Let the Training Begin

February 23rd 2014 – Day 14

Week 1

So, I have taken the first step made a commitment and joined the gym. Easy, all plain sailing from now on or so you would think. Whether due to some deep-rooted phobia of fitness training or a subconscious desire to set myself up for a fall things haven't started well.

I chose the perfect day to join the gym. I could have chosen a day when my innate shallowness could be indulged. However, I chose the day when the fitness instructor was an an ex-army guy rather than a cute 20 something blond girl. Never mind at least he will get me motivated; as he so ominously promised. Leaving the gym with my new membership card clutched tightly in my hand I nervously awaited my initial induction set for the following Thursday morning.

Wednesday comes and again with almost telepathic foresight I had arranged a visit to the new Company HQ in Slough on the day of the 'Big Storm'. Having received regular updates throughout the day on the ever increasing travel chaos I set off back to Liverpool with Peter S in tow. It seemed a good idea to get something to eat first, 'just in case', so we chose the healthiest option available to us and went to McDonalds. Finally arriving home about midnight I went straight to bed.

Having spent many hours driving the previous evening I arose on Thursday morning full of 'excited' anticipation. Today is the day it all really starts I thought to myself. An hour later sitting in the gym, listening to the personal trainer assuring me that it is isn't unusual to feel nauseous the first time, all I could think of was I am going to look a right prat now if I fall at first hurdle. However, I got back in the saddle and carried on with some sage words about diet and lifestyle to take away and arranging to meet again Monday to develop a proper training schedule.

The rest of the week went as follows:

Thursday, airport to pick up John visiting for the weekend, Chinese takeaway and then back to Crosby for a pint or two but only shandies for me.

Friday, gym (without feeling nauseous), in to town with John and Andy for several beers.

Saturday, so much for getting up early, I managed it just before noon.I wedged in going for an hours walk before going into town for Peter's 30th Birthday party at FACT. Peter's lovely girlfriend Joanna had prepared a short film to celebrate the occasion and helpfully, though unintentionally, included several motivational photo's of me with Peter looking dreadfully unfit (me that is not Peter). Nothing like seeing your bloated unfit body blown up on the big screen to motivate yourself I thought stuffing in a 2nd frankfurter and washing it down with a couple of beers, champagne and a handful of vodka's. The vodka's were with diet coke though so that's alright.

Sunday, woke early (ish) with a head cold and a bit of a cough. Spent most of the day feeling completely washed out. So far so bad.

Week 2

Monday comes and my cold is really starting to kick in. Never mind all I need to do is sit with the gym instructor for half an hour while he sorts out a training schedule for me to start another day. 'We'll sweat that out' he offers helpfully as he prepares a three day programme usefully described as:

• Day 1 warm up for the rest of the week;
• Day 2 push yourself; 
• Day 3 'beasting' day. 

Day three will be on a Friday so that 'you can have the weekend off to get over it' he gently encouraged me. Although don't forget there is no reason why I can't go swimming, on a bike ride or a gentle trundle along the treadmill on Saturday and Sunday just to stay loose.

An hour and a half later after receiving instruction on the various exercises and feeling twinges in the old knees, and muscles I didn't know I had Chris suggested (instructed) that I finish off with the treadmill exercise he had allotted me for day 2 just to get warmed up. On paper it seemed easy enough, a brisk walk for 30 minutes. I should be so lucky I wheezed half an hour later before slipping off home for a good sleep.

The following day unable to breathe properly, as the head cold turned to a vicious cough, I was regretting lighting those candles and praying before the Gods of Apathy for a way out. A bit of hard exercise has got to be better than this I tried to convince myself. I knew I wasn't going to be able to get the gym and I felt a twinge of guilt, a positive glimmer of light amongst the gloom.

Staying away from the gym and the office for a couple of days, due to almost terminal man flu, I tried to do a an hour or so on my treadmill at home just managing to stagger through while the sandpaper rasped at my throat and windpipe.

By Friday I was feeling better and managed a brisk 'power walk' on the treadmill on a hill setting. This didn't seem too bad so flushed with success I went to the gym full of confidence the next day. Again things were going well before being asked to leave as they wanted to shut, timing is everything.

Today I managed a full days programme at the gym and on leaving felt as though all I needed was a good lie down. After a half hour resting I actually felt pretty good despite still having a few lingering remnants of man flu. It really does start now, there is no going back, roll on Kilimanjaro.

Oh did I forget to mention that, I am going to attempt climbing Kilimanjaro - all 5,895 metres or 19,341 feet of it.

So to summarise my first two weeks I have progressed from this 

to this

Day 1 Weight:    256lbs                                Day 1 Fitness:   Nil 

Day 15 Weight:  249.5lbs                                 Day 15 Fitness: Diabolical

For more information on the Princes Trust visit the website at www.princes-trust.org.uk

Day 1

   

Mark’s Adventure Challenge

February 10^th 2014 – Day 1

Day 1 Weight: 256lbs Day 1 Fitness: Nil

Those that know me well know that I let my mouth run away with me sometimes. For once in my life I now have to put not just my money where my mouth is but also my heart, soul, legs, knees and anything else that still functions.

I turned 50 last October, and have spent a lifetime committed to avoiding physical activity. Now a chance conversation about my constant battle to overcome my willpower bypass has resulted in a commitment to undertake a major physical and mental challenge to raise money for the Princes Trust. Having committed myself to a challenge the legendary Ron Burgundy immediately sprang to mind when I recalled the origins of the conversation and thought to myself ‘well that escalated quickly’. As of today I do not yet know what the challenge will be other than I will need to spend several months losing the fat and getting fit. The evil glint in Lisa Quinn’s eye means there is no turning back. Lisa I will thank you for this one day.

To put this into some sort of perspective as a kid anything more than a 200m run or 5 minutes running round a football pitch was to be avoided at all costs. I was the kid that used to field on the boundary at cricket to keep me out of the way. I used to sneak off and hide in the school greenhouse during cross-country runs and join the back of the field when they came through the gates. I still looked like I had run further than everyone else. I would rather be slumped on the sofa reading a book. The last time I did any serious training was in 1999 when I ran a half marathon; I did that out of a refusal to back out of a challenge. I have been on a steady decline in fitness since and a steady incline in weight gain. After all why go on a 30 minute run when I can spend those 30 minutes savouring a bar of Dairy Milk. For me apple pie counts as one of my five a day. I am getting to the point that Channel 4 has come sniffing round to make a documentary.

So the only challenge I have set myself so far is to commit to something I do not think I can achieve. That is the only way I will fully commit to the training and change of lifestyle needed to complete it.  If I said I would do a skydive to raise money I wouldn’t commit, if I committed to abseiling down the Liver Building I would suggest a stronger rope. It is now a case of wait and see which way the dice falls and what I am going to do.

So, February 10^th 2014 is the first day of my new life. I have weighed in and joined a gym. From now on its healthy eating, cut down the alcohol, early to bed, early to rise and regular exercise sessions. Please follow my progress and encourage me along the way, if you see me falter pick me up, if you see me eating a pie take it off me and punch me in the face. Do not, under any circumstances allow me to use the lift.  More than that, when you see the extent of the challenge I am undertaking think about donating and the sacrifices I am making to give young people a new start in life. 

Watch this space for details of my donation page.

Mark