45 Days Until Trip - Day 114 of Training / Diet

Ok its time to update as its around ten days since my last post but better late than never or never for some :-)

For most of us who have being out and about cycling, the wind seems to be the biggest curse of late and despite the glorious sunshine the wind keeps punishing us.......unless you're one of those elite ones whom it doesn't bother.

Today I had planned to head towards Wexford but the wind soon changed that and it ended up being just to up to New Ross and back. 

At the end of the day its time in the saddle and more kilometres in the legs. While out today I met the young man in picture opposite. 

We spent a some time with each other at the side of the road. We talked about bikes and touring and when wind was mentioned, he said..."the wind never lasts forever", a brilliant way at looking at things.

He's currently on the road for three months on this present trip and what a load of gear he was carrying on his bike. I thought upping mine to over 30 kg today was a lot but Michael from California put me to shame. After we said our good byes, off he went towards Waterford and I towards New Ross . Looking back at him pedalling off it was no bother to him at all....he has done many tours including twice across America, so those legs of his are well used to all this cycling and the load of gear.

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I've had a good few weeks of late and things are going in the right direction....I'm feeling great in myself and have returned to the club again which is fantastic as I love the social element never mind the cycling

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I'm training four or five days on the bike including returning to cycling the beast regular again with a 108k last Tuesday. I've slowly upped the weight in the panniers too so that it's not a sudden shock when I head off for my trip.. I feel I'm starting to get stronger again, although the long spin on beast really hurt me and I was unable to walk for a day and a half. I soon discovered it was the spds (legs clipped too straight with no floating). I've changed to BMX platform petals and the problem is solved. The best thing about training with the bike loaded is that I find any issues before I go on my trip.

Lumpy roads are my main stay of late and are really helping me improve. This as well as not spending all my cycles on the beast it what's working for me. The last two weeks I've started back on my solo rides so that I'm used to it for France. No point being always with people when I'm touring alone albeit I'm sure I'll meet plenty of others on the Euro Velo route.

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The only other thing that was slipping away was my diet but with pressure from one or two of my friends (and/or their kids), I'm back on track from yesterday and today I ate my first ever salad........ok I can feel your shock....but to date if I had a salad it was the ham, chicken or eggs I ate.......why doesn't everyone else ?  :-)

Those green stuff and messy other stuff are for rabbits. However I ate them all today, greens red, foreign objects, dressings the lot....did I enjoy it.....can't say I didn't but equally can't say I did.

I ate it and the deal was I wasn't to be told what anything was until I finished it. I will try it again and hopefully I'll learn to like it as it's just too awkward being a fussy eater. 

I'm a work in progress.....as they used to say in the 6 million dollar man....we have the power to rebuild him :-)

Only 45 days left now to France and I'm more or less organised with things....except I must put up my tent. Can you imagine me on my first night trying to figure it out. As for my camp cooking......guess it'll be pasta and baked beans :-)

Keep smiling talk soon :-)

56 Days Until Trip - Day 103 of Training / Diet

Getting Close

Got my maps the other day and the trip is starting to look more realistic now and I'm looking forward to it. To be honest I'm nervous about it too but once I hit the road and catch ferry I'm sure the nerves will disappear then.......roll on June 5th :-)

For those of you who would like to follow more of the route I plan to take, click here - La Vélodyssée (part of Eurovelo 1) and for more details on all Eurovelo routes throughout Europe click here Eurovelo routes.

With the weather being good this week I've managed to get out again

yesterday and today. Over the last few spins I've really pushed very hard and yesterday I managed my best 1 hour average in a few years.....28kph which felt great although a a big drag and a few small drags brought that crashing down by end of spin....I was delighted.

That being said it's not about averages overall, it's about enjoying your spin and I can say over the last few weeks I've found my love for cycling again.

Yesterdays route was out the dual carriageway towards Kilmeaden, across Portlaw Road to Fiddown and on to Piltown and up to Templelorum across to Mullinavat and back home.

