30/08/2012

Well - I never did get anywhere near my goal weight of 16 stone.

Still - down to 18 stone and something to build on I hope.

Week 19 (257lbs) | Loss +1lbs | Total Loss -15lbs

Right. Eventually got to weighing myself. 4 weeks later and I've put on a pound. I am very happy about that. I know I shouldn't be, and it feels wrong, but I was fully expecting to have put on 6-8 pounds.

Also kick started my training again. My cycling has been ticking along, but mileage had dropped. Weather has been bad and windy.

Today I went out on a 38 mile ride. But I really wanted to break 40, so I went further...totalling 42. Truth is, I had lots left in the tank....so I'm happy and totally know I can easily do 50 on the actual trip.

I'm not under any illusions it will be easy. There are much bigger hills in the Lake District than Essex...but we have all day to do 50 miles...I did 40 in 2.5 hours. So I'm very confident we could do 50 miles each day.

So - I'm glad I eventually got round to doing my weight again. I thought I'd probably just keep on not doing it and going backwards...but now I've done it, I'll get back on track.

Clearly I'm not going to make 16 stone - but Davey knows this - don't you buddy?

OK - Seriously now!

I have been lazy.

I will weigh myself this week. I know full well I've put weight on and I'm avoiding doing this. So Sunday morning - I'm on the scales and I'll take the hit.

Then I'll be back.

As you can see, I'm not very good at this weight loss malarky. Even when it was coming off it was coming off painfully slowly!

So I WILL be on the scales on Sunday morning and I will get back "in the saddle" next week.

I've Been Lackadaisical

I've not been sticking to my attempts. I kind of lost my way the last couple of weeks. I haven't dared weigh myself, but I reckon I've put 4lbs on.

On top of not eating properly, I've got my new bike and mileage has been down - getting used to the new seating position and ride.

I've also been avoiding the gym - though I am stopping the gym for the moment - I need to concentrate my exercise on riding the bike.

So I have to get back on the horse. I'll be watching what I'm eating this week. On top of that, I'll get some mileage on my bike - now I'm used to it (totally different gearing, seating position (it's a racer), it's a very hard ride (tyres at 110psi!) and gear levers/brake levers have been taking a little getting used to)

So this week, I'm aiming for 100miles in total - one ride of which should be at least 25 miles. I'll also be aiming to NOT snack...not at all. Breakfast, lunch, dinner - that's it.

So - here goes. I need to get back into it and stay there until August.

Week 15 (256lbs) | Loss -0lbs | Total Loss -16lbs

Weigh in 13th May

If you are reading this Davey - I have to come clean and say it looks unlikely I'm going to make 16 stone. I'm still going to try, but it's going too slow to believe I can make that weight in August. The only way it's do-able is if I lose 3lbs a week...and bearing in mind what past weeks have been - well...you're not stoopid!

Update - I didn't lose anything this week. I'm not that bothered because I know my best attempts at eating properly are at work - and I only had a 3 day working week last week.

Meant to add - I'm going to have a real attempt at getting into 17 stone this week. That's going to mean -5lbs - which I think you'll agree is an impossible task for me given my track record on this blog...but I'm going to aim for that.

Training this week is below:
Monday 07th May (bank holiday!)
16 mile cycle through Earls Colne, Great Tey and back to Colchester

Tuesday 08th May
7.2 mile cycle to work and back - giving my legs a rest today

Wednesday 09th May
7.2 mile cycle to and from work - weather is pants!

Friday 11th May
3.5 miles to work
20 miles home via Frating and Elmstead Market

Saturday 12th May
32 mile bike ride through Earls Colne, Halstead, Sudbury and Bures

Week 14 (256lbs) | Loss -3lbs | Total Loss -16lbs

Weigh in on Sunday 6th - and 3lbs down.
Total cycle this week : 107 miles

WOW. -3lbs and broke 100 miles this week.

Did a 31 mile bike ride today (Sunday) to Brightlingsea and back. 2 hours 30 minutes. I know there are no hills like the ones I'm expecting at the Lake District - but I'm getting there.

