Chris is Still Too Fat

Firstly, a quick summary of yesterday (Tuesday) :

Calories : 1698 (no naughties);

Exercise : 50 mins bike ride.

This week is looking good so far. Despite much diversion from exercise by continued house-sitting for furniture delivery (son's new flat), largely I have managed to squeeze exercise in. The weather has been encouraging this past couple of days also, which helps. But the comparatively short daylight does not help. However, I am optimistic about the weigh-in for this coming Saturday.

While many people mourn the passing of 'summer', or perhaps its non-arrival, I delight in the cooler days now prevailing when running or cycling. The woods are a joy of colour right now, though frequently squishy underfoot. There appears to have been an explosion in the squirrel population in the woods and they scamper everywhere. Similarly with green woodpeckers. I must see at least 3 or 4 a day while out. They used to be very rare but I now get almost daily visitations from them in the garden even, where they help themselves to our dwindling uncollected harvest of apples off the tree. I thought they were insect eaters anyway ?

In fact the stewed apple production line continues in the kitchen and I just cannot eat it fast enough. The freezer will soon be full, not helped by the discovery there of apple from last year. And rhubarb. This prompted a scavenge of rarely visited cupboard space only to discover two long lost multi-packs of blancmange ingredients : 'best before Sep 1998' ! I kid you not. So there the packets sit on the kitchen working surface. The family has refused to eat it. I perhaps should not eat it but cannot bring myself to throw good vintage food away. Decisions; decisions.

You can tell I am bored waiting for white-van-man, can't you ? Why do they not come when they say they will ?

Then I can go for a run ...

ChrisITF

Quick summary of yesterday (Monday) :

Calories : 1642 (including one piece of chocolate).

Exercise : 50 mins bike ride.

Steady progress.

ChrisITF

Quick summary of yesterday (Sunday) :

Calories : 1650 (no naughties).

Exercise : 30+ mins running, just as it started to rain.

ChrisITF

Quick summary of yesterday (Saturday) :

Calories : 1854 (had a glass of rose wine and a rhubarb yogurt with evening meal - but they are not really naughty are they ?).

Exercise : Nil. As hinted at yesterday, got caught up in domestic matters and never quite got around to it. Much anaerobic heaving of furniture about and slept well ! Was away from home and favourite woods anyway.

ChrisITF

Well, not quite. Philosophical hat on. Same weight as last Saturday, FatFans ! 184lbs. Disappointing but not a problem. Just keep going.

For the record, yesterday's data (Friday) was as follows :

Calories : 1657 (target 1700) making a daily average for the week of 1698. So overall quite good for the last 2 weeks.

Exercise : Nil, alas. Domestic duties called - basically house-sitting for furniture delivery, among others. In fact today has been a similar one to yesterday in that regard but I am stealing tomorrow's report here now.

At least I have not been at the icecream and chocolate much this past week, so that little aspect of my project seems to be under control. But with the excuses for ducking exercise it seems the project is a bit like trying to squash a balloon into a smaller space; there is always another bit that squeezes out beyond control.

No, I still believe my strategy is correct and I will stick with it. 6 months into the project and still struggling on. Quite surprised myself with this.

Better luck next week, eh ?

ChrisITF

Quick summary of yesterday (Thursday) :

Calories : 1620 and no naughties (target 1700). With extra self-control today, I should make my target for the week of 1700 Cals per day average.

Exercise : 50 mins bike ride in miserable drizzle the whole way. At least I did not get another puncture.

Jump on t' scales tomorrah !

ChrisITF

Quick summary of yesterday (Wednesday) :

Calories : 1633 and no naughties;

Exercise : 50 mins bike ride, but once again, I had to mend a puncture first. That's two this week alone !

Otherwise looking good.

ChrisITF

System seems to have lost my blog entry today. Here we go again ...

Firstly, a review of yesterday's (Tuesday) data :

Calories : 1687 and no naughties (target 1700);

Exercise : 30+ mins running with no sign of last week's injury. Also walked down to football match 1+ miles but got lift back home. Every little helps ...

Rather pleased with progress for the past week and a half now. Food almost under control and exercise mostly completed, despite the distinct drop in temperature of the last few days which tested my resolve a bit. Even considered going out on my bike in the dark on Monday evening but thought better of it when I realised I would have to mess around with borrowed lights.

Under pressure to fly off to the USA once again but I think it has been safely shelved until November, but it is only a case of when and not if. Meanwhile stick at it I suppose and see what the weekend brings.

I'll be back.

