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Sunday, September 23, 2018

How to Lose a Belly When You're 43 (part 41)

Monday
Blood Pressure: 138/67
Resting Heart Rate: 62
Weight: 10st 4lbs
My hear rate is a little elevated - that's probably due to the fifty miles of cycling followed by Karate that I did yesterday.
I cycled to work in the rain. I ate loads at work but managed to avoid the sugary stuff. I cycled home in the sunshine.
My weight lifting session was successful but I do seem to have strained my left shoulder a little when I was performing overhead presses. It has been aching all night.
I cooked a healthy vegetarian dinner of Mexican scrambled eggs and homemade wedges.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Tuesday
Blood Pressure: 138/72
Resting Heart Rate: 63
Weight: 10st 4lbs
My aching shoulder got worse and kept me awake from about 5am. I crawled out of bed at 6:20. It's not too bad when I'm up and moving, just painful when I'm trying to lie in one position. I hope it doesn't affect my grading too badly. I managed to avoid the biscuits at work and then cycled home.
I realised on the way home that my shoulder had stopped aching! My legs felt like lead, however, especially as I was riding into a pretty stiff headwind.
Today, I was cheeky enough to message Sensei Gary asking him if we could practice some ju ippon kumite in time for the grading at the weekend. Of course, Sensei said yes and in tonight's session Sensei Mark and Sensei Lloyd spent the entire hour drilling us in ju ippon jumite! What a fantastic club.
I came away feeling a lot more confident with my kumite and with a large bruise on my right shin.
At home, I ate a healthy dinner, drank tea, and didn't think about beer.
Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol

Wednesday
Blood Pressure: 134/65
Resting Heart Rate: 54
Weight: 10st 4lbs
Although still too high, my blood pressure seems to be getting better.
My shoulder didn't bother me at all and I slept like a log. I cycled in to work in a light drizzle. I got lots done and then cycled home into a strong headwind.
The weightlifting went well - I didn't do any curls to protect my left arm before the grading.
I cooked a beef stir fry for the family and stayed up until 11:30 to meet Martha from work.
The weather forecast for the Tommy Godwin sportive on Sunday is terrible.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Thursday
Blood Pressure: 145/74
Resting Heart Rate: 48
Weight: 10st 3lbs
I woke up at 6:20 after dreaming about Minecraft.
As soon as I stood up, I became aware of a pain in my stomach. It wasn't a sharp pain - imagine having sunburn in your insides. I also felt terribly bloated. I made my way downstairs.
I found sitting very uncomfortable, it was less painful to stand. I couldn't finish my breakfast, so I went back upstairs to lie on my bed for a while.
When I did eventually get on my bike, the pain got worse for a while. Eventually I got used to it so I slowly made my way to work. I arrived at 8:25, nearly half an hour later than I usually do.
Throughout the day, the pain turned to discomfort which eased to irritation.
To make my day even worse, I had to work late until 7pm. By the time I'd cycled home in a powerful headwind, there was no time for exercise. I had dinner, did the washing up and relaxed.
No exercise, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Friday
Blood Pressure: 142/65
Resting Heart Rate: 52
Weight: 10st 4lbs
I was working at Digbeth in the afternoon. This meant about 8 miles of riding in rather windy conditions. It made for hard work on the bike.
During one of the boring meetings, I learned that the Tommy Godwin challenge had been cancelled due to the weather forecast. I informed the lads. I was disappointed and relieved at the same time - which sounds impossible but I managed it. I cycled home in the wind - the gusts knocking me left and right as I went. I'd cycled about 16 miles today.
Tonight's dojo session was awesome. I approached Sensei Russell before the lesson started and asked if he would go through ju ippon kumite with us. I got to practise it on Tuesday but only with my left side forward, not my right. So tonight, I went through ju ippon on the left and right side. Twice. With two different higher grades. I now feel considerably more confident about the grading tomorrow. Thanks, Sensei Russell!
A healthy dinner of fish and rice followed by a cup of tea while Lucy had a snooze on the couch. Another wild Friday night!
Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol

