Never growing old @andrewgibney - Tumblr Blog

40 before 40 - update 2020

On the 2nd of January 2018, I posted my 40 before 40 list on Tumblr.

Even then I knew I probably wouldn't complete them all, but it would be fun to try. I few things have changed from the original as my interests have changed or moved on, but the bulk is the same.

The reality is I am definitely not going to manage all 40, there's probably more chance of making it a 50 before 50 and giving myself another five years to do these, with 10 more added. That bridge will be crossed come September 2021.

I've still got 19 months left. Money is probably the biggest issue. We've got loads of house issues to sort and traveling is not a priority.

Go back to NYC - DONE (1) - We spent an amazing 12 days back in that amazing city last year.

Take Catrin to Paris

- Not done and unless we can pop over for a quick weekend, this one is on the backburner

Visit Tennessee - Unlikely. Would have loved to go for my 40th, but again, traveling is on the minimum

See the Northern Lights - Imagine if we had the funds to get there, but then didn't see them. Gutted.

Get debt-free - This is a new one and probably the toughest one to achieve.

Go to FIVE new Zoos - Only one more Zoo to go, this should be easy

Visit Scottish islands

Visit 5 new countries - 4 done (Slovakia, Austria, Czech Rep, Sri Lanka) - Cuba was meant to be the fifth, but Thomas Cook put an end to that. Italy doesn't really count because I went skiing there.

Wrestlemania - Don't even watch WWE anymore, but think this would still be awesome. Just to see the events around it too.

See the Phoenix Suns live - Sad, but unlikely

NFL game at Wembley - DONE (2) - Watched the Titans lose to the Chargers

Go skiing

- There are slopes here, so still possible

Run 5k again - DONE (3)

Run 10k again - DONE (4)

https://twitter.com/Gibney_A/status/1147813082326024192?s=20

Finish half-marathon - DONE(5) - Manchester race was done. Impressed myself by running without stopping and getting under 2:30:00

Well. That went fairly bloody great. #mcrhalf @ManchesterHalf pic.twitter.com/cUCXoT2iYT

— Andrew Gibney 🦄 (@Gibney_A) October 14, 2018

Finish a marathon - I've penciled in the Yorkshire Marathon in 2021. It's the month after my birthday, but that still counts.

Break deadlift PB of 135kg - Easily got myself back up to 120kg, so don't see this being a long-term issue. More a problem of buying the plates for my house.

Weigh 14st - Currently 16st 2 - but 7 pounds down this year. Progress

Climb a Munro - Could still happen. Need to look at options

Squat 100kg - Hopefully buying a squat rack this year, so can work on this. Think I was up to 65k when I was last lifting.

10k tough mudder - Just a case of booking one I think. Shoulder is in a much better place.

Play American Football - Need to look into this more

Read 20 books - Eight down. Catch 22 put a huge dent in my momentum. One every two months would still beat this.

Try 1000 different new beers - Passed the 850 mark. This is the one target I'll probably smash haha. Typical.

Wrestling training

- Hoping to take part in FutureShock's trainee program this year

Make my own beer - My dream is to brew a beer with Beatnikz Republic, perhaps something to do with the podcast

Bake my own doughnut - Bats eyelashes at Siop Shop in Manchester

If you've not been to @siopshop in the @NQManchester you're missing out. Best doughnuts in the world. And trust me, I've put in a lot of research. pic.twitter.com/bzsyQe3XdP

Swim with an animal - DONE (6)

- In Sri Lanka we swam with sea turtles. Easily one of the most amazing things I've done.

Write book - The idea for my book on wrestling has been hatched and is somewhat underway.

Learn a new skill - Decided that on nights, when it's quiet, I'm going to teach myself photography. Then look at getting a cheap camera to practice.

Cooking class - Looked at a few places in Manchester. Really want to do this with Cat.

Build a sandcastle with Catrin - Determined this will happen. No reason it won't

Build a snowman with Catrin - Just need a good amount of snow, which we've not had.

Be in the audience for a TV show - Should be plenty of opportunities for this, since we are in Manchester.

See a new sport live - Could really do with some ideas for this one.

Bake Catrin a cake - Was meant to do this as part of her birthday. Lazy on my part.

Legoland - Maybe Windsor should count. Denmark looking unlikely

Get five tattoos - I'm up to two, the new Star Wars one joined my arm in New York. Got ideas for at least another four. Just need to find the right person for them.

Newest addition to my left arm. Amazing work from Shannon at Red Rocket Tattoo in NYC.@starwars #StarWars #rey #KyloRen #riseofskywalker pic.twitter.com/SsRcMkGP4M

Audition for Star Wars

- With all the Disney+ stuff coming up, maybe the opportunity for this will come up

Add to the Gibney family - this is the plan for 2020.

