How to Lose a Belly When You're 42 (part 34)

Monday
Weight: 10st 5lbs
Blood Pressure: 125/72
Resting Heart Rate: 49
So, my weight has gone back up again. Not surprising really, considering the amount of real ale I enjoyed over the weekend.
Today, I did a weight training session, slightly heavier than last week. My right arm is still quite painful so I rubbed some Deep Heat into it during the session. I'm not sure if it helped, but it did feel lovely and hot!
Our kitchen is still full of lovely things from the weekend: cakes, pudding, beer and chocolate. I managed to resist all of it.
No alcohol, no junkfood.

Tuesday
In the morning, I mentioned to Martha that I was going to go for a run today and that she should come with me.
About an hour later, she appeared in the man-cave in her running gear! I was still in my pyjamas! I quickly got ready and set off on my 10K with Martha running alongside me. She was huffing and puffing like a steam train - she's obviously fitter than me, but her running style is so short and tense that she wears herself out. Along the way, I tried to explain to her how to relax and breathe normally, but she started shouting at me: "MY LUNGS AREN'T TAKING THE OXYGEN IN PROPERLY!" I think this should be the definition if you look up the word irony in the dictionary.
Anyway, she puffed on and managed to get to 2 miles. As soon as I told her we were at the two mile mark she stopped in her tracks. That was enough as far as she was concerned!
She had managed to run 2 miles without stopping in a decent time of 21m 33s. I was very proud of her.
Martha walked home, I carried on.
The rest of my run was without incident. I increased the pace a little and finished the 10K in 64m 35s.
I managed to eat healthily for the rest of the day. In the evening, I treated myself to two pints of stout with dinner and while watching the Tour de France.
No junkfood.

Wednesday
I had to invigilate an exam at our Digbeth campus today. I decided to cycle in because it was a dry day. It meant I cycled a total of 16 miles but I got caught in roadworks and the school run. My average was only 13.4mph!
In the evening, I cycled another 3 miles to pick up my car which had been serviced.
No junkfood today and, although sorely tempted when Nigel appeared on my doorstep with half a dozen ales, no alcohol!

Thursday
I did a good weight training session today but then ended up staying awake far too late watching TV and drinking one too many beers...

Friday
I think I wasted today...

Saturday
Bike ride with Jonnie at 9. We did a mix and match of the Ireland's Lane route and the direct route to the cake stop. It was raining for the first hour of the ride so we got a bit soggy. It wasn't cold though, so I didn't really mind wet socks. On the way back, we headed up The Farm just to test the old legs and lungs. Faced with Nemesis in Wales next week, I took the opportunity to throw myself at the climb as hard as I could. I was pleased to find I got a bronze cup on Strava - my third fastest time up The Farm in 7 years of riding it!

I'm 681st of the 2568 riders who've attempted The Farm

Back at Jonnie's, we drank tea instead of beer! We really are taking the training seriously!
However, this afternoon changed all that. Jonnie, Lucy, Sally, Jess and I attended the Solihull Jazz Festival. It was crap so we drank loads and had a good laugh. Then back to Jonnie's for more beer and a barbeque.

Sunday
Hangover from hell. Junkfood and recovery ales!

How to Lose a Belly When You're 42 (part 33)

Monday
I forgot to weigh myself this morning.
I cycled in to work and back. At home, I did a weight lifting session - slightly heavier than last week.
No junkfood, no booze.

Tuesday
I forgot to weigh myself again.
I cycled in to work and back. I had to attend an entirely useless meeting at Handsworth for 2 hours which meant that I cycled a total of 23 miles at 13.3mph.
Finally back at home, Martha and I went to dojo.  Tonight, Sensei Gary drilled us through brown and black belt basics followed by kata (Bassai Dai for me.) He put me at the front of the class because I was the "Gold medal winner"!
Home for healthy grub and to watch Sagan get disqualified after smashing Cav into some railings.
I'm aching for a pint of ale...
No junkfood, no booze.