Saturday
Blood Pressure: 147/72
Resting Heart Rate: 50
Weight: 10st 2lbs
I woke up at almost exactly the same time that my alarm goes off in the week (6:20am.) After frantically trying to work out which lessons I was delivering today, and if I had planned them, I realised it was a Saturday! What a lovely feeling.
I enjoyed breakfast while watching the season 3 finale of Preacher. It was very entertaining!
I took a walk to the post office which was a rather pleasant experience in the crisp bright morning.
When I got back, I made bacon and eggs for Lucy and myself before digging a deep hole in the back garden for some sort of tree or bush she was planting.
Today was the day of the grading. I was grading for my next belt called a 1st Kyu Ho. Martha kindly came along to support me. We arrived early so I could spend time warming up and going through the techniques I knew I'd need this afternoon.
I watched our fantastic beginners go through their gradings until Sensei Ronnie told me to go to the back of the room to do some stretching and "chill" He told me, "You look like you're ready for a fight. Are you expecting trouble?" I must have had rather a stern expression  - I was feeling rather eager to get on with things! I took the opportunity to dash downstairs for a wee that I didn't need. While I was in the changing rooms I caught sight of my reflection - I had a pulsing vein in my temple. Yep, I was stressed.
Happily, not long after I returned upstairs to the dojo, Lucy arrived. She did a good job of distracting me. When the green belts were called up, I settled back to see how they'd get on. Then Rachel the purple belt was called up to grade alongside them. Then, to my great surprise, I was called up! I wasn't ready! My mind wasn't in fight mode! I was chatting to my girlfriend! I hadn't expected to be grading alongside the green belts.
I had to switch into high gear and fast. We started off with kihon. Green belt kihon! I hadn't done this for weeks, maybe even months, and I certainly hadn't expected to be doing it in my grading. Happily, I seemed to get through it okay - the only issue was that I kept wanting to snap my punches instead of leaving them hanging out there with a straight arm!
We skipped brown belt kihon and went straight to Kata Jion. I bashed it out as best as I could. I had hundreds of thoughts crashing though my mind as I did my kata: keep my heel down, turn my head before I move, sit back in my back stance, remember the slow bits, remember the fast bits etc etc etc.
Before I knew it, I'd finished.
After giving feedback to Rachel, he faced me. Double world champion Sensei Ronnie looked me in the eye and said "Your kata was like a battle."
There was a long pause and then he turned to Sensei Gary. "Do you think that's a good thing?"
Thankfully, Sensei Gary nodded. "Good," he said.
"It's like you're in a fight," continued Sensei Ronnie. "That's the way I do my kata. It says a lot about your state of mind."
Then he moved on to the next guy.
There was some ju ippon kumite at the end that I managed to get through but it didn't really matter, I was already on cloud nine.
Sensei Ronnie awarded me with my next belt and it was smiles and handshakes all round.
Martha was a fantastic help this afternoon, acting as Sensei Gary's right hand man (woman.) She almost made herself late for work helping out at the grading. I was very proud of her.

1st Kyu Ho

Predictably, after Lucy and I got back from a shopping trip, I opened the first of many beers while blasting out some vinyl rock tracks! I eventually wandered off to bed at 1:30am...
Karate, junkfood, 5 bottles of beer

Sunday
Blood Pressure: 150/77
Resting Heart Rate: 53
Weight: 10st 2lbs
It was a struggle to get up at 7am today. I felt a little delicate.
Lucy made me a wonderful full breakfast and then Jonnie declared a later than usual start was in order. The rain was light and so was the wind. There was no reason to cancel the Tommy Godwin Challenge after all. However, the organisers weren't to know that and they had to trust the hopeless weather forecasters.
Jonnie and I cycled off into the wet lanes at 9:30. I was tired, slightly hungover and struggling. We did our Purity Temple route and I soon got used to the sight of Jonnie cycling away from me up the hills. His new gears suit him very well.
There was chocolate cake and tea in Wilmcote.
The sun came out during the ride home. This perked us up a little bit but we still had a bit of a stiffening headwind to deal with. We eventually finished our 35 miles at about 1:00pm. Enough time for a beer and a chat with Sally.
After cleaning the bike and eating some lunch, I took the dogs for a walk in the park. It was lovely and sunny. I did an hour of ironing and then, when Jane and Eric arrived, I flopped on to the couch with a glass of bottle-conditioned HPA and Lucy's homemade sticky toffee pudding!
Cycling, junkfood, 3 bottles of beer.




