Olympic torch bearer needs an ear for june and for life.
Discussion
Hi all (sorry this is a bit long winded)
I’ve been nominated to carry the Olympic torch in the London 2012 relay which sort of makes me Warwickshire’s answer to Billy Mitchell. A massive big up and I feel very honoured indeed.
Although im quite cool about things and have a severely disabled child (which kind of changes your view of stuff and what really matters) I have been blown away by some of the breathtaking things that people achieve every day. This makes me want to do this really well. For me, my family and the charities I support (The Tadworth children’s trust and the air ambulance).
Now on to me and my request for some sensible advice. I understand that you never see a fat Ethiopian and that the more you put in your mouth the fatter you generally get so I am working from a realistic viewpoint and know that its my own task and part of my personal challenge to get hold of what is realistic over the next 7 weeks.
At the time of been nominated I was 18.5 stones. 4 months later I’ve dropped 2 stone but find myself somewhat stuck. I am a stocky guy and at my fighting weight the fittest I have been in adult life I was a 34 waist, 48 chest and 14 stone but this was when I was 25. Now I am 43 years old, 6ft 1, a 38inch waist and 46 inch chest without the muscle mass enjoyed as a kiddo.
The torch relay is only over 300 yards which I can do no issue but I am using this as a motivation to get fitter both in body and mind (what better motivation?). Realistically I know I can drop another stone in 7 weeks but id like to do it in such a way that I don’t just lose water and make short term losses. Id like gain some fitness and build a mind set that will help me sustain any changes (im starting to get the healthy body healthy mind stuff). Other good news is I’ve learned how bad the ale was for me (25 pints a week) so I wont go there again.
I dropped the 2 stone by stopping the beers as above and cutting out the bread. Irritatingly for me this means the 16.5 of crap left is all me and the bad lifestyle that many miles sat in a car and a relatively sedentary lifestyle leads to. Also worth a mention is that I snapped both my Achilles tendons in 2008 (part of the being a big fat fatty issue) but they now seem OK and I am now able to jog, cycle and swim etc.
I predict in main the answers Im going to get back from this. Eat less, exercise more etc but would really welcome any motivational messages and suggestions from people who understand the Achilles issues and have useful suggestions about exercise outside of gyms.
I’ve been nominated to carry the Olympic torch in the London 2012 relay which sort of makes me Warwickshire’s answer to Billy Mitchell. A massive big up and I feel very honoured indeed.
Although im quite cool about things and have a severely disabled child (which kind of changes your view of stuff and what really matters) I have been blown away by some of the breathtaking things that people achieve every day. This makes me want to do this really well. For me, my family and the charities I support (The Tadworth children’s trust and the air ambulance).
Now on to me and my request for some sensible advice. I understand that you never see a fat Ethiopian and that the more you put in your mouth the fatter you generally get so I am working from a realistic viewpoint and know that its my own task and part of my personal challenge to get hold of what is realistic over the next 7 weeks.
At the time of been nominated I was 18.5 stones. 4 months later I’ve dropped 2 stone but find myself somewhat stuck. I am a stocky guy and at my fighting weight the fittest I have been in adult life I was a 34 waist, 48 chest and 14 stone but this was when I was 25. Now I am 43 years old, 6ft 1, a 38inch waist and 46 inch chest without the muscle mass enjoyed as a kiddo.
The torch relay is only over 300 yards which I can do no issue but I am using this as a motivation to get fitter both in body and mind (what better motivation?). Realistically I know I can drop another stone in 7 weeks but id like to do it in such a way that I don’t just lose water and make short term losses. Id like gain some fitness and build a mind set that will help me sustain any changes (im starting to get the healthy body healthy mind stuff). Other good news is I’ve learned how bad the ale was for me (25 pints a week) so I wont go there again.
I dropped the 2 stone by stopping the beers as above and cutting out the bread. Irritatingly for me this means the 16.5 of crap left is all me and the bad lifestyle that many miles sat in a car and a relatively sedentary lifestyle leads to. Also worth a mention is that I snapped both my Achilles tendons in 2008 (part of the being a big fat fatty issue) but they now seem OK and I am now able to jog, cycle and swim etc.
I predict in main the answers Im going to get back from this. Eat less, exercise more etc but would really welcome any motivational messages and suggestions from people who understand the Achilles issues and have useful suggestions about exercise outside of gyms.
Keep a diary of everything you put down your neck for a week and start improving it. I find the myfitnesspal app for iPhone very useful for tracking intake, and you'll probably be surprised at how much you pack away when you're not monitoring it.
