tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59707358241379437492024-03-08T05:38:41.593+00:00Xylophone RibsZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.comBlogger268125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-23764710937390373952023-02-03T20:19:00.000+00:002023-02-03T20:19:05.808+00:00Magic porridge pot, only couscous. Awful.<p> It's all been a bit tedious so far. I was unwise to enter into what they call a challenge - so discouraging. The idea was to start with a breakfast high in carbohydrate and see what that does to your blood glucose, the next morning to have a high fat breakfast, then to have both the next day, then to eat carbohydrate and walk briskly for half an hour, then on the final day to have the fat first, wait for half an hour and then have the carbs. </p><p>I may never eat blinking couscous again. I've gone right off avocado too. </p><p>Seriously, this is a stupid way to introduce people into a programme that may lead to a new way of eating. If they ask for feedback (haha) then I'll tell them. They then wanted you to do more sodding challenges - thing is, you need an empty stomach before you start so you're supposed to do it in the morning, but some of the meals are absolutely not breakfast food. Spag bol? Really?</p><p>I decided, belatedly, that it was counter-productive - this was evaluated on the evidence, it wasn't whimsical - and to eat what I wanted to eat and use the last few days of my glucose tracker for that. I'm still waiting for my personal analysis, but that will arrive soon.</p><p>I'm feeling pretty disenchanted with the whole thing at present, frankly. I'm very much against faddy eating and this seems to feed (haha) into that. I'm on a couple of facebook groups and some people get really competitive about it, even if they''re only in competition with themselves. I think there's good stuff in here, but fad diets aren't sustainable and I have yet to be convinced that - totally against the intentions of the people who devised the programme - it doesn't encourage unhealthily obsessive diet patterns. </p><p>It could just be that I'm argumentative and awkward. But if you go for this programme and are (I suggest not) determined to do the five day programme, please - on my knees, please - don't do the sodding couscous. It will break you.</p>Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-14384882457673483812023-01-24T19:00:00.000+00:002023-01-24T19:00:51.987+00:00Day 1<p> People have said the muffins are the worst part and they are right. You have three for breakfast and two for lunch and you have to eat them within 15 minutes. I was slightly over for breakfast and that was with the help of a pint of water and a mug of tea. They're sweet and fine-textured and just not pleasant. The first bite or two isn't bad, but the unpleasantness builds up. It's too much food and yet unsatisfying. </p><p>Having said that, it's over and I don't have to do it again. I've done the blood sample and I'm regularly testing my blood glucose level - there's an implant I've attached to my arm. There's also a poo test, which they call poop. I'd be quite happy with a more biologically accurate word, but no matter. Thing is, my regular habit has vanished now that I'm supposed to collect a sample. I'm sure I'll get it tomorrow.</p><p>I'm supposed to scan the implant at least every 8 hours, but actually more often in practice as that is how you know how you react to food and drink. Over the next fortnight, I should play with it - eat different foods in different combinations, to see how my blood glucose reacts. </p><p>This evening, I had a fairly uninteresting meal of leftover sprats plus a little hot-smoked salmon, about 110g in total, plus 55g of leftover brown rice and 75g cooked spinach. And two small (110ml each) glasses of wine. That isn't a lot, now I see it written down, so I may add some fruit. I don't do intermittent fasting as such, more IF lite, but I do leave at least 12 hours overnight between meals (this includes drinks, though herb or actual tea and coffee are okay as long as they don't have milk, sugar or artificial sweeteners).</p><p>My purpose is to find out how my body reacts to categories of food and combinations of foods and I hope to lose weight, but also to be as healthy as I can be. I feel emotionally fragile: however well things are going on any day, the least thing raises my anxiety levels a lot. I don't cry very often, but I'm on the verge of tears frequently. I'm not clinically depressed and I cope reasonably well and I ask for help and I try to support friends who need it. I actively look for moments (or more) of pleasure and joy. I am grieving and I have worries, that's all there is to it. It's normal and I'm just saying it, because I've hidden my feelings for many years and that doesn't help any more. </p>Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-85077246210814400222023-01-22T22:06:00.001+00:002023-01-22T22:06:10.661+00:00Tomorrow and tomorrow...<p> I didn't start the regime today after all, because younger son and his children came over. I wasn't going to serve them a roast dinner and eat dry and dismal muffins for my own lunch. So I've postponed to Tuesday. </p><p>Baksun, as Christopher Robin would put it.</p>Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-26563889747154861032023-01-17T18:36:00.002+00:002023-01-17T18:36:24.749+00:00It's all about gut diversity and stuff like that <p> Starting again didn't happen after all. I was doing reasonably well in 2019, even though I wasn't writing here about it, but then lockdown happened and cycling didn't. The local independent shops were doing online orders, so you did your food order and then picked it up when it was ready. Since it was packed in boxes at the greengrocer and their own bags at the deli and whole food shop, there wasn't really an opportunity to put it in bike panniers. So I drove in. And then the next year, when things might have got back to normal, Tim wasn't very well and then he died. Life is sad and dismal, but that's for another blog if I wanted to write about it.