Fatboy Slimming

In a good place

2009-07-09T19:09:00.002+01:00

Things are going well. I'm eating pretty well, not drinking much and getting a lot of exercise on the bike and at the gym. More important than that is that I'm enjoying it.

The weight isn't exactly falling off, but my clothes are getting looser around the flabby bits and tighter where the muscles are. These days I'm becoming less focused on what the scales say and more focused on being able to exercise faster, longer and harder. I guess the net result should be the same, but we'll see.

Restarting...

2009-06-28T15:51:00.003+01:00

I really should make more of an effort to stick at this. Here we go again; another attempt to lost the weight and get fit.

In the last six months I've exercised very little and eaten more than I should have. It wasn't a complete disaster, I put some weight on but didn't put on as much as I've lost.

The good news is that with a little bit of effort I now weigh the same as when I "gave up" back in December, in fact I'm just under 265lbs so that's a little less.

The other good news is that my wife is also losing weight, she's lost over 2.5 stone and it's a big help as we can motivate each other.

More good news is that we've joined the gym/pool and that's a good chance to burn some lard off.

Even more good news is that I've just bought a nice new expensive bike and I'm going to put in lots of miles whenever possible.

So, I'm feeling confident! I'll keep you posted.

In the right direction

2008-12-05T16:29:00.002Z

266lbs.

At the start of the year I was 296lbs, so that's 30lbs gone (2 stone 2 lbs). I'm not really finding it too hard, but then I'm not being really strict and I'm not exercising too much.

I'm stepping up a gear now though, hoping to reach 260lbs in the next week or so.

I'm hoping to cram a decent exercise session into this weekend. More later.

Not a flying start

2008-11-20T12:14:00.002Z

But getting there.

273lbs at the moment which isn't great, but it's the right direction.

I'm going to try a bit harder and see if I can shift 7lbs in the next couple of weeks, it's a sort of target to aim for.

I need to exercise more.

A Good Start

2008-10-28T10:08:00.002Z

I didn't eat anything I "shouldn't have" yesterday, so that's a plus point.

Also, having a dog is great because you have to get out of the house each evening and get some exercise, even if it is cold and dark out there. Yesterday I mixed a bit of jogging in with the normal walking, not a huge distance really but enough to feel a bit puffed out. I was alternating the jogging and the walking and I'd like to gradually increase the jogging so that there is more jogging than walking going on (if you see what I mean!)

It didn't really work out

2008-10-27T11:23:00.002Z

That burst of enthusiasm I was hoping for didn't really materialise... I have gained a little weight, but only 4-5lbs, so that's something of a small mercy.

But anyway, starting today I'm going to put a whole lot more effort in. I'll aim to make updates here every single day because it helps keep me in the right mindset.

The plan is a simple one: Eat little or no junk, cut right down on the alcohol, make the nightly dog walks fast enough to raise the heart-rate.

Day 1: 279lbs

Still plodding on

2008-09-10T19:29:00.002+01:00

You know, if I could consistently keep trying to lose weight I'd be at my target weight (whatever that is!) by now.

I suppose the trick is to try to maintain a steady weight during those periods where I'm not actively trying to lose any, I think I've almost got that sussed.

Anyway, I'm having another crack at it! I put a couple (but not much more) of pounds back on over the "summer", today I'm around 275.5lbs so if I lose a couple of pounds it will still be new weight off (if you see what I mean).

It's blindingly obvious to me that the only way I'm going to lose any weight is by exercising a lot. There are a million diets out there, but we all know that the "secret" to losing weight is to Eat Less and Do More. If you aren't doing well at one of those things, then you need to really put a lot of effort in to the other... I certainly fall in to the "Do More" camp as I am totally rubbish at making the right choices about what I eat.

My exercise of choice is cycling, for no other reason than I enjoy it. I can easily lose a few pounds by peddling a few miles, so it's a win-win! The only problem is that I've had my decent bike stolen and I'm currently riding a "classic" road bike that I'm not enjoying all that much. I'll buy a new bike, but it's not top priority right now so I'll have to make do.

Sick

2008-06-23T16:54:00.002+01:00

Well, almost.

I came down with some sort of bug last week which felt like a cold with added nausea, it sort of put me off the cycling and the dieting for a bit.

Friday saw a fresh weigh-in for the new competition (another 6 weeks, £10 each, winner takes all, 10 entrants) - 274lbs down from 296lbs... however, this time I didn't have shoes on and it was on a different set of scales.

I've eaten a lot this weekend (comfort eating/drinking while feeling ill) and I haven't done much exercise bar Dog Walking. Still, I'm about to set off on a 26 mile ride home, that'll help.

More riding

2008-06-18T21:37:00.002+01:00

This could become more of a cycling blog than a weight loss blog, we'll see how it goes!

I rode yesterday and a long ride home tonight, it's Wednesday today so since Monday:

Total Mileage: 61 miles
Total Riding time: 5hrs 6mins

Not bad, I'm hoping to cycle 75 miles per week whenever possible, I should be able to manage it this week.

Ride Stats

2008-06-16T20:03:00.002+01:00

Statistics for today's cycling:

Mileage: 17.77 Miles
Ride Time: 1hr 23min
Average Speed: 12.7mph
Maximum Speed: 34.5mph

Accumulated Distance: 17 Miles
Accumulated Ride Time : 1hr 23min

Around 14 miles (and an hour) of that was the ride home, the rest of it was getting to the bus stop etc.

