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?
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