This is a quick note to say that I will be returning to this in the next couple of months. I have joined a gym, again, even though the day after I did, the county went into Tier 4!
I am still eager to see this, or something else, through. Whatever it becomes, this will remain the Journey to Snowdon Blog. Stay safe, see you soon.
Happy New Year!
Gavyn.
For the past two weeks I have been trying to control the weight. It has been about keeping warm and staving off the hunger. With a return to the 318lb marker, It has been difficult to sustain.
The idea has not gone, although the journey will likely be a little further down the line. Covid is still playing its pipe and the country is threatening lockdown, every day! My walking target is still going strong, having made 21 days in a row, yesterday. I even managed to walk my Wailmer more than 6km. It's all an achievment...yeah?
Wailmer on patrol!
The bike is still held up. I am looking at using my old bike as a donor. This will allow me to at least keep the bike running until a new wheel can be found. This last week has vanished. It went from seven days beyond my last post, to fifteen, in hours...well, maybe eight days, but that's what it felt like.
Dang...I look old! I am pretty sure that the clocks going back has made things even harder! But, hey, chin up, let's keep fighting.
There's more to come, honestly!
It's all become a game of walking, eating sandwiches and feeding the pupster. Despite having to wake up in the night, it has been relatively painless. I'm not sure the poop collection is my favourite past time, but I guess there's rough with smooth.
Brina, scared of bikes...
I am still losing weight. This week saw a loss of 1.5lb, a steady rate, but is likely down to muscle drop. As I have not been on the bike for a fortnight, my legs are not as bulky, so... Today's exciting walk consisted of walking the puppy in the rain, what a wet day!
My beard isn't as bad...now!
I now have camo trousers and an olive t-shirt. This is the start of some woodland projects, that may help to keep me fit. I long to get on the airsoft fields, but I need to find a way to brace my back. More research is needed.
Until next time.
Just over a week has gone by and I have found that, even with chips in the week, I kept up my steps enough to lose half of a pound. Just keeping on moving has made all the difference.
My beard has its own identity!
Bread is still a problem, but it is managed better than ever. My diet has changed. Being a bit more lenient on myself has changed a lot of things. I am still held back by the need of certain processes, places I need to be and routines, just routines.
I have not spent time on the bike in the last couple of weeks. With a new wheel needed, I am keen to break the habits and make cycling, my winter sport. A dose of cycling, each morning, will keep me fit through the colder months.
Until next time, stay safe; another lockdown is imminent, so is the panic that will inevitably ensue.
It's been a little shorter on the wait, this time. There have been a few developments since the last one, so, here it goes. Brina Boo has arrived. She appeared on a van, yesterday (Monday), at around 4pm. It was an interesting night, but certainly didn't help with tiredness. Today has been tough. I am struggling to not feel hungry, it is just hard to eat sensible and keep on track. My mind tells me to not do it, although eating bread, for lunch, was nice. I lost a large amount, last week. 3.8lbs. (I have decided to go back to lbs and stones, as I am more comfortable with them!)
Roo and Boo!
I am suffering some harsh anxiety, too. I am spending the days keeping myself moving and would rather be out of the house. Today is especially difficult, I feel like I am dying inside. It's always hard to explain to those that are blessed with strong mental-health. It is like a dark cloud that smothers your face and turns your stomach.
The Stafford Tower Monster, in the fog!
Exercise has been okay. I have kept up my walking, keeping way above the 10k marker, for the past few days. I must now get onto the bike, again. I am building my kit up for next year, hoping to have the bike upto scratch for the Winter. (I will need some new gloves, too.)
Take care.
Good day to one and all. Another week has gone by so fast, yet there is still the looming lockdown ahead of us. I am feeling fitter, but this week has seen me struggling for energy. I have had to up the protien and eat bread, throughout. A measly 0.3kg was lost, last week, but there can't be a boom-week, every week!
Paddling has gone great, I now have my own paddle, too. I got to use it for the first time, last night. It's light and the blades are HUGE! It was a lot less effort to pick up speed, that's for sure. My bike has been still, this week; I intend to get out on it tomorrow, I just have a distaste for riding in the rain.
To keep on a negative (not good for you), I have been feeling down, too. Not sure if it is to do with revelations in my home life, or just the need to be useful. Either way, I am unable to keep still, it's getting frustrating.
Brina will arrive...soon!
To top it all off, our family mutt arives on Sunday. It is set to leave Eastern Europe, tomorrow. The most daunting part is that she could turn up at any time of the evening or in the early hours of Monday morning. Just keep smiling.
Stay safe health lovers and others alike.