It was quite a tough ride. A couple of short tough hills but worse there was a considerable wind going, and a worse one coming back - along with some added rain. I was pretty cold. You wouldn't think it was bloody May!

Bearing in mind we may well be cycling for between 5 and 7 hours (although we're only doing 40/50 miles a day, the hills will extend the time in the saddle) I need much more time in the saddle. As my backside is sore from sitting on the saddle for two and a half hours, I really need to at least expect to double that!

Exercise this week :

Monday 30th April
3.25 mile cycle to work
20 mile cycle home

Tuesday 1st May
3.25 mile cycle to work
10 mile cycle home

Wednesday 2nd May
3.25 mile cycle to work
10 mile cycle home

Thursday 3rd May
3.25 mile cycle to work
10 mile cycle home

Friday 4th May
3.25 mile cycle to work
10 mile cycle home

Sunday 6th May
31 mile cycle to Brightlingsea and back

Week 13 (259lbs) | Loss -3lbs | Total Loss -13lbs

You know I should be happy with -3lbs - and I am, but I am so disappointed with my overall effort.
Nearly a stone lost. It's taken far too long to get here and I'm disappointed in my attempts now.

My commitment has been poor. When will I realise you can't lose weight through exercising...you'll just get tired, get bored of the slow progress and go back to eating - if not through boredom then through being so tired you just make the wrong choices!

I really need to get a grip now.

-3 is great for this week...but more comittment is required.

I've decided rather than have weigh in on Friday mornings, I'm moving it to Sunday morning. The idea behind this move is that currently because I weigh in on Friday, I have "free Friday" - but then I'm not being very disciplined at the weekend. So what's happening is I'm being good during the week, but I'm not watching what I eat Friday, Saturday or Sunday...and that's 3 days lost in a week...which puts me on catch-up Monday to Thursday for weigh in on Friday.

So the idea is to move it to Sunday so I'm watching what I eat on Friday and Saturday too. So I'm watching what I eat 6 days a week and not the 4 I'm doing at the moment.

At work, I'm being petty good. But weekends (and through in the Friday) aren't...so I'm on the back foot come Monday for my weigh in on Fridays.

So weigh in on Sundays from now on.

Lets see if it helps.

From an exercise perspective, I cycled 60 miles last week and 60 the week before. I'll be aiming for 50 miles this week with an additional 15 at the weekend.

I need to start trying to get some distance in a single day - so I'll be doing 40-60 miles during the week and at weekends doing a bigger ride, starting at 15 and aiming to get to 40 in one day by the end of July

Week 12 (262lbs) | Loss -2lbs | Total Loss -10lbs

This week will be the 13th April to 19th April with weigh in on the 20th April

5th week in a row with a loss - but only resulting in a loss of 7lbs in those weeks - it needed to be closer to 10.

2lbs loss. Happy with that. Of course I have some catch up to do - but there are plenty of weeks to make a dent in my deficit.

I've worked out that I resent these small losses because I put ALOT of effort (both cycling and watching what I'm eating) during the week...then I'm on the scales and lost 1 or 2 lbs and think "What the hell?" - but it's because I'm just not disciplined enough at the weekend. So I need to nail the weekend. We'll have to see what happens next Friday and I'll try desperately to stay on track at the weekend.

I need to get a plan up for training soon. I've cycled 50 miles in 4 days - of course I'll be looking at 50 miles in 1 day in August - so I need to start getting some longer bikes rides done.

This week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I went the longer route home - taking my daily commute from 7.5 miles to 14 miles. That's ok for during the week - but I'll need to look at weekend runs - increasing them from 3 to 5 miles a week...

The trouble I have is the pins and needles followed by numbness in my toes. It sets in about 6 miles and the longer the ride, the more often I have to get off my bike. I've had several people tell me (and read on the web) that (amongst other things) it could be because I'm wearing trainers. So I need to get me a pair of cycling shoes.

Week 11 (264lbs) | Loss -1lbs | Total Loss -8lbs

This week will be the 9th April to 12th April with weigh in on the 13th April

A short week so not expecting much. I have cycled a fair bit this week and been to the gym twice...we'll see.