ChrisITF

Quick summary of yesterday (Monday):

Calories : 1677 and no naughties (target 1700);

Exercise : 50 mins bike ride but had to fix puncture first.

ChrisITF

Quick summary of yesterday (Sunday) :

Calories : 1798 and no naughties.

Exercise : 50 mins bike ride.

ChrisITF

Quick summary of yesterday (Saturday) :

Calories : 1816 (includes naughty Cadburys chocolate dessert);

Exercise : 1 hour chilly bike ride with temperature only +1C at start.

ChrisITF

Daily confessions seem to work ! This morning's weigh-in showed me at my lightest yet at 184 lbs.

Yesterday's stats (Friday) are as follows :

Calories : 1938 (includes, alas, small KitKat, Mars Bar, small icecream, all of which supported a somewhat energetic visit to Cheddar Gorge and caves). This gives an average for the week of 1712 when target was 1700. Not too bad really.

Exercise : apart from creeping round the caves (not very energetic, just mind your head), completed the 3 mile walk above and within the gorge. Took 1hr 40 mins including the 274 steps up Jacob's Ladder, which definitely had me blowing.

So I seem to have got my crumbling discipline by the scruff of its neck and given it a good shake. But I suppose the extended test of my resolve comes in the next couple of weeks, so watch this space.

But nevertheless feeling just a tad pleased with myself this morning.

ChrisITF

Quick summary of yesterday (Thursday) :

Calories : 1835 but no naughties (unless cheese-on-toast two days in succession counts ?)

Exercise : 50 mins bike ride.

Weigh-in tomorrow.

ChrisITF

Quick summary of yesterday (Wednesday) :

Calories : 1682 and no naughties (target 1700);

Exercise : 50 mins bike ride.

ChrisITF

Couldn't stay asleep so now I'm sat here reviewing the last 4 days before the household awakes.

Quick summary of yesterday :

Calories : 1605 and no naughties (target 1700).

Exercise : 50 mins bike ride in miserable drizzle in morning and a brisk walk of about 1 mile to football match in evening (cadged lift home as it was pouring with rain).

Overall quite pleased with this week's progress. Monday was given over to an interesting visit of distant cousins from the USA whom I had never met before, hence the meal out and exercise missing. Bit short of the latter really but it is coming along and I will perhaps shortly resume running as I have no niggles from last week's leg injury apparent. Could do with an improvement in the weather though.

My enthusiasm and resolve for the project seems revitalised somehow and I am sure it is not just fear of mockery and 'told you so' from CITF-watchers that has done it but it does have an effect, folks ! Difficult to quantify though.

Turned down another USA trip at end of month due largely to family uprising against ! But no real regrets as it means I can continue hopefully uninterrupted with the task in hand.

So, more of the same please and I will jump on the scales on Saturday and see how much I have shrunk.

Exciting innit ?!

ChrisITF

Quick summary of yesterday :

Calories 1990 (target was 1700 but had meal out including icecream).

Exercise nil (had overseas visitors for the day).

Not too bad under the circumstances.

ChrisITF

Quick summary of yesterday :

Calories : 1381 and no naughties ! (Surprised myself there).

Exercise : 50 mins bike ride.

ChrisITF

Quick summary of yesterday :

Calories : 1556 (target 1700 and no naughties)
Exercise : Nil (still injured)

ChrisITF

Not happy at all this morning, folks. 187 lbs which is quite a bit more in the wrong direction.

Why is this ? Well, on Wednesday I injured my left leg and it is still giving me gyp so I have not exercised at all. Absolutely nothing. Has not stopped me eating though; plenty of exercise on that activity. Lost my discipline. Got up and went. Big time. Could have ducked this here confession but, no, the whole point is that it is a warts and all tale of a battle with my weight. I am in retreat but the war is not over yet. I do not give up that easily.

A few weeks ago when my little project was progressing nicely I hardly ever considered how nice it would be to eat a chocolate biscuit or have some icecream but, more recently, I have not only been considering it but sampling said items, and regularly, alas. As I said, I have somehow lost my discipline.

So, how does a project - any project - slip behind time-wise ? Answer : one day at a time. I am sure this applies whether it be development of Concorde, the 2012 London Olympics complex or the CITF blubber reduction project. Remedy : more careful management and monitoring. My considered response is thus to report more frequently to my (mostly) silent critics, daily if necessary, to force a more acceptable performance on my part. I have been slacking and I need a kick up the proverbial.

Starting today, I will not only be recording my daily calorie intake but reporting here on how it is progressing a day later, including confessions of naughties consumed. If this bores you to tears then just do not read it. I shall still be keeping Saturdays for the weigh-in.