This is looking like a 30/40 job still.

I'd take that!

40 before 40

This is not another post about New Year’s Resolutions. That’s basically just to get fitter again. But that’s an every week resolution.

After reading Sophie Fryer’s 30 before 30 list, it dawned on me I’m a bit late for that one, but on the 18th of September 2021 I will turn 40. Have no issues with getting older, it’s never bothered me, but it’s nice to celebrate these landmarks.

To do that, I’ve made a list of 40 things I’d like to do before I turn 40.

Some are travel related, some are health challenges I’ve set myself and there are quite a few self-improvement or based on sport. Pretty much sums up who I am, what I love and what I do.

Run around Central Park - NYC

Kiss Catrin at the top of the Eiffel Tower

Visit Tennessee

See the Northern Lights

Spend New Year’s Eve in a foreign city

See red pandas at five new Zoos

Visit a Scottish island

Visit five new countries

Go to Wrestlemania

Watch a Phoenix Suns game in person

Watch a NFL game at Wembley

Go skiing

Run 5k again

Run 10k again

Finish half-marathon

Finish a marathon

Break my deadlift PB of 135kg

Weigh 14st

Climb a Munro

Barbell Squat 100kg

Run 100 ParkRuns (i’m on 7)

Play American Football with a team

Take tennis lessons

Read 20 books (This may seem low, but only managed three last year)

Learn to drive again

Gain a press pass to go watch football

Make my own beer

Improve my French

Interview a Lille player

Write a book

Take a cooking class

Build a sandcastle with Catrin

Build a snowman with Catrin

Be in the audience for a TV show

See a new sport live

Watch IMDB’s top 200 films

Visit Legoland

Get five more tattoos

Audition for a Star Wars film

Add to the Gibney family

There’s no guarantee I will be able to tick them all off, especially all the travel ones, but there are some wonderful things on there which would be an absolute joy to do.

Catrin predicted 30/40. I’d take that.

Definitely more than willing to tick some of these off with friends, so hopefully some of you will get involved with me.

Should be a good journey, but some of the fitness ones could break me.

#40before40 #gettingold #oldmangibney #weightlossjourney #fatmanstrong #fatmanslim #starwars #parkrun #5k #10k

Listen up y’all this is SABOTAGE

It’s Saturday morning, around 7am, and I’ve woken up feeling absolutely shite. Was hot and agitated in bed, massive bags under my eyes and belly all bloated. Yet, that’s not what has me feeling the worst.

Once again, I’ve let myself down. I’m back to 16st 8 pounds and I basically keep sabotaging myself. Why? I’ve no idea. It’s all little excuses.

Last weekend we had Pizza Express on a night out with Catrin’s mum. Fine. Not too bad, big bag of M&Ms at the comedy show, that’s ok, you’re out. Can’t even remember what we had on Sunday. Sure it wasn’t great.

You tell yourself on Monday that you’ll be better. On Tuesday I went to town, had a wander around Manchester. You need to eat, so I had salt beef hash and a flat white, not too bad in context. You feel better. Went to the gym on Tuesday and Wednesday, smashed 30 minutes cardio. But Wednesday is bake off night. Four Tesco white chocolate cookies destroyed. That was after an amazing, low calorie curry - balanced diet? - PT day on Thursday.

I went into town to meet Tom, we spend a day in a coffee shop, working, so I usually have a piece of cake. I’d had soup for lunch, fine, but tell myself, “if you only have cake with Tom, that’s fine once a week”, forgetting the cookies, pizza, chocolate bars in the house, it would be fine, you are allowed to live your life too, but everything together is not fine.

Thursday night Titans v Jaguars NFL late night. Up till 4am, I had to nibble, mini toffee crisp bars, packets of chopsticks, easily had 800 calories of snacks by staying up late. We buy these as little treats, and if you had 200 calories of it a day, it would be fine, but I don’t, I binge.

We smashed the PT session, you feel good, back on the road. Friday, a much-needed day off. I went to the cinema, went to Sainsbury’s bought what I like to call ‘snack ham’ just a wee packet of ham, something to nibble on, much better than popcorn etc. Had a packet of Walkers Max too. I’d had my homemade soup for breakfast/brunch, so was doing ok.

Then Friday night, Catrin goes out, it’s Lille v PSG on TV. What do I do, order a pizza for one. Well done dickhead. Now, I’m sat here Saturday morning feeling shite.

You want to tell yourself that this is it. No more, back on the wagon, but you don’t believe yourself.