I'm expecting more (much more) from the coming weeks as the light mornings and nights are now here - and that helps me with the gym

One thing I haven't mentioned I'm proud of - the gym. I have a tendency to sign up to the gym before Christmas and then lose interest into the New Year only to drop it - I didn't this time - I kept it ticking over and now we're coming into the warmer, brighter months means I'll be keen to keep going - so I've managed to work past my normally slump area and keep going - so I am personally chuffed about that.

We'll see what this week brings - but after this weeks weigh in on Friday is when I hope to see things really happen.

-1 this week. I wasn't "really" off holiday mode or out of Easter Chocolate mode - so I'm pleased with any loss this week...at least it's going in the right direction - but it does have to speed up a wee bit now.

-1lb a week. Not great. It needed to be -2lbs a week...so I have to play catch up.

Week 10 (265lbs) | Loss 0lbs | Total Loss -7lbs

This week will be the 30th March to 7th April with weigh in on the 8th

Well I actually lost a pound on holiday and I was very surprised about that as my self imposed chocolate embargo was over.

I know Davey is keen to see some movement - and so am I. I don't actually know how this week is going to go - but I am definitely getting into the driving seat proper next week.

The light evenings are here - so I'll be cycling more in the evenings instead of going straight home.

This week I was at the gym Tuesday and Wednesday and rather than cycle straight home on those days I went for a 10 miler each night...so hopefully that will help

I'm still in a bit of pain after I was taken off my bike - but I'm trying t work through it - hoping that exercising will "loosen" me up a bit.

Week 9 (265lbs) | Loss -1lbs | Total Loss -7lbs

This week will be the 23rd March to 29th March with weigh in on the 30th.

Well I didn't keep a food diary this week. I was knocked off track by being knocked off my bike. I haven't cycled all week and I haven't been to the gym once. -1 is probably all I could've hoped for given the circumstances. Actually - in truth - with NO exercise whatsoever and no food diary - I have to be pleased with that.

Well - in the Lake District next week. I'm not thinking I'll lose anything if at all...but I'll try and peg it back by doing alot of walking and I'll try and manage my food by trying to just be sensible. Not two or 3 of anything - but ONE!

Back on it when I get back next Saturday.

Week 8 (266lbs) | Loss -2lbs | Total Loss -6lbs

This week will be 16th - 22nd with weigh in on the 23rd

So I need to keep a food diary everyday this week. I can't go into month 2 having lost 5lbs or less...I need a big hitter this week...and I'll need to take that forward each week.

I'm going for -7lbs. I can stomach a -12lbs loss in 2 months...I can.

Taken off my bike today (22/03) - yippee. Luckily nothing broken though I did feel like breaking something.

Well - not the 7lbs I hoped for. Kind of dissappointed as my jeans were feeling considerably loose this week - 4 trips to the gym, cycling everyday...

So what was wrong with last week (I find these little self reflective moments rewarding - though perhaps I should pay a little more attention to them)
1. Saturdays lunch - cheesey balls - really?
2. Sundays breakfast and snack - NO!
3. Tuesdays tea
4. Strawberry tart

Funny thing is - if I was to post here what I was eating prior to doing a food diary - you'd see how I became 20 stone! Yeah - there were a few spots last week of weekness - but no chocolate or crips during the day - no big packet of crips or Maoams, no family bars of chocolate, no cakes - those are all things I ate regularly - IN BETWEEN my meals!

So yeah - I'm a little down about -2lbs. And it grates me how easy it is to put on weight and how incredibly difficult it is to shift it.

Still - it IS -2lbs...so onward.

Unfortunately next week is my last week before I go on holiday - so hopefully I can shift some weight knowing there's a distinct possibility of putting it back on...but if I use that as a focus then hopfeully I'll only put on what I've lost...NO DAVEY - I'm NOT going to go on holiday and try to lose weight!

Oh - and a little side note. I was looking at the Wii Fit today - and my weight has been up and down between almost 20st 7lbs and 18st since 2008 - each year dipping to 18st and then creeping back up...so it's imperative I break that cycle.

And a final note - March 2011, I was 20st 5lbs - this March I'm 19st dead...I'm leaving on that positive.

