Monday
No, I didn't reach my weight loss target last week. It was the first week when I didn't, so I can't get too despondent. What I must do is increase my efforts!
Today, I cycled in to work, taught English and maths between 9 and 4:15, and then cycled home the long way. The long route took me over 15 miles at just under 15mph.
At home, I cooked dinner for the family with the help of some real ale!
Beers, no junkfood, cycling
Tuesday
I cycled in to work, I cycled home from work. In the Dojo tonight, I was in charge of the higher grades advanced session. We worked on traditional blocks and counters against punches. The kind of stuff I was doing with Sensei Paul Hexley in about 2003! I enjoyed it, I hope the young people did too.
At home, I scoffed loads of chicken and pasta and drank water.
No alcohol, no junkfood, Karate
Wednesday
I cycled in to work. After lessons, I went along to the college gym with James.
He had very kindly brought along a late birthday present for me - an extremely useful Endura cycling rain jacket. The kind that folds away into a tiny bag. Thanks James!
We completed our hour of training and, with James offering much needed moral support, I managed to equal my all-time record for bench press.
I cycled home to make dinner and to drink water.
No alcohol, no junkfood, weight training
Thursday
I cycled in to college and back. After work, I did an hour's weight training at home involving dead lifts and shrugs.
I drank water.
No alcohol, no junkfood, weight training
Friday
I cycled in to work and back.
I was in charge at the dojo tonight. I did my usual Kihon, Kata and Kumite lesson and ended with a line-up. It became obvious that many of our students lack the necessary Karate spirit and aggression to take them through drills like this. That's not their fault, it's something we need to work on and encourage.
I had to collect Mouse form the station so I stayed sober.
No alcohol, no junkfood, Karate
Saturday
After looking at the very soggy weather forecast for Sunday, the lads and I agreed to ride on Saturday morning instead. Jonnie was away, but Roger, James, Mark and I headed off from my house and made our way out to Hay Wood along our Honiley Variation Route. Roger said he was feeling better than he had been last week, which is encouraging, so I tried to maintain the average above 13mph without putting him under too much pressure. He hasn't ridden this regularly for a long time.
We kept the pace chatty, with two men on the front and the other two on their wheels. It worked and we rolled along nicely. At Featherbed, I got on the front and brought the speed up to 19mph and held it there. Not too fast to put anyone under pressure, but fast enough to test the legs.
At Wilmcote the cake was fantastic and the coffee was awful. After a nice chat with Jane, we headed back out and, after checking that Roger's legs were okay, I suggested we keep the average at 13mph or above. I'm very pleased to report that we rode as a team and, even when we extended the ride a little bit to include Pig Trot, we found it easy to achieve our 13mph target.
Mark and I contested the sprint and had great fun racing each other to Lamppost 13.
The lads came back for coffee and to watch some vintage F1 on tele!
Lucy was out and about with the car so I cycled to the dojo. Today was the last lesson at Shirley Village Hotel before we move over to Dickens Heath Village Hall. I did an all-request lesson - working on whatever the young people wanted. To my surprise they asked to do kata, and then to finish the lesson with a kumite competition. We had a lot of fun in our punches only competition at the end and everyone went home happy. I sincerely hope I will see them again at the new dojo.
When I got home, Lucy and I had a coffee with our friends Dodgy and Sue before driving off to Halfords to collect my new bicycle. It's only a cheap aluminium hybrid for the commute, but it has hydraulic discs, 1.95" tyres and Shimano 2x9. It will be ideal for the winter. I collected it in the box because Halfords charge extra to build it for you!
In the evening, I did some marking, drank a few ales, and watched Strictly with the family.
Beers, junkfood, cycling, Karate
Sunday
I woke up with a bit of a sore head!
Today, I did some ironing and then set about building my new bike. It didn't take that long to put it together. The time consuming part was dismantling the mountain bike and hiding all the bits I wanted to keep around the garage so my wife wouldn't bin them.
I went along to the dojo this evening. I met Sensei Gary in the car park and he was obviously not very well. I took the lesson so that he could go home to recover.
Back home for homemade curry and beer!
Beers, no junkfood, Karate
In summary, I exercised every day, I had four sober days, and only ate unhealthy food on Saturday. Not too bad!
