My Life as I Know It

March 23rd 2014 – Day 42

Day 1 Weight:    256lbs                                Day 1 Fitness:   Nil 
Day 42 Weight:  239lbs                                    Day 42 Fitness: Above Average

Week 5

The Princes Trust has now endorsed my challenge with the organisers. All I need now is the confirmation of the date that the trip will take place. Charity Challenge have sent me some information I will need, so much of it that I hope to finish reading it before I get to Tanzania. In the meantime I am just getting on with my fitness training.

I am certain that there is an imposter in my house who is a doppelgänger of myself. It certainly isn't me who is getting up early, going to the gym 6 days a week, and gets up on Saturdays and Sundays before 9 rather than the usual crack of noon.

My fitness has improved to the extent that I can now take in what is going on around me in the gym rather than just trying to get through it. Some things amuse me and some are down right annoying. When I am struggling along on the treadmill to get through my programme the last thing I need is an advert for Britains Next Top model on the next machine running 30% faster than me, without breaking sweat, and still having time to read her text messages and do her hair. I am sure you're lovely but can you please just move along and do something else you're embarrassing me. 

On the other hand, if you are like me and you really need to be on that treadmill and working hard to get fit it may, just may, be a suggestion to actually turn it on. I don't think it counts saying I have spent an hour in the gym if you don't actually do anything. 

Some useful things I have learnt: 

• Chafing is a problem particularly when jogging.
• I think I need a sports bra
• Even though I am fitter, using the stairs to the 6th Floor in work is still a b.....d!

So far the healthy eating regime is not proving too bad. No takeaways, lots of vegetables and fruit. When I really need something sweet or a quick snack I have found cereal bars to be a good substitute for a choccy bar. Well it isn't really, I am lying, but they are tasty enough to mean that I haven't felt the need to indulge in cake or sweets........yet!

Week 6

I woke up to start the week with my first injury, to my right foot. I have no idea how I did it as it was fine the day before when I was at the gym. It was very painful to walk on. This was critical milestone number 2, the first being committing to do this in the first place. All day Monday the demons in my head were telling me not to go to the gym while the angels were telling me to still do something. In the past the demons would have won the day but this time they didn't.

Of course having signed up to a trekking challenge an injury to my foot is not a good start, it could have been an arm or shoulder but no I had to pick a foot, typical. Even so, I was pleasantly surprised at having gone 5 weeks without picking up a strain of any sort, must be doing something right.

I walked into the gym and Chris, the instructor who gave my programme, seemed genuinely pleased when he saw me and remarked how much better I was looking already. This was a bit of a boost and later on thought probably for him too. There is probably endless people who turn up full of good intentions, and then do bugger all, so to have someone who has actually made a real effort must make it seem worthwhile.

I had to avoid any impact training for a few days so spent a lot of time on the exercise bike. Thank goodness I haven't chosen a bike challenge, chafing would be the least of my problems.

Sunday arrived and I felt confident enough to try a bit of jogging, I really should have got that sports bra. I also tried doing the fitness test again. This time the readout says my fitness level is above average with a score of 40.4, it was 27 the first time I did it.  I don't know what the scale is on the score but I think the exercise bike must be a bit faulty. I can't believe I have improved from clinically dead to above average fitness in such a short space of time but I'll take it.

After the gym I went to Cotswold Outdoor shop in Liverpool to invest in some hiking boots. I had the good fortune that one of the staff did Kilimanjaro last year so he was able to give really good advice on the right boots to buy. Here is a photo to prove it really is on now

He has also given me a good insight in to what to expect and pointed out a few things he says nobody tells you before you go:

• The combination of high altitude and the amount of water you have to drink means you spend half the time peeing, and peeing makes you light headed at very high altitude.
• There is lots of very fine back volcanic ash so everyone looks like they are wearing black lipstick and are constantly blowing there nose to clear it out.
• You start to feel the effects of high altitude from about 2500m. At first It feels a bit like a bad hangover so I should be used to that. After that it is pot luck as to who gets it and how bad.
• On his group one person was sent down on day 2, if the medic says you don't go any further you don't go any further no matter how much you want too.
• Those that dropped out did so after the last day before the final summit climb.
• He fell asleep three times while walking to the summit on the final climb. He reckons the mental challenge of overcoming the fatigue was the hardest part. Having to start trekking at midnight with only the head lamps to see became very hypnotic. If you fall the medic assesses you immediately and that could be the end.
• Ear Plugs are an essential item to take with you.
• The internet connection is s..t in the lodge you stay in before and after the climb.
• It's absolutely brilliant, even if I don't make it all the way and, I will want to do it again or something similar...guaranteed. Let's see.