New Bike Bits

2008-06-15T21:05:00.002+01:00

I've added a couple of purchases to the bike.

The tyres on it were very knobbly off-road ones, not really ideal for the sort of riding I'm doing these days, so I swapped them for a pair of Continental Double Fighter II's. These tyres are pretty slick in the middle with grip at the edge should you need it, they are much faster than the great big knobbly ones and should make things easier on long rides.

I've also added a really decent wireless cycle computer (a Fathers Day gift), expect many updates relating to miles ridden and average speed etc coming soon!

The last Friday Weigh-in

2008-06-13T21:20:00.002+01:00

So, the "who can lose the most weight in 6 weeks" competition at work ended today... I won!

Six weeks ago I weighed 296.0lbs and today I weighed 277.2lbs, that's 18.8lbs lost.

In the last week alone I lost 7lbs after wavering a little over the last couple of weeks. I did plenty of exercise this week and "dieted" (from Monday at least!), it seems to have done the trick.

I'm going to eat and drink a bit over this weekend, but not go mad, then we are starting another competition on Monday!

Friday Weigh-in

2008-05-23T21:33:00.002+01:00

2lbs lost.

Not too bad, I suppose. If I could have a little bit more self control at the weekends I would be better off...

I'm enjoying cycling, I think it's my "thing". I suppose it's probably better to up the exercise and lose weight slowly rather than eat less and lose weight quickly... I know the middle-ground is the place to be!

Friday + Saturday Rides

2008-05-18T18:53:00.003+01:00

I did a slightly different route on Friday from the one I had planned, I think it was a little shorter at about 10 miles rather than 13-14 miles. Better than nothing though!

On Saturday I rode from Bicester to Abingdon, I think this was somewhere near 25 miles in total and took a couple of hours. I enjoyed it and I think I could have gone further.

Bit of a lazy day so far today, I went out with the dog for 45 minutes and we are off out again in a moment so it's not too bad.

On a less positive note, I've eaten way too much this weekend. Time to up the game during the week (14 miles after work tomorrow will be a good start)

Friday Weigh-in

2008-05-16T16:51:00.002+01:00

I put a pound back on this week.

I'm not really surprised to be honest. I did quite a bit of exercise (cycled 65 miles since the last weigh-in) but in the later part of the week I had a couple of large and unhealthy meals...

Still, I'm not disheartened. 13 miles to ride tonight (don't feel like it at all!) and a big 25-30 miles planned for tomorrow. I'll try to be a bit more strict this week and hope to lose that pound plus a couple more.

Long Ride

2008-05-09T20:58:00.002+01:00

We cycled home from work today, it was about 26 miles in total and around 2hrs. It all went very well, despite cycling through a quite severe thunderstorm. The section of the Sustrans Route 51 we rode was a real pleasure, same again next Friday I think!

I ate a lot of pasta today in preparation, it made a huge difference as I had much more energy, I think I could have done more miles without too much trouble.

Friday weigh-in

2008-05-09T20:53:00.001+01:00

-4lbs

Start weight: 296lbs
Current weight: 284.8lbs
Total weight loss: 11.2lbs
Time elapsed: 3 weeks.

Rewards and Goals

2008-05-05T22:32:00.002+01:00

Losing weight as part of a competition provides quite a bit of motivation, there is also an office sweepstake going on where people have picked a "contestant" each, so I feel like I owe it to the person who picked me to try a little harder.

As I'm enjoying the cycling so much I think I might decide on a target weight and when I achieve it I'll reward myself with a new bike. My current bike is fine, but I could do with something a bit more road biased. For once I should have enough cash that dropping £700 on a new machine isn't going to be too painful.

As for a goal; I want to take part in a Canicross event and not embarrass myself. Canicross is a 2.5km or 5kn run with a dog, the dog can't run until it's 1 years old so I've got plenty of time build up the fitness!

Friday weigh-in

2008-05-05T22:16:00.002+01:00

I know it's Monday, but I forgot to post...

I lost a further 2.5lbs, that's 7.5lbs total for the two weeks.

I've struggled a bit this weekend; I ate too much, drank too much and exercised too little. I did go for a decent walk/run with the puppy tonight, so it's not all bad.

I want to have lost a couple more pounds this week too, so I think I'll probably be doing the half way home cycling each night, possibly leading up to the 25 miles on Friday.

Another Ride

2008-04-30T09:16:00.002+01:00

My colleague and I rode half-way home again last night, another 12-13 miles done. I think we made even better time on this trip, about 50 minutes in all which is surprisingly good going.

I still need to try a bit harder with the healthy eating, but I'm enjoying the exercise.

I'm not sure if I will have lost much weight this week; I'm trying to avoid the scales at home and just wait until the Friday weigh in, but I did step on them this morning and there didn't seem to be much change. Still, if I keep up the cycling I'll at least be fitter, which has to be a good thing.

We'll be riding home again on Friday and I might schedule a long (around 25 miles) ride for Sunday, but we'll see how that goes.

Cycling

2008-04-26T06:53:00.003+01:00

Cycling halfway home from work was a great success, I think it may well become a regular Friday thing.

We covered about 13 miles in total and it took just over an hour, the weather was kind and it was a good way to unwind after a rubbish week.

I could probably have done without ending up at a pub, but I only had a pint and a half so it's not the end of the world.

It's Saturday now, I've got housework to do and then I'll see if I can fit a few miles on the bike in at some point. I also need to stock up on stuff to make soup for next week (and make it!).