</p><p>What I have done is sign up for the Zoe personalised nutrition plan. This is the brainchild of T1m Sp ec tor, whose Zoe app was used by millions of us in the UK to report on our health during Covid lockdown and beyond. That is still going, but he's now very interested in the effect of what each of us eats and how it affects us individually. Even identical twins might have completely different gut biomes and that affects our weight and our health. </p><p>There's a waiting list for the programme, but I finally came to the top of it. It's expensive, but I've stumped up and hope that it'll be useful. I've set my starting date as Sunday, so will report back as it progresses. I have to wear a monitor, eat (for the first day) disgusting sounding muffins, test my blood and gather poo samples. Seriously, it had jolly well better be worth it.</p>Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-13931636029480085132019-05-23T21:53:00.001+01:002019-05-23T21:53:29.722+01:00 Z starts again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I blame Tim. One has to blame someone, after all. Like Eve, I was tempted and I fell. <br />
<br />
At the time Russell died, I was the thinnest I'd been for many years, and was actually a few pounds less than I wanted to be. Not much, but I let myself edge up to about eight and a half stone and this was just about right. I stayed there with no trouble - but then a pound or so a month started to creep on. You know how it is, it's too easy. I've stabilised but I am a lot fatter than I want to be. <br />
<br />
I'm a fair bit older than I was when I last dieted and I'm not especially motivated to do it again, but I must. I honestly don't eat anything I shouldn't and I won't do exclusion diets, even if they work. I need to gradually reduce the amount I eat and get myself fitter, though I hate exercise for its own sake too. I'm not the best candidate for weight loss. But the first thing to do is to get more exercise - as my former doctor put it, exercise doesn't make you lose weight but it raises your metabolism so that dieting is more effective. <br />
<br />
I've had my bike serviced and new tyres and handlebar grips, and am back on it again. I cycle to Yagnub, no further yet, though my aim is to go by bike if it's no more than five miles and it's feasible. Today, I managed a hill that I had to walk up two days ago, so I'm improving slightly. I was panting, I admit, but I did it. <br />
<br />
I'm really pissed off that I let myself gain the flab, but there's no point in fussing. I'm old and knackered and, as I get more so, it'll be harder again. So now is the time.</div>
Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-19777753798067357792019-04-11T11:27:00.002+01:002019-04-11T11:27:24.586+01:00Success, and some learning.So I went zero carb back in... September, was it? It went very well. To some this is absolute mentalism, but I needed to make big changes and I wanted to give it a go. So far, so good.<br />
<br />
Let me explain why I thought the changes were needed. All of my adult life I have been a heavy drinker. Never been an issue, never craved it as such when I don't have it, but I'm either drinking or I'm not. It's never one or two, it's drinking until I am drunk or what's the point. It's not for pleasure, generally, it's to reach a point.<br />
<br />
September 2017, I quit drinking alcohol on my doctor's advice. Nothing too bad, but I had gout, and it appeared to be a major factor for most sufferers. Doctor said quit drinking, so I did. From there, I came to learn just how addicted I was. Not to the booze, but to the sugar within. Jesus fucking Christ, did I learn. There were times when I would be eating upwards of six chocolate bars a day, there was at least one day with nine... My body was peak and trough, over and over; I was falling asleep at my desk in those sugar lulls, and getting a shit-ton of work done in the highs.<br />
<br />
Diabetes has always been a massive fear of mine, partly because I am so needlephobic and partly because, well, if you live the way I have then a Type 2 diagnosis is only one person's fault. I couldn't live with knowing that, understanding it, and then doing it anyway.<br />
<br />
This combines with looking into Ironman, and learning that on the bike I would have to, in theory, put away four carb sachets per hour. That could be upwards of 30 sachets in 112 miles – fuck <i>that</i> shit. Never mind your gut, what about your teeth? There has to be a better way, I thought. So I start talking to a coach I know and he mentions zero carb, we discussed it, and I thought, I'll give it a month.<br />
<br />
One month turned to two, to three… People were coming up to me saying 'Shit, how much weight have you lost?' My own sister walked past me twice without recognising me. No shit. In reality, at that point I had only lost maybe a stone and a half (20lbs, US Fat Fans) but so much of it was water that it had a really dramatic effect. I had plenty of energy, was sleeping fine, and was enjoying my food.<br />
<br />
Christmas Day came, and Fern's dad came round with a ginger cheesecake. That man can cook.<br />
<br />
I ate the cheesecake. Whole thing.<br />
<br />
And form there, I really learned about the addiction to sugar. For the next five or six weeks, I learned everything I think I need to know about how my body and brain responds to the stimulus of sweet. In short... As strong as I am mentally, I have to avoid it. It's almost as though the body calibrates in the morning, one taste of sweet and that's it for me. Next thing you know I am eating a tub of ice cream. Whole fucking tub. Using the microwave to help it along.<br />
<br />
Now, back on the wagon, I try to make sure I have what I need in advance. I cook some meat the night before, take it to work in a tub, graze on it all day. Forget mealtimes, I eat until I am not hungry, then I stop.<br />
<br />
I've rambled, apologies if I lost focus there. It's quite a journey so far. I've lost about 35-40lbs I think, but I'm not sure. I'm just over 16 stone now, 222lbs, and while I am probably carrying more muscle than ever before in my life, I feel pretty good. I recently started training again, just a little - a few three-mile runs this week, seeing how it goes. And so far, so good. Next week I will add in some swims, some gym work.<br />