Sunday, September 16, 2018

How to Lose a Belly When You're 43 (part 40)

The last three weeks of 'training':

Monday 27th August
Blood Pressure: 145/77
Resting Heart Rate: 55
Weight: 10st 7lbs
I did some weight lifting today but failed on the barbell curls.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol

Tuesday
Blood Pressure: 143/80
Resting Heart Rate: 56
Weight: 10st 6lbs
I cycled to work and back.
I went along to the Karate session.
Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol

Wednesday

Blood Pressure: 135/78
Resting Heart Rate: 55
Weight: 10st 6lbs
I cycled 15 miles at 13.7mph before work.
Cycling, no junkfood, no alcohol

Thursday
Blood Pressure:160/83
Resting Heart Rate: 53
Weight: 10st 5lbs
I had to work late today.
No exercise, no junkfood, no alcohol

Friday

Blood Pressure: 137/83
Resting Heart Rate: 45
Weight: 10st 4lbs
Another weight lifting session which ended in failure when I tried barbell curls. The pain in my left arm is too much.
I went along to dojo in the evening.
Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol

Saturday
Blood Pressure:151/77
Resting Heart Rate: 57
Weight: 10st 4lbs
After ending up in hospital with a bad back after our last ride, Ed was brave enough to join us (myself and Jonnie) in the lanes again! This time, his weapon of choice was a splendid Boardman hybrid with a flat bar and 28mm tyres with winter treads. He said he could feel the drag of the tyres as we rolled along. However, the more upright position must have suited him because he bombed it along the lanes and up and down hills without any issues. We completed a 30 mile ride at over 14 mph. The last time he came out with us, the average speed was below 13. Nice work, Ed.
Later on, I went along to the Saturday dojo session where Sensei Gary put the finishing touches to my Jion ready for the grading this month.
Cycling, Karate, junkfood (cake) and 4 beers

Sunday

Blood Pressure: 148/73
Resting Heart Rate: 58
Weight: 10st 6lbs
Today, I went along to the two hour Karate session with Sensei Ronnie. There was a very small turn out because of the time of year. We did two hours of kicks and I got to hit a bag while under the direct supervision of a double world champion!
Karate, junkfood (pudding), 3 beers

Monday
Blood Pressure: 147/68
Resting Heart Rate: 58
Weight: 10st 6lbs
I cycled in to work and back.
I finally decided to listen to my body and dropped the weight of my barbell curls down to a laughingly tiny 16kg. I managed to complete an hour's weight lifting for the first time in a while.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol

Tueday

Blood Pressure: 144/83
Resting Heart Rate: 62
Weight: 10st 5lbs
I cycled in to work and back and then went to the dojo.
Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Wednesday
Blood Pressure: 148/70
Resting Heart Rate: 56
Weight: 10st 5lbs
Another successful weights session.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Thursday
Blood Pressure: 140/76
Resting Heart Rate: 53
Weight: 10st 5lbs
I cycled the long way to work and today I clocked up a total of 23 miles at over 13mph.
Today was my birthday! Not really, but I celebrated it early with Lucy and our excellent friends Jonnie and Sally. They'll be away on my actual birthday but they were kind enough to get tickets for a concert at the Solihull Theatre to see the ELO experience. It was an awesome evening of great music and local ales. Jonnie and I may have overdone it a little bit with the beers...
Cycling, no junkfood, 6 beers!