I’ve really struggled since Marseille to get back into it. I’m bored of my dinners. I don’t have the motivation, but I’m fed up feeling like this.

Over the last 20 days I’ve been on two runs and six gym sessions, that’s something every 2.2 days, not too bad. That side of it I can do, I enjoy it, but you can’t out run/row/cycle a bad diet.

This is not looking for help, this is not a sympathy plea, it’s me, writing it down so I can get it out my system and hopefully turn in around. My original plan was to be less than 16st by Marrakech and I know the numbers are not everything. All about body shape and muscle etc, but I can see the fat, it’s right in front of me. My belly muscle must be huge!

Still got 5 weeks till Marrakech. I need to turn this around, or I fear I never will. No more excuses, no more exceptions, no more treat nights. No more feeling like this.

#fatmanslim fatmanstrong healthy motivation

Salford 10K: My Scientific Preparation

In around 12 hours I will be lining up for the Salford 10K run around MediaCity. It's been 14 months since my last organised run, and it's safe to say I'm not confident.

https://twitter.com/salford10k/status/771996186798542848

It was in July 2015 that I last laced up amongst a huge crowd of runners. Completing the We Love Manchester 10k in 1 hour 7 minutes 30 seconds.

I had done ok, struggling in the second half after regretting stopping after 4k for a water break.

Injuries took their toll. In September I began to struggle with my knee. Twisting it at the end of a training 10k, then down in London for my birthday I had problems just walking about.

With the Salford 10k in 2015 approaching, I had to pull out through injury. Gutted. Things haven't quite been the same ever since.

I took time off, tried to properly rest and get over the injury. Went through a Couch25k plan all the way through. Without any issues I thought I was back up to speed. Then after 5.6K of a run around Easter time, the knee pain returned.

Always in my left knee, always in the same place. Now, I can feel it coming every time.

I signed up for tomorrow's run as a last chance at running properly. I know my knee is strong - I can squat 62.5kg for 25 reps - and I've picked up hip problems proving it haha.

The problems seem to come from running downhill. That difference in angle and pressures seem to cause the issues.

Last Sunday, as a last practice for the first time in over a year, I actually ran for 10K. Down in Wales for the weekend, I took on the cycle path from Pontypool to Blaenavon. Up hill for the first 5k, it was a steady climb and you didn't quite feel it was all up hill.

Turned at the mid-way point and made my way back down. Around the 8km-9km mark there was some definite knee twinges. As I tried to slow down, that just made it more apparent, so I went for it in the last 400 metres and just about finished.

Time was 1 hour, 8 minutes, 29 seconds. I was a bit shocked. Not far off my time from last year and more importantly, I finished it.

In a poor geeky fashion, I get a bit technical when it comes to running. There's no way I can run 10k without stopping, just not going to happen. Been a while since I did a full 5k, doubling is not an option.

I had been building up a run/walk plan, but on the treadmill 3 minutes bores me, outside it's easy. So on Sunday the plan was 5 minutes running, 2 minutes walking.

I worked out that running a pace of 7mins/km I would cover 0.91km every 7 minutes. After 10 phases I would be 0.9 short, so 11 should do it at around 1 hour 17 minutes. That would mean crossing the line walking, and we can't be having that.

That was my plan though and it's how I set off. 5 min warm up walk, then into we went. After 3/5 phases I was already up on my predictions. I was definitely running faster than 7min/km and reached the 5km mark at 36 minutes. Obviously, going downhill would mean I went a bit faster, not by trying, it's just natural. It was about 100m incline up.

At one stage I looked at my fitbit and I was running at 5:25m/km - not too shabby. With 1km I was definitely going for it. Maybe started sprinting too early. You can see where the pain was, the 9km took 7 minutes, but the 10th 5:51 - no time to slow down.

My finishing overall pace was 6:49 - so quicker overall than I was planning on doing the running part.

I was thinking I should try changing my plan to make it under 1 hour 7, but then I remember the knee pain. Averaging 6min/km with 2 minutes walking could do it. Possibly, but I don't want to push myself.

Going to continue my 5mins/2mins plan and see where it gets me. If I get to 7km without pain, I might push it, and will definitely go for it near the end.

I have my fairly new Nike running trainers, I have my fitbit to guide me and I'm about to make a running playlist.

What else do I need...maybe some luck.

#Salford10K #Running #RunFatManRun #FatManStrong #NikePlus #NikeRunning

Harder, Better, Faster, *hopefully* Stronger

It's amazing the difference a week can make...and a shitty cold. I think I may have lost a stone in bodily fluids through my nose. We finished last week's update on a high and it continued.

