May 18th 2014 – Day 98
Day 1 Weight: 256lbs Day 1 Fitness: Nil
Day 70 Weight: 230lbs Day 98 Fitness: Above Average
Weeks 11-14
The last few weeks have been a bit stop start and also frustrating. On the one hand I haven't been getting to the gym as often as I need to yet on the other I have done some things that 10 weeks ago I wouldn't have dreamt of doing. Anyone who suggested them would have thought I had tourette's such would have been the response. The weight loss has slowed considerably but I am still in line with the target I set myself. I need to focus more than ever now.
I have been to the gym a few times but machines haven't been working or I haven't been able to get on them meaning my gym workouts have been shorter. Also my first hill walk over Easter culminated in a jarred knee on the descent which meant I couldn't train for 4 or 5 days. Even now I can still feel the odd twinge but it doesn't stop me.
I intended to get out into Snowdonia over the first May Bank Holiday but the weather forecast was far worse than it turned out to be. Having done some hill walking many years ago I am well aware of how the weather can change and without the proper gear you can get into a bit of bother. So it is frustrating the the forecasts turned out nothing like the reality.
There has been no sign of Britain's Next Top Model in the gym for a few weeks. However, I was informed by a fellow member in a state of high excitement that 8 lap dancers had joined all at the same time. Despite hanging around the gym for 15 hours a day there has not been any sign of them so I think he was making it up to get me to go in.
For the 2nd weekend in May I headed over to Jersey for a few days to visit my brother. Full of good intentions to stay healthy I walked from the airport to St. Helier, went out to buy a mountain of fruit and then went to the pub until 2 in the morning. The landlord kept supplying various shots until the early hours having insisted on a stay behind, it would have been churlish to say no. Whoever thought liquorice Sambuca was a good idea for a drink needs serous help, as did my head the next morning. However, on Saturday afternoon I went for a 7 mile walk from St. Helier to Gorey to blow away the cobwebs and then got the bus back so we could go out to the pub again.
Sunday was spent in the pub as it was the last day of the football season, it has to be done. On Monday I went for another 6-7 mile walk from St. Aubin to St. Ouens for a pub lunch. Then out in the evening for a final few beers. So all in all a healthy weekend.
I weighed myself when I got home to find I had gained 1lb in weight which I thought was a good result.
I have purchased some padded cycling shorts so that I can have the odd bike ride, weather permitting. I set off on my bike to find a nice walking route into work that would avoid most of the traffic fumes. Having found a good 5.5 mile route I set off back home and on a whim just decided to keep going. After about 26-27 miles I was really hungry so set off back home managing 32 miles in total. The padded shorts did help for the most part but I am still full of admiration for professional cyclists, how they can sit on a bike for hours a day everyday is beyond me. Even so, me on a bike for over 30 miles in one go is a bit of a miracle. The good news is that it was hunger that stopped me going further so I am not sure how far I could have gone.
I have plotted a good 5.5 mile route into work that takes me approx 1.5 hours to walk carrying a full rucksack. I have tried it once but will be doing this regularly from now on.
I thought I would try a long walk just to see how my feet would cope in the boots, and how I would cope carrying a big rucksack. I decided to walk to Southport Pier from home having estimated the distance as 17-18 miles, depending upon the route I took. Saturday came, and I rose from bed at 7 am to be greeted with glorious sunshine. I filled my rucksack full of food, drinks and superfluous other stuff just to fill it. I made a decision to risk shocking the public by putting on a pair of shorts. My legs haven't seen sunlight in years so to describe them as white doesn't really do them justice.
I took full precautions and slapped on some SPF30 having learnt from my excursion to Moel Famau. I set off to the Sefton Coastal path and everything was beautifully serene with only the sound of birdsong and me swearing as I forced my way through some stinging nettles. Having filled a 40l rucksack, I am sure I could have found space for some Savlon but decided it would be best if I left it in the bathroom cabinet at home. After all I have to get used to a bit of mental suffering.
I surprised myself by getting as far as Formby Point before I felt like I needed a drink, of water that is not beer!. The first time I went out in my boots I got to the end of my road so this bodes well. I ploughed on through the Pinewoods and then decided to divert to Freshfield and pick up the Fisherman's path. Following the path through to the Coast road I first navigated the notorious rail crossing and a few golf balls. I am certain the golfers wait for a walker or cyclist and treat the crossing as a duck shoot.