Until tomorrow then.

ChrisITF

PS anyone got any better ideas ?

A so-so 185lbs this morning, folks. Back to where I was a while back but nevertheless the lightest for some years.

All was going well this week until this morning's run when I had to pull up with a nagging calf strain. Not been injured like that for some years and I have no idea how it happened. Anyway, I walked home. No, correction : I hitch-hiked part of the way in some kind soul's estate car complete will excitable yappy dog that proceeded to get a dietary supplement of salt by licking my ears and face all over ! Yuck. Difficult to protest too much in my position of debt though.

Now what do I do ? Leave it a couple of days and try again ? Gentle cycle ride tomorrow morning ? Or a big bowl of ice-cream with chocolate topping for comfort ? Well, I know which I would prefer.

He who starves, slims, I suppose. So I will duck the icecream and see how I am in the morning.

Gotta dash as going out in car on local errand. I think I can manage the clutch. Far too far to walk in my current state.

Back Saturday.

ChrisITF

Back to reality and austerity this morning, dear friends.

The weekend's college reunion in Devon went surprisingly well. In fact, it was fascinating to see how people had changed in 36 years since I saw (most of) them last time. The cliquiness, petty jealousies and snobberies of our student days were entirely absent and it was a very friendly and supportive coming together of some 80% of our numbers of 1971.

Two I could not recognise even after I had been reminded of their names. Two or three had slimmed down, most had ballooned out and - to my quiet satisfaction - I was now pretty average in build ! Phew, just in time !

Now hotels are usually the nemesis of my diet but not on this occasion. Why ? Well the title gives a clue. 5 courses for dinner but verging on the labour-intensive and ornate, microscopic dishes made for interesting if calorie-poor meals. Minute carrots and asparagus tips carefully and artistically arranged with gravy (sauce ?) in rococo-style embellishment surrounding the central sacrificial meat offering. Sorbet with chilli (!) Tomatoes stuffed with lentils. Quails' eggs (I thought they were a protected species ?) and sundry bits of various marine creatures were on offer. And wine; plenty of wine. As I have said, it was interesting but where were the spuds, the baked beans and did we bring a tin-opener ? I am sure I did not gain weight after all but the bathroom is currently occupied so I cannot check and I am off out for a run anyway - start as I mean to go on - very soon.

Verily a surreal and probably unique weekend.

Right. My project is no longer suspended. Must get changed and out there.

Back Wednesday.

ChrisITF

Had to sit down; just been out for a run in the cool, damp woods. So thought I might as well report to the world while waiting for recovery.

Bit disappointed with yesterday. Apart from having some extensive last minute shopping for the coming weekend's proceedings, never my favourite occupation, I did no specific exercise - though I suppose we walked for a long time around town - and I was a bit naughty with food consumption. So today is a penance day and I am longing for noon when I can start on my toast ! So 2 out of 3 days 'only satisfactory' since return from parts foreign. That said, I was nevertheless rather pleased with myself to have actually walked past Thornton's toffee/chocolate shop without entering for a purchase. Almost a first there.

Doing my expenses for my recent trip away, I was struck by how many meals I missed - just too busy being the reason or, on one occasion, finding the hotel restaurant already closed on arrival. One would think that my weight should reduce under those circumstances but, no, it seems to have had little effect really. Strange.

Anyway, come this Friday etc., not much chance of missing meals while we are down at the hotel in Devon as they are already booked. I admit to being torn a bit between quite forgetting my project and eating whatever I fancy or looking for the least bad options on the classy menu. (I wonder if they do omelettes - with chips ?!)

Might be Monday before I am home and recovered enough to report back. So set your alarm clocks accordingly.

ChrisITF

Got home this morning, somewhat bleary eyed. But, and I know you will approve of this, I have already been out for a run ! Well, more of a jog really - but I did manage half an hour out in the rain without stopping. Took it easy though; aged 62 and running are probably a dodgy combination with a BMI of 26+. Much slower than usual though, but the point is, I did it.

My calories spreadsheet is in use once more. So let us see what can be achieved in the rest of the year, eh ?

I know it is not Saturday but I weighed myself nevertheless : 186 lbs. Not a disaster, given where I have been, but I appear completely becalmed in the 185-188 lb region.

Weekend away coming up this week. Oh dear. College reunion at an up-market hotel (judging by the prices). Much quaffing and troughing I suspect. Only once in 36 years though so I will not ask for forgiveness from anyone.

Back Wednesday - with the blog, I mean.

ChrisITF