Cheat Weekend extended to Cheat WeakendS !

Not really !

I havent been on the bicycle all month and not been to the field in about 2 weeks. On my last run I picked up a serious blister, big enough to cause serious pain, stripping away of flesh, etc. I was limping for a couple days afterwards.

I needed to make a couple adjustments to ensure that my feet are comfortable in my shoe, so i stopped off and got a couple of Dr. Scholls Double Air Pillows, one set for my work shoes and another for my sneakers. I have a brand new pair but they fit much too close for my comfort so I might sell em to a friend and get another pair.

This morning my feet felt much better so we went off walking. I could have gone riding but with the kids in tow (Antoinette's niece and nephew) we figured that it might be easier for them walking around a field instead of along a road. If they got tired they could sit and wait, on the road they would have to walk all the way back to the car. My ankles ached a lot when I jogged, so it was mostly brisk walking (12 laps in all).

Next week it's back to walking/running on Monday/Wednesday/Friday and riding on Saturday

Cheat Weekend - No Riding !

I knew it would happen eventually, a weekend where I wouldnt get out to ride and I would feel guilty over it, and it happened this weekend.

The weekday walking/running sessions were good and apart from Friday where my energy and enthusiasm level just plummeted, we got in some serious work. Antoinette joined us on Friday and did well until her knees started aching and she basically crawled the last lap. I had no energy and my back was killing me, so after 7 or 8 laps I just stopped.

On Saturday morning I took T all the way to Ewarton to look at a house and then went off to help a friend move house. We didnt finish that until about 8pm and didnt hit bed until about midnight. That was more than enough to scuttle Sunday morning ride. I knew I would feel guilty but I also knew that life will sometime interfere and keep me from riding occasionally.

This evening its walking again, have to make up for strolling most of Friday evening.

Knowlege is Power !

Another week another couple days of working out.

Monday evening was good, getting in over an hour of walking/running with Andre. Wednesday was dead as I was busy with work and blew it off, Friday was great as my better half joined us and nearly kicked the crap out of us. Seriously though, missing that one day made me feel guilty.

This morning was nice and cool and it even drizzled lightly as I rode. Of course you know there is usually extra wind around with the rain and riding in wind is always a chore. This morning I went out quickly and did well, but starting out quickly usually takes it toll later on, and it did. I had to stop for a drink before completing the full ride.

This morning I met a couple guys on the road and they offered some very good advice. They noticed that I was riding in a pretty high gear and suggested that since I had just started back after months of inactivity, I should be riding in a very low gear and just spin away to build my capacity (lungs, heart, etc) and legs. Riding in a high gear makes it harder to pedal and you cover more distance. Its like lifting weights, if the intention is to lose weight, then you go with relatively light weights for 15-20 reps, if you're building muscle mass you go for heavy weights and crank out 6-8 reps. One gives you an aerobic workout (high reps, spinning) while the other gives a more anaerobic workout (heavy weights, high gear)

This also brings home the reality that I am over 40, in lousy shape and need to concentrate on doing it right, building slowly and not setting unrealistic goals. So no 100 miles in May, more likely nearer the end of the year.

On the way home it was still very overcast, so I called up Andre and bullied in into going walking. He really didnt need much encouragement, we were off in a light drizzle and did 10 laps of the football field before quitting as a result of the drizzle getting heavier. If it hadnt we would have gone on for 15 laps. I didnt just walk this morning but did also did some jogging and that is what told me in no uncertain terms that I am one fat unfit fuck !!

Good morning, good workout, good all around week.

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January 30, 2010

Miles today - 12.0

Miles Ridden MTD - 75

Target MTD (revised) - 75

Target for February 2010 - 100 miles

I Fought the Wind and WON !!

This morning was hell, but I fought the rain and the breeze and I won !
My routine is taking shape. Walking 3 days during the week and cycling 2 days on the weekend. It might not always go according to plan but I have to make sure that I get minimum 3 days of aerobic workout per week.

I've already posted about my Monday evening walk, on Wednesday we upped the ante by doing 10 laps of the football field before heading back home. I didnt push the pace as I still had the small blister from Monday. Andre enjoyed it though and texted me to say he felt very energetic the next morning. Friday evening didnt happen as Andre was out of town working and couldnt make it back in time, and I was very distracted with the T20 match on tv.

Missing Friday evening convinced me to head out Saturday morning for a make up. Normally I would be up and out before 6am but the warm bed and wifey felt so good, so I left an hour later. It was overcast so I figured I could do 24 miles easily..........
NOT SO !!!






On the way back on my first ride, the wind kicked up fierecely and I knew that rain was close by as it got chilly very quickly. Half way back it started pelting. Normally I would struggle against heavy wind but since coming back I have been getting into a decent rhythm, pedalling more, coasting less, feeling much better. This morning I just powered through and made it back to the car, exhausted but ok.

The wind kicked the shit out of me though and I really didnt feel like going back out, I was soaking wet and cold, but that didnt stop me from picking up apples, bananas, some cashew and trail mix for the house and a nice piece of jack fruit for Antoinette. On second inspection the jack fruit looks a bit young, hope its edible.