Week 7 (268lbs) | Gain +3lbs | Total Loss -4lbs

This week will be 9th - 15th with weigh in on the 16th

mmm...not good. Missed 9th, 10th and 11th - in that I can't remember what I had. I need to do a bit better at the weekends. Hopefully Monday to Thursday will be enough to get me out of trouble.

I did go to the gym on Saturday...so that's a plus I guess.

Gutted. +3 today.

So...lets have a look at what went wrong....
1. Alcohol on Saturday
2. No food diary Friday, Saturday or Sunday
3. LOTS of cake on my birthday on Thursday
4. Too much bread and too much butter and too much cheese

Having looked at it that way perhaps I should think myself lucky I only put on 3 lbs...but that's not how I'm looking at it. I'm looking at it as a missed opportunity to carry on the good job I did the week before.

So what have I learned for future food diaries? Cut down on bread - definitely cut down on butter - no birthdays until I've lost weight - and most importantly - KEEP THE FOOD DIARY EVERYDAY!

Week 6 (265lbs) | Loss -5lbs | Total Loss -7lbs

The way these posts will work is the week will have my weight loss and  a post about general stuff...comments will contain my daily food diary. I drink Pepsi Max at the weekend and tea during the week - tea has skimmed milk and sweetener. I'm off alcohol.

Oh - and one other thing...it's my birthday on Thursday and I'll be having birthday cake and a pizza...so I will be weighing myself on Thursday morning instead of Friday. That hasn't given me a great deal of time to lose much - but I will be back properly on Friday the following week for a proper weigh in.


Totally over the moon with this week. 6lbs down in 5 days. For normal weight loss, not good - but when you have 50lbs+ to lose, 6lbs is good.

I'm very glad I decided to write down what I've eaten - it has really made me think about any snacks I was having.

So I'll continue in this vein hopefully. This week was a short week because today is my birthday - so I wanted to weigh myself a day early, get out and get some birthday food and get back to keeping my snacking down for next week...lets hope it's still a loss...there's been a fair bit of cake today!

Week 5 (270lbs) | Loss 0lbs | Total Loss -2lbs

No Loss!

Ok - I can't hide it - I am disappointed with that. I'm disappointed for several reasons...

1. I started the week off bad with the weekend - I hadn't eaten with ANY sort of discipline at all...jam doughnuts and snacks in the night whilst watching a movie will not help

2. Even though I knew about the weekend, I racked up 60 miles on the bike last week AND I went to the gym 3 times in the week...

3. I felt like I had lost 3 or 4 lbs - just the way my trousers felt - I just felt a difference - and there wasn't

But at the end of the day - I'm just not doing enough. I have 56lbs to lose - and I need to...well, I was going to say "try harder" - but if I'm honest - "try" is what I need to do - to say "try harder" suggests I tried - and I didn't really. Sure I'm exercising - but I can't do that on it's own and see a difference.

So - with that said - I'm going to do something else that I was deliberately avoiding - I'm going to do a food diary blog. If for nothing else than to make me aware what I'm eating. But more so to try and embarrass myself into not pigging out on crap...I really don't want to post up here that I've had 3 chocolate bars and a family bag of crisps or 3 jam donuts and a plate of ice cream or whatever the "fancy of the day" is.

I've gave up alcohol (2nd week) and I've dropped chocolate - I should have seen a difference last week.

So I'll be starting a food diary on here tomorrow. There will be no flouncing around and no "extra info" - nothing except what I've eaten and when.

Lets see if I can't stop being a tube and start acting like someone who cares.

Week 4 (270 lbs) | Loss -2lbs | Total Loss -2lbs

Week 4 then and 2 lbs lighter. Not a sterling attempt, but at least it went in the right direction this week. I am slightly dissappointed with myself because I ate salads at work in the week - so it was "other times" that got me. Only got myself to blame.

I was at the gym Saturday, Monday and Thursday and cycled every day to work. I didn't do a bike ride last weekend...I could use thew excuse that I had DIY to do - and I did - but I had time, if I'd wanted, to fit a 10 mile ride in.

Going to the gym on Saturday knocked me out - I don't normally go to the gym on a weekend because I tend to have a wee drink on a Friday...but as I wasn't drinking, I woke up and thought I might as well go to the gym.

