Blog
This last week's training
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Monday, Tuesday and Thursday I cycled to work. Good weather, except on Thursday I was drenched as I reached Crediton. Wednesday I took the bike on the train to Torquay, and cycled to the venues there. Friday teatime I went to Plymouth, and at 9pm I plucked up courage to go for a run, first for about eight days, and did a 50 minute run round the Hoe and Lipson, and really enjoyed it. Saturday was a rest day. Yesterday I did a 50 mile cycle ride to Hatherleigh and back, to see Gilad. Teatime was a good weights and multigym session, and then I plucked up courage and went for a four mile run, which I actually enjoyed, despite the fog and the icy pavements.
But you don't need to diet!
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When people found out that I was trying to lose weight I was driven crazy by kind folk telling me that I didn't need to. To be fair, at 5' 11" I can hide it well. But at the end of May I weighed 16st, with a 46" chest and a 41" waist. I was clinically obese. And don't effing say that BMI (Body Mass Index) is inaccurate. And my blood pressure was 180/120. Not good.
What diet did I follow? I didn't. I ate porridge each morning for breakfast like always - just a smaller portion. I ate one sandwich each day at lunchtime at my desk like always. I ate my evening meal but I didn't eat all the leftovers. Honest, the war and rationing are over! My hens can eat the bloody leftovers.
At the beginning of August we went back to Trieste and walked daily up and down the steep hill to our apartment at San Giusto: that started me off on exercise as my weight started to go down. Now my weight is down. It did go to 12st 2lb, but now I'm building up muscle it's up to 12st 4lb. My chest is now 40" and my waist is 32", I've gone from XL to L and now M, and local charity shops have done brilliantly well with all my clothes. And my loose, saggy skin, the legacy of all that fat, is tightening up, thank God! And yes, I'm addicted to cycling, running and weight training. It's my last chance to get fit! And if it kills me, as I am constantly threatened, at least my body will look great when they put me in my coffin. Same applies to all those who panic about my cycling to work along busy roads, especially the A377 with its high death rate. As long as I'm not pulped, my body will look great! I'm pleased to say that when they cut my beautiful lycra off me in hospital after my head injury they commented on my cyclist's legs and sexy underwear. Pity I wasn't conscious to hear it.
What diet did I follow? I didn't. I ate porridge each morning for breakfast like always - just a smaller portion. I ate one sandwich each day at lunchtime at my desk like always. I ate my evening meal but I didn't eat all the leftovers. Honest, the war and rationing are over! My hens can eat the bloody leftovers.
At the beginning of August we went back to Trieste and walked daily up and down the steep hill to our apartment at San Giusto: that started me off on exercise as my weight started to go down. Now my weight is down. It did go to 12st 2lb, but now I'm building up muscle it's up to 12st 4lb. My chest is now 40" and my waist is 32", I've gone from XL to L and now M, and local charity shops have done brilliantly well with all my clothes. And my loose, saggy skin, the legacy of all that fat, is tightening up, thank God! And yes, I'm addicted to cycling, running and weight training. It's my last chance to get fit! And if it kills me, as I am constantly threatened, at least my body will look great when they put me in my coffin. Same applies to all those who panic about my cycling to work along busy roads, especially the A377 with its high death rate. As long as I'm not pulped, my body will look great! I'm pleased to say that when they cut my beautiful lycra off me in hospital after my head injury they commented on my cyclist's legs and sexy underwear. Pity I wasn't conscious to hear it.
Improving my cycling
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Today I left home at 9.15 and cycled to Cowley Bridge to join up with an Exeter cycling group. Eventually they arrived, but as we were about to leave another Exeter cycling group shot past, all dressed like me, all in lycra, all with smart bikes. They were just several decades younger! My group was all older, all on clumpy bikes, all in tatty gear, and when we set off the pace was so slow I was constantly braking. After five minutes I abandoned the lot, overtook them all and shot off after my heroes, although without a chance of catching up with them, but at least I could cycle fast and exert myself. I turned off at Rewe for Thorverton and climbed some bloody steep hills back through Shobrooke to Crediton. At least I quickly knew the first group wasn't for me and I emailed the second group enquiring about joining, if they accept senior veterans!
How did I get fit instead of fat?
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So some of you want to know...
Well, this summer I started eating better. No diet, nothing like that. Same porridge every morning for breakfast. Same single sandwish every lunchtime at work, made with own hands. Same evening meal - but no eating all the leftovers! And no supersize portions.
