How to Lose a Belly When You're 43 (part 32)

Monday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
I cycled in to work, didn't eat any junkfood, cycled home, did a lifting session and didn't drink any booze.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol

Tuesday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
I cycled to work and back and then Martha and I set off for tonight's dojo session.
After my performance at the weekend, I'd fished out a white belt and was quite prepared to join in the with beginners for a session. However, Sensei Jodi wasn't having any of it: He pushed the brown and black belts hard tonight. We did lots of kumite training without actually getting as far as freestyle. Sensei Gary joined in towards the end and I found myself being pushed right to the edge of my fitness levels. I was pouring with sweat and gasping for breath fighting in a one-for-one, block-and-counter exercise as fast as I could go! I picked up a few bruises in my encounter with Eric, one of our new black belts. I could tell he was suffering too!
I got home very tired, sore and happy. I helped myself to two bottles of ale.
Karate, no junkfood, 2 beers.

Wednesday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
I cycled in to work, didn't eat any junkfood, cycled home, did a lifting session and didn't drink any booze.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Thursday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
I went for a run after cycling to work and back. It was terribly hot and I wobbled round in the heat in a slow time of 62m 58s. I haven't had to walk during any of my 10K runs so far, but tonight I came close to it!
I did treat myself to a few beers when I got back.
10K run, no junkfood, beer

Friday
Weight: 9st 13lbs
I cycled in to work, didn't eat any junkfood, and then cycled home.
I'd got out of work early so I did a weight training session instead of going to dojo. 
I didn't drink any beer.
Weight training, no junkfood, no booze.

Saturday
Weight: 9st 13lbs
Today's dojo session was in two distinct halves: Sensei Gary worked us really hard in basics and, as usual, I was training next to Sensei Jody who is incredibly fast and expects me to be faster! After this, I found myself trying to teach Kihon Kata to a group of distracted white-belts. As Sensie Gary described it, it's like herding fish!
In the evening, seven of us went to the Arden Club to cheer on Liverpool in the final of the European Football Awards or something. Anyway, they lost and so did Villa in the play-offs. The mood was rather deflated so we went home early. 
Karate, no junkfood, 4 beers

Sunday
Weight: 9st 12lbs
I'm continuing to lose weight very gradually and I've lost over half a stone since the start of the year. There's still plenty of work do be done on this belly of mine! I'm not ready to change the title of my posts just yet...
Jonnie and I called off the morning's planned ride as the heavens opened. Frustratingly, the rain stopped soon afterwards and the rest of the morning was lovely!
This afternoon's Karate session was run by Sensei Ronnie Christopher and I was partnered with Sensei Jody for most of the 2 hour session. Sensei Ronnie doesn't know me very well and he was under the impression that I was nervous to be partnered with Jody. I set about trying to prove his opinion false. As always, I tried hard against Jody and ended up giving myself more bruises on top of the bruises from Tuesday! Now my arms look like this:

Block and punch and block and punch and block and punch...

We did some kata too. My technique was torn apart and, if I ever think I'm getting somewhere in my Karate, a Sunday session keeps me humble and makes me realise how far I have to go.
After driving home in a Midlands monsoon, I sat down to a fantastic homemade dinner followed by some cheesecake and a choc ice!
With no work tomorrow, I stayed up until 11pm drinking ales and playing Final Fantasy 15.
Karate, junkfood, 4 beers

How to Lose a Belly When You're 43 (part 31)

Monday
Weight: 9st 13lbs
I cycled in to work and back. I couldn't resist chocolate biccies.
I did a good weights session in the evening.
Weight training, no alcohol, junkfood

Tuesday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
I cycled in to work and back and then headed off to dojo.
Karate, no alcohol, no jukfood.

Wednesday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
I cycled in to work and back.
I did my weekly 10K run in a time of 63m and 31s.
Run, no alcohol, no junkfood

Thursday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol

Friday
Weight: 9st 12lbs
I cycled in to work. There were apple pies and chocolate biscuits in the staff room - they were too tempting to resist!