<br />
I might have to get some fashionable accessories made with all this spare skin though. I'm thinking belt, slippers, wallet… Orders will be taken soon, so start thinking. Seriously, I look like I'm melting.badgerdaddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275758525851693777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-3421403218351837292018-09-22T22:01:00.000+01:002018-09-22T22:01:01.440+01:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm finding it increasingly difficult to comment on Blogger blogs which let Google users comment. Blogger is owned by Google and I use Gmail, which I'm signed into, but that doesn't seem to be enough. So I'm writing a post in the hope that this will be sufficient.<br />
<br />
I'm still blogging, but not generally here. Hope you're all well.</div>
Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-12199919519814654722018-09-03T15:41:00.000+01:002018-09-03T15:41:15.334+01:00Massive huge humongous changesTRUTH.<br />
<br />
I went zero carb. It's agreeing with me, in a big way. No sugars, nothing at all carby, and I feel damn good, energy levels are very good and consistent, and I'm enjoying the food.<br />
<br />
I know it sounds nuts to some people, but I wanted to try it and this is week four... It's working for me so far. So I'll keep going, and start putting some workouts in, and see what happens. But so far so good.<br />
<br />
Weight-wise, it has almost certainly had an effect, but as I have not weighed myself, I don't know quite what that is yet. I'll let you know. I'll weight myself at some point this month. Probably.badgerdaddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275758525851693777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-43437257558390487472017-12-28T13:57:00.001+00:002017-12-28T13:57:47.977+00:00Sometimes, positive change is forced upon you...So, a while back I was doing some training, and discovered a muscle imbalance. I worked fairly hard to sort it out, learned some cool new exercises, and sorted it seemed to be.<br />
<br />
Late summer 2017, I'm thinking, awesome. I can run again. Maybe I will find a race that takes me far, far away from my comfort zone. This is going to be <i>fun</i>. <br />
<br />
Then it all went tits-up. Late July/early August, I started with gout. It's only in the last couple of weeks that it has really come under control, and my blood-urate is now in the normal range. Looks like I will be on this medication for good, assuming my kidneys stay in good shape.<br />
<br />
So what 'takeaways' do I have from this? Well, first is that gout fucking hurts. I've not had it nearly as bad as some do, but then I took measures immediately to curb its progress; I knew what it was, and I made immediate changes. I haven't had an alcoholic drink in over three months, and to be honest I don't miss it. But if I had not had to, I would have carried on drinking. Why? Because it's what I do. Or rather, from here, <i>did</i>. Cutting out meat was much harder, but I am now mostly vegetarian. Or more accurately, I don't seek out meat to eat. I don't mess about if the kids are eating it, I will have a little, but throughout the daytime I don't have any. If it's possible not to in the evening, I don't. I'm working on it. I had my first-ever blood test as a result. I am quite staggeringly needlephobic. Still am, but I'm getting better and better. As it was their first time enjoying my blood, they tested for everything, and I am in quite remarkable shape considering the punishment I have put my body through. My kidney and liver function is excellent, apparently. Shocked the shit out of me. Cholesterol slightly high, but probably from being a fat twat; not yet pre-diabetic, but knocking on its door. Again, that will change with what is to come.<br />
<br />
One of the (many, many) things that increases uric acid production in the body is losing weight; being a lard-arse also doesn't help. What a splendid catch-22. But now my levels are in the normal range, I am going to go after my fat arse with a vengeance. I am around a stone (14lbs) lighter, probably largely down to the drink going; but the quantity of water I drink to help the body flush the uric acid out is almost certainly adding to my overall weight. I drink fuck knows how much water a day; I'd say 6-7 pints at work, probably another four or five in the evening. If my pee is anything other than clear, it's panic time. Dehydration is a mammoth factor in gout, and I will be fucked if I'm having that again.<br />
<br />
I also started swimming. Just half a mile at a time at the moment, and only breaststroke, but it's a start. I also bought a bike, which I couldn't ride because of the gout's bubbling-under nature while the medication was being sorted. Now I can ride it, there has been a global recall on that model because of a manufacturing issue with the forks... Oh well. Soon though.<br />
<br />
You know where this is going, right? I've entered a triathlon in July 2018, a half-Ironman distance (70.3 miles). I'm going to have to learn front crawl from scratch, and I've hardly been on a bike in the last ten years (got hit by a car twice while living and biking around Exeter. It wasn't fun. despite being unhurt mostly both times. I figure third time probably not lucky, so I've stayed away). I have barely run in the last three years.<br />
<br />
Out of my comfort zone? Yep, just a bit. But fuck it. 2017's out of my comfort zone was passing my driving test. And that's one of the things that's made this possible. It's at Holkham Hall in Norfolk in July, and the kids will be there to hopefully see the results of hard, hard work, and to learn that being outdoor, engaging with the world, doing <i>stuff</i>, is what it's all about.<br />
<br />
So the journey kinda starts today, with a gym trip and some cardio. I'm a fraction under 17 stone right now; I may be more like 15 stone 7lbs by early February. It comes off very quickly, and the variety in training is going to be a huge bonus as it should mean less fatigue. But we'll see what happens. I'll be reporting back more regularly, if you're out there.badgerdaddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275758525851693777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-88496648082330782412017-07-06T10:16:00.000+01:002017-07-06T10:16:01.110+01:00Self perception, and a new understanding.Some of this is going to sound stupid. I'm ok with that.<br />
