Wednesday Weigh-In - 28 January

When this blog goes quiet it usually means I'm falling off the diet. My lack of activity this week does not reflected calorie loading on this occasion. True on Saturday night I devoured a large bag of jelly babies (and again on Sunday), but by and large things are still on track. I've been less prolific with my writing this week due to laptop issues and not wanting to type out on a tablet. So you'll have to trust me that things are still moving along.

The best thing I can do to demonstrate this is to show the results from my weigh-in this morning, which again produced a loss. 2lbs gone again this week, meaning that since 2 January the scales have dropped from the wrong side of 16st to under 15. 18lbs in total and I'm feeling a lot better about myself and looking in better nick.

Back into 14st territory. Rejoice

So it has been a very productive month to date, and done a lot to correct the damage I inflicted upon myself through the excesses on November and December.

At the moment I'm still finding my way back into running, and have been sticking to just the Saturday morning 5k. As my waistline has receded and my body has got used to the idea of exercise, it has become more comfortable as the month has progressed. I'm not immediately looking to set myself a challenge for this year, but there is talk of signing up for the Maidenhead half marathon in September, and I couldn't resist putting my name into the ballot for the Royal Parks Half in October. I've got unfinished business over the distance but not going to rush into an event I've not trained properly for.

January has been alcohol free since New Years Day, but I'm looking forward to enjoy a glass of something nice with my wife in early Feb when we celebrate her birthday. She has also been dieting in recent times and has been doing brilliantly, so I think we both deserve a night off from our respective plans.

Wednesday Weigh-In - 21 January

This morning was the third weigh-in of the year, and for the third week running the scales said something nice. While the rate of weightloss has reduced, I'm more than happy to have said goodbye to another 2lbs. Keep going steadily at that pace for the next few weeks and I'll be getting back to where I want to be. Fingers crossed I dip under 15st next week.

From 16:3 to 15:1 in 19 days

Tomorrow promises to be quite testing for the diet. I've been invited to a conference and awards do for the use of social media in graduate recruitment. Food will be served and I imagine there will be drinks on hand too. I'll have to be at my level best to not go overboard with the former, and keep up my January abstinence for the latter. To be honest, I'm expecting to have to write a confessional blog on Friday but we'll have to see.

With birthdays coming up in my household next month, it is important to finish January strongly. That way I can feel a little more relaxed about celebrating with my loved ones. Porridge and soup continue to work for breakfast and lunch, giving relative freedom for whatever I fancy for dinner. Monday I put together a little chicken and green peppers in oyster sauce with egg fried rice. Last night was Moroccan spiced pork with cous cous. Both were very nice and clearly not detrimental to my waistline.

Away from the dieting business, there are more reasons to be cheerful with my youngest's physical development. Last week I posted a little clip of him at a physio session having just received a walking frame. Today I've got a little vine from the weekend, when he decided that he wanted to be a footballer!  His future sporting achievements are more likely to veer towards the paralympics than the Santiago Bernabeu, but like any daddy my heart fills up watch his son kicking a football, even in his own unique style.

Moving on from a let down

Sunday represented my first let down day of the year. By this I meant I let myself down on the diet front. Little man had me awake most of the night and as I wearily made my way through the day, I couldn’t resist reaching for crisps and sugary badness. One bad day in three weeks is not going to hurt me, but I was a little disappointed with myself for breaking in those circumstances, not least as I was telling myself to stop but couldn’t quite bring myself to do so.

Despite that, I’ve been pretty consistent throughout the week and have reasonable expectations of a positive weigh in tomorrow. My wife cooked a smashing Slimming World Moussaka which I managed to extend to three meals due to leftovers. Vegetables and lentils were pretty yummy and I wouldn’t be averse to eating it again. Of the soups I’ve been eating for lunch, the lentil varieties have been my favourite as they have a nice chunky stew effect and help to fill me up until dinner time.