Friday
Blood Pressure: 159/77
Resting Heart Rate: 57
Weight: 10st 4lbs
Hungover at work. It was our mate Trevor's birthday after work so a few of us met up with him in the local 'Spoons for even more local ales...
No exercise, junkfood, 4 beers

Saturday
Blood Pressure: 159/75
Resting Heart Rate: 49
Weight: 10st 7lbs
After two nights on the beer, I've ballooned back up to 10 and a half stone. Very disappointing.
I went along to dojo today and got to do a lot of basics and kata.
Karate, junkfood, beers

Sunday
Blood Pressure: 152/74
Resting Heart Rate: 59
Weight: 10st 10st 7lbs
Another day in the lanes with Jonnie and Ed. This time, we went out for 36 miles over our High Cross route. Ed was strong today and the new slick tyres on the Boardman obviously suited him.  He wasn't quite as fast over this longer, slightly hillier distance: We completed the ride with a decent average speed of 13.9mph.
In the afternoon, I went along for the first hour of Sensei Ronnie's Sunday session. It was a good basics workout and I wished I could have stayed for the second half. We had Jane and Eric coming for dinner so I wanted to get home and get changed before they arrived.
Cycling, Karate, junkfood, beers

Monday
Blood Pressure: 158/73
Resting Heart Rate: 57
Weight: 10st 6lbs
I cycled to work.
It was the first day of teaching since the end of June. It was a bit of a shock to the system to have 18 new faces looking expectantly at me. I think I did a decent job of it and I know I'll get back into the groove before the end of the month.
I cycled home to do a weight lifting session and then cook a protein-rich meal for the family.
I'm still very concerned about my blood pressure (as I'm sure anyone reading this is too!) I've given myself until the end of November to get it under control. If I can't manage it through diet and exercise I'll have to go to see a doctor. I just hope I don't end up on tablets for the rest of my life.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Tuesday
Blood Pressure: 158/69
Resting Heart Rate: 63
Weight: 10st 5lbs
I woke up feeling dizzy. I mean that literally. The moment I got out of the bed, the room was shifting slightly and it didn't stop until about lunchtime. Blood pressure related? I have no idea.
Anyway, I cycled to work very carefully and did the best lesson I could while things were spinning a bit. I was fine by the time I cycled home.
Tonight's dojo session was exciting - a new black belt has started with us. He has forgotten all of his kata and he was very sweaty and out of breath. But his fighting was awesome! He beat me without throwing a single punch - all kicks. I introduced myself but he was reluctant to tell me his name. I have no idea why.
I'm hoping I get to spar with him again and steal some of his moves. Or at least learn something from him.
Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Wednesday
Blood Pressure: 153/75
Resting Heart Rate: 63
Weight: 10st 5lbs
I cycled in for a good day at work and then cycled home to do a weight session. I made dinner for the family.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol

Thursday
Blood Pressure: 147/76
Resting Heart Rate: 49
Weight: 10st 4lbs
I cycled in to work to find out that I'm not teaching GCSE English after all. This is the second time this has happened to me in two years. I've spent hours and hours bringing myself up to speed with the English Language qualification and planning the first three weeks' lessons. I don't think I'll bother getting my hopes up next year. What really annoys me is that nobody tells me. They don't send me a room number and don't enrol any students on my register. You'd think someone would have enough courage to look me in the eye and tell me that I'm not needed this year. Or at least send me an email! Spineless management, I guess.
Anyway, I cycled home and then Lucy and I accompanied Mouse to her school awards evening. She was presented with a certificate and voucher for her outstanding academic achievement.
Nice one, Mouse!
We didn't get home until 8:45 and I couldn't face any exercise on an empty stomach.
No exercise, no junkfood, no alcohol

Friday
Blood Pressure: 144/67
Resting Heart Rate: 53
Weight: 10st 4lbs
Today is the best combination of blood pressure and weight that I've measured since I got back from Aberdovey. It's still too high...
I cycled in to work for a good morning of teaching followed by some lesson planning and admin stuff. I cycled home in time for the karate session. Unfortunately, literally a few seconds before I was going to make my way upstairs for a shower, Tilly asked me to drop her off at her friend's house in Hall Green! I don't know why she couldn't drive herself there - she tried to explain it to me twice but I gave up trying to understand the mind of a 21 year old and just drove the car! I had to miss the session, but happily, Lucy made it home in time to take Martha.
I went along to the dojo to watch the last ten minutes of the lesson. Sensei Mark took Martha to one side after the lesson and went through her Jion with her. Ruach once again proves why it's the club for me - there was no need for Sensei Mark to give up his time for teaching after the lesson. He could have been on his way home for his dinner instead of taking the time to make Martha a better karateka. Thanks, Sensei Mark.
No exercise, no junkfood, no alcohol

