The Countdown........Sponsor Me!!!

Let's face it guys; you knew this was coming didn't you?!! You know I am running for a charity, and in an effort to raise as much money for such a worthy cause (as well as one which holds such personal meaning) this blog seems like a good way to spread the word.
I am aware that many of the people who are reading these posts already know me; and as a result have the details of what to do to pledge some of their well-earned spondooolicks (God I love that word!). Having said that......aaaaaaah haaaaaaaaaave a dream!! Would you like to hear it.....? I promise it's clean.....................

Weigh in (43)

I ask you, what do I have to do????! WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO in order to lose weight two weeks in a row???!!!!! This is becoming utterly ridiculous. For the first time I think in the entire course of this adventure, I actually got on the scales feeling absolutely sure beyond any doubt that I had lost weight; absolutely sure that this would be the week. As it turned out....I was absolutely right......two pounds off, weighing me in at an exact 16 stone 8 pounds (sorry!!! couldn't resist....Wee Ali made me do it...honest!!).
The beyond doubt feeling was true. It's been a really good week. Three trips to the gym - plenty of meaty treadmill (FFG) action - and a bit of social badminton thrown in; add to this planting fruit trees and shovelling compost (I felt like such a man!) and a pretty good diet, and that is certainly a recipe for whoooopadeedoooo!.....

The Countdown......Further Treadmill Tips (part 1)

After the trauma described in one of my earlier posts ('no thanks gym'), I am happy to report that the training so far has been without major incident (although I am extreeeemely careful to verify the stationary nature of the treadmill when stepping on it; just in case). Having said that, some words of caution are still necessary, brought on not only by my recent gym experiences but more importantly by those of my brother (henceforth to be known as 'G'), who actually trumps me for exercising calamity....and speaking of trumping......

Flatulence
This is less a warning for me, and more for everyone else. I am so so sorry if you feel I am lowering the tone (for those of you who know me, you are aware it is a level at which I am more comfortable), but a healthy diet and regular exercise is a recipe for......well......rasping bottom burps.....

The Countdown......12 months

Distance trained so far......(60.8 miles)

I was sat in front of the television at 8 o'clock this morning; a very strange feeling, as I was watching the start of the 2012 London Marathon. I guess that means we're at the twelve months to go point then!
It is a belief I always have not to look too far into the future when you have a big task on your hands, but 'take it in lots of small steps, and they will get you where you want to go.' But today it is staring at me in the face from my own TV, and right now all I can see is the very distant, almost unreachable chequered flag. Don't worry, this will be of short duration, and the 364 days-to-go point won't have nearly as much impact; but right now all I can think of is 26 miles and 365 yards........compared with the fact that at the moment I can just about manage 4. In case you didn't know, it's a bloody long way; and it scares the hell out of me.
I wonder how many tasks and ambitions fall short for the same reason. Something that looks utterly impossible when all you can see is the end, and forget that with a little patience and time - and belief that it is worth the patience and time - anything is possible. I still believe it, and scared though I may be; with one year to go I still believe I can do it. I've already registered with the British Heart Foundation for a place..........

The Countdown - The British Heart Foundation

For most of those running in the Great Manchester - and for that matter, those who will run the Great North and London Marathon - winning the race is clearly not the objective (noooooo amount of training.....!). Personal challenge might well be reason enough, but it is also an opportunity to raise money for a worthy cause through sponsorship; an opportunity which I have taken. My chosen charity is the British Heart Foundation, and here is the reason why.........

Weigh in (42)

Distance trained so far (53.3miles)

Here we go again! I am not sure how far back this routine goes, but having put on weight last week, we are now down a pound (actually 1.4 pounds) and I am dead on 16 stone 10 pounds. Plenty of exercise (3 gyms and a badminton session), a treaty tea with Mum on Saturday, followed by a Chinese takeaway on Sunday (with a portion of chips), but otherwise a good boy with the diet. Happy with the result (yip, with a couple of scoops of peee!), but we are all thinking the same thing; next week's weigh in is the clincher. Can I break the habit and lose weight two weeks on the run? I really hope so.
It is encouraging that I can get away with a bit of food naughtiness and still - considering the amount of exercise I am now doing - have a successful weigh in. But I'm not going to make a big thing of it this week, keeping focused and getting on with it!! (I'm going to be soooooo cheesed off if I put on weight again next week....!)

Subject of the Month - Great Manchester.....the countdown

Distance trained so far (50.5 miles)

Can you believe that this Sunday is the 'five weeks to go' point in the build up to the Great Manchester Run? What happened to the time??? Fortunately - fingers, eyes, toes, and hot buns crossed - I am running a comfortable 6km on the treadmill, so am very optimistic that barring injury I should start the race knowing that 10k is well within my capabilities. Let's hope so eh?
On this wonderful blogger blog it is possible to jot down ideas for posts and save them as drafts to be revisited later on (aren't I talking like the proper author?!!!.....what?.....I'm not?!!!......); looking at these piling up I noticed that they are all loosely connected with the run itself. So rather than let these sprinkle on you in some disgustingly random order, why not make a subject of the month about it?! So what follows will be some of the why's (whies?) and the who's of the run, as well as giving you regular updates on progress. Some of these updates may take the form of postettes (brief one-liners) but don't worry, you won't be deprived of the joy that is Adrian-waffle!

Weigh in (41)

I started this post with the line 'well, this is a bit of a head-scratcher'; then the usual reflections of what I had actually eaten (for which I only have to look at previous posts) made me think again. Sorry guys, but it's three pounds on, leaving me at a rather depressing 16 stone 11 pounds.
So which traps did I fall into this week.....?

'I'm exercising three times a week, so I can get away with murder'......
.......it turns out that I can't, I can also not get away with eating badly and expect to lose weight........