Next I guess is to see what types of food you're eating. Generally I'm an advocate of reduced carbs, higher protein and avoiding the bad stuff I'm a sucker for (bread, chocolate, the usual I suppose), and only having it on a cheat day. I only take this approach because it currently works for me, I'm sure there's a ton of other approaches you could take but I don't pretend to know anything more than the bits I've pieced together for my own use.
Exercise wise, maybe start bringing some weights into your routine? What's worked for me is some regular weight training (doesn't need to be big weights), and some cardio to finish. I had some problems with achilles many years back, which put paid to anything impact related, so the swimming pool became my best friend. While achilles is fine now, my knees are shot to bits so impact stuff I try and keep to a minimum - rowing machine, cross trainers and swimming are my cardio weapons of choice. I should add that aside of swimming, I don't bother with the gym much, most of my routine is at home.
You'll probably find the rate of weight loss slows - I did, and from what I read on here and elsewhere most others do too, so the biggest tool in your arsenal will probably be will power and perseverance, but that lot should keep you progressing.
Certainly sounds like you've taken many steps in the right direction though, so it's probably more a case of keeping yourself motivated and setting some goals. Keep it up!
Next I guess is to see what types of food you're eating. Generally I'm an advocate of reduced carbs, higher protein and avoiding the bad stuff I'm a sucker for (bread, chocolate, the usual I suppose), and only having it on a cheat day. I only take this approach because it currently works for me, I'm sure there's a ton of other approaches you could take but I don't pretend to know anything more than the bits I've pieced together for my own use.
Exercise wise, maybe start bringing some weights into your routine? What's worked for me is some regular weight training (doesn't need to be big weights), and some cardio to finish. I had some problems with achilles many years back, which put paid to anything impact related, so the swimming pool became my best friend. While achilles is fine now, my knees are shot to bits so impact stuff I try and keep to a minimum - rowing machine, cross trainers and swimming are my cardio weapons of choice. I should add that aside of swimming, I don't bother with the gym much, most of my routine is at home.
You'll probably find the rate of weight loss slows - I did, and from what I read on here and elsewhere most others do too, so the biggest tool in your arsenal will probably be will power and perseverance, but that lot should keep you progressing.
Certainly sounds like you've taken many steps in the right direction though, so it's probably more a case of keeping yourself motivated and setting some goals. Keep it up!
Edited by Stu R on Monday 7th May 02:48
Congratulations!
If your kidlet is a wheelchair user (or buggy etc), and is amenable, take them on jogs (lots of little not/not-yet-walking kids love this). Having a massively smiling I-love-going-really-fast kid is amazing motivation to keep running. Check out Team Hoyt for the sort of ultimate extension of this.
Also, get them in on the torch carrying if you can? Dunno if you'd be allowed but if they like the running/jogging as above then it would be pretty neat.
If your kidlet is a wheelchair user (or buggy etc), and is amenable, take them on jogs (lots of little not/not-yet-walking kids love this). Having a massively smiling I-love-going-really-fast kid is amazing motivation to keep running. Check out Team Hoyt for the sort of ultimate extension of this.
Also, get them in on the torch carrying if you can? Dunno if you'd be allowed but if they like the running/jogging as above then it would be pretty neat.
As above.I have a friend who runs pushing a pram with her young autistic child in it watching (his) the world go by.She's in the shape of her life.Achilles issues are awkward bit if you can jog then do that but don't increase the time or distance too quickly.Internet myth #567 is that diet is the most important part of weight loss :it's not,exercise is.Ask any doctor,PT or serious athlete.The only downside is you have to do rather a lot of it and for some that's not practical.
Initially I completely cut out all the crap which of course wasn't sustainable. I'm now having a bit of bread and the odd treat now and then but I'm a bugger for the biccy tin. I guess I need to look and this and get back on the water which has slipped as I'm in my car a lot.
Exercise wise I have a really good cross trainer and a push bike which will start today properly as its stuttered a bit. Doing the weights already as I really enjoy them. My littleun is not mobility impaired so we do include her in lots of big walks and so on.
I'll keep on it as I know what I have to do but all these sensible comments are welcome.
Exercise wise I have a really good cross trainer and a push bike which will start today properly as its stuttered a bit. Doing the weights already as I really enjoy them. My littleun is not mobility impaired so we do include her in lots of big walks and so on.
I'll keep on it as I know what I have to do but all these sensible comments are welcome.
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