I left the path at the coast road into Southport. I decided to stop and have some lunch when I got to the beach at Ainsdale. I haven't been to that part of the beach since family trips out out there as kids and it was great to see so many people enjoying what was a glorious day, it was like revisiting a really good childhood memory.
Having stopped and found a nice place to have my lunch in the dunes I set back off to join the cycle path on the coast road. When I set off my legs, knees and feet screamed at me to stop, it seems my body shuts down when I stop and it takes me 10 minutes or so to wake it up again. Having got back into a rhythm I focused on getting to the Pier. I was amazed at the amount of junk at the side of the road. The usual odd trainer, a couple of t-shirts and empty beer cans. One thing stood out and for whatever reason I found it quite sad. Lying there on the side of the road was a single stuffed antler. What happened to the other one? Is there a child somewhere with their reindeer hat and only one antler? I think the sun beating down on me was starting to have an affect.
I finally reached the Pier after a little over 5 hours and 17 miles. I treated myself to a 99 with a flake and raspberry sauce before walking to the station to get the train home. I have to say I wasn't pleasant to sit next to on the train having spent five hours in the sunshine carrying a full rucksack. If I wasn't me I wouldn't have sat next to me! On the plus side my feet were aching a bit and they did feel like they were now about 3 sizes too big for the boots but I think I could have walked a bit longer.
I got home and the first job was to have a shower. The hot water on the back of my legs was very painful. It was then I realised that I had forgotten to put the SPF30 on my legs. As the sun was behind me almost all the way I didn't really need any on my face but the back of my legs were now bright red, the front still being milky white. Just to add insult to injury I also have tennis players sock marks so my legs look utterly ridiculous. This picture isn't me but it is very close to what I look like.
So all in all my weight hasn't reduced much in the last few weeks but I know my ability to walk for long periods is getting there. To make sure I am ready I have set myself another target by booking myself on to the 3 Peaks challenge, Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowden in 48 hrs. I will be doing that approximately 4 weeks before the big one.
Bring it on!
Please help keep me motivated by visiting Marks Just Giving Page
Day 70 Weight: 230lbs Day 98 Fitness: Above Average
Weeks 11-14
The last few weeks have been a bit stop start and also frustrating. On the one hand I haven't been getting to the gym as often as I need to yet on the other I have done some things that 10 weeks ago I wouldn't have dreamt of doing. Anyone who suggested them would have thought I had tourette's such would have been the response. The weight loss has slowed considerably but I am still in line with the target I set myself. I need to focus more than ever now.
I have been to the gym a few times but machines haven't been working or I haven't been able to get on them meaning my gym workouts have been shorter. Also my first hill walk over Easter culminated in a jarred knee on the descent which meant I couldn't train for 4 or 5 days. Even now I can still feel the odd twinge but it doesn't stop me.
I intended to get out into Snowdonia over the first May Bank Holiday but the weather forecast was far worse than it turned out to be. Having done some hill walking many years ago I am well aware of how the weather can change and without the proper gear you can get into a bit of bother. So it is frustrating the the forecasts turned out nothing like the reality.
There has been no sign of Britain's Next Top Model in the gym for a few weeks. However, I was informed by a fellow member in a state of high excitement that 8 lap dancers had joined all at the same time. Despite hanging around the gym for 15 hours a day there has not been any sign of them so I think he was making it up to get me to go in.
For the 2nd weekend in May I headed over to Jersey for a few days to visit my brother. Full of good intentions to stay healthy I walked from the airport to St. Helier, went out to buy a mountain of fruit and then went to the pub until 2 in the morning. The landlord kept supplying various shots until the early hours having insisted on a stay behind, it would have been churlish to say no. Whoever thought liquorice Sambuca was a good idea for a drink needs serous help, as did my head the next morning. However, on Saturday afternoon I went for a 7 mile walk from St. Helier to Gorey to blow away the cobwebs and then got the bus back so we could go out to the pub again.
Sunday was spent in the pub as it was the last day of the football season, it has to be done. On Monday I went for another 6-7 mile walk from St. Aubin to St. Ouens for a pub lunch. Then out in the evening for a final few beers. So all in all a healthy weekend.