Was with my friend Michael H and we did push it very hard although the usual drags and climbs killed me but I'm doing much better than what I have been.

Today I was out with another friend, Olive C and we headed out Orchardstown X to Tramore and obviously one must stop for tea, where we met up with another a friend Deirdre H.....two hot chocolates later and maybe an hour too we headed back home. Today I used the beast (touring bike) as I hadn't being out for a while so was good to back on it. You would notice the weight difference though :-)

All in all training is going ok and diet wise I'm not doing too bad either. That's it for today, enjoy your day

Keep smiling :-)

58 Days Until Trip - Day 101 of Training / Diet

Before I start, I would like to say a big thank you to everyone for their support on Facebook and in private after my post the other day....thanks a million :-)

As well as people wondering where my blog had gone, there was the inevitable question...."How's the weight loss going?" Now there's a story......my trusty weighing scales I was using from the start, died, so being sensible I went for the same make again. The following morning I weighed myself and .....play the horror music now......I was up 7 lbs, not possible, I hadn't pigged out and if it's real, well then I'm pigging out. 

So I moved it around the room, then different rooms and I got varying results from two to the seven pounds up, so that's not accurate ( never got a bloody less amount though).

I got a lone of another scales and similar happened, so I decided I'm not going to be worrying about what that says for a while and I'm going with how people react and clothes feeling bigger and fitting in to clothes I couldn't before. |Just hope I don't bump into someone, who calls me a fat b$%^&"d..lol. In a month or two I'll check again or might just get weighed on one of those machines in the chemist as they're calibrated regular.

Was in Dublin yesterday so only did a small walk with my young lad, but today was bike time again. Decided I was going to do a shorter one but push it as hard as I can so that I can work on my speed. Weather was beautiful, sun was shining but I was surprised as there was a wind but I went and did what I planned..

I'm very happy with spin, especially as I was on my own....onwards and upwards :-)

That's it for today....keep smiling :-)

60 Days Until Trip - Day 99 of Training / Diet

I was asked by a few people where was my blog gone as I've not really been on line and my blog was one of those things to go.

The reason I have being off line and it's a subject I'm not afraid to talk about but an issue misunderstood by many. Some of my friends know, some may know and other may have guessed but for the last 11 years I have suffered on and off I have suffered with depression, and unfortunately for the last few months I was consumed by it again, so everything went by the wayside. Mental health issues are a taboo subject to some and then there are those who tell me "cop the F$%& on" or " just get over it we all have bad days".

If only it was that simple..................

I have a heart condition but no one would say that to me in relation to my heart, so why do it when it concerns my mind. Mental issues, no matter what you have, are real.

I'm a very social person and love being around people and thrive off it but when I get depressed I'm the complete opposite. It takes time to get right and medication and exercise are a help,,,,but time is what counts,.

So just because I have been avoiding you, it's nothing personal, I just find it hard being near people and large groups terrify me.

That being said I have being getting better and today I returned to my club for our usual Bank Holiday spin to Hook Head in Wexford which is a great location. Initially I had an anxiety attack but with support of friends I went on spin and within a few k's I was feeling great....mentally that is, I was on a dam hill so physically I wasn't :p

When we reached the Hook I kept to a few outside while the main group was inside having coffee and that way I met people gradually and I relaxed even more. In general I'm coming back to myself and am delighted I forced myself out with club and next Sat I'll return to our regular spins. 

So if you know someone with mental health problems, they're not MAD or a LOONY they're just going through a rough patch and just be there for them. If you can't manage or understand that's no bother too. They'll come right but it takes time and it's good to talk....BUT only when they feel up to it. 

These are my views only so if you feel like criticising please don't as I can do that myself too easy so don't need any help there.

BE kind...you don't know how people are suffering on the inside.

Back to normal broadcast tomorrow :-)

102 Days Until Trip - Day 57 of Training / Diet

Days 51 to 57

Eight weeks done and dusted and this tortoise is continuing his journey. I'm even starting to enjoy it again and the support I'm getting from friends is fantastic.

