh love of activity and exercise, in particular, cycling.



Today, he is one of Scotland’s leading cycling champions, has pedalled across the country, taken part in a series of triathlons and even biked from Lands’ End to John O’Groats in 19 days during 2009 to raise money for charity.However, it’s his latest venture with Catherine that is his most impressive – and intimidating – yet.“I met someone who’d cycled across America last summer and I liked the sound of it.Can I trust buying a nonwovenbag online ? The problem wasn’t so much whether I felt I could do it, it was getting time off work,” he recalls.



“Once I realised I could get the time I said I’d do it – and Catherine decided she’d like to do it, too.”For Catherine, who is studying environmental geography at university in York, cycling is a change of sport. For years she was more likely to be found rowing at international level than pedalling.



However, her training for the gruelling road trip on two wheels has been slow to start – she’s just back from a six-month stint in Fiji for marine research and diving with sharks. “It’s difficult to train in Fiji other than swimming,” she says.



“But rowing and cycling actually sit quite well together, they’re reasonably similar in that you use similar muscles for both. So I’m not too worried about it.“I know there will be bits that will be quite tough, but I’m confident that I can keep going. I’m sure I can do 100 miles easy.”



Father and daughter are breaking up each stage of their journey into 80- to 100-mile stages, cycling for six days a week with a single day of rest, and spending nights in hotels or hostels along the way.





“Life these days is too easy. We get food too easy and it’s too easy to jump in the car rather than walk or cycle.“I knew what I could do when I was younger – I ran marathons and went kayaking. Having the band was a tool to help me change my life and to help me realise I could go back to doing all that great stuff.“But if I can do it, anyone can.”

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