<br />
I gave myself a deadline of when the new baby arrives to get into shape because I know time will be an absolute premium afterward. It didn't happen, though I did get a little fitter and a lot stronger. To cure my ailments, I have been doing high intensity strength training, focussing on my hamstrings and glutes. Basically, I have been curling between 60 and 70 kg on my hamstrings for the past nine months or so, and it's basically worked. I can run again, though there is tightness. But I can at least move, and that's more than I could do before.<br />
<br />
But I realised something recently, and it's priceless. I was in the same room as my former brother in law, and he was moaning about being in a 34"-waisted jean. I thought, I would love to wear a 34" waist... But then I thought about it. A lot. I used to wear a 34", when I was 14 or so. Now I am in a 40" or 42"; back when I was in (slow) marathon shape, I was in a 38 and not that far off a 36".<br />
<br />
Now I know that 36" is a bit more realistic, though I would be happy with a 38". So why the change?<br />
<br />
I realised that I am not the same shape as most people. Yeah, sounds stupid, but it's an understatement. I'm pretty short – 5' 6" – and very wide. Kind of like a box. It's why I don't wear suits for work; I just end up looking like security, albeit security standing far away.<br />
<br />
Where was I? Oh yes, not the same shape. So today, I took this realisation a step further. Now, I know I'm pretty big, and not in the way that most fat blokes say: "I'm a big guy" or, "I'm husky". I mean, I'm really big, I put on muscle very easily. I once laughed my ass off (privately) when a visitor to a shared flat had a 15" collar on his shirt, and asked a group in a pub, 'who the fuck has a neck so tiny, how does he hold his head up?' They all also wore 15" to 15.5" collars. At the time, I wore 17.5", now I wear an 18". My chest as measured today is 49"; most men are under 40". In shape, mine is more like 46", so there's some boob in that...<br />
<br />
But my thighs are the best indication. Fern, at 38 weeks pregnant, measured her waist under her bump today. It's smaller than my thigh circumference. There is very little fat on my legs but a lot of muscle, and each thigh is 29" around. That's 3" less than my former brother-in-law's usual waist size.<br />
<br />
I'm never going to be a 32" waist, and can you imagine how that would look? I can curl an adult's weight on my hamstrings, and push three adults (actually, I can do more but the machine weight stops at 200kg) with my legs; my core strength is excellent, and I have a strong, broad chest and shoulders. I know I need to lose fat, and it can come now with greater sobriety and the ability to actually train. I am trying to embrace that strength and enjoy it, and accept that I am a boulder; I'm never going to be that lovely, long, lean build some men enjoy.<br />
<br />
I'll always be able to pick them up and bench press them, though.badgerdaddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275758525851693777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-32208291730861906512016-02-19T13:33:00.001+00:002016-02-19T13:33:32.932+00:00Pissed off, but improvingAll this weight, I've put on <i>all this weight</i>. Like, dude. 35-40lbs. It's a lot.<br />
<br />
Z told me not so long ago to eat less. I think the problem is more to eat less shite, and to drink significantly less. I know that's been a huge part of my additional calories over the last 18 injured months.<br />
<br />
Injury though, may now actually really be manageable. Mostly with the application of heat, so that's nice and easy. It seems the problems are my calves, and my quadratus lumbator or psoas muscle in my back. They are the source of the stiffness that can become quite debilitating (I will never forget my 37-weeks-pregnant partner having to dress me. Not a good day).<br />
<br />
My better half bought me some new road running shoes just after Christmas, and they remain in the box, unworn. She has written a note on top in black felt pen that says, "Please wear me!"<br />
<br />
Soon, my pretties. Soon.badgerdaddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275758525851693777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-41589627624129096302015-11-26T22:07:00.002+00:002015-11-26T22:47:27.095+00:00Old fool<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Since my husband died, I've discovered that I still need to show that I care by preparing food for someone. And that's been me. So I have been, on and off, rather obsessed with cooking and with making lovely food. Last winter, I was on a real baking binge, making bread every few days and cake at least once a week - which I mostly gave away.<br />
<br />
In the summer, I turned the Aga off for a couple of months, so rather lost interest in cooking on my little Baby Belling. It's kicked off again since, though rather less obsessively. I have, however, recently taken up with a long-term friend who has become much closer than that, we love each other dearly and see a future together (and I'm coming out here, this is the first time I've said so on the open internet) and we both love cooking and eating as a bonus - though neither of us is inclined to overeat, fortunately. But it's fun cooking together. And eating together, obvs.</div>
Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-3796345151240623552015-10-09T22:31:00.000+01:002015-10-09T22:31:45.535+01:00Z is stable - in respect of weight, anyway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It took a post from Badgerdaddy for me to realise for how long I've neglected this blog. Last time I wrote, I'd been losing weight without trying but worse, so had my husband. It turned out that he had cancer of the oesophagus and nothing could be done about it and he collapsed and died in my arms, literally - and unexpectedly - in August last year.<br />
