Emma Luck - one woman on a two-wheeled mission to inspire women to get into cycling!

In 2008 at the age of 27, Emma Luck from East Sussex suffered a minor burst blood vessel to the brain, a condition which had huge life changing implications. Read her story below:

‘I’d always been a slim, fit, confident woman, enjoyed being active and sociable and loved horseriding and playing Stoolball. The burst blood vessel left me with speech problems and frequent intense migraines. A combination of the effects of the condition and medication I was prescribed lead to weight gain and depression – so severe I felt suicidal. My relationship broke down and I felt I was on a downward spiral. I tried every diet going, only to end up developing an eating disorder, where I’d binge-eat in private.

I moved out of the house I shared with my ex-partner and got a place of my own. A few months later I met Neil, who loved me for me, despite my size. After six months we moved in together, but there was still something wrong. I still wasn’t happy and kept wondering, surely things should’ve changed by now?

January 2012 was a major turning point. I’d seen a picture of myself and couldn’t believe how big I was. One day at work I got chatting to a colleague (now one of my best friends). It turned out Louise was a personal trainer and specialised in weight loss training. I poured my heart out to her and she offered to help. She advised me to see my doctor before starting an exercise and eating plan, so that’s exactly what I did. On the morning of the appointment I did the dreaded weigh-in, 20 STONE 12LBS – I burst into tears, surely I couldn’t be that big! I was adamant that was going to be the last time I would ever see that weight. The doctor advised me to do the British Heart Foundation eating plan, designed to help you lose weight sensibly and to teach you to portion control.

But I needed a goal and decided to tackle the British Heart Foundation’s 2013 London to Brighton Bike Ride. That gave me over a year to lose as much weight as possible.

In the first week I lost half a stone and was thrilled, and after four weeks I’d lost over a stone! I found the diet easy to stick with and never felt hungry. Louise checked in with me every week, to check progress and give me encouragement and support.  

By July though I was watching Neil and his friends go out on their road bikes but struggling to get motivated myself. The headaches were still there, the depression started to resurface and I started panicking. I was prescribed beta blockers for my migraines and decided there was no way I was going to let myself go downhill again.

So where am I now?

I began doing more and more miles on my mountain bike. I started a weight loss social group at work – we have 12 ladies and 4 men in the group losing weight and doing brilliantly. A couple of them are also getting into cycling.

To date I’ve lost a total of 8 stone and 6lbs!

I decided I wanted a road bike, and in April I took delivery of my Specialized Dolce women’s road bike. Riding my road bike for the first time was a feeling that I will never be able to put into words. Not only was I scared that this lightweight frame was carrying me, but the feeling of whooshing through the lanes with the sun on my face was just amazing. I felt like I could have cycled for miles!

That's me, Emma Luck, a 21 stone, overweight depressed woman, who is now happier than I’ve ever been, losing weight and clocking up the miles on a road bike, keeping up with the men!’