How to Lose a Belly When You're 43 (part 35)

Monday
The first day of my rest week. The idea is that because my body is rested, I'll be able to hit a decent average speed on the bike at the weekend. I suppose it's an experiment.
I drove in to work and back, ate whatever I liked and in the evening I enjoyed a couple of ales.
So far, so good.

Tuesday
Weight 10st 1lbs
I cycled to work and back today. The legs didn't feel any different.
Again, I allowed myself a few treats and in the evening, Lucy and I had a couple of drinks.
It was strange not going to the Tuesday night Karate session!

Wednesday.
Weight 10st 1lbs
I cycled in to work. The legs don't feel any stronger than they usually do. I went biscuit mad at work and then struggled home in a headwind. I made a chicken stir fry for the family and then drank some red wine. I staggered off to bed at 11.

Thursday
Weight: 10st 1lbs
I woke up feeling a bit crap! This 'week off' isn't doing me any good! I felt fine after the bike ride in to work, however. I ate whatever I wanted at work and had to stay late until 7pm (11 hours is enough for anyone.)
I actually felt some strength in the legs on the ride home!
Unfortunately, with the prospect of Eid and an empty classroom tomorrow, I got a bit carried away with the drinking. Lucy and I stayed up late in the back garden and I went through 3 bottles of ale and 2 large glasses of red wine! Hic!

Friday
It gets worse:
I cycled to work and back, fuelled by tons of junkfood.
I picked up Martha from the dojo. On the walk out of the club I was talking to one of the other karateka. He just happened to mention that he used to attend a deaf school. I was very shocked. He explained to me that he lip reads in the dojo and that he has always reacted to the other karateka's movement, not the instructions from the Sensei (because he can't hear them, obviously!) This man is now a 5th Dan black belt and I've been training under him since I joined Ruach in 2013. Amazing!
In the evening, Lucy convinced me to go out to the work's night out up town "for a couple of drinks." After two drinks, I suggested to the Mrs that we should make our way home. She wanted to stay a bit longer. I ended up drinking 6 pints of Guinness followed by another beer when I got home. Spannered.

Drinking up town: "Can I have a Flake with that?"

Saturday
Weight: 9st 13lbs
I woke up feeling crap at about 5am. I drank a pint of water and had 3 aspirin. I woke up again at about 9 feeling marginally better. After a slow breakfast I decided to fix that dripping tap that had been annoying me for weeks.
About ten minutes later, I was trying to hold the tap in place with one hand while using my phone to call Jonnie, Sensei Gary and Sensei Tony with the other! The water was running out of the pipe, down my arm and was in danger of flooding half the kitchen. Sensei Gary gave me some valuable instructions and Jonnie rushed round to find the stopcock for me. It was Sensei Tony who saved the day: he gave up his Saturday afternoon in front of the World Cup to get under my sink with his spanners. An hour later, the sink was behaving itself and order was restored.
I don't think he reads this blog, but if he does: Thanks once again Sensei Tony!
What a way to cure a hangover!
I dropped Martha off at the dojo and went home to recover. An hour later, I came to collect her. She was at the front of a line-up using a technique Sensei Ronnie had first shown me on one of his advanced sessions. Martha was doing a great job of it too! Everyone there seemed to have been working hard for the hour and there were lots of shiny happy faces!
After the session, Sensei Gary, Sensei Tony and myself discussed potential plans for the increasingly popular Saturday afternoon session. There was talk of using two rooms at the same time or extending the class to two hours. Should the session be split by age or grade? Exciting times ahead! Watch this space, and this space.
Later on, Martha and I built a bar in the backgarden ready for the next two weekends of parties in honour of Tilly's 21st birthday. Worryingly, I had a pain in the crook of my elbow anytime I lifted something heavy.
In the evening, I stretched out on the couch with two recovery beers.

Sunday
Weight 10st 0lbs
This was it: the big test. Had six days of rest had a beneficial effect on my body? Only one way to find out: I jumped on the bike and called for Uncle Jonnie!
Disappointingly, I was still struggling. Jonnie was happily spinning away at nearly 17mph while having a chat. I was gasping out one word answers and trying to keep up. The legs felt okay, it was my chest letting me down - the fitness wasn't there. I was very glad to get to the cakestop after 23 hard-fought miles.
Strangely enough, after a sit down, two slices of cake and a hot cuppa, I was ready to give it another go. We headed off hard, determined to get up to 40 miles and put in a good performance. We had to alter our usual ride slightly to get 40 miles in before we got back to Jonnie's. I'm pleased to report that I felt a lot fitter and Jonnie said I looked like I might have another 10 miles left in me. So maybe the rest did have a beneficial effect, just not as dramatically as I would have liked.
I was on driving duty this afternoon, fetching Lucy from the NEC, so I couldn't go to dojo. I'll be glad to get back into training next week!

The most surprising thing about this week of debauchery is that I didn't gain a single pound in weight...

