Photography, random posts and very little about kebabs.
Updates for my keep fit regime
….now the blog is back and working I’ve noticed a pattern of things. Illness and Fitness seem to feature a lot. And guess what, well last week I joined the Aston Uni Gym – it’s over the road from where I work so convenient.
Last week I also couldn’t shake off the cold/sore throat and headache I had so I got ill.
Nice to see things as much are back to normal.
Out of the blue I update the blog……..
So fitness, it’s been something I’ve mentioned a few times over the years – but this time it might actually be happening. Really it should read fitness and diet as I’ve made significant (for me) changes to the latter. Fitness actually wasn’t a problem, despite being nearly 16 stone. This is due to the hour a day of cycling I do getting to and from work. Diet on the other was rubbish, I was a strong believer in the eat what you want and cycle diet – which has some merit, except when all you eat is crap. So since before Christmas I’ve slowly cut out the rubbish.
Biscuits are the worst source of my problem. For me it was like crack (although freely available in the shops makes not at all like crack – so ignore the analogy), anyway biscuits – the simple truth is I ate too many. I’d have some after breakfast, then have some at break (in the office) then more later after tea – and probably some later as well. I’ve cut them out completely and it seems to have done the trick.
Also I’ve started to get up early, cut out other rubbish and now I’m looking at portion sizes. It’s making a difference. Weight is now 15.025 stone (yeah, I know mixing the imperial with decimalisation – but it’s my blog and no one is here to correct me), goal this year is getting down to 13 stone (not specified an actual target yet could be 13.5 or a fraction under 14!). Once there I’ll make the decision what to do then.
I did start running as well, but that’s problematic at the moment – first my calf went, now my back is playing up again – still it’s a long term aim to do more running as well. Current health issue are just a momentary blip.
So there you go, a bit of positive me for a change. Goals set in other things as well. No need to announce them, I may mention them when I reach them.
Oh, by the way – who’s it for? Well the answer is me.
In what may seem like a weekly regular feature (it’s not) another Sunday comes along so another trip out on a bike. This time it’s a new (ish) bike. Time to present the 2008 G.T. Avalanche 3.0…….
After riding my Marin Bear Valley SE for a number of years it’s quite odd getting on a different bike. Being a bike fitted with front suspension forks the ride was immediately different. In fact it almost felt like peddling a bus, the tyres are heavy and steering felt odd. On the road the bike felt odd probably due to large tyres and I wasn’t overly comfortable without the toe clips that the Marin has.
The bike was a cheap acquisition at £75, however it’ll need a few quid spent on accessories.
I planned to use my existing lights so would need some Cateye spares. I say planned, because I noticed a Cateye gift pack which included a front and back light – but also with a computer. All for £31, the brackets on their own would come to around £10 so it made sense (with the added computer included).
So bits:
Peddles – £13
Clips – £7
Crud catcher (mud guards) – £14
Bottle cage – £5
So it’s probably another £40. Still not convinced I’ll keep the bike yet, but as the parts I’m buying are interchangeable I can use them on any future bike I get.
Not sure if I’ve mentioned it before, but for the last 4 (might have been a bit more I should’ve kept a note!) months I’ve started to cycle to work. I did a little bit last year, but I’ve been cycling for a good 3 months now. Only got soaked once, which on reflection isn’t too bad. In fact I’ve probably got caught out more when on the bus or train to be honest.
A couple of things have come out of it. First off, on balance I think it’s saved me money. My weekly transport costs used to be either £40 in petrol, or around £15 for a combination of bus/train. My bike…….
….is getting on a bit, so I’ve spent a little on maintenance.
Last year I bought some road tyres around £40, a new rear wheel this year £40, Mudguards £20, Light £30 and clothing around £100. So roughly around £230 in bits so divided over 16 weeks it’s a little under £15
The second benefit has been weight, despite me still eating rubbish I managed to loose a stone. Which to be honest is probably worth the £230 alone.
I do feel better for it and enjoy cycling through the endless queues of stationary traffic on the roads. I hope to continue throughout the winter probably purchasing some winter shoes and some water proof leggings (hoping that Aldi have another Bike offer to be honest). Also should add the bike really could do with a service. I think the crank bearings have seen better days – that said I’m hoping to pick up another bike (second hand) via a friend of a friend. So that might mean I can rest the old Marin for Spring/Summer duty.
Whilst walking through brum today, noticed an A4 notice in the window of GameStation.
WII FIT in Stock!!!!!! (probably didn’t have all the exclamation marks). Decided as the belly is too big and the bike is currently of reach to purchase. Seems everyone else decided to as well. Queue was quite long, couple of Emo types very indecisive about Final Fantasy on the DS (I think) anyway after about 10 minutes I got one.
The fitness starts as soon as you purchase and walk out of the shop, the main reason is the bleeding balance board does weigh a bit. Eventually after work, tea and Traffic Cops (wtf were those Swedish women doing bouncing off cars/trucks?) I fired it up. Takes a while to get into it, the initial setup requires a little calibration.
So puts in height (which the Wii already knows – maybe my mii has the details) and DOB etc. It then tells me my weight. Fortunately as the balance board is on the carpet it loses a few kg. So I’m around 15 1/2 stone (97ish Kg), I’m obese and my Wii Fit age is…………….48
Bleedin hell. Anyway started up and had around 30 minutes on all the activities.
The Yoga was interesting as my balance is good (must be the real Yoga – I wont tell Jayne though). As usual the tree pose (the one you see on the cover of Wii Fit) was utter crap. Though I can imagine the other yoga bits will be as difficult as my real Yoga lessons.
Also hard are the arms and legs work outs. These are more like gym work, and having the belly and weak arms I notice them more.
Balance is quite a fun departure, the slalom skiing and Ski Jump are difficult to master. I was absolutely shite at the football (heading). The balance game also has a mini marble madness type game, though it’s just drop a number of mii balls through a hole (got to level 4).
I forget what the other games were, but they are simple things like step and jogging (not on the balance board though. The Wiimote goes in the pocket and jumps out!).
Overall, a good bit of fun. Not too sure if i’m a morning person or an evening one for the training. Hopefully I can keep it up. My ambition is to lose a 1 and a half stone in 3 months. We’ll see.