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