I have my gears to sort out on my bike, so I will be going out on it this weekend. They're the bane of my life! I've had nothing but trouble with them and not knowing the correct way to adjust them, it seems I tend to make them worse than better. But I've seen some videos on Youtube and I'll give them another look this weekend.

I hope for a better try next week with the weight - it's down to me - no-one else will do it - I know that.

Trouble is - I love exercising. Once I'm out on my bike or at the gym, I love it...it's just actually getting there - I always have other things I like doing. And unfortunately, one of them is eating.

Anyway - -2lbs - I'll take it.

So lets try for 4lbs this week. Lets see what I can do if I actually really try.

Week 3 (272 lbs) | Gain +1lbs | Total Loss 0lbs

Well - don't say I didn't tell you.

Sometimes I don't know whether to laugh or cry at my attempts to lose weight (and I use the word "lose" knowing it's obviously not the right word). I did know this week would be bad (thanks Taff (jk - no one to blame but me!)) so I'll take it on the chin (one of them at least) and carry on where I expected to be.

However, as I said in my previous post I've made some changes which come into effect now - tonight being the first Friday I haven't had any alcoholic drink. And that's the first Friday of many. I did say the next drink I have will be a well deserved beer in Newcastle - and I meant it.

Also, I'll be out on my bike tomorrow morning. The first of many weekends where I will do at least 10 miles. Once the brighter evenings come in I'll be able to shift the 10 milers to the week days and start lengthening my weekend journeys, creeping them up to my target - 40 miles.

I'll also hit the gym next week. I'll go for a couple of mornings and see how I go. I may stretch that to another day, but tbh the cold early mornings kill me. Besides, cycling to work everyday, 2 or 3 10 milers a week and a longer one at the weekends will be enough exercise.

So - 3 weeks in and no weight change...which puts me 6lbs behind schedule. I'm not worried - are you? :-)

I'm very much looking forward to getting out on my bike more...I need to do the weekend 10 milers just now and when the light evenings turn up I can move those to the weekdays when cycling home.

I am not finding it comfortable at the minute though. I seem to be constantly adjusting my seating position - pushing my arse back on the saddle...like I'm moving forward. I know that shouldn't be the case - but I don't know if it's the saddle or my seating position or the bike. I need to get to a bike shop and get some advice.

Also, something I want to try is cleats - but I don't want to buy them and not get on with them. But I realise from a cycling pov that they would help immensely. So maybe the bike shop would have a set I could try.

Anyway - I'll be here next week posting my weight - which will be under 270 lbs.

Week 2 (271lbs) | Loss 0lbs | Total Loss -1lbs

Bit late with this...I was away for the weekend.

Could do better.

Well, snow was all around so I did 0 miles cycling last week - choosing to get a lift to work instead. Niether did I go to the gym.

No excuses tbh - I could still have lost a couple more pounds had I watched what I was eating - which clearly I did not.

This week will be rubbish too. A heavy weekend of drinking with the Six Nations Wales v Scotland game at my welsh mates and it'll show on the scales. I doubt even a lb is on the cards for this week.

However - there is a chink of light...

I'm finished with alcohol now - no more weekend drinks. On top of that, it's the start of Lent next week and my daughter wants me to give up chocolate with her.

Also I've managed to kick Pepsi Max. 6 tins a day and then another pint or two at home in the evening and 6 litres over the weekend is probably too much!! But I'm down to 0 litres - drinking tea instead.

Add that together with the snow clearing away and it getting warmer - so I'll be cycling to work all week and I'll squeeze in a couple of gym sessions this week.

So I'm confident that after this week, things will improve - considerably.