As Catrin got better, we went up to Boots on Tuesday to step on the scales. Amazingly I'd lost 5 pounds, down to 16st 9. It must have been mostly snot.

Tuesday, back to the gym. Did a full weights workout, then cardio. I've always preferred doing cardio outside, so when in the gym, I have to play games against myself to keep me going.

On the treadmill, the aim is to go until the machine says you've burned 100 calories, which usually means about 250 for me. Due to my knee, I just did a mixture of walking/running, but no more than 2 minutes running.

On the Elliptical, I up the intensity level every couple of minutes. Get it up to about 12/13 before working back down. Sweat was dripping - the heat didn't help.

On the bike, it's a mixture of building stamina and sprints. Each minute put the level up till you've done 5 minutes and you are at level 5 - then it's 40 seconds normal, then 20 seconds flat out, repeat five times till you've done 10 minutes - last time out I did 4.5km.

With cardio, if you want to get fitter and better you need to train your heart. Long, steady cardio only does so much. It's just like with your muscles. You have to work them out, the fibres rip, heal, fill, get bigger. You have to push your heart to react, work harder and then recover, then it can work at a higher level.

There are definite benefits of running for hours, of course there is, but there's just as much benefit from pushing your heart rate up and down over a smaller period. You'll get a sweat on too.

On Wednesday, I was talking to Lewis about the fitness assault course things and it's definitely something I am going to pursue, possibly after Euro2016 in June, then my holiday in Greece in July.

To have a chance of these types of things, not only do I need to lose weight, I need to be stronger. The weight training that I have been doing has been geared at definition and strength and I think it was working, but Lewis had mentioned the Stronglifts 5x5 program, so I did a lot of reading, look at what it's about and what it does.

I won't bore you with the ins and outs, you can read in better details than I can give you on their website. It's short more compound exercises, targeting more areas at once. You up the weight quickly if you are successful and the intense workout tones you and burns fat.

You may not lose actual weight in terms of numbers, you may actually gain weight as muscle, but you will *hopefully* look better.

Day 1 - squats, bench press and barbell row...looking forward to Day 2 today.

On Friday, which should have been Day 2, I was down in London for the Women's FA Cup final and because of this and the fact that I can be travelling around, or unable to go to the gym on an evening (won't bore you with the opening times of my current gym) I need something else to do that will burn and tone.

Again, through Lewis, I was sent towards Nerd Fitness, a really useful website for beginners in strength workouts. There was loads of great stuff on body workouts.

I am going to start at the beginner level. After a 5k on Saturday morning, I completed one circuit, going to aim for 2 or 3 on Monday. The interesting part and the bit that has always trouble me is push ups/press ups. I just can't do them.

They say you lift something like 70% of your body weight when you do them properly, so it's an ideal exercise. However, I weight 105kg now, I don't even get close to lifting 50kg in the gym, never mind more than 70kg. It's no surprise I struggle with them.

What Nerd Fitness did breakdown though, was how to start small and build up to actual push ups. You start with wall push-ups. Sounds simple, but it asks you to try 4 sets of 20. If you can do them, you move up to the next level.

The next step is using stairs, starting 3/4 stairs up, so not vertical, but you have some assistance. Again, do 4 sets of 20, if successful, move down a step...the plan being that eventually you will be strong enough to do proper push ups.

If you do 24, try 25 next time etc etc. I've completed the wall push ups. It felt fairly easy, did 80, you could feel it in my arms a little. Looking forward to progressing on that and the body weight circuit.

This is the beginner circuit:

20 body squats 10 push ups (whatever level) 10 lunges (each side) 10 Dumbell Rows (using something heavy - used my bag on Sat.) A 15-sec plank 30 Jumping Jacks

I will be going to France for 2 weeks, so without access to a gym, I don't want to just rely on cardio, I need to do strength work. It's the little bits you do that add up. You might need to end up doing 4/5 circuits, but if I can do that, great, it would mean that I am getting fitter and stronger.

Before going over to France, I should be able to complete 10 more days of the Stronglifts program - and squatting 45kg - I'll be a third of the way through the 12 weeks it says you need to see a distinct difference. I'm looking forward to the challenge, although after a weekend of walking around London with a really heavy shoulder bag my legs are still feeling it this morning.

There really is no pain, no gain!

Bulging Biceps, Bulging Belly

Dear Father, it's been two months since my last confession. No hail marys, no bloody marys and not a lot of weight loss either.

Reading through the last post and the first news is I weigh the exact same. 17 stone. Which comes with mixed news.