Last Saturday I felt I made progress on the running front. My third 5k of the year and easily my best, not that there was much competition. I shaved 80 seconds off my time from the previous two weeks and felt like I was getting into a decent rhythm. There is still plenty of scope for improvement given my PB is is still a long way off, but I’m pleased to be moving in the right direction by feeling both physically and mentally fitter. Hooking up with an old school friend for future Saturday morning runs ahead of his half marathon can only help to push on and I’d like to think I’ll be improving my time on a weekly basis henceforth.

The weigh-in comes tomorrow and though I don’t expect things to have changed dramatically, I am predicting a loss. The first two weeks of the year produced astounding numbers. Every lb lost from here on will be more of struggle, but any loss will be welcome.

Calling all the Heroes

I mentioned last week that I had been given a box of chocolates by a colleague. I'm pleased to say that a week on they remain unopened. Even though my breakfast/lunch combo of porridge and soup have left me feeling pretty hungry, I've yet to give in to temptation.

Controlling your urge to snack in the workplace can be difficult, but if you can get through your 9-5 without resorting to chocolate, crisps or biscuits, you've taken up a huge chunk of your day with resorting to unhealthy stuff. That can only be a good thing when targeting weightloss.

How long this box will stay unopened remains to be seen. But I won't be buying any other snacks at work until I have cracked under the strain. It is a positive little challenge which I'll be reporting on in the days (and maybe weeks) ahead.

Wednesday Weigh - In 14 January

Last week I recorded a 10lb weight loss in a five day period. This was never likely to be repeated, nor indeed would I have wished to repeat it. However, I was determined that this week I would back up my good start to the year. And I'm pleased to report that I have.

Over the past 7 days, I've said goodbye to another 4 lbs,  which means a cumulative 1 stone loss since 2nd January.

Definitely not to be sniffed at! My immediate goal from here is to try to chip off the next few lbs and get back under 15st. That could take 1 week. It could take longer. But I'm confident that it will happen as I'm in a very good place right now. When I have control over my food I feel like a different person. Long may it last.

Away from the bathroom scales, I had very good reason to smile today. My little one had an appointment with his physio to try out a walking frame, since he's recently been able to get to his feet. The first couple of frames didn't really work for him, but the little blue one was perfect.  It didn't take long for him to get to grips with it as you can see in the video below.

Watching my weight is important to me. That said, seeing my little boy battling to overcome his ailments helps put things in perspective. There is more to life than counting calories or worrying about a weekly weigh - in. But with Jr well on the way to running around like his brother, it won't hurt for their daddy to be in the best possible shape.

Cake, samosas and The People's Front of Judea?

At the weekend I faced my first real test of the new diet regime. On Saturday evening, I was invited to my former housemate's 60th birthday party. I opted to drive to rather than break my no alcohol rule for January which saved me from calorific injection, but then I came face to face with one of the most amazing looking cakes you're are likely to see.

All about the Bass

When the cake was cut, I managed to restrain myself, though by then I had already ploughed my way through party nibbles, including samosas, which are a pretty big diet breaker.

For the rest of the evening, it was a chance to catch up with some old friends, and enjoyed the show from legendary local covers band The People's Front of Judea. As usual they brought their own unique style which seemed to baffle the staff of Cippenham Working Men's Club! If you're in the Slough area on Saturday night, they are playing a show in Burnham that will be well worth attending.



As for the birthday boy himself, he seemed to enjoy his evening. It must be said, if I am lucky enough to get to 60 I hope to find myself rocking out on stage to Gay Bar too




A couple of late nights over the weekend, courtesy of watching the NFL playoffs have meant I've started the week feeling tired and somewhat below par. Sleep is an important tool when dieting as your body will need more rest if operating on less fuel. Last night I was in bed before 11 which was a rarity. I think I may have to make it a regular occurrence to help me along the way.

My Choice

An important aspect for successful weightloss is decision making. It is not just enough to take that initial step and begin a diet. That is the starting point, but from everyday onwards success or failure will be determined on the choices that we make.