Saturday
Blood Pressure: 142/70
Resting Heart Rate: 52
Weight: 10st 4lbs
I woke up early so I had bacon and eggs and chilled out with my PS4. At 9:30, Mouse and I headed off for the open day at the University of Birmingham. We were both very impressed with the place.
We didn't get back home until 2:55. Again, Lucy had taken Martha to Karate and again, I went along for the last part of the lesson. I did some stretching and then helped a purple belt with her Tekki Shodan in readiness for her grading next week.
I had some house work to do and then dinner was ready. Suddenly, it was evening and I'd spent another day without doing any exercise! I stayed up past midnight chatting with my brother on Whatsapp.
No exercise, no junkfood, no alcohol

Sunday
Blood Pressure: 144/70
Resting Heart Rate: 54
Weight: 10st 4lbs
I woke up early again. I only got 6 hours sleep. For me, every big bike ride feels like Christmas Day and I get too excited to just lie in bed! I had breakfast, pumped up my tyres and called for Jonnie at 9am.
Jonnie is planning to ride up Mont Ventoux later this month (yes, without me 😢) and has had his bicycle adapted accordingly. He has upgraded to a 105 groupset with tiny climbing gears. His bike looks a little strange, but totally pro!


Totally pro


105 with climbing gears. I'm rather envious...
We had a 50 mile route planned and, after solving the drama of the missing base-layer, set off into the wind. Jonnie immediately remarked on how smooth he was changing gear. He described it as like having a new bike. Now I was even more envious!
Jonnie was really strong today. Rolling a big gear and whistling to himself as he tooled along, he looked like a retired professional out for a quick 20 miles. I, on the other hand, was suffering into the headwind with my legs protesting mightily. I'd thought that after three days of rest and a week with no alcohol, I'd be full of energy. Apparently not.
When we reached the Billesley Wall, I went for a Strava PB. I found out later that I only got a silver.
After 35 miles, the cakestop was very welcome. Lucy was there too so it was a very pleasant half hour of tea, cake and chatting. I had homemade ginger cake (we called it Jamaica cake when I was a kid) followed by a banana.
Back in the lanes, the wind was behind us and we put on a good show of maintaining the average. In fact, we rode faster uphill in the last 15 miles than we did in the first 35. Such is the power of ginger cake!


Faster in the last 15 miles, even though it was uphill!

After 50 miles and 2500ft of climbing, we were both glad of a sit down and a cup of tea. However, I think we'll be okay on the Tommy Godwin ride next week (62 miles, 3500ft.)
In related news, Ed completed his London to Brighton charity ride today. Great work, Ed!
After some lunch and a sit down, I had a shower and headed off for the advanced lesson at Ruach Karate. It was an awesome session with some higher grade kata (I got to do Jion twice!) followed by some sparring. I hurt my finger during sparring but other than that I felt I did okay. Sensei told me to keep it light which means I must have been showing some spirit - I was up against a higher grade adult at the time 😁. However, my fitness let me down. After 50 miles on the bike and then sparring for 15 minutes I felt as though my heart was about to thump its way through my ribcage! I could feel my cheeks burning too. My gi was drenched in sweat.
Back at home, I had a shower and then did some ironing. And then, even though I'd promised myself I wouldn't, I opened a beer. I told myself that having a beer now won't affect my grading next Saturday...
I ended up having pudding and two beers before walking up the road at 11pm to meet Martha from work.
50 miles of cycling, Karate, junkfood, 2 beers.

My plan for next week is to focus on the grading, practise my kata, and start running again!