Wednesday
10st 4lbs
Obviously, my weekend indulgences mean I'm not getting anywhere with my flabloss program. To look on the bright side: I'm not getting any fatter!
However, the title of these blog posts mean I must make a change. I need to get rid of the belly and I've only got 12 weeks before I'm 43!
Today was my long commute  but I finished work much earlier than usual. I rode a total of 23 miles but the rush hour traffic on the way home meant that I was reduced to 12.7mph.
At home, I couldn't resist 3 lovely ales while watching the Tour de France and Game of Thrones.
No junkfood.

Thursday
A very hot day. It was as high as 27 degrees with hardly any wind. I cycled to work, suffered through the longest, most boring meeting ever (over 2 hours with no break, no tea or coffee, and no windows to look out of!) and then cycled home.
I really, really, really didn't fancy doing a run tonight. It was just too hot. Lucy suggested I pour a beer and read comic books in the back garden. Instead, I strapped my running shoes on and went out to do a 10K run.
I knew I would suffer so I set off at a deliberately slow pace. Within half a mile I was pouring with sweat and trying to convince myself to turn back. Any time I encountered a bit of shade or a bit of a breeze it was the sweetest relief. At about 5 miles I was getting desperate so I told myself I could slow to a walk - something I had never done on a run before. I promised myself I would walk as soon as I got to the next lampost...the next corner...the next tree...
I managed to complete the full 10K without having to walk and did it in just over 66 minutes. Not fast, but certainly not my slowest. At home, my face was glowing bright red and my entire body was running wet with sweat. I walked directly into the shower without bothering to take my kit off first! Heaven!
No booze, no junkfood.

Friday
2 weeks until the beach.
Cycled in to work for officially the last day. I ended up helping a student through his unit work for 4 hours and interviewing another student at the same time. The lady who was supposed to be interviewing "wasn't in the mood." I cycled home with my legs turning to jelly after my 10K exertions yesterday.
At home, I did a good weight-training session before getting stuck into 3 real ales!

Saturday
10st 3lbs
So I have lost a bit of weight! Can I lose the final 3lbs before I set foot on the beach?
Nigel called round for me at 10am (he was in a recovery phase after topping up his hydration levels with 6 pints of beer last night.) Unfortunately, Jonnie couldn't ride with us today - he was away for the weekend.
We cycled the Honiley route but turned off to join the lovely sweeping descent to Snitterfield which we use on the High Cross route. During today's ride, I had a bit of bike rage. An Audi driver (surprise, surprise) went past us at 50mph on a country lane while blasting his horn. I gave the appropriate hand gesture and was pleased to see that he slowed down. I increased the pace so I could catch up with him and we could discuss the incident like gentlemen. Unfortunately he stayed just ahead of me and eventually sped off up the lanes. Some people are just cowards, I guess.
The cake and tea were of excellent quality as always. At the 24 mile mark we were averaging 15.4mph. However, after the tea stop, it's a 15 mile route uphill to get home!

Heading for home in the sunshine

I'm pleased to report that we made it back with a 15.1mph average over 40 miles.
Back at home, Nigel and I sat with Lucy in our lovely backgarden and enjoyed a couple of ales each. And then another one. And then another one...
After 4 ales in the sunshine, Nigel wobbled off home but then I had to find the motivation to get ready to go out! 
Lucy and I went for a lovely anniversary dinner at the Navigation Inn in Lapworth. I found a Purity ale on tap - a very well kept Mad Goose. This went down splendidly with my beer battered cod and homemade chips!

The chef did a great job with our dinners, but couldn't bring himself to make pudding.

Unfortunately, the chef was too busy to make pudding (their words, not mine!) so we went home for choc ices and cake and to fall asleep in front of the Tour de France highlights.

Sunday
I woke up with a bit of a sore head but was determined not to let that spoil my day. I spent a lot of time organising the man cave and selling stuff on eBay before heading off to the 4pm Karate session run by Sensei Ronnie Christopher. When I arrived, before the lesson had even started, Sensei gave me a 7 minute lecture about where I went wrong in the club competition.  After trying to absorb all of this excellent advice about fighting from the double world champion, I was then put through an hour of kata training! Still, it was a great afternoon of Karate and it certainly cured what was left of my hangover.
Back at home, we were joined by some lovely friends and family and we had dinner in the backgarden. I drank a few more ales and played some records. 
What a fantastic weekend!