Today for example, I have been given several opportunities to break from my eating regime. One of the reasons I will be successful moving forward is the ability to say no. Resist temptation. Stick to what works. It isn’t an easy thing to do, but if the motivation and will power is really there, the right choices will be made.

Exhibit A. When I arrived at my desk this morning, I found a box of chocolates on my desk. One of my colleagues, bless her, bought them for me to say thank you for something that happened earlier in the week. She knows that I’m dieting but said I could keep them for a bad day. Now, in the early stages of dieting, I try to avoid shops for the very reason that I know I’m susceptible to chocolate. Being faced with a gift first thing in the morning, after a week of being very good was tough. However, I’m determined not to crack. The Heroes will stay in my cupboard for a while and I’ll blog again when the day comes that I tuck in.

My lunchtime choice. Soup vs Heroes. Soup won

Exhibit B. We have a communal lunch room in my office. Having spent the week avoiding the Peanut Butter Oreos and Biscuits, today a message came around about leftover buffet being available following an event. Sandwiches, bhajis, some sort of meat on a stick, mini-quiche. The sort of crap that even though you don’t really want to eat it, you find yourself compelled to eat platefuls of the stuff. I didn't. My choice.

Mmmm, leftovers. Must. Eat.

Exhibit C. No supportive photos on this occasion but trust me. A group of fundraisers came around with trays full of cakes and cookies. They put them in my face, saying it was for whatever good cause they are supporting. I stuck a pound coin in their collection bucket and but did not take anything from them. Well done me. Sticking to my diet and giving to charity.

There are various choices we have to make. Do I open that bottle of wine when I get home from work? Shall I pass on cooking and order takeout? Why don’t I have that second helping? Unless you are a child or infirm, the responsibility for what you consume on a daily basis lies squarely with you. I’ve never hidden away from the fact that I made myself a 24st man. The reason I’m dieting again this January is because of poor choices in recent months.

Graduation Day. Barely 21. Enormous. And I got much bigger than this

So thank you for the chocolates. Thank you for the leftover buffet. Thank you for the cakes. But no, my choice today is to politely decline. 

Off to a fast start

When taking the decision to lose weight, a lot of people want a quick fix. I'm not necessarily one of those people as I've been battling the bulge over a number of years so know that a long term commitment is required rather than instant gratification. That said, I was delighted by the outcomes of 5 days of sensible eating. For those who missed it, my first Wednesday Weigh-In of 2015 showed a 10lb loss in less than a week.

On any other week of the year, that sort of drop would cause all manner of alarm bells to go off, but immediately following Christmas and New Year it is acceptable. All those extra calories consumed from eating junk and excess drinking had to be eliminated, and a little bit of a detox to start 2015 has paid off. Where others may fall off the dieting wagon is when the next week is not quite so successful. And it won't be. If you lose 10lbs a week, every week, you probably need to see a doctor rather than count your calories.

I achieved my loss through keeping things simple. Porridge for breakfast. Soup for lunch. Whatever I fancied for dinner in a good sized portion. No snacks. No alcohol. Bread off the menu. Throw in a 5k run and that was my recipe for success.

Imagine 10 of these. Gone. From your weight. Happy days

Last night I found myself eating a little more for dinner than I have on previous nights, and helped myself to pudding too. The scales this morning remained friendly. All things in moderation, then back to my porridge/soup combination so far today. I know this works for me, and I have the willpower (when motivated) to stick to the plan. Until I can raise my fitness levels and bring more exercise to my routine, food control is my chief method for weight loss.

I won't have lost another 10lbs by my next weigh in. But if I keep good habits and don't steer too from the path that I have found successful, I won't be gaining. I've made a terrific start to wrestling back control of my waistline. The challenge starts here to back that up in subsequent weeks and months.