After work, I cycled to a blood donation centre in Solihull. I was on time for my appointment and as soon as I sat down with my pint of squash, they called my name. They jabbed some blood out of my finger and asked me some questions. Unfortunately, when we got to discussing my heart, I made the mistake of telling them about the flutters I'd been experiencing and the heart monitor I'd had fitted in January. I told them about the ectopics and bradycardia that had been detected. I also told them that my GP had said I could go and give blood (which is true - she confirmed this on the telephone when discussing my results.) However, the head nurse in charge was having none of it. She said that in some people the heart can "go in to a panic" when giving blood and she didn't want to risk that with me. I really wish I hadn't said anything. I had to leave with my head hanging and no bandage in the crook of my elbow.
I had been rejected.
After blinking away tears of rage on the ride home, I shut myself in my man cave and got stuck into some weight lifting with Planet Rock turned up to 11.
Weight training, no alcohol, junkfood

Saturday
Weight: 9st 13lbs
This morning, an old friend came round to go on a bike ride with me: I hadn't seen Crazy Ed for at least 10 years! In September this year, he'll be riding London to Brighton raising money for Bowel Cancer UK.  The only trouble is, he's not much of a cyclist! Yet! I was very happy when he asked me to help with his training. 

ShotokanCyclist and Crazy Ed

I must say, I was very impressed by his preparation: He arrived with a decent bike (Specialized Allez - same as mine!), Lycra padded shorts (no mountain bike baggies), water bottle, spare tube, helmet and even SPD pedals! We set off in to the morning sunshine, chatting and spinning an easy gear. I tested him on a few of the local hills and, after a bit of handle-bar wrestling, he managed to get up all of them without walking. Result! We covered a total of 13 miles.
Later in the afternoon, I set off again and rode down to Wilmcote for some free food and a couple of beers. There was a celebration going on because a royal person was marrying a commoner on TV or something. This meant that there was cake.
It was very hot today and the ride home, after two beers and a belly-full of treats, was a bit too much for me. I ended up crawling back at under 14mph!
I had to sober up and then stay awake to pick up Martha from work at midnight.
2 Rides: 43 miles, junkfood, alcohol

Sunday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
Up after just 6 hours sleep for the Ruach Club Karate competition. There were six other clubs taking part so Martha and I were looking forward to competing against people we didn't know.
Martha, as always, competed bravely and came away with a bronze medal in the fighting.
Sensei Joey won the veterans fighting and claimed silver in the kata.
Sensei Jody dominated the kata to take gold and then fought his way into the men's kumite final. Unfortunately, he had sustained an injury to his hand in the previous bout which meant he couldn't continue. 
My friend Anthony launched himself into the veterans fighting and took a well-deserved bronze medal.
I was shit, and I'm genuinely embarrassed by my performance in both kata and kumite. I learned some hard lessons from today. I even let myself down when I was off the mats: I forgot that the first rule of Karate is that it begins and ends with respect. I need to remember that. It was an experience that will stay with me for a long, long time.
I went home to drink beer and think about what I could have done differently.

Sensei Joey and ShotokanCyclist

Karate competition, junkfood, alcohol

How to Lose a Belly When You're 43 (part 30)

Monday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
Blood pressure: 119/78
Resting Heart Rate: 49
I think that's the healthiest result for my blood pressure I've ever recorded.
It's a Bank Holiday. I was pleased to wake up without a hangover. I did a heavy weights session, avoided junkfood, but did end up enjoying a trio of beers in the evening.
Weight training, no junkfood, 3 beers

Tuesday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
I cycled in to work and back. Tonight's Karate session was run by Sensei Mark. I spent most of the evening partnered with children. I did get to do about a minute of sparring with Sensei Jody and Sensei Joey. In my brief bout with Joey, our legs clashed and I took a big painful knock to my left thigh. It put me out of the fight for a few seconds but then I carried on with the lesson.
In the evening, the leg got worse and worse to the point where the only way I could get upstairs was to hold on to the banister and hop up on one leg!
Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Wednesday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
The leg was very painful when I woke up. I considered driving to work but I was relieved to find that it hurt a lot less to cycle than it did to walk.
I cycled in to work and back.
I picked up some weights again tonight. unfortunately, I couldn't manage 5x5 curls at 39kg. I failed in the first set (but I'd successfully completed the same lift on Monday.) Disappointed, I made sure I completed the other 5 exercises and then had a rest.
Failed weights session, no junkfood, no booze.