I'm getting excellent on-line support and encouragement with others coming on my spins with me, even the long ones. The long ones are hard on others as on the bike I have it's heavy and so I'm slow....hmmm slow and steady seems to be my mantra for everything on this journey :-) Thanks to all for this :-)

Unfortunately I don't have too much to report because between the weather and simply put....I been lazy last week I was only out once...but I did work hard on that spin....the wind was awful as was the constant drags. As I said no excuses I was lazy and should have been on the turbo the two days I couldn't get out. So fours times this coming week on bike and if weathers bad....I'll be on turbo.....PROMISE ! 

Today is my weigh in day and I've reached another goal.....today I'm 1 stone down....actually 14.2 lbs (6.44 kilos), so delighted......next target one and a half stone (21 lbs). My marble jar has 14 marbles in it now so less in the, to lose side :-)

I'm a quarter of a way on my weight loss target so finders crossed. If I manage to keep it going like this, I would have a 3 stone loss before I headed off on my trip, but I'm still aiming for the 4.

Oh that was a 2.2 lb loss for last week :-)

As I said very little to say about last week, so talk soon.

Take care, keep smiling :-)

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 Weight Loss Last Wk: 2.2 lb -  Weight Loss To date (8 wks): 14.2 lbs  - Remaining:  41.8 lbs

109 Days Until Trip - Day 50 of Training / Diet

Days 44 to 50

Well the weeks are rolling by fast and we're already half way through February, so won't be long before I head into the less than 100 days to go.....scary. 

Was very happy with how things went this week albeit.....body weight exercises have gone by the wayside......hmmm might try them again in a few weeks.

I got in a few spins this week and all on the "beast" as I call my touring bike (it feels like a ton weight).

Here's Wednesday's Spin

but Saturday was the one that made feel like I'm starting to get back to where I used to be. I was on a high after cycle and wasn't too sore which was great too :-)

and I finished week off with a shorter spin

I have been asked a few times about my weight loss how was I doing it with a regular weight loss.

Basically as I explained a few posts back my marble jars in my kitchen are a daily reminder of where I am and if I binge out, I'll have to take a marble from lost back into the other jar which isn't worth it as it's hard enough to lose.

I also tend to have food prepared in fridge, usually chicken or boiled eggs and if I'm hungry (no matter what the time) I go and have something. I also drink a lot of water so if I am feeling hungry, it usually means I genuinely am.

And another trick is a book I was advised to get by a friend which has pictures of various foods and their portion size and breakdown of calories etc, which is another visual aid for me.....you'll be surprised by what you think a healthy portion is.

 Availabe
 The Book Centre, Waterford €19.99 or Book Depository website €15.40

Oh I almost forgot.....I was down another 2.3 lbs last week giving me a new weight loss of 12.1 lbs to date......yippee !

Slow and steady wins the race :-)

Take care, keep smiling :-)

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 Weight Loss Last Wk: 2.3 lb -  Weight Loss To date (7 wks): 12.1 lbs  - Remaining:  43.9 lbs

116 Days Until Trip - Day 43 of Training / Diet

Days 30 to 43

The last two weeks and the week previous I wasn't well so no training as such, but feeling good again so fingers crossed. I got out on Friday and Saturday for two cycles, 34.45 and 40.21 kilometres respectively, which I really enjoyed. 

Three weeks is a lot to lose but during that time I kept my diet relatively good and continued to lose weight, albeit only a small amount....BUT a loss is a loss. 

I'm now 9.8 lbs down giving an average of 1.63 lbs weekly. Over a year that would be more than enough to reach my goal.

A friend of mine had this on her Facebook page and I thought it was apt for the few weeks I've had. Roll on tomorrow, ready to get back training proper again.

Thanks to my family and friends for the support over the last few weeks, very much appreciated.

Take care, keep smiling :-)

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 Weight Loss Last Wk: 1.4 lb -  Weight Loss To date (6 wks): 9.8 lbs  - Remaining:  46.2 lbs