<br />
This is not a blog about widowhood and all that - without a husband who couldn't eat and was losing weight drastically, my own weight has stabilised. I cook and eat and look after myself. I haven't weighed myself for ages, but am about half of Badgerdaddy's present weight - blimey, Badge darling, what's that about?<br />
<br />
Diets that leave out major food groups aren't for me. I'm glad that butter, eggs, salt and so on are readmitted to the spectrum of permissable foods - but I'd never given them up anyway. I know that more people nowadays have to be careful about what they eat, eg gluten or wheat, but I'm not one of them. I have no reason to think that I'm allergic or intolerant to any food. So it's about putting the fork down and not overeating, as far as I'm concerned.<br />
<br />
Success is a bit up and down in that respect, admittedly, but overall I'm still a size 10, which is what I want to be. I think I look pretty damn good and I am happy with my size. <br />
<br />
My second hip is getting painful and, whilst it's not imminent, I feel that a hip replacement isn't that far away. A year or two, I should think.</div>
Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-55596251713127294652015-10-09T12:20:00.000+01:002016-02-19T13:34:11.404+00:00It's been a while, Rib ticklers.A long while.<br />
<br />
I got injured. Well, I had a niggling issue with a hamstring that became a larger complication on a couple of occasions, to the point that the doctor prescribed two painkillers to take together (Naproxen and cocodamol) and my partner actually had to dress me… Yeah, not ideal.<br />
<br />
It's put a real stop on exercise. Plus, we had a son, and he is quite ridiculously beautiful. I actually get stopped in the street by strangers who comment on how utterly gorgeous our children are. They put a lot of stress on time, those little people.<br />
<br />
We moved house too. And I am busier than ever with work.<br />
<br />
But I've put a LOT of weight on, I would say around three stone, which is over 40lbs, US Fat Fans. I'm right alongside the heaviest I have ever been (17.5 stone (nearly 250lbs, US Fat Fans), in London 15 years ago).<br />
<br />
I can't believe I let myself get to this point. That I barely even noticed I was there until I realised nothing fitted me any more and had to buy clothes just for a work trip.<br />
<br />
Fucking fuck.<br />
<br />
I'm totally out of shape, and actually feel too heavy to run at the moment. My plan is, when I feel a bit more rested (ie Monday), I will cycle to the gym at lunchtimes which will both help my hamstring, and help me be less fat.<br />
<br />
There is more to come, but I have to get back to work. Speak soon, Rib ticklers.<br />
<br />badgerdaddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275758525851693777noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-989075905294818732014-08-14T14:31:00.001+01:002014-08-14T14:31:05.267+01:00So, I lost some weight, kinda.I did. It's true. Around... Well, I don't actually know. between one stone and two. More importantly, I have lost fat and gained muscle – the weight loss is definitely fat. I have more core strength, more muscle through my shoulders, back and chest, and my body shape has changed a little bit.<br />
<br />
If I'd quit beer, it would have changed a hell of a lot more, I suspect.<br />
<br />
It's come about because of working with the coach in the US, who has put me on a schedule to inspire my body to burn more fat while exercising. It's also made me a faster runner, and in much better condition all round.<br />
<br />
She also put me on to a book which might be a game changer for me - Grain Brain, which is by an American neurologist arguing that grains, carbs, gluten and sugar are what's killing our brain and its ability to function, and are as such responsible for the rise in many maladies and a factor in an incredible amount of things from depression to diabetes and more obvious ones. It's a fascinating book but one that's taking me a while to read. I had flu recently (came on after a big weekend where I saw Pearl Jam, celebrated my 40th birthday, and watched the World Cup Final (on TV, obv). Oh, and received my decree absolute the same week. No wonder I got ill) and concentration has really been an issue for a month.<br />
<br />
Anyway, while observing my own diet, I do eat quite healthily - lots of vegetables, good quality meat (mostly venison, which lives wild on nearby estates) - but what has alarmed me is not the amount of alcohol I consume, but the amount of sugar I was not recognising that is in the booze. I have never, ever craved alcohol; though recently, I noticed I have been craving sugar. When I stayed off beer for October, looking back I can see now that this was the month I rediscovered chocolate. If I don't have a drink of an evening now, I'll find chocolate or ice cream or something similar.<br />
<br />
I'm a fuckin' addict.<br />
<br />
But on the plus side, sugar consumption is a hell of a lot easier to handle than alcoholism. And with handling that, will come dramatic weight loss. Let's find out, shall we?badgerdaddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275758525851693777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-8386064458930814252014-07-02T18:45:00.003+01:002014-07-02T18:45:52.629+01:00Z looks at her ribs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ironic that it's taken my husband's weight loss to give me xylophone ribs after all.<br />
<br />
He's lost an alarming amount of weight this year. He'd lost about a stone in the six or nine months before I last wrote, but in the last few months he dropped from about 10 1/2 stone to under 9 stone. Since he'd been a normal, healthy weight at the start, the first 15 pounds made him pretty slim, but now he's gaunt and emaciated. He's had tests - blood tests, a chest x-ray and an abdominal CT scan and nothing dreadful has shown up - I know they were looking for bowel cancer, but they didn't find it. It doesn't mean that it's impossible he has a small tumour somewhere (nor that it's likely, on the other hand) but he hasn't got the major cancer that seemed to be indicated. That's wonderful news, though there is plainly something wrong, we don't yet know what.<br />
