Fat Loss Training - Week Eight

Monday

It's very hard to believe, but after all that partying, eating and drinking last week, I've hit my weight loss target for the seventh consecutive week. I can't explain it.

Today, I rode in to work on the road bike. After lessons, I rode the long way home which is a 15 mile route through some lovely country lanes. It was a gloriously sunny day and I was running with sweat when I got home. After a shower, I made dinner for the family, and drank coffee instead of beer!

No alcohol, no junkfood, cycling.

Tuesday

I cycled in to work. After a quiet day at work, I cycled home and got ready for Karate.

Martha and I got to the dojo halfway through the main lesson. We actually got to train for a bit before we were each asked to take charge of a group. We also got to meet a new black belt named Paul. He briefly told me his story - He is an "ungraded" black belt. He was presented with his black belt buy an unknown Japanese sensei who was watching his demonstration at an exhibition. He is now returning to Karate after a 20 year break. He told me that he was once assessed to be the equivalent of 6th dan, even though he has never graded. He admitted that he was not ready to come along to the advanced session tonight, but I look forward to him training with us (other senior grades) soon.

In the advanced hour, after I had put the class through a fast-paced and demanding warm up, Sensei Gary took over and had us sparring straight away. I was the oldest there and quickly became acutely aware of it. I was getting tagged just as much as I was scoring and I was having difficulty getting my breathing under control. After this, with the sweat already running down my back, we were asked to perform the five Heian Kata fast and strong. Sensei explained that he was looking for the right attitude. We all went for it 100%! I love this type of training, it's the only way to improve.

After this, I was very relieved when Sensei asked me to be a judge for the kumite bouts instead of taking part...

I will continue to work on my fitness! 

Back at home, I had dinner with Martha and we watched a great episode of the Simpsons. I drank water!

No alcohol, no junkfood, Karate

Wednesday

Teacher Training Day. Lucy and I jumped in the car and headed off to the Longbridge campus. The training was okay. However, I managed to get a bad case of the giggles with the chap sitting next to me and we were in a bad way! We were sitting right at the front and there was no hiding it from the lady delivering the session. I had tears of laughter on my cheeks while trying to look composed and interested. I actually hurt my throat trying not to laugh!

Back at home, I made a chicken and mushroom curry for the family and let it simmer while I pushed weights around for an hour. I drank milk instead of beer tonight!

No alcohol, no junkfood, weight training

Thursday

We used the car for work. 

Back at home, I did an hour of weight training. 

Then I drank water.

No alcohol, no junkfood, weight training

Friday

I cycled in to work and back. 

I went along to the dojo tonight. I had the honour of teaching the class while Sensei concentrated his attention on one of our students who had entered a national Karate championship, due to take place this weekend!

Back at home, I decided I had earned a few ales.

Beers, no junkfood, Karate

Saturday

Eggs and bacon. Ironing, marking, putting stuff on eBay.

This afternoon's Karate session was great fun. Sensei Gary joined us at the start so he could grade three of my orange belts. I'm pleased to report that they all passed. For the rest of the lesson we concentrated on kicks and how to defend against them. There was the usual silly behaviour which I dealt with by making people swap training partners. Suddenly. with unfamiliar students opposite them, everyone became a lot more serious! 

Back at home, Lucy, James and I headed out to Wilmcote for the latest village quiz. We teamed up with Stuart and Marylin and I'm pleased to report that we came 4th. I drank three ales and ate fish and chips!

Booze, no junkfood, Karate.

Sunday

There were five of us in the lanes today. It's always great to have Roger back and riding with us. He seemed a lot more comfortable on the bicycle today, and we set off in good spirits. It was a foggy day and with a couple of the lads only having Fisher-Price lights, I made sure I stayed at the back so that drivers could see my powerful Cateye rear light flashing away. It was a chilly start, I reckon it was a bit colder than the Met Office had predicted. The trouble was, with keeping the speed low so that everyone was comfortable, it didn't give us chance to burn some calories and warm up!

We trundled along our Petticoat Route and the fog was gradually blown away. When we reached the steep climb up to Wilmcote, I allowed myself to come off the back and scramble up the hill. It was good to test the legs.

After fantastic cake and acceptable coffee, we headed back. Rog decided his legs were okay, so we extended the route to take in the climb up to Purity brewery. We took it easy, riding at a very sociable pace, until we got to the sprint. James, Mark and I had great fun racing each other up to lamppost 13 on Jonnie's road.

Back home, I had lunch, did some ironing (while watching the women's cricket world cup), did an hour of marking, and then went off to Karate. Tonight's Karate session was a mock grading for our highest grade brown belts who are preparing to grade to black belt. Sensei Gary took charge of this while I ran a lesson in the other half of the dojo. The students in my group were all enthusiastic young people who were an absolute joy to teach. We did some basics, learned some more new kata, and then ended with frantic pad work.

Back at home, it was definitely beer o'clock!

Beers, junkfood, Cycling and Karate

In summary, it was not a bad week: Four sober days, exercise every day, and only a bit of unhealthy eating on Sunday. Will I hit my weight loss goal again?