I weighed myself when I got home to find I had gained 1lb in weight which I thought was a good result.
I have purchased some padded cycling shorts so that I can have the odd bike ride, weather permitting. I set off on my bike to find a nice walking route into work that would avoid most of the traffic fumes. Having found a good 5.5 mile route I set off back home and on a whim just decided to keep going. After about 26-27 miles I was really hungry so set off back home managing 32 miles in total. The padded shorts did help for the most part but I am still full of admiration for professional cyclists, how they can sit on a bike for hours a day everyday is beyond me. Even so, me on a bike for over 30 miles in one go is a bit of a miracle. The good news is that it was hunger that stopped me going further so I am not sure how far I could have gone.
I have plotted a good 5.5 mile route into work that takes me approx 1.5 hours to walk carrying a full rucksack. I have tried it once but will be doing this regularly from now on.
I thought I would try a long walk just to see how my feet would cope in the boots, and how I would cope carrying a big rucksack. I decided to walk to Southport Pier from home having estimated the distance as 17-18 miles, depending upon the route I took. Saturday came, and I rose from bed at 7 am to be greeted with glorious sunshine. I filled my rucksack full of food, drinks and superfluous other stuff just to fill it. I made a decision to risk shocking the public by putting on a pair of shorts. My legs haven't seen sunlight in years so to describe them as white doesn't really do them justice.
I took full precautions and slapped on some SPF30 having learnt from my excursion to Moel Famau. I set off to the Sefton Coastal path and everything was beautifully serene with only the sound of birdsong and me swearing as I forced my way through some stinging nettles. Having filled a 40l rucksack, I am sure I could have found space for some Savlon but decided it would be best if I left it in the bathroom cabinet at home. After all I have to get used to a bit of mental suffering.
I surprised myself by getting as far as Formby Point before I felt like I needed a drink, of water that is not beer!. The first time I went out in my boots I got to the end of my road so this bodes well. I ploughed on through the Pinewoods and then decided to divert to Freshfield and pick up the Fisherman's path. Following the path through to the Coast road I first navigated the notorious rail crossing and a few golf balls. I am certain the golfers wait for a walker or cyclist and treat the crossing as a duck shoot.
I left the path at the coast road into Southport. I decided to stop and have some lunch when I got to the beach at Ainsdale. I haven't been to that part of the beach since family trips out out there as kids and it was great to see so many people enjoying what was a glorious day, it was like revisiting a really good childhood memory.
Having stopped and found a nice place to have my lunch in the dunes I set back off to join the cycle path on the coast road. When I set off my legs, knees and feet screamed at me to stop, it seems my body shuts down when I stop and it takes me 10 minutes or so to wake it up again. Having got back into a rhythm I focused on getting to the Pier. I was amazed at the amount of junk at the side of the road. The usual odd trainer, a couple of t-shirts and empty beer cans. One thing stood out and for whatever reason I found it quite sad. Lying there on the side of the road was a single stuffed antler. What happened to the other one? Is there a child somewhere with their reindeer hat and only one antler? I think the sun beating down on me was starting to have an affect.
I finally reached the Pier after a little over 5 hours and 17 miles. I treated myself to a 99 with a flake and raspberry sauce before walking to the station to get the train home. I have to say I wasn't pleasant to sit next to on the train having spent five hours in the sunshine carrying a full rucksack. If I wasn't me I wouldn't have sat next to me! On the plus side my feet were aching a bit and they did feel like they were now about 3 sizes too big for the boots but I think I could have walked a bit longer.
I got home and the first job was to have a shower. The hot water on the back of my legs was very painful. It was then I realised that I had forgotten to put the SPF30 on my legs. As the sun was behind me almost all the way I didn't really need any on my face but the back of my legs were now bright red, the front still being milky white. Just to add insult to injury I also have tennis players sock marks so my legs look utterly ridiculous. This picture isn't me but it is very close to what I look like.
So all in all my weight hasn't reduced much in the last few weeks but I know my ability to walk for long periods is getting there. To make sure I am ready I have set myself another target by booking myself on to the 3 Peaks challenge, Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowden in 48 hrs. I will be doing that approximately 4 weeks before the big one.
Bring it on!
Please help keep me motivated by visiting Marks Just Giving Page
or TEXT code MPTC50 £amount to 70070 e.g. MPTC £5
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Mark