<br />
Anyway, it's not appetite inducing, finding myself the bigger eater of the two of us. He does have a very good breakfast, but I've gone completely off breakfast over the past week and haven't been able to face anything most days. I do eat lunch and dinner, but what I eat is rather random. I might eat the same as he does, but I'm doing him whatever he fancies and, if I don't feel like it, I do something else for myself. For a couple of days, I had a big globe artichoke for lunch - delicious, and I had it with butter, but there's no substance to it. I've also been eating quite a lot of Twiglets, which I love - I ate a 105g packet in a day and a half - but they were meal substitutes (at least one of the meals was breakfast). I have been making and eating cake, because he can sometimes be tempted by cake or ice cream.<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago, I found up a very old, red skirt that had been languishing in the back of a cupboard for years. It is M&S, size 10 and must be quite 25 years old. Size 10 then is smaller than a size 8 now - that is, the hips are about the same but the waist is smaller. I tried it on last week and could barely do it up, though it fitted round the hips.<br />
<br />
This morning, I weighed myself and found I'd lost a few pounds and was about 8 stone 4. This surprised me, I would find it incredibly hard to lose about 5 pounds in a month, never mind a week. But I'm never one to miss an opportunity, so I went to find the skirt (which I'd washed) and tried it on and the waist did up easily. I ironed it and I'm wearing it now. When I went to get the iron, I found a couple more skirts waiting to be ironed that I'd forgotten I had - I've been wondering why my summer wardrobe was so sparse.<br />
<br />
So, I've hit a 25-ish year low. Not for the right reasons and I don't necessarily want to be this low a weight - I'm not thin but I am slender and I feel that under 8 stone would be too thin. I must try to keep eating a bit more - I think it's been worry, mostly, though.<br />
<br />
Having said all that, I must do something about dinner. I've got some salmon, left over from last night. R wants it as it is, I might add a bit to an omelette - depends on how much he takes. I've picked some spinach to go with it. I was given a meringue filled with cream to bring home. Random snacking suits me nicely right now.</div>
Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-80469614058843101732014-04-07T15:50:00.001+01:002014-04-07T15:50:08.333+01:00Z resists temptation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">I weighed myself this morning and have recalculated my BMI at 21.5 (a healthy weight is said to be 18.5 - 25). R's is 19.5, he having lost weight over the past three years or so. I knew that he had, but it's over a stone - mind you, his appetite is smaller than it was. He feels fine but I'll keep an eye on him. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">I'm in the happy position of being the weight I want to be and, at present, not watching what I eat at all. I ate a bit of all four puddings on Saturday, for example, as well as a packet of crisps - actually, it's just as well I don't do that every day. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">In my 20s and 30s, I reckoned a weight of 8 stone 4 pounds was just right for me. I'm just over 8 1/2 stone now, and wouldn't want to be too much less - it's very tempting for vanity to take over, but resisting temptation is a good thing, isn't it?</span></div>
Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-49689054327222827482014-03-20T18:15:00.002+00:002014-03-20T18:15:58.094+00:00Cake Week<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a while, but there's not a lot to say. I'm still about the same size, still quite happy about it and rarely weigh myself. I eat what I want, but I don't overeat and I opt not to eat biscuits and suchlike regularly. <br />
<br />
When I went to stay with my sister for a fortnight recently, I took a box of mini-bars of Green & Black's chocolate with me. There were twelve bars in all, each weighing 15g, which is about half an ounce. This sounds very little, but it's ok. 25g would probably be more satisfying, but this is enough.<br />
<br />
For the first couple of nights, I ate a bar every evening and then I started to forget. Tired, I decided to take a cup of coffee and some chocolate to have in the bath. It wasn't until I was in bed that I remembered the chocolate and, next day, I found I hadn't even taken it to the bathroom but left it on the table. I came home with several bars, one of which I've eaten (and my husband has eaten most of the rest, though there are a couple left).<br />
<br />
This last week, I ate cake every day. I was tired and stressed and in need of cosseting and - I had quite a lot of cake. I only had a small slice every day - though I might have had two slices, once or twice, and by this week it had to stop. It couldn't on Monday, because Hadrian and I made cakes and not eating them would have been quite out of the question, but on Tuesday I just looked at them longingly. By yesterday, I didn't particularly want them any more.<br />
<br />
I did weigh myself before I started Cake Week, however. If I'd put on weight, I'd have kept well away from temptation. </div>
Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-52239490896396413462013-10-08T12:34:00.004+01:002013-10-08T12:34:32.728+01:00New figures, old figure.Sorry for the break. I bet you've hardly got any fingernails left.<br />
<br />
Been away with work - Vegas for 11 or 12 days. Shitty food, and lots of it. My brother was there at the same time, too, so there was some alcohol involved.<br />
<br />
However, before I left I signed up for Sober in October, a scheme supporting UK charity Macmillan, which helps families coping with cancer, usually in the form of nurses visiting and helping with domestic care. Or should that be domiciliary care? They help people at home and stuff. They're very nice and helped an old schoolfriend of mine's family out in a big way when she was saying goodbye earlier this year. So they get my vote.<br />