February had promised so much. 40 kilometres run, completed a charity swim with Catrin and joined a gym nearby. Running continued, racking up 31 kilometres before the end of the month, then on the very last day, trying to catch up from a lazy Easter weekend I went out for a longish run.

Everything was going well until I got to the 4.5k mark. Pain....knee pain...nah just in my head.

Nope, pain, yup, the same pain I got last year, the pain that kept me from running for 4 months. Shite. I stopped, walked...limped home. Fuck.

Back to the gym I went. The weights work has been going well. Two months in and I can see changes in my shape. Arms, shoulders and back have definition. I would show you, but no one wants to see pictures of me in my pants. They do not belong on the internet.

I was working on the elliptical, the bike and then went back to the treadmill. Back to basics, 3 mins running, 2 mins walking. Doing 3km in 20 minutes, even 5km in 31:45 0- that's with 12 minutes walking. Really shifting myself in the running parts, testing my knee. It felt fine. Hopefully, with my body becoming stronger it would make a difference.

On a gym session with Matt Allen I managed to do 6 reps on the leg press at 176KG - that was after 36 reps from 100-130KG. Legs were hench haha.

Then, Paris. Visiting the city for the Coupe de la Ligue final. Arriving late Friday, game Saturday night, leaving Sunday. Short but sweet. In a way to see the city I decided to take my running gear and get out on Saturday morning. Plan was to do around 6km and finish under the Eiffel Tower from my hotel out near the Boulevard Peripherique to the north of the city. I took a wrong turn, didn't got past the Arc d'Triomphe, but did run along the Seine. Amazing way to see such a beautiful place.

About 7 kilometres in, and just about to cross the last bridge before finishing my knee began to throb. I made it, but it was definitely time to stop.

For the rest of the day I was in quite a lot of pain. Going downstairs was not fun. A trip to the Pharmacy got me much needed ibuprofen, then beer at the football took all the pain away.

Back in the UK, running was off the menu again. Paris was the 23rd of April, so on Thursday the 5th, I thought I'd try again. I may have tried to do too much though.

I worked out how fast I would have to run to finish a 5k under 30 minutes while still running for 3 minutes, walking for 2. Running would have to be at 13km/h - my normal walking pace is 6km/h.

I'm a bit of a geek, so I did the maths. 12 minutes at 6km/h equals 1.2km. So 3.8km to run.

13km/h / 60 minutes X 18 minutes = 3.9km. Bang. Sub 30 min 5k with walking.

Go hard or go home. 2 mins walking to start, then 3 minutes at 15km/h - let's get ahead of this thing. Next 2 mins, then 3 at 12km/h, average is still 13.5km/h. Then 3 minutes at 14km/h - hoping that the last part would easier. Then during the 4th running section...pain...fuck. Yeah...knee pain. 20 mins in and I'd done 3.4km - average pace 5:53 per/km. I hobbled down the hill afterwards. Knee didn't hurt the next day and it hasn't hurt since.

From reading/researching etc, I suffer from IT band issues on my left side. Pain on the outside of the knee. I've been doing stretches and stuff, trying to strengthen it...but I am sadly coming to the realisation that I've never going to be a "runner" again. Prospect of 5ks, 10ks and further seem out of the questions.

I've been inspired by Dan and Jeremy, running marathons through adversity, getting it done. Something that I really want to do at some point, but if I can't run 7k without my knee giving in, 26.2 miles seems out of the question.

It pains me more than the knee itself. I love having something to push myself for. The self-satisfaction, the self-achievement the ability to push further, faster. I always loved team sports as a kid, but this solo stuff really suits me. You are only running against yourself and a clock.

I need to find something else. Swimming is good, but more cause I'm awful at it. Which is better from a fitness POV, but it's not the same, it's got that treadmill element to it as you are not going anywhere.

Right now I'm leading towards those assault courses tests - Tough Mudder and the like, but no idea where to start. You still have to run, but it's all broken up and not just running.

From a diet POV, I've been struggling. Not quite with our plan and what we've been eating, but just finding a balance.

Health wise, it's all going well. Latest diabetic blood tests all came back lower than what they were. Definite progress, which should be the main positive.

However, when it comes to losing weight, there is always something getting in the way, or just trying to live life, have fun. Need to step it up again- which started on Sunday.

I've been using MyFitnessPal, which is a great way to track calories and see what you are eating. Original plan was 2000 calories a day, and I think when it's going 100% to plan, that works. Then while lying in bed on Sunday I had a bit of a lightbulb moment.

We got to Greece on holiday in eight weeks. If I wanted to lose a stone before then, I'd need to lose around 2 pounds a week. I entered that into the app, then it asks how active you are. I had always put "Lightly Active" with the running etc, I thought it made sense. Then I looked at "Not Very Active" and it says "Spend most of the day sitting (e.g bank teller, desk job" yeah, shit...that's me. Lazy fuck.