Fat Loss Training - Week 7

Monday

Hard to believe, but after all last week's debauchery I have continued to lose weight and have now hit my weight loss target six weeks in a row!

Anyway, it's my birthday. I cycle in to work, have a nice day at college, and then cycle home. Today, I have a rest day for the first time since August. When I get home, I don't pick up the weights! Instead, I crack a beer, have dinner with family, open loads of presents, and eat cake!

Beer, junkfood, no exercise 

Tuesday

I cycled in to work, did some work stuff, and then cycled home. At the dojo, I was put in charge of the beginners and white belts. It's an almost impossible task to keep them all on task and paying attention at the same time. Give me a group of brown belts any day!

In the advanced session, we did some sparring. I managed to go toe to toe with the other black belt and was pleased to keep up with him despite his being several decades younger! I managed to tag him a few times and was definitely ahead on points. However, when Sensei came over to watch, my opponent bashed me with a spectacular spinning backfist! Oh well, I must keep training harder!

Back home for a huge bowl of beef chilli and no booze.

No alcohol, no junkfood, Karate

Wednesday

In the car today. Lots to do at work. Happily my GCSE lessons are now becoming a lot more fun. The kids are getting to know each other, and getting to know me too. We got loads of work done and had a bit of a laugh.

Off to the gym with James after lessons. I wasn't feeling particularly strong during the first six exercises, but by the time I got to the bench press I was aware that I had a bit more energy left. I felt fresh and ready. James and I built the weights up with each set, putting on 5kg each time.

Eventually, with James calling out each rep, I manged to beat my all-time personal record for the bench press, just two days after I turned 51. I went home feeling a bit shocked and rather smug!

After college, Lucy and I popped into Halford's so I could sit on some commuting bikes. The 16" seemed perfect, but so did the 18" frame!

At home, Mouse and Hydro had cooked a fabulous curry, and also a potato curry. Unfortunately, there wasn't much left. I went to bed hungry.

No alcohol, no junkfood, weight training

Thursday

In the car today because we did a big shop after work. Back at home, I did an hour of weight training and then had some beers with dinner. Cheers!

Booze, no junkfood, weight training

Friday

Not a good day for my training plan! Lucy and I used the car for work. After work, we joined Jonnie, Sally and Harry for drinks and then dinner at the local curry house. I even had poppadoms at the start and ice cream at the end!

Then Lucy and I wobbled home for even more drinks...

Booze, junkfood, no exercise

Saturday

I woke up with a bit of a headache. After breakfast, and a trip to the local Post Office, I settled in the man cave to begin marking diagnostic assessments in English and mathematics. It was a long process...

In the afternoon, I was very glad to have a break and get ready for Karate. I didn't have the car so I cycled up to the dojo. Today's session was a difficult one, having students from white belt to brown belt, but we managed to fit in kihon, kata and kumite with two helpings of pad work to keep everyone engaged.

However, one of my purple belts was struggling during kata and I was finding it hard to motivate him. After the lesson, he asked me how kata was meant to make someone a better fighter (he is mainly interested in kumite competition). I explained that kata strengthens the body and focuses the mind. I also explained that it was a way of training alone when there is no partner to spar with. I asked him to always do his best in kata and to apply himself fully - in that way he will take much more from the forms and techniques each kata contains. I hope to see a change in his attitude to kata over the coming weeks and months.

Anyway, back home for more marking. I managed to get more than halfway through the pile of marking before Lucy served dinner. I had marked all mathematics papers and all reading papers. Tomorrow I will have to tackle the writing papers and then finally the massive GCSE English papers! Can I get it done before Monday? Probably not.

After dinner, we had Dodgy Debbie round so we watched Black Sabbath's final concert and had a few (several) drinks. Debbie and I stayed up late to watch the Guns N Roses concert at the Ritz filmed for MTV in 1988. It was awesome, they were even better than I remembered, and I felt like I was 14 again!

Booze, no junkfood, Karate

Sunday

I woke up feeling awful.

After some toast and coffee, I was ready to try to ride my bike. However, I was quite prepared to make my excuses and turn around after a few miles. As it turned out, almost as soon as I'd covered a few miles with the lads I started to feel better. Exercise and banter with your mates: A fantastic medicine!

Jonnie suffered a puncture after about 6 miles. After this was sorted, we carried on at a relaxed pace with the sun in our eyes and the wind in our faces. After we had tackled the main road to Coughton, the wind was at our backs and we trundled along nicely.

Puncture repair in action

After a while we encountered a 10K running event on closed roads. We were allowed to ride on the road, which was very nice of the people running the thing. Unfortunately, most of the 'runners' were walking. And had those bloody earphones in, so couldn't hear Jonnies ding-a-ling as we approached. It took a while to get through them all!

We arrived at Wilmcote and were met with fantastic chocolate cake and above-average coffee. It was a lovely warm afternoon when we set off home via the Petticoat Route in reverse. On the mile long climb I offered my wheel to Jonnie and Mark but I was told to carry on. I then had great fun hanging on to the back of James' wheel as he whooshed up the hill. We made it to the top smiling and breathless.