Week 1 weigh in

2008-04-25T12:48:00.002+01:00

Well, this week has been OK. Plenty of room for improvement though as I haven't exercised all that much and my evening meals aren't really a "healthy option".

Weight lost this week = 5lbs

In the daytimes I have been following this diet:

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs on a halved multi grain bagel.
Mid Morning: Multi grain bagel with honey.
Lunch: Homemade vegetable soup.
Mid Afternoon: A couple of Rich tea biscuits with a coffee
Evening Meal: Varies, but no take-aways.

This has worked out quite well as I'm not really hungry all the time, it's also saving plenty of cash as the soup was cheap to make and the bagels were reduced (and then I froze them)

Today I've brought my bike in to Milton Keynes on the bus, the plan is to put it back on the bus and go half way home then cycle the rest. I'm not 100% sure of the route yet, but it should be around 10 miles. One of my colleagues is joining me too, so that should be a bit of encouragement!

It didn't work out

2008-04-19T09:56:00.002+01:00

Last update in October '06? Oh, dear...

Well, I pretty much gave up.

No excuses; I got lazy and I stopped watching what I ate. I have piled all the weight I lost back on, and probably quite a bit more too.

Still; new beginnings!

As of yesterday, I'm back in the mood to sort it out! This time I'm taking part in a competition with other people in the office who need/would like to lose some pounds. £10 each into the kitty and the person who loses the most weight (as a percentage of their start weight) wins the lot.

I also have a side bet with another chap: The person who looses the least weight (percentage again) donates £100 to the British Heart Foundation.

I need the incentive of this challenge, I also need the motivation I'm getting by having all my peers know how much I weigh (296lbs fully clothed and after a "last megga breakfast" with the team).

So far this morning I've had scrambled eggs on toast, I'm about to burn some calories doing housework before going out for a bike-ride (possibly to the shops to stock up on healthy foodstuffs)

Back again

2006-10-10T14:00:00.000+01:00

Each time there are no posts here for a prolonged amount of time it normally means that I've given up and I'm busily piling on the pounds. This time though that's only half right...

I haven't really been putting any serious effort into losing weight or exercising, but I haven't totally given up either. I'm far from my "target weight" but when I step on the scales of a morning I still weigh less than I have done in years.

Right now I'm starting to try a little harder, I know that I can maintain my weight without suffering any hardship so it's time to add a little pain to get a little progress.

Aside from watching what I eat, I'm trying to get in the habit of doing some exercise each and every day. At the moment I get up at 6.30am and, while I'm sorting breakfast and lunch for the day, I try to cram in 15 minutes of exercise. It's not too much to be unmanageable but I'm hoping it's enough to increase my level of fitness and assist with the weight loss. It's hard to install new habits!

For reference: At one point I weighed 20st 9lbs, this morning I weighed 18st 12lbs

Exercise

2006-06-11T13:03:00.000+01:00

Been doing lots of exercise recently, including a long bike ride yesterday. It's all working well, 12lbs lost so far which makes me lighter than I have been for years.

Another 16 lbs to go before I reach my target (1st stage!) and 7 weeks to do it in, I hope I make it but the next 16lbs will be harder than the first 12lbs I'm sure!

Milestone

2006-06-08T13:07:00.000+01:00

Things are still going well, food intake is sensible and I'm getting exercise pretty regularly. I think I'm at the lowest weight I have been for about 4-5 years, one more pound and I'll be fairly sure of that.

I'm still only 25% of the way to my goal of losing two stone, but I've got lots of time left to manage it before the deadline of 29th July... I'll give it my best shot.

I'm thinking of doing a really big cycle ride on Saturday, depending on the route that could well be 25 miles. I think I'm up to it, especially if I take it easy and keep well stocked with water. I may yet cheat and get dropped off half way...

Going well

2006-06-05T23:46:00.000+01:00

Almost a week in and things are good. Lots of "good" food, not much "bad" food and more exercise than usual.

Almost lost half a stone already, the key is the cycling as I am enjoying it and it's easy to go just that little bit further when you feel up to it.

I did 8.5 miles the other night and a good run tonight of 7 miles. I'm thinking of doing a longer ride next weekend (15-20 miles)

Countdown

2006-06-01T22:34:00.000+01:00

I haven't been very good at keeping any weight-loss going for sustained periods, the good news is that each time I give up I don't pile all the weight back on. I am around a stone lighter than I was when I started to think about losing weight a couple of years back.

The reason for this post is that I am going to start trying hard with a specific goal in mind, it's all about focus. At the very end of July I'm off on holiday for a couple of weeks in the Sun (Florida) and I'll be spending much time in the pool... the plan is to lose 2 stone before then.

I'm not starting today, I started a couple of days back and 3lbs have gone so far.

Today I've eaten quite well and managed a bit of exercise - did an indicated 30 miles on the exercise bike.

Expect regular posts for the next 8 weeks!

Widweek update

2006-03-29T22:34:00.000+01:00

Still haven't managed any proper exercise despite all the good intentions, maybe tomorrow. Food wise: alright I suppose, moderation over abstinence in my motto.

I don't think any pounds have come off so far but none on either, a good couple of days and I'll be OK.

Week 1

2006-03-27T14:12:00.000+01:00

Weigh-in day came yesterday, I maintained a 5lbs loss for the week so I'm pretty happy with that.

I didn't have a great day food wise yesterday but it could have been worse, went out for a meal (mothers day) and had a salad... then ruined that by having some chips in the evening!