10th April

Oatso Simple (two sachets) skimmed milk
Two milky coffees
Two toasted bagels with tuna, sweetcorn, pickle
90 minutes in the gym
Two battered cods (not chip shop) on spinach ricey thing
Muller light, far free yoghurt

9th April

Toast and marmelade
Three cups of white tea, no sugar
One mug of milky coffee
Two toasted bagels, tuna and sweetcorn spread
One Thorntons chocolate egg

8th April

90 minutes in the gym
One bowl Oatso Simple (2 sachets) with skimmed milk
Cup of redbush tea
Three cups of white tea, no sugar
Two dry crispbreads
Ham sandwich
Turkey dinner - all the trimmings
Christmas pudding and ice cream (I know, I know; could have called it Easter Pudding I suppose)

Perfect Moments - 'R' (part two)

Distance trained so far (32.1 miles)

I'm sure that bit is so chomped waiting for the second installment of the 'R' story (whaddaya mean, 'what story?'!!?). As I told you previously, 'R' had three terrific boys and they formed quite a tight knit unit. Certainly a challenge for a fella to become part of that family! I did my best to integrate, and flattering myself I did quite a good job (for the record, I hate the word 'integrate'; sounds so cold. I just spent some time with them and got to know them......so pretty much the same as I do with most people!). My relationship with the youngest - who we will call 'L' - was particularly successful. I guess it was down to the fact that he was still living at home while the eldest two had moved out, so was more reliant on adults for support; that and the fact that we had so much in common (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, badminton, Playstation, football.......Playstation football....). Yes, I freely admit it; I - a 38 year old - share much common ground with someone 24 years my junior. I think it is less 'being in touch with my inner child' and more 'a total child who his hanging by his nails to the edge of adulthood'.........it is the ONLY way to fly!.........

7th April

Bowl of Oatso Simple porridge (2 sachets) with skimmed milk
Lamb and mint sauce sandwich, handful of crisps
Two cups of white coffee, no sugar
Two cappuccinos, no sugar
Three cups of tea, no sugar
Tofu and bean stew with mashed potato
Small bowl of salad
Two slices of naughty cake

6th April

One suasage and egg sandwich with brown sauce (ran out of bagels!)
Cup-a-soup
Four white coffees, no sugar
One cup of tea, no sugar
One slice of naughty cake
One slice of chocolate cake
Rest of the turkey mince tomato on spinachy rice thing
Two muller fat-free yoghurts

It may be the end of Lent, but not the end of the lentils........

Distance trained so far (28.4 miles)

Most people in their course of their lifetime move house three or four times; some people a lot more. How about you?
Well, in my case - if you include university - it is six moves and counting; each usually coming with more than a fair share of stress. Packaging everything up, managing not to forget everything, arranging the transportation, loading and unloading; there is so much to take care of. However, moving is also a positive thing, a feeling of progress, and that empty shell of a house you first move into quickly becomes more familiar when familiar things are put inside it. When I move, certain unique items make 'a' home into 'my' home; pictures on the wall, family photos on a shelf, the stereo playing it's first compact disc in a new 'auditorium', and by far and away the most precious thing that home could never be home without.......the tub of lentils which has loyally accompanied me from Coventry, to London, to Oxford, back to Coventry, and now gazes at me from the top of my fridge just north of Manchester.........

5th April

One cinammon and raisin bagel with low fat cottage cheese (ran out of margarine!)
Four mugs of white coffee
Cup-a-soup
80 minutes in the gym
Three crispbreads with pickle
Turkey mince and mushrooms in tomato sauce on a bed of spinach ricey thing (big plate)
Muller fat-free yoghurt

4th April

Two cinammon and raising bagels with margarine
Three cups of white coffee, no sugar
Three fried egg sandwiches (two bread, one bagel)
Beans on toast (two tins, four slices of toast)
One muller fat free yoghurt

Weigh in (40)

Me and my big ideas eh?! Here's me, naively thinking that itemising my diet to the very last detail on a daily basis could possibly help the weight loss. What was I thinking?! Unbelievably even though I have been to the gym three (yes, THREE) times this week, I haven't so much as lost a single, solitary pound; I have in fact lost five, single, solitary pounds!! The last '8' I saw on the scales was when I said goodbye to the 18-stone zone, imagine my delight to see that lovely, stunning little number appear within 16 stone 8 pounds!! I feel the urge to say something here......

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......

3rd April

One cinnamon and raisin bagel with margarine.........

2nd April

One cinammon and raisin bagel with margarine........

The Hits Just Keep On Coming........

Distance trained so far (23.7 miles)
I never for a second thought that this would be easy, but someone somewhere has a whole toolbox full of spanners that they seem to hugely enjoy chucking into my works. I confess I had a rare moment of surrender to anger, and self-pity; thankfully I am pleased to report that in addition to the rarity, it was also relatively short-lived........

1st April

2 Mugs of white coffee
Two sachets of oatso simple porridge with semi-skimmed milk
90 minutes in the gym
60 minutes of gardening (sort of)
Two ham and pickle bagels
Two fat free muller yoghurts
Two piri piri chicken breasts
Broccoli/Cauliflower frozen veg (not when I ate it, obviously)
New potatoes
One fruit juice lolly
One raspberry fruit lolly

31st March

One cinammon and raisin bagel with margarine
Two slices of wholemeal toast with margarine
Tin of chicken and mushroom soup with three slices of bread
4 spring rolls*
Chicken fried rice*
Prawn crackers*
(*yes, the dreaded chinese takeaway)
One can of coke
One stick of a twirl chocolate bar
Three fruit juice ice lollies
Two fat free muller yoghurts