Fatboy Slimming

It's been a week of working away a bit and generally being busy. I've not exercised and I've been out to eat twice while away with work (and they have both been a little beer heavy!). The end result is that I put back on a couple of pounds that I lost, but that could be the result of a bit of a binge last night...

I'm not worried, I'm back on track again now and hoping to get some good exercise done tonight.

Next week I'm working away for 4 days but I've booked a hotel with a gym and I'm hoping to get myself down there in the evenings.

Friday is weigh-day (I know I'm late), lost another 2lbs and making a total loss of 9lbs since 29th July.

Things are going quite well, I'm not really dieting I'm just keeping an eye on what I eat and how much, I know that sounds like a diet but I will still eat *bad* things but I'll make sure that it's not a habit and I'll make up for it by adding extra exercise.

On the exercise front it hasn't been great this week, I've been busy and not had much free time but I am still keen and I'll make up for that!

Not shedding many pounds at the moment which is a bit of a shame considering the effort I'm putting in.

I don't really mind because I feel like I'm getting a bit fitter and the clothes are a little looser, that's what it's all about isn't it?

Update- Thinking about it, the lack of weight loss could be due to the big increase in the amount of water I'm drinking. Today for example I've had around 4 litres of cold water and each litre weighs 2.2lbs I believe, that's a lot of extra weight sloshing around at any given time.

Been away for the weekend so haven't had the bike with me and no chance for much exercise, managed to get out tonight although I left it a bit late (10.15pm).

Distance: 6.17 miles
Time Taken: 25:28
Average Speed: 14.5 MPH
Max Speed: 20.8 MPH

Cumulative distance is now 55.3 miles

That's a new Personal Best!

I certainly felt a bit better during the second half of the lap, normally I find it really hard going.

One of the reasons I'm never going to be setting blistering lap times is that the bike isn't made for it, it's quite low geared and that speed of 20 mph is just about all I'm going to be able to get out of it.

Averaging 14.5 mph means that I'm putting in 75% effort on average which will be good on the longer rides if I can keep it up.

All in all I'm happy with the progress, when you consider I'm lugging almost 20 stone (280 pounds) around it's quite a feat.

Out again tonight although I wasn't really in the mood to be honest.

Distance: 6.20 miles
Time Taken: 27:09
Average Speed: 13.7 MPH
Max Speed: 20 MPH

Cumulative distance is now 49.1 miles

Not bad, I had to stop for cars at almost every junction and at one point I dropped my water bottle and had to go back for it.

Still determined to increase that average.

The Hackers Diet looks pretty good, I've downloaded it and read the first couple of chapters already I'll try to read the rest later.

It makes sense that in order to solve a problem (in anything) you first have to understand the mechanisms you are dealing with.

I think the exercise is starting to have some effect, the main thing is I actually look forward to a bit of cycling because I feel so much better afterwards. I think the target times are a good thing, I really want to see those average speeds go up and that's enough incentive to get me out there even if I don't feel in the mood before I start (which is often the case).

On this mornings weigh-in* I was a couple of pounds lighter so that's a good thing, makes the total loss since 29th July 7lbs (or half a stone).

* I know I said I wouldn't do it daily but it's a habit I can't break.

Managed to get out on the bike briefly tonight (in between episodes of Lost!) and did the route I started doing semi regularly back at the start of the year. I had the cycle computer fitted and the stats are:

Distance: 6.17 miles
Time Taken: 26:07
Average Speed: 14.1 MPH
Max Speed: 19.2 MPH

Cumulative distance is now 42.9 miles

Quite pleased with this time as it is a very slight improvement on the sort of times I was setting back in January when I was a bit lighter.

I want to add a few rides with a longer distance but I will always keep this route as my "yard stick" measure of how my fitness improves. I suppose I should think about a target for this lap, something to aim for, but I'm not sure what that should be. Maybe I'll go for consistently setting a 16 MPH plus average speed, that's a good one as the average speed is driven by stamina (I know this because after about 3.5 miles the average starts dropping as I run out of energy).

Tomorrow I'll be staying away on business so I'll not be cycling but I might see if I can spend a bit of time in the hotel gym (assuming there is one wherever I end up staying) or maybe I'll go for a brisk walk.

I have to stop weighing myself every day, it's not helping.

The problem is that for the last couple of days I have been doing quite well, I have been eating all the right stuff and I've been exercising too (just under an 8 mile ride last night) but I'm not losing any weight.

This is silly though because I know that if I carry on as I am I'll be fitter and thinner in time, the constant monitoring is great if the pounds are sliding off each day but no good if they aren't.

A weekly weigh-in is all I need to do but it's hard when the scales are right there.

I suppose one of the reasons that my weight isn't plummeting is because I've upped my fluid intake dramatically. I find it hard to drink enough because I very rarely get thirsty, I'm forcing myself to drink a lot of water at the moment because I think it will help with surpressing appetite (which hasn't actually been a problem yet) and also because I'll need more fluid if I'm exercising each day.

I still can't get it in to my head that this is a long term thing and I'm trying to make it a habit, I shouldn't be looking for quick results here.

Got out on the bike today for the first time in ages, really enjoyed it too. I took it quite easy and covered 7.5 miles so it was quite a good session.

I much prefer it to a stationary bike, it's easier to put more effort in and it's easier to get motivated to go. I think I'll use the indoor bike on those days when the weather isn't good enough to go out.

I still notice that my stamina isn't very good, I can maintain a good speed for the first few miles but after that it's a struggle to keep the speed up, I suppose it will come with time if I can keep putting the miles on the bike.

Well the first week is over and it has gone quite well really. I've managed to eat sensibly on the whole although I have eaten pizza, chocolate and cake (not all at the same time!) it's all been in moderation.

I've exercised too although not as much as I had planned, I'm sure that will come as the good habits form. Exercise has generally been an exercise bike as it's very convenient and it's good for working up a bit of a sweat, I normally do sessions of 30 minutes which seems about right to start with.

I think I'll start getting out on the proper bike again soon, I'm sure I put more effort in to it when I'm actually going somewhere and I'll probably be more motivated to get out there for a change of scenery.

The Steamer we bought a while back has been useful this week, I've been steaming lots of rice and vegetables and it's so easy. Vegetables taste better steamed than boiled too.

So, one week down and I think 5lbs lost. That's fine for a first week, I want to aim for a constant 2lbs per week.