When I picked that option it said to lose 2 pounds a week I need to keep to 1550 calories a day - which isn't a lot, yet it means if I want to eat more, I need to shift my moobs more. It totally makes sense.

- well done to Catrin btw. 20 pounds lost since we start. So so proud!

Today I've done 30 minutes cardio at the gym and burnt loads more calories. I've eaten 1966 calories of food, but still finished under for the day. That's the way it should be and my new mission this month.

Not expecting results straight away. Came down with a shitty cold Thursday-Saturday and had a some medicinal snacks that would not be found on any diet plan, plus 21 Birdseye Chicken Dippers for dinner on Thursday...no idea why the weight isn't dropping off.

Let's give it two weeks and I'll weight myself on the 24th. If I stick to it, I want to see results. No one wants to see a fat guy with bulging biceps.

#runfatboyrun #hench #gymlife #myfitnesspal #chickendippers #paris

Two Steps Forward, Two Cakes Back

Dear Father, it's been over two weeks since my last confession.

Things are progressing, and before I get on to my own journey I want to say how proud I am of Catrin. We started doing this at the same time and she has lost 10 pounds - amazing. So glad we are doing this together.

I set myself three goals for February. Run 35 kilometres...BOOM 42.5K smashed it. Run 4k...done - did it twice, nearly did a 5k when the running app quit and forget to tell me when to stop.

Remember when people just went out running without technology...nope, me neither.

The last goal was to lose 4 pounds. Didn't quite manage that one. Weighed myself today, just under 3 weeks since I was 17st 1 pound - came in at 17 stone - so just a pound off. But it's better than nothing.

In these situations, you have to look at what you've done and what you've eaten and see if you can point to what happened...I may have a slight hint.

A night of drinking beers with Stephane in Sheffield - with a battered sausage and chips to follow - plus hungover granola squares...possibly all four.

Catrin and I had to go visit Northern Soul Grilled Cheese in Manchester for a medicinal sandwich last week. It was amazing.

Then, this weekend - yeah...we can all see where it went wrong - we went to see Jon and Jen in Stockport and had a pub lunch. I went for the lamb burger, which wasn't too bad, but perhaps eating half a cheesecake (yeah the round ones) from Sainsbury's on Saturday night (treat day) wasn't the best idea.

Everything is fine in moderation, but following that up with dinner at Sarah and Nik's on Monday...lamb kofta/chicken kebabs, buttered rice, finished off with a quarter of a cheesecake and two cans of Stella.

Sunday was good - we had a really healthy dinner. Sauce made with a shit load of veggies with pasta and chicken.

You know when you write things down and they become much clearer...yeah that.

So the weight loss could be better, but that comes with the diet, and the main thing is that my diet is much better than what it was. I would have eaten all those things as well as other bad things and not batted an eye lid.

I felt awful after having the bad days, so I feel that is a step in the right direction. Appetite and attitude is changing.

Exercise wise is going well. Enjoying being out running. Three more goals for March. To run 50K all in. Run a 5k (parkrun on Saturday) and THIS TIME...to lose four pounds.

I missed swimming over the past two weeks due to work and other commitments, so went back tonight. Happy that I managed 22 lengths, completed in 19 minutes 50 secs. Definitely felt that I was better - seemed to have got a breathing/not drowning technique down.

On the 20th of March, Catrin and I will take part in the Sports Relief Swimathon. We will do 1.5 kilometres combined. Works out at 60 lengths - as it stands Catrin will probably do 40 and me 20, but it'd be good to do 30 each. More depends on my ability. 2 weeks to get better.

You may have seen a picture of me wearing a Sunderland football top. It was a gift from the club for writing for their magazine this month.

What's interesting/surprising about that is that it's a LARGE...a bloody large...no, I didn't forget to type the EXTRA part. They didn't have any XL left, I thought it would be an aspirational thing...but hey! It just about fits. Perfectly tight enough for running.

OK...now I'm just waffling. Oh. I joined a new gym today too. Only 10 minutes walk away, so just need to fit it into my schedule now. Thinking of going on running days, so not to mess up swimming days.

For this month...limit the amount of treats and bad dinners. Keep moving, start lifting and just keep going. Feeling good about what's going on, and that's the main thing.

#runfatboyrun #running #healthyeating #c25k #parkrun #5k

Run, Fatboy, Run

Don't you hate when life gets in the way of blogging, or dieting... it's been too long since my last update. Been thinking about writing one for a while - let's get to it.