Thursday
Weight: 9st 13lbs
I had to work in Handsworth today which is a bit farther away than where I usually teach. Tonight, after 22 miles on the bike, I set about lifting some weights. I dropped the curls down to 38kg but still struggled. I had to cheat on the very last rep - I arched my back and jerked the bar up under my chin!
Weights session, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Friday
Weight: 9st 13lbs
I cycled in to work and back.
Tonight's Karate session was, as usual, fantastic. My leg was still sore but not enough to hold me back. I got to spar with Sensei Jody, Martha and Eric. Sensei Jody is still bringing out the best in my fighting. I can feel when I get things right - it doesn't happen very often but I know when it does. I'm well aware he could knock me down whenever he wants to but I do enjoy landing the odd successful hit on him. Martha fought well against me and showed no signs of nervousness. I was pleased to hold my own against Eric, a newly graded black belt in the club.
Tonight, I performed Kata Jion all the way through for the first time. I've decided I like the kata and I'm looking forward to developing it with Jody.
As usual, Sensei Russell got a well deserved round of applause at the end of an enjoyable session.
Jody came back to the house for dinner and sat up talking about martial arts, anime, surfing and cycling with Martha and myself. The two of them convinced me to enter the club competition again this year! I'm looking forward to it.

A little light reading from Sensei Jody

I had two ales in the evening.
Karate, no junkfood, 2 beers

Saturday
Weight: 9st 12lbs
I got up early. I ran my weekly 10K in a time of 61 minutes and 56 seconds. Not too bad. My left leg still throbbed but didn't seem to hold me back.
This afternoon's Karate session consisted of one thing: 90 minutes of Kata Jion with Sensei Jody. I've very grateful to him for taking the time to help me learn my new kata. He's also a very patient bloke - I was on the verge of losing my temper several times! How can you relax and kick at the same time? I haven't worked that one out yet!
In the evening, I walked around Monkspath for an hour going door to door promoting the club. Then I finally chilled out at home with two beers.
10K run, no junkfood, alcohol

Sunday
Weight: 9st 12lbs
Unfortunately, Nigel had celebrated Aston Villa's win a little too enthusiastically last night and he was in a recovery phase this morning. With Jonnie away riding the Pedal of Honour, I found myself riding solo down to Wilmcote in the glorious sunshine. I didn't put in any dramatic efforts because I knew that I had a two hour Karate lesson to look forward to this afternoon! I clocked up 31 miles at 14.6mph. 
I had a quick slice of cake and cup of tea when I got home and then Lucy and I set off on my second bike ride of the day! She was riding a rigid mountain bike (Halford's Apollo crap) with no helmet and no gloves! She is determined to get fit and intends to ride everyday! We rode down to the park and met up with the kids walking the dogs. Then on to some quiet roads and a couple of laps of the cycling track at Tudor Grange before heading home after 7 miles.
The Karate session was slow. It was a technical kicks lesson run by Sensei Ronnie Christopher. 
I went home for homemade lasagna and a couple of beers.
Cycling, Karate, junkfood, alcohol.

How to Lose a Belly When You're 43 (part 29)

Monday
Weight: 10st 1lb
I cycled in to work and back and then surprised myself by doing a successful hour of lifting, moving heavier weights than I've managed for over a year.
I resisted booze and unkfood.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Tuesday
Weight: 9st 12lbs
This is the first time I've weighed less than 10 stone since November last year!
I cycled in to work and back and then went along to the dojo. Tonight's session involved a LOT of standing around watching a kumite competition. I did eventually get to do a bit of sparring but this was with a teenager. Don't get me wrong, I like the kumite and kata competitions that we do in the session, but I sometimes need to work up a sweat...
Tonight, I managed to resist the sugary food, but the lure of a beer was too much.
Karate, no junkfood, alcohol