This week has been a strange one. With a meeting of the upmost importance and a change in my times, I have struggled to keep up the hard-work. Apart from yesterday (Wednseday), I have, so far, kept above the 10k. In its defence, I did have paddling last night, too.
I have located the issue with my bike, and have done a long ride, this week. The chain is now at a sufficient length. I am going to need to change the block, and possibly, the wheel.
I am making the same rides, but need to go further out in the coming weeks. With lockdown procedures coming closer to fruition, I can't help feel that it will at least be an excuse to get out. That's all, for now. Just a short update.
Be safe.
I felt the need to leave it a week, so that I had more to say. Not a lot has really happened, apart from the dire energy levels over the weekend and the loss of more than 3lbs.
It feels like there is more to say, but I can't quite remember what was on the cards. Either way, I am still committed, with the need to succeed, staying with me all of the way. It's later than usual, but I don't really want to go more than a week without an entry on this Blog.
Today has been another day with more than 20k steps, so it appears that Mondays are becoming used to this kind of post-weekend treatment. There has to be more to say than 'steps this' and 'weight that', but I guess that's what this is all about. It's a journey, one that will, hopefully, likely, change me, but perhaps give an open door to others. It's like a rollercoaster of new ideas fresh from others, myself and the media that I watch. I have found that I've had new revelations, learning new things about myself and how my body works. I always knew what 'set off' the weight gain, but there is always something that can be learned by trying something different.
My first piece of advice to anyone, would be to learn about yourself. What makes your body tick, what makes it bloat, what makes you unhappy? I have never been keen to use the term, 'diet'. This is because we are always on a diet, without one, we would keel over. The point is, that it is controlled, it's simply looking after yourself. Balance with change, makes all the difference, and there is always happiness at the end of the tunnel, you just have to push past the hard part, first.
Stay safe, stay healthy.
Through another weekend, another loss, and another tasty take-away, I spend a lot of time feeling nautious over food. My body needs it but says, 'Nah!'
Woodland Walk
The past few days have seen the 10k+ kept up, with it sitting well above the target. There's not a lot to say, walking and cycling have been as per normal. Today, I went to the woodlands for a walk with my daughter.
This week has seen a 0.7kg (1.8lbs) loss. Steady, but more like the level I have been looking for. There has been a clear change in my energy levels, although I have moments of pure fatigue, to cope with, every couple of days. This can be put down to getting the diet right, it is still alluding me...to a degree.
On a better note, my kayak has finally come home. This Wednesday will see the beast, finally making it onto Trentham Lake.
Stay safe.
25 days since entry, another few days to go. Well a lot more than that, but hey, who's counting? It's been a good week, so far. I have kept the 'count' up and enjoyed a relaxing paddle on the lake.
Day 25
The best thing about losing weight is the point in which clothing feels comfy, once more. Just the ease in which my bouyancy aid, goes on, is enough to keep me going. Although I am not drawn to junk food or sugar snacks, I do enjoy heavier food on a weekend.
My current snack of choice: Tesco Soy Broad Beans. They hide on the top of the shelf, but once you have them, they are hard to put down. The fat content isn't great, but they are very nice, and filling. Aside from fruit giving me the sweet-fix, I rely on rich-tea biscuits to complete the rest.
Day 23 Cycle Data
What else is there to say? Our physical and mental health is more important than ever, so stay strong, be safe.
Good day to one and all. It is Day 22, already! With a busy weekend about to end, I thought it prudent to get some blogging in. It's been a good time, I have eaten well over the past couple of days, although I managed to top 20k steps, yesterday. (30.8)
Saturday showed that I am losing weight too quickly. This week saw a loss of 2.3kg (more than 5lbs.) This is not great and far away from the steady drop that I had intended. I will make more of an effort to keep up the intake. My muscles are so much stronger, already. My legs feel no strain when walking, so this is a real positive.
One of the biggest problems that I face is the lack of appetite. I eat small amounts and feel full. It's a thin line! My bike is still not in full swing, but will have to do, for now. My kayak is still in Shrewsbury! Stupid excuses are keeping our car away from us, whilst we drive around in a cloned vehicle, which is not a pleasure.
For now, take care, stay safe, keep healthy.
Missed the chance for a selfie, today, but there is still one from yesterday. There has been a clear fitness boost in the past few days and my energy is running high. Paddling last night was wet at first, but ended up with a cruise on flat, sparkling water. It was great! It was just a shame that my boat wasn't here, I want to get it on the water, ASAP!
Day 17
I decided on a walk, today, and have already made it to 9.5k in steps, before midday. With another trip to the park, with the kids, this afternoon, I'm going to be a tired potato, this evening.