Wednesday Weigh-In - 7 January

My first Wednesday Weigh-In of the year yielded the following result. Apparently since Friday, when I was 16 st 3lbs, I've managed to drop 10lbs.

I'll save analysis for tomorrow (Now added to the blog). I'm not in the mood for fanfare. Instead my thoughts today are with the family, friends and colleagues of Chris Boxall, whose funeral I will be attending this afternoon.

RIP Boxy. Say hello to Pearcy for me.

Would rather be wearing my scarf to a match than a funeral today #RIPBoxy pic.twitter.com/usyknuGycF
— Graham Kaye-Taylor (@bigfatrebel) January 7, 2015

Soup Glorious Soup

Finding something to eat at lunchtime is always a bit tricky when dieting. When you're hard at work but skimping on the calories, you want to have a meal that satisfies your hunger, will get you through until dinner and not do too much damage to your waistline. A pretty difficult combo.

During the summertime I opt for a light salad but while the weather is cold, grey and miserable, such as today, my preferred option is soup. Firstly, when served hot it takes a while to eat which is always a bonus. Second, you get that warm comforting feeling in your tummy from a hot meal, without the bloating of a big dinner. And finally, it is fairly cheap and easy to do, whether you make your own or buy ready made.

Today I was lazy and went for the latter. My reward was a tin of Newgate Vegetable Soup, bought for not very much from Lidl. It claims on the packaging to be wholesome and tasty. I'm not completely convinced by either of those, but given it has been the best part of 4 hours since I ate and I've not felt hungry since, I can at least say it was effective.

Does not come supplied with Blue-Roll ears in supermarkets

If you are thinking that soup for lunch sounds like a good idea, here are a few pointers to help you along the way.

1. Soup only. Don't be tempted to have a bread roll with it. Yes it would be nice, but lets be honest, if you're dieting bread is not your friend.
2. Check the packaging before you buy. You'll be surprised at how many calories can be packed into a little tin of soup. Avoid the ones that have the word Cream in the title, and also be wary of some of the chunky varieties. My vegetable soup came in at a grand total of 164 calories, which translates as less than two slices of bread for a sandwich. More calorific options may prove counter productive.
3. Never think that a cup a soup will do the job. Water and granules is not lunch. You wouldn't consider instant coffee a meal would you? From a tin or carton will do, unless you've blitzed up your own.

Related articles

• Workplace Temptation

Workplace Temptation

Today was my first day back at work after Christmas. I had been looking forward to this as I thought it would be an easy way to stave off temptation from the bad stuff that surrounded me at home. How silly of me to believe that.

In my office lunch room I came face to face with a full box of Victoria biscuits and a multipack of peanut butter Oreo cookies. Are dieting cruelty goes, this was pretty harsh. Somehow I managed to resist, though my tin of chunky soup bought on the cheap from Lidl didn't really offer much of a safety net. It was edible enough, but 4 days into a diet and confronted with this, my will power was strongly tested.

What sort of dieting cruelty is this?

Thankfully the test was passed, though I've just eaten a bigger portion of chicken carbonara for my dinner than was probably advisable. I certainly feel pretty full tonight! On balance, it is better to have a bit more pasta than open up a can of worms by digging into biscuits. There is only one way that would end; badly.

What motivates a man to diet

Three days into the diet, and I've forgotten just how tiring it can be when your body has an endless supply of fuel cut off. I've moved beyond the stomach burn sensation and instead found myself lethargic. It has been tempting to reach for some sugary badness, but I've resisted so far. I'm writing this at 2.30 and dinner time seems a long way off.

As things stand, I don't have a specific target to work towards in 2015. I'm not booked in for any long runs, though I'm quite tempted by the idea of the North London Half. A course that runs right through Wembley Stadium certainly appeals, but it comes around a little too soon for me to get into any sort of shape. Having done the Royal Parks Half back in October without a great deal of training, I'm reluctant to make the same mistake again.

