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

130 Days Until Trip - Day 29 of Training / Diet

Wow, I'm 4 weeks in to this now and still going and losing weight which makes it all worthwhile. I would have liked to have had more weight loss, but a loss is a loss and they say if you lose it slowly you have a better chance of succeeding and of keeping it off,

 As I've said last week I wasn't well so nothing done as such. As a result there's very little to review;

exercise 1% of what was planned and diet I'd say around 80%, which considering the week, was great and I even lost weight. 

I lost 1 lb and with that I've reached my first goal of 7 lbs weight loss (7.2 lbs to date). My new target is a stone (14 lbs), so bring it on :-)

For me I like visual reminders of where I'm at and how I'm going. I have a white board in my bedroom to track my journey and although at the moment there's only a small dent, in a couple of months, things will have moved forward.

and in my kitchen

1 marble represents 1 lb so say a little prayer for me to succeed at this.

Until tomorrow....................Keep Smiling :-)

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 Weight Loss Last Wk: 1 lb -  Weight Loss To date (4 wks): 7.2 lbs  - Remaining:  48.8 lbs

131 Days Until Trip - Day 28 of Training / Diet

Ok well didn't get back training but did today, thankfully.

I only did a 30 min turbo session but it's a start back after not feeling well and I did work up a good sweat. It's more than I did all week. 

It was funny when I started as I found it so easy, I even put the gears up to the top and was delighted, I was pedalling fast but felt no pressure on legs.....wow my fitness has improved. However a couple of mins in I realised I never engaged the resistance on the turbo when I had moved it......ops ! I quickly reduced down the gearing when I engaged it :-)

Not expecting too much tomorrow with regards to weight loss especially with nothing really done training wise but I'll be delighted if I maintained last weeks weight. Tomorrow will tell:

Bye for now

                                                               Keep Smiling :-)

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 Weight Loss Last Wk: 1.9 lbs -  Weight Loss To date (3 wks): 6.2 lbs  - Remaining:  49.8 lbs

133 Days Until Trip - Day 26 of Training / Diet

Only updating today as I've being sick, so absolutely nothing done for the last few days but feeling better today, so going to go back training tomorrow, just something small.

I still have plenty of time to do this and although at times it does feel daunting, I know I can do this......I WILL DO THIS.

I have had great support from friends over the last few days and although I may not say it, I really appreciate it and it's great knowing people are there .... thanks guys :-)

You may have noticed I have a new blog header and I have to thank one of my club mates for my new image, thanks Martin Power, great job on drawing.

My only concern about the image is, was it meant to be a picture of me because then I need to worry :-)

So just a quick update....bye for now

                                                               Keep Smiling :-)

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 Weight Loss Last Wk: 1.9 lbs -  Weight Loss To date (3 wks): 6.2 lbs  - Remaining:  49.8 lbs

137 Days Until Trip - Day 22 of Training / Diet

It's that time of the week again, where I start into a new week and have a look back at the previous.

To date things are going very well and I'm losing weight but that being said, last week fell short. Is it time to panic? 

No not at all but it's good to realise it.

The last few days I didn't get much exercise done plus I failed to update blog .......no accountability, doesn't help so back on track today. I don't mind not updating the odd day, but missing a few isn't good at all.

That being said, on Saturday I did a small cycle plus four hours approximately of knocking down an old shed and clearing out a back garden, so I didn't slack off too much. In fact Sunday I was in bits from it.....some muscles I didn't know existed were sore.

Also lately my knees are killing me with the cold,

I have resorted to placing a hot water bottle on them to help.....the joys of old age :-)

The good news is the weather is due to change from Wednesday, so that will be sorted then.

Now last week I would rate as the following;

Diet..........around 85% (again due to portion size,, bread, the 1 cupcake I had plus also I had 1 bottle lucozade and pack of tayto)

Exercise.......only hit around 70% of what I had planned. 

In general I hated last week and found it hard to stay motivated and focused. It is all part of the process and everyone has similar when doing the same, and I recognise this, but it still was a pain of a week. I'll continue with my plan and do the best that I can and eventually I'll get there. Regardless I'm doing more than the person who is doing nothing.

Weight loss...........I did great.....almost reached my first goal.......with a loss of 1.9 lbs last week. Next week I should hit the magical first half stone (7 lbs). Brilliant.....a loss every week.

Nothing done today as spent day in Dublin with hospital appointment, with my daughter same old same old but it just takes up the day. All good thankfully and as for me tomorrow back on track.

Bye for now...Keep Smiling :-)

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 Weight Loss Last Wk: 1.9 lbs -  Weight Loss To date (3 wks): 6.2 lbs  - Remaining:  49.8 lbs