I had quite a nasty cold last week but I seem to be on the mend now, I should try and add a little exercise into the mix now, maybe a walk later...

Going well

2006-03-23T15:58:00.000Z

So, I've lost 5lbs in 4 days so far but the first week is always the easiest.
I've had a cold this week too which hasn't helped with the exercise plans but it has taken away part of my appetite, I've also been working hard so haven't had much time for self indulgence so far.

We'll see what the Sunday weigh-in says.

Hopefully this will be the last re-start!

2006-03-19T12:59:00.000Z

Right, here we go again...

I've been crap for ages, I've eaten anything I've wanted and I haven't exercised for a very long time. I've put on loads of weight, I have no energy and I feel pretty dreadful really.

Still, spring is on it's way and I'm feeling like it's time to make changes. Also, a couple of weeks in the sun are booked for the start of August and I don't want to be feeling too self conscious...

I might try for daily progress reports here, just to keep the momentum!

Not gone

2005-12-23T02:21:00.000Z

I'm ready to have another go at this, starting 1st January (like most of the population). I've managed to stay around the same weight I was when I stopped updating (only around 4lbs off the lowest weight since I started trying to lose it) so it's not been a disaster, more of a motivational crisis.

Back one again...

2005-10-22T09:51:00.000+01:00

You know when it goes quiet here for a while that I'm struggling! This time though I only half gave up; I stopped trying, stopped exercising and stopped "dieting". I didn't really go back to my old ways though and I've managed to almost maintain the weight I was when I stopped, feeling a bit rough this week has help shift the last few pounds and I'm back where I left off.

This is all quite encouraging because it means that I should be able to maintain weight without feeling deprived, this is a good thing. So, I'm going to do what I've been doing but add a bit more thought in to what I eat and try to up the exercise.

One thing I think will help me out is the purchase of a cheap mp3 player, the plan is to fill it with all the stuff I'm not allowed to listen to in the house (podcasts, metal etc) and get myself out for a walk in the evenings.

More posts soon.

A Crap Week

2005-08-27T16:49:00.000+01:00

It's been a week of working away a bit and generally being busy. I've not exercised and I've been out to eat twice while away with work (and they have both been a little beer heavy!). The end result is that I put back on a couple of pounds that I lost, but that could be the result of a bit of a binge last night...

I'm not worried, I'm back on track again now and hoping to get some good exercise done tonight.

Next week I'm working away for 4 days but I've booked a hotel with a gym and I'm hoping to get myself down there in the evenings.

Weigh in

2005-08-20T10:54:00.000+01:00

Friday is weigh-day (I know I'm late), lost another 2lbs and making a total loss of 9lbs since 29th July.

Things are going quite well, I'm not really dieting I'm just keeping an eye on what I eat and how much, I know that sounds like a diet but I will still eat *bad* things but I'll make sure that it's not a habit and I'll make up for it by adding extra exercise.

On the exercise front it hasn't been great this week, I've been busy and not had much free time but I am still keen and I'll make up for that!

Progress

2005-08-15T22:55:00.000+01:00

Not shedding many pounds at the moment which is a bit of a shame considering the effort I'm putting in.

I don't really mind because I feel like I'm getting a bit fitter and the clothes are a little looser, that's what it's all about isn't it?

Update- Thinking about it, the lack of weight loss could be due to the big increase in the amount of water I'm drinking. Today for example I've had around 4 litres of cold water and each litre weighs 2.2lbs I believe, that's a lot of extra weight sloshing around at any given time.

New Lap Record

2005-08-15T22:42:00.000+01:00

Been away for the weekend so haven't had the bike with me and no chance for much exercise, managed to get out tonight although I left it a bit late (10.15pm).

Distance: 6.17 miles
Time Taken: 25:28
Average Speed: 14.5 MPH
Max Speed: 20.8 MPH

Cumulative distance is now 55.3 miles

That's a new Personal Best!

I certainly felt a bit better during the second half of the lap, normally I find it really hard going.

One of the reasons I'm never going to be setting blistering lap times is that the bike isn't made for it, it's quite low geared and that speed of 20 mph is just about all I'm going to be able to get out of it.

Averaging 14.5 mph means that I'm putting in 75% effort on average which will be good on the longer rides if I can keep it up.

All in all I'm happy with the progress, when you consider I'm lugging almost 20 stone (280 pounds) around it's quite a feat.

Lap Time

2005-08-12T23:44:00.000+01:00

Out again tonight although I wasn't really in the mood to be honest.

Distance: 6.20 miles
Time Taken: 27:09
Average Speed: 13.7 MPH
Max Speed: 20 MPH

Cumulative distance is now 49.1 miles

Not bad, I had to stop for cars at almost every junction and at one point I dropped my water bottle and had to go back for it.

Still determined to increase that average.

Hackers Diet

2005-08-11T11:31:00.000+01:00

The Hackers Diet looks pretty good, I've downloaded it and read the first couple of chapters already I'll try to read the rest later.

It makes sense that in order to solve a problem (in anything) you first have to understand the mechanisms you are dealing with.

Couple more pounds

2005-08-11T11:24:00.000+01:00

I think the exercise is starting to have some effect, the main thing is I actually look forward to a bit of cycling because I feel so much better afterwards. I think the target times are a good thing, I really want to see those average speeds go up and that's enough incentive to get me out there even if I don't feel in the mood before I start (which is often the case).