Wednesday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
I cycled to work and back and then did another good, heavy weights session.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Thursday
Weight: 9st 12lbs
I cycled to work and back and then set out on my weekly 10K. This was the last 10K on my training schedule and my target was 60 minutes and 8 seconds. I set off determined to succeed.
I kept a close eye on my speed and was pleased to see I was just about keeping up the required pace. At about 3 and a half miles in, I bumped into a mate of mine on his bike. We had a quick chat but I was always mindful of the seconds ticking by!
After about a minute, I launched myself back into my run, desperate to claw that minute back. I'm pleased to report that I got back within my target and even managed to get in under an hour. I finished  the 10k with a time of 59m 50s. 
I celebrated with two bottles of stout, but managed to resist junkfood.
10K run, no junkfood, alcohol.

Friday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
I cycled in to work. It was a dry day so I took my group down to the park to do some running and a bit of football as part of their "Improving Own Fitness" unit. It quickly became apparent how unfit they were! After 10 minutes of football, most of them were refusing to take part or were lolling about on the grass gulping water. I've got my work cut out for me!
I cycled home and then went off to Friday night dojo.
Sensie Gary and Sensei Jody ganged up on me and more or less told me that I had to grade tomorrow. Apparently, there had been a meeting between four instructors who decided that I should grade. How much of that is true I don't know, but I agreed to try for my new belt.
Sensei Jody ran a good session with plenty of kata and kumite. I get really, really exhausted in kata. I think it's because I go for it so hard and it makes me tense, which puts the muscles under a lot of stress when I'm trying to move fast! I can cycle for literally hours and not feel as tired as I do at the end of Bassai Dai.
Obviously, no junkfood or alcohol tonight!
Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol.

Saturday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
Martha and I got up early in readiness for our gradings. We cruised along the M42 to the new dojo in Bromsgrove. We hadn't been there before and it took us a little while to find it. The room was tiny! It had a useful mirror in it but unfortunately, it also had a large window which didn't open and led to the room getting hotter and hotter as the sun shone through. Sensei Ronnie worked us hard. Martha and I had to take part in the all the other lower belt gradings too! I was glad I practise my basics and kata.
By the time we got to our own gradings I was very hot and sweaty with perspiration running down my face and soaking my gi. I felt that my basics were good although my weight still needs to be more forward. Martha was asked to move her legs faster.
My Bassai Dai was okay. I was so hot that it was draining me of energy, the room was like a greenhouse! Martha's kata looked good.
When it came to the fighting, I felt confident and calm. I was countering on my right side and it all went well. We switched to our left sides and then Sensei Ronnie came and stood next to me. Of course, I screwed it up dramatically and got a mitt in the face. Sensei Ronnie wasted no time in telling me that my technique was weak. My remaining counters were good but of course, he'd already seen enough... I was passed with a merit but not the distinction that I was after. 
Martha also passed and got her final kyu belt.
Walking out to the car, Martha and I discussed the heat in the room and how hot and sweaty it was. "Yes," agreed Martha, "you could smell the respect!"

A very hot grading! Martha now has her black belt syllabus...

Back at home, I celebrated with all the sweet things I usually deny myself. It was a lovely warm evening and Lucy, Tilly and I sat outside and had drinks around the chiminea.
Karate, junkfood, alcohol.

Sunday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
I was very surprised to see that my weight hadn't changed after all those treats and the beers I had yesterday.
Today, I joined Jonnie and Nigel in the lanes for a 40 miler in the blazing sunshine. It was a fun ride with good mates. Nigel suffered a little towards the end but he always puts on a good show. Jonnie was as strong as an ox, like he had a solar panel on his back! I'll let the photos do the talking:

Later on, Lucy and I gathered at Jonnie and Sally's house for barbecue and drinks:

After a few beers in the sun, Jonnie and I snoozed in front of the Giro d'Italia highlights...
40 miles of cycling, junkfood, alcohol

How to Lose a Belly When You're 43 (part 28)

Monday
I cycled in to work and back. While in my afternoon lesson, one of the ladies opened up a tray of Asian biscuits. That was the end of my healthy eating for the day...
At home, disaster struck. While I was getting dinner ready I noticed that my left wrist was aching mightily. For some reason it got worse and worse until just closing the oven door made me yelp in pain. 
I made a half-hearted attempt to do my Monday night weight lifting session but it was completely pointless.
So, the obvious question is: what's wrong with my wrist? Could it be the onset of arthritis? Why would it suddenly start aching to the point of being useless?
The pain came and went throughout the evening but seemed to be a lot better when I didn't use it.
I went to bed worried.
No alcohol, junkfood, no exercise.

