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