On this mornings weigh-in* I was a couple of pounds lighter so that's a good thing, makes the total loss since 29th July 7lbs (or half a stone).

* I know I said I wouldn't do it daily but it's a habit I can't break.

Lap Time

2005-08-10T23:52:00.000+01:00

Managed to get out on the bike briefly tonight (in between episodes of Lost!) and did the route I started doing semi regularly back at the start of the year. I had the cycle computer fitted and the stats are:

Distance: 6.17 miles
Time Taken: 26:07
Average Speed: 14.1 MPH
Max Speed: 19.2 MPH

Cumulative distance is now 42.9 miles

Quite pleased with this time as it is a very slight improvement on the sort of times I was setting back in January when I was a bit lighter.

I want to add a few rides with a longer distance but I will always keep this route as my "yard stick" measure of how my fitness improves. I suppose I should think about a target for this lap, something to aim for, but I'm not sure what that should be. Maybe I'll go for consistently setting a 16 MPH plus average speed, that's a good one as the average speed is driven by stamina (I know this because after about 3.5 miles the average starts dropping as I run out of energy).

Tomorrow I'll be staying away on business so I'll not be cycling but I might see if I can spend a bit of time in the hotel gym (assuming there is one wherever I end up staying) or maybe I'll go for a brisk walk.

Need to stop

2005-08-09T09:26:00.000+01:00

I have to stop weighing myself every day, it's not helping.

The problem is that for the last couple of days I have been doing quite well, I have been eating all the right stuff and I've been exercising too (just under an 8 mile ride last night) but I'm not losing any weight.

This is silly though because I know that if I carry on as I am I'll be fitter and thinner in time, the constant monitoring is great if the pounds are sliding off each day but no good if they aren't.

A weekly weigh-in is all I need to do but it's hard when the scales are right there.

I suppose one of the reasons that my weight isn't plummeting is because I've upped my fluid intake dramatically. I find it hard to drink enough because I very rarely get thirsty, I'm forcing myself to drink a lot of water at the moment because I think it will help with surpressing appetite (which hasn't actually been a problem yet) and also because I'll need more fluid if I'm exercising each day.

I still can't get it in to my head that this is a long term thing and I'm trying to make it a habit, I shouldn't be looking for quick results here.

Cycling

2005-08-07T17:26:00.000+01:00

Got out on the bike today for the first time in ages, really enjoyed it too. I took it quite easy and covered 7.5 miles so it was quite a good session.

I much prefer it to a stationary bike, it's easier to put more effort in and it's easier to get motivated to go. I think I'll use the indoor bike on those days when the weather isn't good enough to go out.

I still notice that my stamina isn't very good, I can maintain a good speed for the first few miles but after that it's a struggle to keep the speed up, I suppose it will come with time if I can keep putting the miles on the bike.

One week in

2005-08-06T12:17:00.000+01:00

Well the first week is over and it has gone quite well really. I've managed to eat sensibly on the whole although I have eaten pizza, chocolate and cake (not all at the same time!) it's all been in moderation.

I've exercised too although not as much as I had planned, I'm sure that will come as the good habits form. Exercise has generally been an exercise bike as it's very convenient and it's good for working up a bit of a sweat, I normally do sessions of 30 minutes which seems about right to start with.

I think I'll start getting out on the proper bike again soon, I'm sure I put more effort in to it when I'm actually going somewhere and I'll probably be more motivated to get out there for a change of scenery.

The Steamer we bought a while back has been useful this week, I've been steaming lots of rice and vegetables and it's so easy. Vegetables taste better steamed than boiled too.

So, one week down and I think 5lbs lost. That's fine for a first week, I want to aim for a constant 2lbs per week.

Another start

2005-07-29T23:50:00.000+01:00

Sensible eating today and 30 minutes on the exercise bike this evening, a steady start rather than jumping in to things with both feet.

Although I've done alright today I know that it's the periods of activity when you're not exercising that make all the difference. It's all very well putting in a decent 30 minutes (or hour, whatever) of exercise each day to work up a sweat, but that isn't really going to be as effective as upping the level of activity throughout your day. I'm spending far too much time not moving around (like right now) and that's not helpful.

I must remember that I'm trying to install a new habit rather than embarking on a regime.

It's been a long time

2005-07-28T19:19:00.000+01:00

I gave up again! Pretty sure that all the weight I lost has gone back on but I'm not disheartened, I'm starting again from tomorrow... watch this space.

New approach

2005-04-17T13:51:00.000+01:00

I need to break this cycle of losing weight and then getting disheartened and piling it all back on again. I suppose one of the problems is that I take it all too seriously, when I'm trying to lose weight I'm normally weighing myself a couple of times a day and always thinking about what I should be eating and what exercise I should be doing. I think the reason I keep failing is that it's too artificial so never really becomes part of my everyday life.

So, as of this weekend, I am starting again with a different approach.
Instead of concentrating on weight loss (or gain!) I'm going to only concentrate on food and exercise because that is all that really matters in the end. In way of preparation I have made a couple of purchases:

A steamer for cooking
A smoothie maker for upping fruit intake
An Exercise Bike for exercising

The plan is to get at least some exercise every day and make sure that most of the food I eat is healthy(er).
I've made a decent start so far; lots of fruit and vegetables have been consumed and I have exercised each night for around 30-45mins each session. I haven't weighed myself and I'm not going to focus on that side of things.
The plan is to make this lifestyle a habit rather than a chore.