Tuesday
Last night I dreamt I was training in an outdoor dojo with Enoeda Sensei. I was getting everything correct! We ended up training in a warm summer rain.
When I woke up, the pain in my wrist had lessened considerably but now it was clicking when I moved it.
I cycled in to work and back.
By the time I got to the dojo tonight I was relieved to find that the wrist was fine. It was an entirely kata-based lesson and I got to perform Bassai Dai several times. Unfortunately, in a class that size, there's no room for individual feedback (not at brown belt level anyway.)

Wednesday
Cycled in to work and back.
In the evening, I attempted a weight training session. I was very relieved to find that the wrist didn't given me any trouble! I had it strapped up just in case. Unfortunately, my strength left me in the final third of the session and I failed on barbell curls at 39kg. It was at this point that I decided that this week should be a bit of a rest week!
I had three beers and went to bed.


Thursday
Weight: 10st 1lbs
Blood Pressure: 123/75
Resting Heart Rate: 51
Last night I had nightmares about an alien invasion.
I cycled in to work and back.
I ate mostly healthy apart from a chocolate biscuit before bed.
I drank two beers with my dinner.

Friday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
How on earth have I lost two pounds this week? Especially when I didn't do any exercise yesterday, apart from 9 flat miles on the bike!
I cycled in to work in the rain and then took my students to the gym. We went over some basic curls, presses and squats. We did a bit of pad work too.
This evening's Karate session was, as is usual for the Friday session, superb. After the session, I was lucky enough to get some sparring experience under my belt with Sensei Jody while Sensei Gary was the referee.
Poor Jody was subjected to some rather biased refereeing as his superb Mawashi Geri flashed up next to my face but was ruled as a no-score. He did eventually beat me of course, but I was happy that my techniques show signs of improvement.

Saturday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
Today, the family and I went to see Avengers: Infinity War. I think, as far as pure escapist entertainment goes, this is the best film I've ever seen. That doesn't mean it's better than The Deer Hunter or Bladerunner or The Dark Knight or Good Will Hunting, but it is more fun than any other film I've watched. If you've invested the time in these Marvel characters and watched all of the films then this is an amazing cinematic experience. If you're not roaring with laughter (Drax being invisible) then you're blinking back tears ("I don't want to go.") I thoroughly enjoyed myself with wine, a beer, crisps and M&Ms! 
Afterwards, we had pizza for dinner!
Sometimes it's truly grand to have a day off training.
Junkfood! Alcohol! No exercise!

Sunday
Weight: 10st 0lbs
How didn't I put any weight on yesterday???
Up early to cycle with Jonnie. We headed off at 9am and I had devised a short but very lumpy route. It was a bit chilly with a crisp north wind keeping the temperature down. We were slow today which we attributed to the amount of climbing this route demanded. However, I could tell Jonnie didn't have the legs he did when he demolished me on the MMH two weeks ago. 
After refreshing ourselves with tea and cake, we turned north into a cold 15mph headwind and started the long climb back to base. We struggled to keep the average at a decent speed but it eventually dwindled away. By the time we reached the climb through Danzey Green, we were almost spent. We gritted our teeth and did our work in silence...
We were very relieved and pleased to get back to base with the average still above 13 mph. We managed to cover 38 miles with over 2000ft of climbing.
After a healthy lunch, Martha and I headed off to the two hour Sunday Karate session run this week by Sensei Mark. It was a slow, stop-start type of lesson so we didn't really get to hit top gear. However, there were some technical points that we managed to go over. 
During one of the spar work sections, Sensei Jody tagged me a good one high up on the ribcage. I honestly thought he'd cracked a rib. It only hurts if I breathe...
Back home for Sunday lunch and beer!