How to Lose a Belly When You're 42 (part 32)

Monday
10st 5lbs
So, I haven't lost any weight over the last two weeks... Maybe the answer is to give up the booze and cake completely. But then, what sort of a summer would I have? I'm struggling to find the balance between trying to be fit and healthy, and having some sort of enjoyable social life with my family and friends.
Today, I cycled into work and back and then set about making a healthy curry for Lucy and myself. While it was on a very low simmer, I did a weight lifting session - heavier than last week, but still nowhere near as heavy as I was lifting before my arm injury.
The curry turned out to be almost too spicy - but we did manage to scoff it all...just. It was rather healthy too - lots of vegetables and fresh chicken. Not much oil at all.

No booze, no junkfood.


Tuesday
Today was Supported Learning's annual trip to Drayton Manor! It is quite possibly my favourite day of the year. We have a lot of fun with the students and they get to see the staff in a much more relaxed environment. It's definitely a good way for the kids to unwind and to bond with friends old and new. Of course, I found it impossible to stick to my healthy lifestyle for long - I ended up with hot chocolate complete with cream and marshmallows, curly fries and an ice cream!

How did Mouse, Martha and Harry end up at Drayton Manor too?

Tonight, I went to Karate training in an effort to prepare for the club competition on Sunday. Sensei Gary led the whole club through some basic kumite techniques. I ended up working with three young red belts which meant I didn't get the workout I'd hoped for. The best part of the evening was sparring with Sensei Chris and Sensei Jodi before the lesson started!
Back at home, I drank two beers and watched Batman vs Superman.
At least I rode my bike to and from college today.



Wednesday
Only exams to do at Handsworth and Digbeth today, so I rode my bicycle. However, I found myself rather tired from yesterdays exertions and the weather was rather cold and wet. These things meant that I had a very slow time of 12.8mph when I got to college compared with my time in the heatwave last week: 14.1mph.
However, I managed to increase the pace when I made the journey to Digbeth and then back home. I eventually rode the 23 miles at 13.1mph

Thursday
A great day, but a bad day as far as my training is concerned. After cycling to work and back, 7 of us went out to celebrate Eric's 80th birthday (again!) We went to see Talon - a very good Eagles tribute act. Seven musicians recreated some of the Eagle's best tunes and kept the crowd involved. Recommended. Unfortunately, my willpower didn't last long and I ended up enjoying a total of 3 and half pints of ale!

Friday
Graduation day at college. There was junk food everywhere! After enjoying a homemade curry made by a member of staff, I filled the gaps with chocolate, cheesecake, crisps etc etc.
Tonight, the training at dojo was fast and intense - as it always is when led by Sensei Ronnie Christopher. Later, I had to fetch Lucy and Debbie from a staff get together in Moseley.
We then stayed up too late, playing music and chatting. I ended up sipping a total of 5 bottles of ale!

Saturday
A bit of a waste of a day. I got up with a sore head and spent most of the day shuffling around the house. 

Sunday
The day of the Karate competition! 
I got the time completely wrong and turned up 3 hours early.
Martha and I returned at the proper time and set about winning medals. Martha took a bronze and a silver, and I won the gold for kata! I was hopeless in the fighting, however: I lost two of my three fights. There was also a bully from a visiting karate school competing in the adult fighting (he was one of the guys that beat me.) He got warnings in each of his fights and attacked unnecessarily hard. That doesn't bother me, or any of the chaps there, but it was still very disrespectful to our dojo. I was very glad when our own Sensei Chris put him in his place in the final. Well done Chris!
The kata competition went splendidly for me: I felt that my kata was strong but it didn't really matter because every opponent I went up against made mistakes! I defeated a fellow brown belt in the first round and then two black belts in the semi final and the final. They may have let nerves get to them because I know those guys don't normally make errors in their techniques. I was very pleased to take the gold.
At home, Lucy had made a superb curry which we enjoyed while watching Geraint Thomas ride in the yellow jersey at the Tour de France. I sipped three beers before bed.
A good day!