Week 3. The first results are in!!

Headline news. I've lost 9 pounds since 17th September!! And I'm happy with that. Especially when I take into account I've had 2 massive weekends in that time. Plus some of my colleagues who haven't seen me in a couple of weeks have mentioned I look like I'm losing weight. This is all the encouragement I need to keep going. That and the positive feedback I get from people reading my blogs. If you are one of those people I thank you.

Since my last blog I've had 4 more training sessions. All extremely tough. In fact as I left the gym on Monday I was reminded of my childhood when my parents would use folding tables when guests were visiting. I remember them always saying not to put any weight on them as the legs weren't very strong. I knew how those poor tables must have felt because as I walked, each step I took made my legs wobble and it felt like the next step was going to be the one where my leg buckled beneath me and I went tumbling to the ground.

There has been a slow realisation on my part that the more I do it's not going to get any easier - more that the workouts will become harder. I look around me at the gym and see the different types of gym-goer. There's the "keeping up appearances" type who goes because it feels good to say they have been to the gym. They don't particularly work hard - 20 minutes on a cross trainer on a low level followed by a jog on the treadmill, that type of thing - but it eases their conscience to be able to include "going to the gym" on their list of hobbies/sports. I very much fell into this category prior to my PT sessions. Then there is the dedicated "gym regular" who knows all the equipment and which muscle groups they work. These are the people who scare me as they look supremely fit yet grimace every bit as much as I do because they constantly push themselves.




Lee has added weight into my squats and lunges now and I hate to admit it but I've found it a struggle. I've wanted to quit part way through a few times but Lee has pushed me to work through it and I'm glad he did. Afterwards it leaves me with a feeling of accomplishment rather than regret for stopping. You have to have a huge amount of trust in your trainer. There were times today where I was gulping for air and my heart felt it was going to burst through my chest but I know Lee would have stopped me if he sensed I was in trouble. And I did get through it.

http://sport.exeter.ac.uk/aboutus/

When Ash (organiser of RockSolidRace) first showed me the video they shot for the website I watched it more to give an opinion on how it looked rather than what it involved. Yesterday I showed 2 colleagues the video on my iPad and as I watched it I thought "what the hell have I agreed to?" I'm out of breath after 15 minutes in the gym without running 10k through mud and water and climbing over walls and carrying logs. But Lee tells me there's plenty of time between now and March to get me ready. If you haven't watched the video here's the link

http://www.rocksolidrace.com/media/videos

I've also been embracing the nutrition plan Morna Jardine has given me. I'm possibly eating more some days than I would in the past but its more of the right types of food and that's obviously the important bit. If I've taken one thing onboard from Morna it's to put my knife and fork down between mouthfuls and chew my food. As she pointed out to me "stomachs don't have teeth." Well not unless you are in the film Alien!! I have a Skype call scheduled for 2 weeks time with Morna and prior to that I will have my measurements taken again to assess any loss of inches from my chest and waist.

http://vital-nutrition.co.uk/about-us/

I'm totally motivated and committed to this as a long term goal. Too often in the past I've set short term objectives and given up before getting to where I so want to be. That is fit and healthy, with more energy and get-up-and-go.
To this end I want the RockSolidRace to be the start of new activities for me. I'm getting a mountain bike in the next couple of weeks and next summer I'd quite like to give surfing a go. I live in easy reach of Bude and Newquay but have always been put off by the thought of wearing a wetsuit and looking like the Michelin Man.




Finally the baths are still a major feature so for anybody thinking of Christmas ideas for me a bottle of Matey and a Soap-on-a-Rope will do nicely ta.

Best regards

A hopefully ever decreasing Dave

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Location:Yew Tree Close,Exeter,United Kingdom