How to Lose a Belly When You're 43 (part 34)

Monday
Weight10st 1lb
Back to work. I cycled in to work, resisted all junkfood, and cycled home again.
In the evening, I did a solid weight session but dropped the barbell curls down to 37kg for 5x5.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Tuesday
Weight: 10st 1lbs
Cycled to work and back and then headed off to dojo.
The dreaded fitness guy was there! Expecting an hour of skipping and medicine ball torture, I rushed to the changing rooms to change out of my groin guard. Thankfully, I didn't do any circuit training, just lots of excellent kata training and pad work.
I was talking to Martha in the car on the way to dojo and explaining that I miss doing the pad work that I did in two of my previous clubs. Sensei Gary must be a mind reader because he had the pads ready to go for our session tonight! I got myself to the front of a line up, ready to get stuck in to the pads. We were asked to do a mawashi geri using the back foot. I launched myself into it, determined to go for height and power...
The next thing I knew, I was lying on the floor with about four black belts looking down at me. "You alright?" one of them asked.
I picked myself up and staggered off to the back of the line for another go...
We were also drilled in basics by Sensei Jody and went through some of the detail of Kata Jion with Sensei Tony. An excellent Tuesday night session!
Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Wednesday
I cycled in to work and back and then did a good weights session.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Thursday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
Blood pressure: 127/80
Resting heart rate: 48
I cycled to work and back.
After work, I went out for a 10K run. As well as painful to my lower back and knees, I also find running rather boring. I must invest in some headphones one day. Good heavy metal would help to pass the hour nicely! I was slow and tired tonight, finishing in 63m and 16s.
I allowed myself a couple of beers with dinner.
10K run, no junkfood, 2 beers.

Friday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
Cycled in to work and back.
Tonight's Karate session was run by Sensei Jody. He did a great job of keeping the lesson moving and provided something for everyone. The kids enjoy themselves and the adults work hard. Sensei Jody was kind enough to spend half an hour with me after the lesson working on the very basics of my Karate: my stance, use of hips, breathing and weight distribution. Priceless training!
I celebrated the end of the working week with three quality ales.
Karate, no junkfood, 3 beers.

Saturday
Weight:9st 13lbs
Today, Mouse and I wandered around the Barber Institute of Fine Arts at the University of Birmingham. It is a wonderfully calm and beautifully presented gallery. I was very pleasantly surprised to find works by Degas, Manet, Van Gogh, Gauguin and Turner! After this, we had a good look around the university itself before heading up to Birmingham to buy comics!
I didn't get back in time for Karate this afternoon so I did an hour of weight lifting instead.
Of course, there were weekend beers too...
Weight training, no junkfood, 3 beers.

Sunday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
A lovely dry day for a bike ride!
Jonnie and I headed off into the lanes at 9am. It was a little chilly. I had three layers on but Jonnie was down to his bare arms! He hurtled off the front in an effort to get warm and it was all I could do to stay with him! After a few miles of this I had to ask him to slow down, I just didn't have the legs. We were overtaken by the Solihull A ride; we know they were the A ride because we asked them. We tried to stay on the back of their peleton. I was up to 28 mph in the largest gear I have (I'd never used it before!) and they still just rode away from me. Their level of fitness it amazing. I know I'll never be that fit and it makes me a little sad. But not sad enough to give up beer and cake...
Speaking of cake, Jane was away today but she had left some of her wonderful coffee and walnut cake. Jonnie and I got stuck in and spent a pleasant half hour chatting to Tina and Eric.
The ride back was better than the ride there. I think Jonnie was finally beginning to slow down and I was managing to hold the average at 14.6mph. Unfortunately, the last few hills ate away at my energy and Jonnie ended up waiting for me on the flat three miles back to base.
We discussed my worrying lack of fitness and decided that I may be overtraining. Next week will be a rest week to see if it makes a difference to my cycling!
38 miles at 14.5mph.
The Sunday Karate session was awesome! Sensei Ronnie ran the session and I got to partner Sensei Jody and Sensei Russell. I know that they weren't giving it full power but I still feel I did okay against them. Sensie Jody wasn't correcting me as much as he usually has to. He did give me another nice bruise however! 

Bruises on bruises. I must be getting tougher, right?

In the line up, we were under intense scrutiny from Sensei Ronnie and I really felt the pressure. Sensei even gave me press ups as a punishment when I screwed up dangerously. However, I did manage to get in a good mawashi geri and a few black belts complimented me on it which felt amazing! Especially as this was the same kick that put me on my back on Tuesday (although today I was using my front leg.) By the end of the 2 hour session, the sweat was running down my face and with 38 miles in the legs before the session had even started, I was almost exhausted! Brilliant training! Book your place at Ruach Karate.
In the evening, Jane and Eric came for dinner and I felt it necessary to indulge in even more beer!
Cycling: 38 miles, Karate: 2 hours, junkfood, beer.