We had a relaxed attitude to the rest of the ride and we were happy to watch our average speed dwindle down in favour of chats and banter. Today's sprint was won by Mark. He hung on to my wheel and then sprinted away at the end of the climb - just as a good fastman should. I couldn't close the gap in time.

Back at home: lunch, ironing, marking papers, beer and one of the best dinners Lucy has ever produced - some sort of creamy mushroom and chicken affair with crushed potatoes and lemon. Awesome.

Beers, cake, 40 miles of cycling

In summary, another awful week as far as fitness is concerned, but another great week to be with family and friends!

Fat Loss Training - Week Six

Monday

I cycled in to work (careful to leave my bicycle in the staffroom), did the work thing, and then cycled home the long way. My route took me along some of our usual lanes: School Road, then past the Boot, up to the Punchbowl etc. I kept the pressure on and got home in a respectable time.

However, as soon as I started cooking dinner, I found myself reaching for a beer!

Today, I was surprised to find that I had hit my weekly weight loss target yet again. I just have to keep doing what I'm doing and I will fit into my suit before Christmas.

Beer, no junkfood, 15 miles of cycling.

Tuesday

I cycled into work, tried to explain BIDMAS and then similes, and then called it a day.

On the way home, I stopped to see Pete at Scott's Cycles. I asked him if it was possible to single-speed my mountain bike. He peered at my road bike for a bit until I explained that I didn't have my MTB with me. He explained, with the help of two manuals and someone else's bicycle, that he couldn't single-speed a 2010 mountain bike. It took him about 12 minutes. The man is an encyclopedia of cycling and it's always fascinating to be talked at by him!

I cycled home and got ready for Karate.

Martha and I got to the dojo halfway through the all-comers lesson. I was asked to help the purple, green and yellow belts with their new kata. We worked at break-neck speed, had a bit of a giggle and we had almost got to the end of their kata when we ran out of time... For the advanced session, Sensei Gary started us off with a sweaty kumite exercise before slowing things down for kata. I took over then: I finished off the kata and then moved on to some traditional one-step sparring techniques that we don't teach at Ruach very often. 

Back home for a late dinner and then bed.

No alcohol, no junkfood, Karate

Wednesday

I cycled in to work. Teaching GCSEs is getting easier, but the lessons are still very solemn. I hope the students start talking to each other soon! After lessons, I met James in the gym for our weekly workout. James helped me equal my all-time bench press record. It felt great! Then I cycled home.

I made dinner and didn't drink beer!

No alcohol, no junkfood, weight training

Thursday

My old mountain bike from 2010 needs a new transmission. The chain is leaping about on the cassette, the front mech is seized and the whole thing is making some terrible noises. I decided against trying to replace it all myself, and decided to use Scott's Cycles instead.

I rode the mountain bike slowly and carefully in to work. After lessons, I dropped the bike round at the bike shop. I was promised a quote for the job tomorrow. I met Lucy in ALDI car park, we did a big shop, and then, back at home, I did an hour of weight training in my man cave.

After all this activity, I felt a bit couch time with a beer was necessary!

Beers, no junkfood, weight training

Friday

I cycled in to work, got lots of work done, and then cycled home the long way (15.1 miles).

We had a barbecue and a fire tonight and I was fully in party mode! I drank too much and stayed up later than usual! Cheers!

Alcohol, no junkfood, Cycling

Saturday

I woke up with a bit of a headache! After making breakfast for Lucy and myself, I set about replacing the logs I'd burnt in the fire pit last night. I stacked two big boxes in the garage to dry out.

Lucy was out and about in the car so I cycled to the dojo for the 3pm lesson. My students are very comfortable in the dojo, are all becoming friends, and seem to be enjoying themselves a little bit too much! I'm constantly reminding them about proper dojo etiquette and I'm struggling to get everyone's attention at the same time. However, it's great to see so many happy, smiling young people enjoying a martial art. I look forward to my Saturday afternoons.

I cycled home feeling much better than I had when I woke up this morning!

Tonight, Lucy and I headed out to dinner at The Railway in Dorridge. As always, we were well looked after, the food was great and the beer (Timothy Taylor's Landlord) was in great condition.

Booze, no junkfood, Karate

Sunday

Up for a bike ride with the boys. Jonnie was away, so we started from my house. The big news is that Roger joined us this morning. It's been a while since Roger rode out with us in the lanes. With health issues and grandfather duties, Roger has missed many Sunday mornings, so it was great to have him back!

We rode down to Wilmcote via Pig Trot Reverse. We kept the pace steady, and as the day and the muscles warmed up, we managed to keep an average of 14mph. There was coffee and a tremendous carrot cake waiting for us, along with a very warm welcome for Roger!

The ride back took a while which gave us plenty of time for chats and banter. Back at my place, we had a group photo and then drank coffee in the front room.

Boyzone on Bikes

In the evening, I had dinner with the family and helped myself to some beers!

Alcohol, cake, 32 miles of cycling

In summary, not a good week for my weight loss training, but a lovely weekend to be with friends and family.