I'm rubbish at this

2005-04-03T15:51:00.000+01:00

I haven't been able to stop the decline back in to "my old ways" which is a real disappointment to me. I haven't quite put all the weight I lost back on, but I'm well on the way and I just can't seem to keep up the effort.
It's strange because eating well and exercising really does seem to agree with me; I feel good when I do it and happier afterwards, also have more energy and a better outlook on life. It's strange then that I find doing it such a challenge.

I've decided to make an extra special effort at "damage control" and try at least not to put any more weight on. I have quite a bad cold at the moment so pounding the streets on foot or by bike isn't likely to happen (not that it did much anyway) but I can eat sensibly and try to be a bit less sedentary.

I have to make some big changes.

Checking back in

2005-03-12T11:43:00.000Z

It's been a long time without any posts, the news is not good...

Yet again I haven't been able to carry on with the healthy eating and exercising, it's purely down to a lack of willpower on my part.

The good news is that I haven't put much weight back on, I am probably only about 2lbs heavier this morning than I was at my lightest weight so far.

I'm determined to start again today, I don't want to put all the weight back on and then have to start from where I was.
I weigh 1 stone less than I did on new years day, it's obvious that what I do does work so this should be more than enough to keep me going!

Lacking motivation

2005-02-19T13:03:00.000Z

Still struggling to carry on, I really need to get some daily exercise but for some reason I just can't seem to gather up enough motivation to get out there.

The good news is that although I'm not putting much effort in, I'm not putting on any of the weight I have lost, infact I am still losing some (although not very quickly!)

On New Years Day I weighed in at 20st 2lbs, this morning I weighed 19st 1lb so that is a loss of 15lbs to date.

The next stage is to get those scales reading 18... something, that will be nice and only a couple of pounds to go!

Stalled!

2005-02-05T11:08:00.000Z

Not been a good week really. I haven't managed to motivate myself enough to get out on the bike at all this week and I have found it hard to eat healthy food (and reasonable portions). The result of this mornings weigh-in was a bit ambiguous; the (digital) scales said I had lost a pound at first but when I checked again they said I had put on a pound...

I either weigh the same as last week, or one pound in either direction! Either way, it's not too bad.

Although I haven't had a great week I'm determined not to let it get me down, that's when I'm likely to just give up. If I have lost a pound this week then that will mean I will have lost exactly a stone since Jan 1st, that's just too good to give up on isn't it?

Weigh in

2005-01-29T13:00:00.000Z

I was expecting to have put on a couple of pounds this week, I've been ill with a cold so there has been no exercise and I've not been very strict on what I have been eating. I actually seem to have lost a pound, so that's a bit of a relief!

I've lost 13lbs so far this month and I'm really quite enjoying it, I really want to get out on my bike again. I'm starting to feel a bit better so I'll have a go in the next couple of days.

Struck down in my prime

2005-01-27T10:20:00.000Z

Things had been going so well; eating properly and exercising quite often. For the last week I have had a pretty heavy cold, it's stopping me going out on the bike and all I really want to do is stay in bed and eat warm food.

I don't think I have put any weight on yet, but I'm sure this will add a couple of pounds (especially as I gave in to a chocolate and crisps craving last night), at least I have an excuse...

Surprisingly, I really miss cycling! I'm hoping to stick at it for a few months, get fitter and then upgrade the bike and do some challenging terrain!

Here's the skinny

2005-01-21T21:25:00.000Z

Out again tonight:

Distance: 6.23 miles
Time Taken: 27:32
Average Speed: 13.5 MPH
Max Speed: 19.3 MPH

Cumulative Distance: 18.7 miles (since the cycle computer was fitted)

I did the lap the other way around tonight and as you can see it made no difference to my time, the route is fairly flat so it's not a big surprise. I really start to get tired after the half way point and I just don't have the energy to put 100% in to it. If I keep to the same route I should be able to see any improvements as I go.

I still don't seem to be losing any weight, is it possible that I am putting on muscle in my legs at the same rate that I'm losing fat? Wishful thinking eh?

The bike I use is quite an old mountain bike, I do have slick road tyres on it but it's not the ideal road bike. It's rather heavy and it's quite low geared, at my top speed of around 19MPH I really could do with a higher gear.

I do have another bike in the garage, it's a half decent road bike but I really don't think I should be using it just yet. My fear is that while I'm still overweight I might break the spindly thing by getting on it... Maybe a few months on the mountain bike will bring the weight down enough for me to move up on to the racer, then I can start going on longer rides.

Windy!

2005-01-19T21:12:00.000Z

I didn't get out on the bike yesterday mainly because it was very windy and raining quite hard, I was working in London so I did walk to the station and up and down all those stairs in the underground...

I did do the lap tonight though:

Distance: 6.23 miles
Time Taken: 28:13
Average Speed: 13.2 MPH
Max Speed: 17.6 MPH

Not much change, still quite windy.

I still can't maintain the same effort for the whole lap, I might try doing the lap in reverse next time (not riding backwards...) just to see if it is something to do with the hills or wind direction.

I'm still managing to eat quite sensibly, I did have a Chinese take-away tonight but I tried to pick a reasonably healthy option and didn't go for any side dishes!

I don't seem to be loosing weight very quickly at the moment, the answer to that is to stop weighing myself all the time. I know what I am doing is going to lead to a healthier me, the speed I get there is secondary.

Stats

2005-01-17T20:47:00.000Z

Ok, I got myself the cycle computer and fitted and calibrated it before tonight's ride, here are the stats:

Distance: 6.31 miles
Time taken: 29:26
Average Speed: 12.8 MPH
Max Speed: 18.2 MPH

That sets the benchmark!