Then the exercise: I started cycling in September, every evening after work with Brana. In October I started cycling to work every day. Done it a couple of times before my accident, but I had the extra motivation to cycle the 8 miles each way after I wasn't allowed to drive any more.
Swimming: about twice a week. I'm not a fun swimmer. I go to the pool, and do 1km (40 lengths) of breast stroke. I have prescription goggles, so don't mind putting my face in the water, and I've got a lot better.
Running: started in August when Joseph came to stay. Whilst fine I used to run round Shobrooke Park in the evenings (4 miles) or round Hookway at 6.30am (also 4 miles). Now I do the Hookway plus round Crediton (7 miles) if it's daytime, or just the round Crediton bit (4 miles) if it's dark. Have just done Sandford (4.5 miles) in the dark but will do a circular round Sandford in the daytime soon.
Exercise: I started in August doing 10 sit ups and 10 press ups. I do the sit ups every morning at 7am as the kettle boils, but now I do 50. Instead of the press ups I now use my multigym nearly every day, perhaps missing one day a week, doing 45 butterflies, 45 leg curls, 45 arm curls, 45 lat pull downs, 45 cable front pulldowns, all with 25kg on the multigym except for the lateral pull downs with 30kg, and I also use my weights: 45 bench presses using 20kg.
I've no idea if this is good, bad, sensible or stupid, but I like it and enjoy it.
Well, this summer I started eating better. No diet, nothing like that. Same porridge every morning for breakfast. Same single sandwish every lunchtime at work, made with own hands. Same evening meal - but no eating all the leftovers! And no supersize portions.
Then the exercise: I started cycling in September, every evening after work with Brana. In October I started cycling to work every day. Done it a couple of times before my accident, but I had the extra motivation to cycle the 8 miles each way after I wasn't allowed to drive any more.
Swimming: about twice a week. I'm not a fun swimmer. I go to the pool, and do 1km (40 lengths) of breast stroke. I have prescription goggles, so don't mind putting my face in the water, and I've got a lot better.
Running: started in August when Joseph came to stay. Whilst fine I used to run round Shobrooke Park in the evenings (4 miles) or round Hookway at 6.30am (also 4 miles). Now I do the Hookway plus round Crediton (7 miles) if it's daytime, or just the round Crediton bit (4 miles) if it's dark. Have just done Sandford (4.5 miles) in the dark but will do a circular round Sandford in the daytime soon.
Exercise: I started in August doing 10 sit ups and 10 press ups. I do the sit ups every morning at 7am as the kettle boils, but now I do 50. Instead of the press ups I now use my multigym nearly every day, perhaps missing one day a week, doing 45 butterflies, 45 leg curls, 45 arm curls, 45 lat pull downs, 45 cable front pulldowns, all with 25kg on the multigym except for the lateral pull downs with 30kg, and I also use my weights: 45 bench presses using 20kg.
I've no idea if this is good, bad, sensible or stupid, but I like it and enjoy it.
Saturday Training
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Up and out for a 35 mile ride to Winkleigh, then Eggesford and back to Crediton. Went fine, only problem was that it was effing freezing, and my poor feet suffered.
Tried the charity website tonight, seems rather messy to an elderly newby like me.
Updated my pics of me in sexy lycra,
Tried the charity website tonight, seems rather messy to an elderly newby like me.
Updated my pics of me in sexy lycra,
Registration and Creating Websites
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Last night I registered for the bike ride and created my sponsorship page. This morning I created my own website about it, so everybody can follow my progress as I prepare.
Getting ready for 60
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I started cycling at the end of August as part of my drive to lose weight, get fit and get healthy. And I love it.
On October 4th 2008 I went for a 50 mile ride, with a break in the middle, but when I got home, after I'd parked my bike I slipped, fell back on the steps and banged the back of my head which led to intraparenchymal bleeding in the front left lobe of the brain. After a week in hospital for various tests I was allowed home, but because I suffered a loss of memory for the 24 hours before my accident I am not allowed to drive for at least six months. In consequence I now cycle to work every day, a journey of sixteen miles, so I am getting fitter ready for my birthday challenge.
I have never been bothered about celebrating birthdays, but I am keen to do something for my 60th that helps others, and raising money for medical research grabs me as ideal. Soon I might need to take advantage of that research!