Overall I am pleasantly surprised at how many people have started to take an interest and I am getting many encouraging  words along the way.

Please help keep me motivated by visiting Marks Just Giving Page 

or Text code MPTC50 to 70070 with amount you wish to donate e.g. £10

You can also follow me on Facebook

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

Thanks for watching San Diego 'You stay classy'

Mark

The First Setback

March 9th 2014 – Day 28

Day 1 Weight:    256lbs                                Day 1 Fitness:   Nil 
Day 28 Weight:  244lbs                                    Day 28 Fitness: Average

Week 3

Two weeks have already gone by and my training regime has hardly started in a blaze of glory. Never mind I have now booked on to the Kilimanjaro challenge and paid the joining fee so there really is no going back. All set for October 2014 with 7-8 months to get fit - piece of cake!!

I have followed the programme set out for me and encouragingly although feeling completely knackered at the end of each session have so far felt great the next morning. The bonus is that I am sleeping like a baby but without the dummy and nappies as that would be weird. I have turned 50 though so you never know I might have to revert back to nappies one day soon. That reminds me I must go to my GP for a check up.

Despite the encouraging start a couple of issues do exist. My flexibility is dreadful so the exercises I have been given are causing some twinges in the joints that are affecting my balance. I have made an executive decision to do those at home rather than make a total a..e of myself in a public place. It is not so much embarrassment as more a worry I will take someone down with me.

Midway through the week it was Marie's birthday. With my usual uncanny timing I chose that day to let Craig use my office only to be met with 2.5 tonnes of cake on the next desk to me. I sweated more that day than through any exercise session so far. Is this part of the mental challenge promised? Having avoided temptation all that day the following mid-morning I was feeling a bit peckish. I hovered over a remaining chocolate cookie debating whether to give in to temptation and finally risking it. Approximately 1/1000th of  a second after my fingers touched the cookie I heard 'Oi Kilimanjaro' ring out across the office as I slunk off in shame (still clutching the cookie though).

I got through unscathed to Friday, the day worryingly referred to as 'beasting day' by the gym instructor. I approached the gym with some trepidation but surprised myself that I got through it feeling pretty good and able to do a bit extra. I had to finish off with 3 sets of Burpees. I thought Burpees were what you did to babies after feeding time. All I can say is that I added them to the list of exercises to do at home as I realised my co-ordination is even worse than my balance. It felt like I was going to either break my nose or dislocate a shoulder or both. 

Week 4

At the start of week 4 I have now managed some exercise of between 1 and 2 hours a day for 10 days running. Then came a major setback. I am pleased to report that I haven't faltered but unfortunately the organising company have not had enough people register to complete the trip on the date I have chosen. I have been offered an alternative date but it clashes with another important event. So, at the time of writing the date I will be able to complete this challenge is uncertain. I will not know more until early April so in the meantime I will concentrate on getting fit. It may be I will have an extra 3 months or so to get fit so it is not all gloom.

I am now finding that on some days I can increase the difficulty level or time I spend exercising. I have missed a couple of days this week but that is due to spending many hours travelling. I am feeling a great deal fresher and so have been able to compensate by exercising for a little longer on the other days. I knew on the Tuesday that I would not be able to get to the gym and it actually started to pray on my mind, I have already reached the point that I felt I was missing going. This is a good sign so, when a pre-arranged post work drink came round on Friday, rather than feel guilty about it I thought of it more as a reward. After all everyone has got to have some fun. I did change my intake though, vodka and diet coke counts as a soft drink doesn't it?

At one of my first gym sessions I tried a fitness test programme on the exercise bike. A 5 minute exercise that requires maintaining a steady pace while the machine alters the resistance and measures your heart rate. I was encouraged at the end of the first attempt that the readout confirmed I was still alive, just! By the end of week 4 having exercised 18 out of the last 21 days I tried again. This time the readout confirmed my fitness as average, a start at least.

Now that I am booked in the Princes Trust and Charity Challenge will officially endorse my challenge. When that is done I will launch my donation page. In the meantime for more information about the Princes Trust visit the website at www.princes-trust.org.uk

Here is a photo of the challenge I face. Maybe one of the locals pictured can give me a lift.