It was very windy out there tonight so I'm hoping I can beat that some time soon. I also noticed that my fitness and stamina need some improvement; I was averaging 14.5 mph for the first half of the lap but I couldn't sustain that for the second half.

This is going to be fun!

Feeling Good

2005-01-17T15:05:00.000Z

Things are going quite well so far and I'm feeling good about it all. This time around I'm trying harder to up the exercise which is one of the things I didn't really get around to on my last attempt.

Another 2lbs to go and I will have lost a stone, hoping to reach that marker within the next two weeks.

I've upped my intake of water too, I try to do at least some exercise each evening and during or afterwards I drink two litres of water. I'm finding that I feel happier and I can concentrate easier, that could be the change in the diet or the exercise, or it could be that I didn't drink enough water in the past (I don't normally drink much)

Cycle Route

2005-01-17T14:48:00.000Z

Last night I went out on my bike for another ride, this time I expanded the route a little bit so that I am now doing about half a lap of the towns circumference. Today I measured the exact route in the car to see how far it was, I was quite surprised to see that it was exactly 6 miles. It's not a huge mileage but I think it's just about right to start with, it's not too long or too time consuming so I'm hoping I can do the lap most evenings. So far I have been out two nights running and tonight I need to take some DVD's back to Blockbuster (a couple of miles away) so that will be an extra incentive to go...

I don't think I'll be adding many miles to the route for now, instead I'll start timing the route and aim for improvements. When I reach a better level of fitness I'll design a new route which will be more of a challenge!

I really need to get myself a cycle computer like this as it would be good to work on increasing the average speed.

11 lbs down

2005-01-15T23:55:00.000Z

14th January means that it is the second whole week, the result is a total loss of 11 lbs.

I'm not losing weight as quickly as the first week, but that is OK by me. I made my first real attempt at upping the exercise by cycling a few miles (as mentioned on the main blog), it was good but I set out in the dark and it was cold!

I'm hoping that I'll be able to get a few miles in most days (weather and enthusiasm permitting!)

Week 1 take two

2005-01-08T13:55:00.000Z

So, after a "fall off the wagon" during my last attempt which saw me put all the weight I had lost back on, I have started again with added gusto!

I started on New Years Day so it has been exactly one week.

The news is that I have lost 9lbs so far which seems like quite a lot, I guess that when I weighed myself on the 1st I was heavier than normal? Maybe a big meal the night before.

I'm not skipping any meals, I may actually be eating more than before but I'm being quite careful about what I do eat. Breakfast is now Quakers Oatso Simple and that is great at keeping you feeling full all morning, I add a handful of sultanas to it too. It's a great breakfast for cold winter mornings when you are in a hurry!

Second time around

2005-01-03T22:54:00.000Z

Like most of the population the New Year has signalled the start of my weight loss and fitness drive...

So, it's only the 3rd day but things are going well. Need to up the intake of water and fruit&veg and also start some regular exercise. What I have done is make a start on the portion control and make sure what I am eating is "good food"

I'll keep you posted

A new beginning (again)

2004-12-19T13:23:00.000Z

Well, it's been a while since an update here, you can probably guess why that is...

Yeah, this time it didn't work out and I stopped trying. I'm almost ready to start again and, like most of the population, I'll be starting on the 1st January...

I've not been weighing myself but I will have put weight on, I wonder if I'll have put all of the weight I lost back on?

I'm not feeling disappointed, I know I can do this and I'm getting ready to put more effort in next time.

Watch this space!
#

No change

2004-10-26T13:02:00.000+01:00

No more weight loss last week, no gains either. I'm quite pleased about this because I haven't been exercising and I haven't really been watchimg what I eat either, all I have been doing is watching the portions and that seems to be enough to maintain a steady weight.

Must try harder this week, I've got an exhibition to go to for work next week and I don't want that suit to be tight!

Four weeks

2004-10-18T07:57:00.000+01:00

Today marks four whole weeks of trying to eat sensibly and lose weight/get fitter. It hasn't been particularly hard and I don't feel deprived of anything, probably because I haven't been as strict as I could have been regarding what I've been eating. I figure that moderation is the most important thing and just cutting *bad* stuff out totally is only going to lead to a lard binge...

I have upped the exercise a little bit, nothing radical but I have been getting myself out of the house for a brisk walk in the evenings (not all of them!). This is really the thing that will help most but I find it hard to get the motivation to get out in the dark and cold and walk nowhere, it's just not very exciting. If I travelled to work by train it would be great, the station is around two miles away and walking that twice a day would be a good thing.

Anyway, a couple more pounds gone since last week. That is a total of just over nine pounds in four weeks, could be better but could be much worse.

Hmmm

2004-10-12T18:26:00.000+01:00

I seem to have stalled...

No weight loss for this week, no gain either so it's not all bad news.
I have manged to add a bit more exercise to my daily routine though, for the last couple of nights I have manged to get out of the house for a brisk walk for about 20-30 mins a time. It's not much I suppose but I am actually quite enjoying ending the day that way (I usually go at 11pm ish).

Still feeling pretty good, weighing less now than I have done for a good couple of years and clothes are fitting a bit better.

I have some new clothes that are a little bit too tight, using that as an added incentive!

In summary; it's all going fine, but could be quicker. Sustainability is the key!

Not so good...