We'll start with that taboo subject of weight. To me it's just a number, I have always tried not to get bogged down with what the actual number says. If you look at your own body, you have a pretty good idea of where that number is. Definitely not shocked that I'm not 14 stone.

Last time out I had gone up to 17st 5 pounds - after some debauchery in France. The diet has continued and the next week I went down to 16st 12, then back up a pound, then up to 17st 1 and this week I have stayed the same.

We've been doing this new healthier living for over a month now and I've managed to put on two pounds. Usually, that'd be a case for concern, but I'm actually quite happy with where I am. In the last five weeks, I've gone to France for four days, been to my friend's wedding in Scotland and spent four days in Budapest for Catrin's birthday (she's lost another couple of pound each week consistently).

Was actually delighted to come back from Hungary the same weight. Cake, coffee, rich dinners were the order of the day - I think the 35km we walked certainly helped.

Still really enjoying the food we are cooking. We bought the second Hairy Dieters book and there are more great recipes in it. Highly recommended: Chicken Bhuna, Lamb Moussaka, Rich Beef Stew, Bolognese, Chilli...I could go on, but enjoy some pictures instead.

On the exercise front, we have continued to go swimming. I'm starting to get a little better, done 20 lengths the last two visits and don't feel like I'm drowning doing the breaststroke.

The biggest plus has been my return to outside running. After four treadmill sessions, doing around 2km in total each time, I thought it was time to give the outside world a try.

Before my knee injury, I was comfortably doing 5k without stopping and looking to move into the 10k range. Those days were long gone - back to basics.

I downloaded the Couch to 5k app onto my phone. It's an 8-week plan to ease you up to a complete 5k. Definitely the sort of slow progress I was looking for. Headphones on, music on, app on, off I went. #C25K gives you audio cues on when to walk and when to run. All runs have a 5 min walking warm-up, warm-down period. Week 1 was 60 seconds running, 90 seconds walking, then up to 90 seconds running.

On Friday I went on my eighth #C25K run, it was 90 secs on, 90 walking, then three minutes running and walking x 2 - I then did another 90 seconds on top at the end. From the start of the running, I am covering around 2.5km at the moment, it will go up to 3k next week.

I also bought Catrin a Misfit Shine for her birthday - got myself one too - and we’ve been using them to track our activity. My target is 700 points, about 1000 steps works out at 100 steps. I’m currently on a 10-day streak of reaching the target.

I set myself three goals on Runkeeper at the start of the month. Cover 35kn running in Feb, do one 4k run and lose four pounds. Two out of three are looking not bad. Still got two weeks to drop to 16st 11...fingers crossed.

So far my knee feels fine, just the normal aches and pains you get with your body adjusting. Swimming twice a week, running three times, plus the recovery of walking 30+KM in Budapest...I'm feeling the effects.

This is the true test now. No trips planned until our holiday in Greece, a weekend in Glasgow at the end of March, so there's no reason why I shouldn't have shifted some proper weight by then....as I type that I'm waiting for some low-calorie banana and blueberry muffins to cool down.

Not weighing myself again until the start of March. Until then, good food, swimming, running and MUFFINS

#MUFFINS #Running #Swimming #RunFatboyRun #C25K #Homer #FoodPorn #HairyDieters

Witness the (lack of) Fitness

“It’s not how hard you hit, it’s how hard you get hit, but keep moving forward.” There are not many film franchises that are as inspiration as Rocky…stop laughing…anyone who runs loves a good Rocky montage moment.

Those words were needed this week. After my last post, detailing what I was doing, I went to the gym for a swim quite proud of myself – 14 lengths later (a new record) I got changed and weighed myself. Last time I was 16 stone 13 – the silence from Catrin was telling as I looked straight ahead…17 stone 5!!!! What the actual fuck.

The analysis had begun. Despite all the walking in Lille, it seems that my three nights in France did some damage – and although I was around my calorie limit, I think the fat content in what I was eating had an effect.

In French terms, 425cl of beer over three days doesn’t seem that much. Their pint is 50cl…Eight and a half…ok, when you say it like that.

Back in the UK on Monday, it was back on the diet. I’ve kept on it all week, apart from Saturday, that was treat day. 916 calories over, so 3100 total that day. For the past week, targeting 2250 calories a day, I’m 3146 under for the past seven days. Yeah, I probably feel a little bit hungrier than I used to, but that’s not exactly a surprise. Need to get over that fat boy!

Really enjoying the food. We are sticking to the Hairy Dieters cookbook for dinners (see above). Lots of eggs, corn flakes, bananas, not a lot of bread - but can’t avoid it.