I guess my main motivation remains as it was when this blog started out a couple of years ago. I wanted to be fit and healthy for the sake of my boys, and that hasn't really changed. I'm not going to be much use to them if I continue with the gorging I've done in recent months. There are too many reminders in my life right now which demonstrate the fragility of our existence, and it would be a waste of my time on Earth if I continue to eat myself to an early grave.

Later this week, I plan to attend the funeral of a guy who I've been going to football matches with for over a decade, He passed before Christmas at the tender age of 34. I wrote this tribute which was published in the Slough Town programme for the match against Burnham that was due to be played yesterday but was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. I've been to more than my fair share of funerals over the years, but rarely have I had to go one for one of my peers. It certainly puts things into perspective and makes me realise how lucky I am to be alive and have a family of my own.

This month marks the 25th anniversary of my father's death. As someone who lost their dad as a child, I owe it to my boys to ensure they have a daddy who is fit, healthy and around for the long term. And so gaining control of my eating, cutting down on drinking and returning to fitness is my immediate priority. As such, there will be plenty more photos like this appearing in the coming months to chart my progress.

I was too big for my running vests and shirts - I won't be forever

I'm a believer

Yesterday marked the first phase of my diet. Stop eating junk, restricting myself to a regular three meals per day. Today I got phase 2 under way, namely dragging my sorry self kicking and screaming into exercise. Since completing the Royal Parks Half Marathon back in October, I've only been out for a run once. The overeating I described yesterday has inevitably impacted on my fitness levels and it was fair to say I was not expecting much from myself.

During the second half of 2013, I was a regular at the Black Park parkrun. Last year, it fell from my weekend routine and I think that contributed to my malaise. With that in mind I treated myself to an annual parking permit yesterday so that I've no excuses not to get myself out of the house on a Saturday morning.

When I was woken this morning, there was quite a downpour going on outside. With both boys sleeping uncharacteristically beyond 7.30, I could have been forgiven for keeping snug in my bed. However, I knew that going for a run this morning was important, perhaps more so for my psychology than my physicality. Rain or no rain, I was doing this.

First #parkrun for some time beckons. Not going to wimp out despite the heavy downpour
— Graham Kaye-Taylor (@bigfatrebel) January 3, 2015

After driving through the puddles of South Bucks and parking up, I did have to question my sanity at being there.

Definitely one of those mornings where I ask myself why? #parkrun pic.twitter.com/GcdOjCMju6
— Graham Kaye-Taylor (@bigfatrebel) January 3, 2015

Fortunately I had an old friend to point out the obvious.

@bigfatrebel black park looks er um #wet
— Stephen Hale (@Wisey999) January 3, 2015

Meanwhile others were more supportive

@bigfatrebel because you'll feel great afterwards!
— Laura White (@sugarfloat) January 3, 2015

@bigfatrebel these are the mornings that make the difference :)
— Steve Gaffney (@sdgaffney) January 3, 2015

I couldn't agree more with the last point. It did make a difference. The sense of achievement from making it round the course is palpable. My body and mind felt lifted, and though a couple of hours later I'm feeling somewhat weary, doing this today has set me on a good course for the coming weeks.

I'm hot, sweaty, smelly pretty darn unpleasant but for the first time in months I feel alive #parkrun
— Graham Kaye-Taylor (@bigfatrebel) January 3, 2015

My time was not important today. I barely dipped inside 30 minutes and was my second slowest finish over the distance. But I didn't care. Today was about waking my body from it's slumber and surviving. The time will improve as my waistline contracts and my fitness levels recover. I'm not convinced I'll be getting back to sub-24 minutes 5Ks any time soon, but that isn't my motivation right now. You have to learn to crawl before you run after all.

What I have now is a mental baseline. I know that I can do this. I know that on a wet and miserable January morning I can go for a run. Come Wednesday and the first proper weigh-in of the year, I will know that I can get my weight back under control. Self-belief is incredibly important to achieve successful weightloss. I know it is only 3rd January, but I'm a believer once again.