<br />
Anyway, this is actually my tenth day sober - I landed back in the UK on October first, and I rarely drink the night before I fly as I don't want to fill the plane with farts. And I don't drink while in the air, as it dehydrates enough as it is. So landed with two nights already dry.<br />
<br />
And so far, so good. <br />
<br />
Anyway, the figures are largely unchanged. Slight rise in muscle mass, probably because I have been using the gym a little in the last ten or 11 days.<br />
<br />
p1: Normal person<br />
Weight: 16.06 stone (224lbs) (+0.06lbs)<br />
32.9% body fat (-0.4%)<br />
38.6% water (-0.4%)<br />
37.8 % muscle (+1.1%)<br />
5.2lbs bone. (+.2lbs)<br />
<br />
Profile 2: athlete<br />
16.06 stone<br />
27.9% fat (-0.3%)<br />
43.7 water (-0.5)<br />41.4 muscle (+1.9%)<br />
6lbs bone (+0.4lbs)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The bad news, however, is that we're not doing the marathon that was part of this crazy idea in the first place. Lily sprained her ankle weeks ago, ignored advice, went out dancing etc, and it's still not right over a month later.<br />
<br />
Kids, eh?<br />
badgerdaddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275758525851693777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-17299197434781847962013-09-02T13:34:00.002+01:002013-09-02T13:34:22.628+01:00Pizza consumption and the modern manTurns out eating lots of pizza can add lard to the body. Who knew?<br />
<br />
So, weighed on Saturday this week. Mostly because I'm a dipshit and forgot on Friday; interestingly (or not, depending on your view) I weighed after a 6+mile run, so probably lost some weight in fluid.<br />
<br />
Right, here we go. Bear in mind, this was a reasonable week of running though nothing spectacular - probably about 15 miles overall, certainly no more - and that volume of pizza.<br />
<br />
Profile 1 - normal gadgy:<br />
Weight: 16 stone (224lbs) (+0.6lbs)<br />
33.2% body fat (+0.4%)<br />
39% water (-0.1%)<br />
36.7 % muscle (-0.7%)<br />
5lbs bone. (same)<br />
<br />
Profile 2: athlete<br />
16 stone<br />
28.2% fat (+0.7%)<br />
44.2 water (-0.4)<br />39.5 muscle (-0.9)<br />
5.6lbs bone (-0.2lbs) <br />
<br />
<br />
I blame the pizza. But it could have been a lot worse... STILL no swimming though. That will be next week now...badgerdaddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275758525851693777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-33694536357607791012013-08-27T12:38:00.002+01:002013-08-27T12:38:46.302+01:00Last FridayWell, the weekly weigh in drama continues unabated. But due to my strange life, I didn't sit at the computer until today, so here we are.<br />
<br />
Life is fucking strange, isn't it?<br />
<br />
My knee is sore again, so have hardly run in the past week. I have also eaten a lot of pizza, which has been that delightful combination of unhealthy and tasty. But that shouldn't affect these figures particularly. This Friday though, whole different story.<br />
<br />
The knee thing will affect the experiment, as I don't think I will be able to do the training cycle fully, and I doubt I will be doing the crazy marathon I had in mind. You never know, but I doubt it. However I have really been enjoying the running (though I haven't been out in six days now, which is depressing me a bit) so will endeavor to keep up the extra miles.<br />
<br />
Still haven't added swimming though.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I digress. Kinda.<br />
<br />
Profile 1 (normal person weigh-in)<br />
15stone 13.4lbs (223lbs, US Fat Fans) (-2.4lbs I think, 5.4 overall)<br />
32.8% fat (-0.5%)<br />
39.1 water (+0.8)<br />
37.4 muscle (0.3% drop!)<br />
5.0 bone (0.2lbs drop)<br />
<br />
<br />
Profile 2 (athlete, ha!)<br />
15 stone 12lbs (222lbs, USFF) (fuck knows why - scales were not moved between weighings)<br />
27.5% fat (-0.8%)<br />
44.6 water (+1.1)<br />
40.4 muscle (-0.3)<br />
5.8lbs bone (same)<br />
<br />
Somehow, I have lost in the region of 5lbs in a couple of weeks, while drinking heavily and snorting pizza. I think I have found the perfect diet...<br />
<br />badgerdaddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275758525851693777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-58134179228787435032013-08-16T16:48:00.004+01:002013-08-16T16:48:44.634+01:00Round 2And so the experiment continues.<br />
<br />
I didn't manage an entirely sober week - in fact, I had just the one night without alcohol, but another night with just a very small amount. I had intended to do four runs since last Friday's weigh-in and only managed three, due to circumstances beyond my control. And you don't mess about with marathon training and try to catch the miles up another day - the run is gone, look to the next one. Don't encourage injury.<br />
<br />
So I ran Sunday, and did about 80 minutes of ridiculous, huge hills, some of which were un-runnable, so we walked up as fast as we could manage. For the race we're training for, it's about time on feet; the 28 miles could take up for 7 hours, even if we're fit. It's a hard race, so I'm training Lily to pick her battles. No point fighting your way up a huge hill on mile four if you have 24 more miles of it afterward. Run smart.<br />
<br />
Anyway, that was Sunday. Monday, I missed the group run for good reasons. Wednesday took a beginner up another huge hill, up some switchbacks which included some short walk breaks. Only perhaps a 30 minute run, but a good hard test.<br />
<br />
Thursday, we ran one of the biggest hills in the area. Yes, there were walk breaks, but it's another hard one. No shame there. Also, walked the dog for 2-3 hours every day, including a huge one this morning.<br />
<br />
So there has been exercise. No more than usual, really, but it's there. And slightly less alcohol, in fact over 1500-2000 calories less, I would say.<br />
<br />
I'm stalling.<br />
<br />
So, to the unveiling. Drum roll please, Z.<br />
<br />
Profile 1 - non-athlete.<br />
Weight 16st 1.8 lbs (-3lbs) (226lbs, US Fat Fans)<br />
33.3% Fat (the same)<br />
38.3 water (.5 improvement. .5 of what, though?)<br />