I am determined to get as much refined crap as possible out of my diet, the refined crap that will still have to be consumed will be controlled - STARTING RIGHT NOW WITH PEPSI COLA ! Sodas are now a thing of the past, I have to get my sugar intake down and stopping soda with all the carbon and caffine and God knows what else is a good way to start. Cashews, peanuts, hazel nuts, trail mix, etc. are what will keep me company during the days, now I will just have to find a way to buy in larger packages for a better price (I wonder if Pricesmart has cashews ?)

Walking again Monday evening

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January 22, 2011

Miles Today - 11.7

Miles Ridden MTD - 51.4

Target for the Month - 75 (revised up from 50)

Miles Needed for Target - 23.6

Adding Walking to the Mix !

I've added walking to the exercise mix and know that this will help with the getting fit plan I have for 2011. My best friend Andre who's pushing 300 plus has from time to time worked out with me and really just need someone to keep him company while walking. Back in 05 he and I worked out at a private gym for about 6 months leading up to my wedding and he was very disciplined, lost quite a bit too. Like me, work stress inevitably gets in the way and we retreat to inactivity.

Andre's pushing 320lbs and I am at 235lbs, we have been friends since high school so we have known each other for about 26 years, he was one of the groomsmen at my wedding and have always been very involved in my life, we are both pushing the big 40 now and I know if we dont start getting active we wont live to see the big 50 !

40 minutes of very brisk walking was enough for the first day out. We walked through his neighbourhood to a football field and did 5 laps, then we walked all the way back to his house. We got a pretty good workout and having my phone there with about 2 days with of music helped, we just dialed up some hip hop music and just stepped to the beat.

The plan is Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings for an hour of intense walking (time will probably increase the fitter we become). I got a small blister on my left foot during the walk and have to make sure that I lace up my sneakers pretty good so my feet dont move around while I'm walking, its feeling better this morning and I am hoping that it will be all healed by Wednesday.

One thing I have found is that brisk walking leaves you winded pretty quickly and building up stamina walking will definitely help with my riding. Andre used to hike a lot years ago, gonna see if we can get involved in that again, and he's very interested in getting a bicycle.

Woo Hoo: I am down 10 lbs.

I work on the road and my job has me interacting with all the major supermarkets in Kingston and St. Andrew, the temptation of eating all the sugary and starchy crap and drinking all the soda I want is in front of me on a daily basis, yet over the past couple months I have lost 10 lbs.

In January I quit my job with WBS. I loved my job and I could see myself working there for the next 10 years and enjoying the heck out of it, but sometimes things happen and you move on and you are surprised at how much better you feel from not having the constant stress on you, the stress to over-perform, over-achieve, yadda yadda yadda.

I decided that I wanted less stress, to try and start by own business, spend more time spent trying to live a healthier lifestyle and trying my best to forge an even closer relationship with my wife, (I have a tendency of being a work-a-holic and sometimes spending way too much time on the job or on the internet) and the it has been trying as day to day challenges and bills come in, but working together as a team really helps, instead of me taking on everything, bottling it up and trying to solve everything myself, Antoinette shares the burden with me.

I have been riding on and off (more off than on actually) for the past few months and you can look back through all the entries here and follow my (mis ?) adventures, but at the end of January I decided that I really needed to commit to upping the intensity, so 2 Saturdays ago I rode 25 miles and this Saturday I did 23.5. I am also trying to do 2 in the week 5 miles ride, but I haven't consistently followed through on that yet. The result has been pleasing - I am down 10lbs.

I have not put myself on a strict diet or anything. I am eating better since moving further from Kingston, more bananas, yams and potatoes and less rice and bread, I have cut Pepsi consumption but not totally eliminated it, and I eat my dinner before 6pm and in slightly smaller servings (I don't eat until I feel full, I stop just before)

The address of this blog is target190lbs for a reason as a weight of 190lbs is my ultimate goal. Way back when I started this blog I was 250lbs, I am down to 240, the next step is 230 and knowing that I am well on my way is motivation enough to really crank out some miles on Saturday and beyond.

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Weight

October - 250 lbs
February - 240 lbs

End of 2010 Target - 200 lbs

Looking Good at 60

I have not started riding again and I have only myself to blame.

We moved back in June and it has taken a while to adjust to the new location. It is not very far from Kingston, it just seems far because of the hills that I have to climb to get home. I have noticed though that although the cars, buses and trucks all travel at a zillion miles per hour up here, that doesnt stop peeps from riding.

I still havent replaced my bicycle yet (can you say pro-cras-ti-nation) I have a couple hundred US dollars in my paypal account and I have found a very basic road bicycle on amazon, so I will go with that. I am ordering it this week and will start back when it arrives. If I am going to ride up here I will have to get used to traffic on the road and will have many little hills to tackle, and leave the 10 mile run in Kingston for Saturday and Sunday mornings.

As for the title of this post, I ran into a friend of mine today, we used to work out together 10-12 years ago, he continued working out, and even openned a bodybuilding supplememt business and I let it all go to hell. He's trim, looks good and is 60 IN DECEMBER. I could not believe it, it is obvious that he dyes his hair but he's trim, his arms bulges and he looks damn good. Very simple he said "Eat right and work out hard"

He likes the fact that I am riding (will start back soon, I promise) and invited me to visit him at his store on a Saturday when he's working so we can discuss diet.

I think I will take him up on that.