Gym session on Thursday went well. Started on the Elliptical this time, did 0.54 kilometres in 10 minutes. Went from Level 7 to Level 12 for a bit. 0.8km more than last time.

Those who know me will remember I really got into running around 2014/15, but due to my knee having problems I basically had to stop. Not had a proper run since September, and I’ve missed it.

Did some uphill walking on the treadmill last week, but it’s boring. I can walk anytime, anywhere. So, fuck this. Two mins on Level 5 to get going, then three minutes on Level 10 – managed three sets at Level 10 and 15 minutes overall. Covered 1.87km – got to start somewhere.

Worked out that the walking pace is 0.2km a minute and the running was 0.5km in 3 minutes. So up at 5km in 30 min pace. Happy with that.

To try and improve the weight loss, I am no longer talking any “calories” burnt through walking off my food total for the day. I’m not totally convinced it’s accurate…and it’s just walking. I was eating more just cause I’d been for a 5km walk.

Went back to the gym on Saturday. 10 minutes on the Elliptical, covered 0.55 km in 10 minutes – felt it more than Thursday. Then on to the running again. Three minutes at Level 5 to warm up – then 3 at Level 11 (felt a couple of twinges in my calf, like the cat was biting it), two more walking, then two running (calf was ok this time), then two walking and the last three running. Covered 2km in 15 minutes and knee felt fine.

Not wanting to just go back home, I went on the weights. Had done loads at the start of last year and was getting somewhere before we quit PureGym, so I always find it difficult to get going. You have to find the right weights etc. Did 28 reps on the Chest Press machine at 35kg, then 28 reps of bicep curls with 10kg dumb bells. Let’s just say my arms were pretty sore afterwards. My left arm had no idea what had just happened.

Sunday, out of boredom, I went to the gym again when Catrin went swimming. Five minutes on the Elliptical to warm up, then on to the machines. Tried to stay away from biceps and chest. Did the Shoulder Press, Tricep Press, Pull-Down, Deltoid Row then finished with Over-head Tricep press – all three sets on each machine. Any predictions Clubber? PAIN!!!

Only one small problem. My knee has started to hurt a little today (Monday). Little worried about that, will keep an eye on it. Plan is Swimming Tuesday, Thursday, Might go to the Gym on Wednesday/Saturday if possible. Depends on work.

Weigh-in day tomorrow. I want to get to the point where I only weight myself once a week, but I need to know I am on the right track…and last Tuesday told me otherwise.

Need to lose something this week, or I have no idea what’s going on. #Pray4Gibney

#HairyDieters FatMan Healthy Swimming Diet Running

Float like a butterfly, drown like a butterfly

It's not a New Year, New You kick up the arse, it's part of a continual trying to get healthier, but after the Christmas break and a trip to Scotland.

You might remember before Christmas I went 43 days without chocolate, cake or biscuits - so this is the next step. I had also started swimming last year, but stopped as the festive period kicked up pace.

This time, Catrin and I have joined the gym properly, we didn't sign up in December due to the amount of time we were going to be away. No excuse now.

Healthier eating started on the 2nd of January. We are using the Hairy Dieters book to use for foot recipes and guiding us. The food is great and we are really enjoying the cooking...and the eating.

First day back at swimming was the 5th of Jan. I managed 10 lengths, which isn't great, but I did walk 5.7km on the way to the pool - my legs were gone.

Afterwards, I weighed myself - the scales said 16 stone 13 pounds (237 pounds) - Happy with that after the festive eating frenzy. Square sausage is not your friend.

I have been tracking my food intake on My Fitness Pal. My target is 2,250 per day, then you take calories burnt through exercise. Since the 2nd of Jan I have been a total of 6056 calories under the target.

I have walked 62.7 km in 10 days, including a 14k day in Lille - oh yeah, I went to Lille and had beers, frites etc etc. Still tried to stay on track, so I kinda had to walk 14k.

Went back to the gym last Thursday and I had ideas of grandeur, trying to do 60 minutes cardio...but I failed. This is what I did.

Treadmill - Level 6 - going up 1 level on the incline every minute - 1.13km in 12 minutes

Elliptical trainer - 0.46km in 10 mins

Stationary Bike - once warmed up - 20 secs flat out, 40 secs slow - 3.35km in 7 mins

The plan is to keep that up and get better, go longer/faster etc.

Measured my belly this morning, going round where the belly button is - that measured 44 inches - no idea what it was before - but it's a start.

That's me - using this to track and have a log. Will share some food pics etc. About to go swimming again. Weighing myself just to get an idea. Then I'll start doing it at the start of the month - good or bad.