37.7% muscle (1% drop)<br />
5.2lbs bone (same)<br />
<br />
Profile 2 - athlete<br />
Weight: 16st 1.8 lbs<br />
Fat: 28.3% (-.5%)<br />
Water: 43.5 (-1)<br />
Muscle: 40.7 (-1.4%)<br />
Bone: 5.8lbs (-.4lb)<br />
<br />
Hmmmm. I guess this was my control week then.badgerdaddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275758525851693777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-49637634329372715552013-08-14T15:47:00.000+01:002013-08-14T15:47:28.832+01:00I'm back<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I took the dog round the village, I think he was just bored as he didn't seem desperate to cock his leg, though he did so, of course, during the walk.<br />
<br />
Right, back to what I've eaten so far today. I've used the Google calorie calculator, which I remember finding quite useful before. iGoogle is vanishing in November, but that doesn't matter, it'll do for now.<br />
<br />
Today, I've had muesli for breakfast, about an oz, 30 grammes, which is 2/3 of their suggested portion. But I'm only 2/3 of the average size of person. I hate milky cereals, so only have a splash, enough to make it undry. According to the calculator, it came to 141 calories. For lunch, I had whole lots of cheese, Stilton, the local unpasteurised brie-style and Cheshire. I guessed 1 oz of each. I had two Ryvita and about a quarter of a Matzo cracker because I still had cheese left, some cherry tomatoes and some cucumber. This was 412 calories. Later, I had a couple of almonds, but the quantity doesn't go down far enough - however 1/16th of a cup is 33 calories, so that will do. I also had some light beer, which seems to be 102 calories. That makes 688 calories altogether and apparently I'm allowed 1639. But it's not 4 o'clock yet, I have cake in the tin and dinner to come, so I think I'll use them. However if, on average, I'm a hundred or two short of what I use, I suppose it has a gradual effect.</div>
Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-53083750894190918612013-08-14T14:38:00.000+01:002013-08-14T14:38:00.369+01:00Waisting away<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, I measured myself again for the first time since February, and I'm 34-26-36. An inch off the waist. And I weighed myself and I'm 8 stone 7, which is a pound less than the last time I looked, some time ago. <br />
<br />
I'm not restricting what I eat at all, though being moderate in quantity. Size 10 is on the big side, but I haven't tried an 8 yet, largely because I haven't been shopping for clothes recently. I don't know why it is I'm still dropping weight, very gradually indeed (no health issues), but it has to be the overall quantity of food I think.<br />
<br />
I may keep a food diary for a while, just to see what I seem to be doing right. I can't remember what I did before, whether I used an app or what, but I'll have a look for one.<br />
<br />
Today, usual present breakfast of - hang on, dog needs to go out. I'll be back.</div>
Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970735824137943749.post-38982441301764707372013-08-09T16:57:00.000+01:002013-08-09T16:57:11.544+01:00It makes for disturbing reading.Well, the scales arrived. I'm not totally sure about their accuracy, but I say that because I live in an incredibly old building and there are simply no flat surfaces. Tomorrow I will try them on the ground floor and see if there is any difference.<br />
<br />
So, the scales purport to assess weight, body fat, total water/hydration, muscle mass, and bone density/volume or something.<br />
<br />
I set them up as per the instructions; interestingly, there are two types of body profile you can choose: normal person, male or female, or athlete, male or female. An athlete is defined as someone doing 11 or more hours of intense physical activity a week. I'm probably only doing about five at the moment, unless you count dog walking, which it probably doesn't. We do walk quite fast though, and there are lots of hills...<br />
<br />
I think I am somewhere between the two, so I set up a profile for each type, and the measurements are quite different.<br />
<br />
Shit, too.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I digress. This was always intended as a balls-out post, let it all hang out and hide nothing. So here we go.<br />
<br />
First setting, as normal person:<br />
Weight: 16st 4.8lbs (229, US Fat Fans)<br />
Body fat: 33.3% (as perfect a third as you'll find. Who knew? This, of course, makes me obese)<br />
TBW (water): 37.8 (this is actually 10 points below where it should be apparently, but as I have spent the first half of 2013 drunk, I think this is understandable)<br />
Muscle: 38.7% (yay! This one is ok!)<br />
Bone: 5.2lbs (this sounds incredibly low to me - and according to their ranges, it is, as for my weight it should be more like 7.5lbs)<br />
<br />
Then again, as an athlete:<br />
Weight: Same<br />
Fat: 28.8% (4.5% better!)<br />
Water: 42.5 (a lot better but still low)<br />
Muscle: 42.1 (six percent below what is 'unacceptable')<br />
Bone: 6.2lb (much better - still low though)<br />
<br />
In a nutshell, I am fucking fat, and fucking muscular. Now to work on that fat part; gym sign up is at the weekend, probably Sunday, and Saturday I have a run planned for 60-80 minutes, I'll see how I go. Then next week, we swim, and run.<br />
<br />
I have also just been shopping, largely with breakfast in mind. I bought a few tins of fish, and some smoked mackerel, plus some carrots, oranges, and eggs. I've found that on days when I get my breakfast right, everything else falls into place. My ideal breakfast is quite protein heavy, with a mackerel fillet or two, a couple of hard boiled eggs, and an orange. That really keeps me full and it's all stuff I like eating, and takes no preparation, as long as the eggs are cooked in advance. Having carrots around makes snacking easy too; I have bought some dark chocolate from Aldi, but it's the stuff where it's in five smaller bars, and they're very slim and small. Works for me.<br />
<br />
So, that's the plan. Your thoughts?badgerdaddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275758525851693777noreply@blogger.com2