How to Lose a Belly When You're 43 (part 33)

Monday
First day of my half term holiday
I did some weight lifting, ate healthily and didn't drink booze.

Tuesday
Jonnie and I went along for a 35 mile bike ride. It's apparent that I'm not very fit at the moment. Jonnie and I discussed the idea that I may be overtraining...
Karate in the evening, no junkfood, a couple of ales.

Wednesday
No junkfood, no alcohol.
During today's weight training session, I failed to curl five sets of five reps at 38kg. I'll drop it down to 37 next week.

Thursday
I ran a 10K in 61 minutes and 46 seconds. I didn't have any junkfood but I did drink some beer.

Friday
Lucy and I went down to Wilmcote to visit Jane and Eric. Jane had made me a cake for the occasion and I helped myself to a beer! Friday training was excellent as usual - this time saw Sensei Russell in charge with Sensei Ronnie helping out!

Saturday
It was a lovely sunny morning without much wind. Perfect for cycling!
Some of the NWAlps boys Joined Jonnie and me for a fast 40 miler in the lanes. Russ, Ian and Deadly Dan are rather serious cyclists and they do a lot of off-road too. In my opinion, having done both, Mountain biking keeps you considerably fitter than road cycling and these guys are the proof of that. Also, Russ is no stranger to a seventy mile ride as part of his usual weekend!
With this is mind, I got on the front and tried to set a pace that would keep these guys interested while not killing Jonnie and me!
I'd decided on the Honiley route because, with it being Harry's birthday party in the afternoon, I didn't think Jonnie would have the time to do a 50 miler. Unfortunately, Russ and Dan told me that I'd led them out on this route before! Sorry chaps, I thought these lanes would be new to you.
Early on, climbing up Rising Lane past Baddesley Clinton, I experienced one of my 'heart flutters'. I was very disappointed because it had been a little while since I'd experienced this on the bike. I let the lads climb past me and I took it easy for a mile. It couldn't have affected me too badly, however, because shorty afterwards I got on the front again and dragged the lads along the A4141 for a new Personal Record on Strava!
So, I continued to hammer away at a big gear, with Jonnie taking over at the front now and then. By about the 15 mile mark it was quite obvious that all I was doing was exhausting myself while everyone else didn't seem to mind the pace at all! At Snitterfield, Jonnie and I were happy to get behind the diesel engine that is Dan and let him drag us up past the armouries and onto Featherbed Lane.
It was at the end of Featherbed Lane that I had another, bigger 'flutter' in my chest and I was rather relieved to get to the cakestop for a sit down and a cup of tea. I was given an enormous slice of cake to help with the recovery!
Heading back through Wootten Wawen, at approximately 26 miles in, we were maintaining an average speed of 15.9mph for the ride! Deadly Dan tried to encourage me to aim for the 16mph but it was hopeless, I just didn't have it in the legs. Dan and Ian took to the front, even though they didn't know the route, leaving Jonnie, Russ and me to chat along the lanes watching our average speed dwindle away.

The NWAlps following me through Wootton Wawen

My usual view on the way back! Trying, and failing, to reach 16mph.

At Ullenhall, Jonnie's chain snapped! I don't remember this happening before in my 8 years of cycling and Jonnie and I were very unprepared. Happily, the NWAlps boys took it in their stride, out came some tools and the chain was fixed! Another reason why we like riding with these chaps!

Russ did a great job of supervising the chain repair.

I found the last five miles rather hard going and was glad to get back to Jonnie's for half a beer and to put my feet up. It was a glorious day and it was a real effort to motivate myself to leave Jonnie's beautiful garden, get back on the bike and head home.
Three hours later, Martha and I went along to this afternoon's Karate session. I do love the Saturday session - it has a great atmosphere. As usual, I got told to move my legs faster. I don't bother to explain about the 40 miles sitting heavily in my muscles! It was a good session which left me feeling tired but happy.
Within an hour, the family was back up the road at Jonnie's house to celebrate Harry's birthday. It could have easily spiralled into drunken debauchery, as it so often has, but I managed to restrict myself to 4 beers and a glass of cava before we headed home! Unable to sleep, I stayed up late to watch the film Split. James McAvoy's performance is very impressive and the last scene was very exciting indeed for a fan of Unbreakable (which is a film in my list of all time top ten favourites!)

Sunday
I went along to my appointment with a cardiologist at Solihull Hospital. He was a very nice chap who took the time explain that these heart flutters I've been experiencing are additional beats and are regarded as harmless. He reckons most of the population experience them. However, he couldn't tell me why they started or if they will get any worse. He said the next step would be to implant a monitor under the skin to keep an eye on me for the next two or three years. I said I'd see how it goes.
He asked about my exercise regime and he then described me as an athlete! I explained that although I do a lot of exercise, I eat a lot of cake and drink a lot of beer!
He also told me that when they monitored me in January, my resting heart rate was as low as 31bpm!
Two hours of Karate in the afternoon.