I have now cancelled my gym membership as I have found a way to make it work without it. There are now resistance-bands ready to use and I am planning on getting a cross-trainer for my home. These two will do everything that I need.
Be safe, be healthy.
Is this the Covid 19 / Literacy gap?
Good day to you all. I thought I'd get another blog in. What a weekend; with plenty of exercise and the collection of my first Kayak, I am feeling the drag. That's right, I collected a kayak from mid-Wales, yesterday. The trouble is, it's in Shrewsbury, right now, due to the fact that we still don't have our car back from the garage.
I have kept up the step-count and made a 10k+ bike ride, today. With a routine, I am succeeding with the program and thus, losing weight, too. This week's loss came in at 0.8kg (1.7lbs), not bad as I can feel the muscle growth that will have held it lower than what I thought it would be. I am always looking for a steady 2lbs a week, where possible. I think I will cancel my gym membership, too. Not much point now that I have found a home method, once again.
What else is there to say, for the sake of journalising this quest, we now have a crack in the windscreen of our hire-car, that decided to travel from the edge, for no reason.
Not a scratch, chip, nor evidencial push was made, so who knows where that came from.
Until next time, stay safe, where a mask...when possible.
Slush Puppy...yum!
On Day 9, my daughter and I made it to the woods. There was a lot of ups and downs with a quick slurp of a Slush Puppy at its close. We enjoyed it and it made for a lot of steps and elevation, great for getting back to normallity.
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| Day 9's Step Data |
Today is a shockingly tiring day. I am full of fatigue and know that I need to address calorie intake, for the next few days. The trouble is keeping things low-fat, tasty and satisfying. Tomorrow is going to be a feeding day, so there's always that to look forward to.
Wednesday's paddle was very wet, but ultimately, a success.
Be safe!
We've hit Day 9, already, and the fitness is still going really well. I am not as tired as I was, and I also got a decent night's sleep, last night, for the first time in months. I should really have recorded it on my band, but hey ho.
After Saturday's ride, I was still determined to bring up my steps and have succesfully kept above the 10k-a-day target, ever since. Much of yesterday's steps were down to domestic house-keeping and tidying, this added more than 5.5k to the total! This is, in its own right, proof of the change that is happening. I am averaging from 7-9.5km per day on the bike, with two ride-rest days mid-week and Sundays, respectively.
Day 9
Today is a Tuesday. I had intended to walk in the woods on Sunday, but it was so poor outside, that I took my family to breakfast, instead. One thing I must watch now is the calorie levels that I am taking in. The past two days have been too low, and so I need address it in the coming days. Control is the key!
Stay safe, stay active.
Gavyn.
Feeling better, already...
It's Day 6 and the regime is well under way. For the past few days I have kept up the cycling and walking. Day 5 consisted of going to the park with my daughter and two friends, then finally completing the 10,000 step target, in the evening. Making good of the target is great, my watch buzzes and shows me a green trophy, thus providing a rather splendid sense of acheivment.
I have weighed myself, today, the first of many (Saturdays only.) It came in at 151.3kg. This put me back at just over 23.5 stone, a place I have been at before, and frankly, not the worst! Before Lockdown, I was at 21.5ish, making the gain well over 2 stone!
It's been a tough week, but I am still keen and getting used to the pedals and saddle, once again. Today is a Saturday; I have just completed another 8.5km circuit, and it is a lot less of a chore, already. Wednesday night saw Paddleability return, and even paddling felt less tiring. the only issue is that my bouyancy aid is still a little tight, not as bad as a few weeks ago, but tight!
Stay tuned, stay safe, see you soon.
Speedy Update - Day 2
It's all working well and I have made it back on the bike! Day 1 was all about getting used to it, again. I still managed a two-part ride of approximately 5km.
Day 2 has been much better. I have cycled in excess of 10km, today. It is a beautiful day with many reasons to be alive. I spent time with my daughter on the park, me having cycled, and her on her scooter; this added an extra few kilometres.
See the image, below, to get an update on what I look like, right now; more to the point, wait until later next year for the short film that will show the differences all in one production.
Stay safe,
Gavyn.
Journey to Snowdon - Begins
After a hard few months of staying still and hoping that COVID doesn't come this way, I made the decision to climb to a new level. Having been happy to fill my face during Lockdown, I am now ready to move on.
My plan is to return to a reasonable level of fitness that all begins on 10th August '2020. My intention is to blog at least once a week, with hopefully more to add inbetween.
Here is the run down of my plan:
This is a quick note to say that I will be returning to this in the next couple of months. I have joined a gym, again, even though the day a...
