Fat Loss Training - Week 12

Monday

Be serious, of course I didn't hit my weight loss target last week!

But I'm determined to do better this week...

Unfortunately, life conspired against me today and, after cycling to work and back, I just didn't have time to do my full workout before I had to make dinner for the family. I managed half of my workout including triceps dips, press ups, leg raises, dumbbell curls, barbell curls, side raises and front raises. I didn't have time for the deadlifts and shrugs.

No alcohol, no junkfood, half an hour of weight training

Tuesday

I had to drive the car today. After work, I went over to the dojo for the advanced session. Sensei asked me take the class and to go over the techniques that were demonstrated so inspiringly by Sensei John Johnston on Sunday.

Unfortunately, I'm no 8th dan! I managed to bluff my way through the first few techniques while desperately trying to remember the rest. I tried to demonstrate the takedowns but that ended up as a bit of a farce, and two of our more immature brown belts spent most of the time sniggering and making comments. Eventually, I gave it up as a bad job and we went back to kata. 

My injured foot was throbbing painfully.

I was glad to get home. 

After a makeshift but very tasty solo dinner, I jumped back into the car and collected the family from Birmingham city centre where they had been to see a musical. I didn't get to bed until after 11pm!

No booze, no junkfood, Karate

Wednesday

I cycled in to work. I enjoyed my GCSE English lesson today - all about Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. I hadn't realised quite what a well-written book it is! Unfortunately, my Wednesday students are a sullen, quiet lot and it proved difficult to get much out of them. It's as if they feel I'm punishing them by asking them to read some great literature!

By the time I got to the gym with James and our mate Dean, I was ready to just go home and drink beer. However, I plopped myself down on the rowing machine and started my warm up. My arms, foot and back were all aching, but I kept pushing through and it got a bit easier as the muscles and joints warmed up. James and Dean had to leave earlier than usual so I ended up on the bench press alone. At least I got to listen to some thrash metal while I pumped the iron.

I'm happy to report that I managed to equal my all time record for bench press! A record I set in my 30s!

Look at that big vein throbbing at my temple...

After that minor victory, I cycled home to make dinner for the family.

No alcohol, no junkfood, weight training

Thursday

After work, I lifted up some weights for an hour, and then had dinner without beer!

No alcohol, no junkfood, weight training

Friday

I cycled in to work and back.

In the evening, I went off to the Karate dojo.

Back at home, I had to collect Mouse from the station later so I drank water with my dinner.

No booze, no junkfood, Karate

Saturday

The sun was shining. I took advantage of the good weather by servicing both of my road-worthy bicycles on the drive: Soapy-water wash, degrease and re-lube. I also adjusted the handlebar set-up on the new bike by moving the levers around.

Lots of marking and ironing, and then off to Saturday afternoon dojo. I had two new starters - mad little 4 or 5 year olds unable to focus and running wild! Great fun for them, but my regular students had to adapt to the situation. Everyone got stuck in and no-one complained. I was very proud of my group of karateka today.

Later on, Lucy, Martha and I went along to have dinner with Sensei Gary and his lovely family. We had a very pleasant time and, as usual, Gary proved to be a very generous friend. Needless to say, I had a few beers with my dinner! Alpacalypse by Salt Brewery. A ridiculous name for quite a good beer. 

After the walk back home, Lucy and I stayed up until almost midnight to watch a recording of tonight's Strictly!

Booze, no junkfood, Karate

Sunday

Armistice Day. Up at 7, out on the bike at 9. This morning, Jonnie, James and I decided a flat forty was the order of the day. There was no rushing around. We trundled on at a determinedly sedate pace while we chatted, sparing a thought for all the middle-aged blokes who think a good Sunday morning is lying in their pit until 11am and then transferring their bulk to the couch...

After 25 miles, we arrived at Wilmcote just in time to observe the two minutes silence with Jane. Then we enjoyed a truly splendid coffee cake and a perfectly acceptable cup of coffee to go with it. I was tempted to go for another slice of cake but manged to resist.

Back in the lanes, we headed home via the Petticoat Route. I suggested that we avoid the very narrowest of the country lanes and stick to slightly more popular roads. This was due to the recent wet weather and the possibility of gravel and puddles everywhere. However, my plan backfired when we realised that the Alcester Road is full of massive potholes anyway!

At the end of the ride, James and I rode up to Lamppost 13 together. 42 miles in total.

After some food and some ironing and a shower, I went off to the dojo. This evening, I was the instructor at the Tudor Grange dojo. We looked at the two 'types' of punching that Sensei Johnston had discussed with me last week - one to score points, and one to stop an opponent outside. We practised both of these on pads and then partnered up for a gyakusuki-only kumite contest. Good fun!

Back at home, Jane came round for dinner, and I enjoyed some beer!

3 beers, junkfood, cycling, Karate

In summary, not too bad! I had five sober days, ate healthily for six days, and exercised every day!