Week 1 (271 lbs) | Loss -1lbs | Total Loss -1lbs

Weighed myself on Friday (and it shall be the day of reckoning from here on in)

I didn't do what I needed to do and I knew it. A combination of cold, feeling rubbish (since Boxing Day I've had a horrible cough) and (more importantly) lack of self discipline meant I didn't meet my very achievable target of -2lbs

I only lost a l lb...probably through luck more than anything as I didn't try really. I had one visit to the gym and cycled 4 of the 5 days to work (I was on a business trip the other day). Had I not snacked the loss could've been in the region of 3 or 4lbs. A trip to Wales on Wednesday (one of my gym days) for business didn't help

I've got another tough week ahead. The Six Nations rugby tournament started so alcohol takes it's toll. With alcohol comes lack of eating discipline (like I need help there!). Also I'm at Wales next weekend to see my buddy... Also the snow is here - so no gym tomorrow or cycling. Hopefully it'll clear away by Tuesday

So - I've made a couple of decisions that will hopefully help -

1. Give up chocolate for lent. Cathryn (my youngest daughter) wants to do it and wants me to tag along - so that's step one - no chocolate from 22 Feb - though I'll hopefully get a grip of my chocolate addiction before then
2. No alcohol. After my wee Wales trip - I'm cutting the alcohol out. The next drink I have will be a very well deserved session in Newcastle in August.

So hopefully those two steps will help me get to where I need to be.

I do need to get more focussed on going to the gym - but it's bloody difficult getting out of bed at 6:20 when it's freezing, knowing you're going to cycle in the dark and cold (very cold at the moment) to the gym. Once I'm at the gym - it's brilliant and I get on it - but getting there is difficult.

One thing I do know helps is packing my rucksack the night before - if I do that, I generally get up and get on my bike.

So there's week 1 out the way. Not great, could be worse, can do better.

The Weigh In (272 lbs)

So - start of "it".

Weighed myself on the Wii Fit - 19st 6lbs (272 lbs)...so I have 3st 6lbs (48lbs) to lose in  24 weeks - which is 2lbs a week.

Potentially I could lose another 6lbs before the start of August - but we won't go getting ahead of ourselves, eh Davey boy.

2lbs a week. Do-able - for me? We'll see. <- nothing like confidence eh? But don't forget I have been attempting this for a decade (though obviously not actually being very dedicated about it apparently!)!

Anyway - I am actually looking forward to a little bit of discipline (something that I have been sorely lacking in the last 10 years).

So - here goes. Weigh in Friday 3rd Feb...and a slimmer, trimmer 270lbs :-)

Welcome

Hey

So this is my first ever blog. I've never really been interested in doing anything like this but as an extra incentive to achieve my objective, I decided to do one - to "put it out there" so that I stay on track.

What objective?

Well - I've been commuting to work by bicycle now for 3 years - and some time ago, I decided I wanted to do some longer cycle routes...but I've never really done anything about it - having the biggest distance I've done come in at around 25 miles.

So then I discovered the C2C Cycle Route - a route that takes you across some of my favourite countryside - The Lake District. It goes from Whitehaven in North West England to Tyneside in North East England across the Lake District and the Penines for a total distance travelled of 140 miles (which I plan to do over 3 days - what? There are some BIG hills around there!!). So I bought the C2C Guide Book and it inspired me to do it.

Now I was going to do it myself, but Sharon (my wife) suggested I invite my friend David Blackmore to do it with me. When we discussed it, he said he'd do it - on the condition that I lose 4 stone. I should inform you now that I'm a rather hefty 20 stone and have been for some time...and it's recently been fluctuating just under and just over that.

I should also mention here I'm not sure if he wanted me to lose the weight because he was too embarrassed to be seen with me, whether he was concerned for my health or indeed whether he was concerned that if I didn't lose the weight, he'd be completing it on his own! Regardless - I agreed - and this is one of the reasons for the blog - to post on here so he can see my progress.

As if that wasn't enough - I decided I needed an extra push - so I decided in a moment of weakness (perhaps!) that I would do it for charity - and so I created a Just Giving page here. The charity I decided to do it for is a local charity - St Helena's Hospice. They are a local charity in Colchester and do some fantastic work - at great expense and rely quite a bit on charity and fundraising events.

So - that's that. In August, I'll be 4 stone slimmer, I'll be fit enough to cycle 140 miles over some pretty hilly terrain over 3 days and St Helena's Hospice will have some money to help with their excellent work.

Check in whenever you want...donate if you can. There's a great big DONATE button on my Just Giving page.

I'll be updating the page weekly

Thanks for reading and donating