2004-10-04T10:50:00.000+01:00

After a bit of a flying start, I only lost a pound this week and that is a little disappointing really. Total loss is 7lbs (half a stone) over two weeks.

I am actually surprised that I lost any weight this week, I certainly haven't been very strict and I haven't managed to add the exercise in yet...
I suppose I have been eating plenty of stuff that isn't particularly fattening, but too much of it to actually loose weight, so in that respect I have probably found the right diet to maintain a steady weight when I do reach my target (which I don't have).

Anyway, today is the start of another week, time to try a little bit harder.

A weigh day

2004-09-28T21:55:00.000+01:00

Well yesterday was a week in to this current push, loss for the week was 6lbs which isn't too bad really. I'm expecting it to get harder as time goes on, but then I haven't been as strict as I could have been (still gotta live!).

I keep having to remind myself that I'm not "on a diet" and I'm just making changes to my lifestyle, to be losing weight this quickly is a bonus and I really think I'll be keeping it off.

I've had a good couple of days, eating plenty but good stuff. Not expecting big losses this week, a pound or so would be good.

I really do need to up the exercise, that's the part that I'm struggling to find the motivation for.

Another pound gone

2004-09-26T11:02:00.000+01:00

6lbs gone so far, averaging a pound per day at the moment. It won't last and there is a good chance that some of that might go back on before any more goes but it feels quite good at the moment.

I am actually feeling much better, it could be that it's psychological and I'm feeling alright because I'm doing something about a problem that bugs me, or it could be that eating a healthier diet and more water is doing the trick. Either way, I haven't felt particularly down this week which is unusual.

Today is the day..

2004-09-25T13:24:00.000+01:00

.. that I should be able to get some exercise in. Clare will be working from 2pm until 10pm and Georgia has a bad cold, so things are less then ideal but I think a long walk to the library could be in order.

Haven't lost any weight for the last couple of days, but I haven't put any on either. Still 5lbs down since Monday, hoping to shift another couple this weekend.

Another reasonable day

2004-09-22T19:58:00.000+01:00

Another reasonable day really, only reasonable this time because although I have managed to stick to eating at mealtimes only, we did have a curry for dinner that was really nice but was probably a bit too heavy in the fat department. It's no big deal but I am trying to feel a little guilty about it in the hope that it will get me out of the house tonight for a brisk walk around the estate...

A good site if you need some motivation is the one from the magazine Men's Health , plenty of good info on there and from what I have seen so far (only a little bit) the forums look quite interesting.

Still going...

2004-09-22T09:34:00.000+01:00

So, day three then!

Yesterday went well, healthy eating all day and managed to squeeze a little bit of exercise in later in the day. I only really found time for a walk with Georgia and then a few sit-ups (crunches), managed 20 without too much trouble and felt OK afterwards.

I need to try and find a bit more time for exercise, crunches and press-ups are easy to do at home, but they are not what I need to be doing particularly. What I need is something that gets the heart rate up a bit for a long ish period (walking, cycling, jogging etc). It's hard to do that during the start of the week because as soon as I get home from work Clare goes out to work so I'm babysitting Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Georgia would make a good dumbbell I suppose...

At this mornings weigh-in I was 276.9lbs, that's a drop of 5.1lbs since Monday morning*

* Yeah, I know daily weighing isn't the best way to keep track, this drop could be due to anything and may well go up a bit. I do want to plot my weight daily though, for interest more than anything else.

So, what's all this then?

2004-09-21T20:43:00.000+01:00

Hello, thanks for dropping by!

My name is Steve and I usually live here. I have decided on many occasions in the past that the time was right to start looking after myself a little better, to lose weight and to generally try to be "Fitter. Happier. More productive" (As Radiohead might put it). Well, it didn't work and I'm none of those things yet!

I'm having another go and you join me on day two (but only if you are reading this today), this time I'm feeling a whole lot more confident about the whole thing, we'll see how it goes.
I intend to document the process right here, I'm doing it for my benefit as I think, and hope, that updating my progress (or lack of) for the world to see might just spur me on when I need it.
I'm not following any particular diet, not Atkins or Southbeach here, I believe that the key is simply to eat sensibly and exercise frequently. I'm intending to take it slowly because the trouble with "going on a diet" is that it always feels temporary to me and no matter how well it goes the results don't last. What I'm aiming for here is a change in lifestyle, it's the only way that this is going to work for me.

There was a time not very many years ago when I was at my fittest, I cycled to work through choice and that was around 18 miles each day, I worked out in the gym a few times a week and played sports occasionally. At that time I weighed around 14 stone (that's about 195 lbs), that might seem a lot to you but I am a big guy even when I am in shape (big chest, big arms, big head). I think if I was to have a "target weight" (I'm not really going to) 14st would be it.
So, I used to be quite fit but life changed gradually; got myself a career, a wife and a child. I now spend my days in the car, in an office or in front of the TV. I don't exercise and I certainly don't eat healthy food. I eat too much and I'm lazy. I weigh just under 20st (280lbs ish) and have done for the last few years (at least it's been holding steady).

I'm 6ft tall and as I mentioned earlier, I'm naturally quite well built. Although I am way overweight it hasn't had too much of an effect on me, I still take the stairs instead of the lift, I can still walk for miles without getting tired out, everything works OK! I know that as I get older being a "great big fatty" will be doing me no favours though, it's time to make changes right now because just about every other aspect of my life is going rather well...

This has been rather hard to write, I don't know why really but it feels like a confession...