Elvis has left the building

Over the festive period, I found myself watching a documentary on Elvis Presley. Towards the end of his life, he piled on the lbs through overeating, becoming a bloated caricature of the man he once was. I don't need to wear Blue Suede Shoes, or check into Heartbreak Hotel to tell me that in the past couple of months I have overdone things. Unlike the King of Rock 'n' Roll, I will be taken corrective measures to stop my decline, starting today.

The diet is back. I opted for porridge this morning. It has clearly been a while since I've had some as I forgot to empty my Oats So Simple sachet into the bowel before I measured my milk, which led to some confusion. I then managed to spill porridge on my jeans twice. Not a great start to the day but at least the food side of things was in order.

This morning I've not eaten anything else. The burn has been there. It has been a long time since I've felt it and am quite surprised at how quickly my body has told me to fuel up. This probably explains why.

As recently as October I was comfortably under 15st. The scales this morning gave me this reading

Even factoring in Christmas, that is an irresponsible weight gain. I've added approximately a stone and a half in two months. And it shows. I've had to dig larger jeans and t-shirts out of my wardrobe. My belt is barely going round my waist. I'm looking and feeling chunkier. And I hate it. I knew I was getting bigger too, but was in a bit of a tailspin and unable to do anything about it. If I'm not in the correct frame of mind, I am my own worst enemy and have been locked into self-destruct mode. I don't know why a change of calendar year makes a difference but it does for me. A chance to wipe the slate clean and regain control.

I'm having soup for my lunch, but will pass on having any bread or rolls with it. Then a long afternoon beckons waiting to eat this evening. Perhaps doing this on a non-work day was not such a good idea. Time will tell.

A New Year. A New Start. A New URL?

Happy New Year one and all. May I wish you and your family all the very best for 2015 and hope it will be a year that brings both happiness and health.

2015 is kicking off for me in the same vein that every New Year's Day has in the last 7. Feeling slightly hungover and awake far earlier than I would like to be courtesy of a child. That late night session of Prosecco and Jelly Tots SEEMED like a good idea at the time, but sat here on a cold Thursday morning when I smell and taste of both, have two boys vying for their's daddy attention, and a cat suffering from isolation issues, I'm coming to the realisation that heading to bed a bottle earlier and without quite so much junk in my system was probably the wiser choice.

I've not been making too many good decisions of late. Whereas 2013 was my self-proclaimed Year of the Diet, where in a year of family adversity I thrived under pressure, losing 4 stone along the way, 2014 was a year where despite running 2 half marathons, I finished the year reaching for larger clothes. The last three months of the year in particular saw me hit the self-destruct button and undoing a lot my previous good work. It is easy I suppose to sit here on January 1st to make proclamations about reversing my slide, but I do have history on my side in terms of starting a new year with fresh motivation and willpower to make a positive change to my waistline.

Before I get on with the dieting business, I'll enjoy today. Well at least as much as you can enjoy feeling rough and with a Slough Town match this afternoon. But once the date rolls to 2nd January it will be all systems go. I'll jump on the scales tomorrow morning to shame myself but also give me an indication of just what I need to do in the coming months.

My weekly weigh-in day will recommence on Wednesdays, and I'll endeavour to pen more articles for this blog than just the obligatory toes on scales announcements. Follow my progress throughout the year and feel free to leave your comments along the way. If you're also looking shed a few lbs, let's do this together.

Finally a note for your Browsers. YearOfTheDiet.com will go offline in the next few days. Instead you will want to bookmark YearOfTheDiet.co.uk - a slightly cheaper option from my hosting company and one that I hope will be just as easy for my readers to remember.

Out with the old. In with the new. Less of the junk. Time to dispense with the excess weight I've recently acquired.

We both enjoyed Christmas. He didn't expand. I did

Running for Dave

There was a time when I would joke that following Slough Town Football Club was bad for your health. Regrettably events of the past few years means that those words have become scarily accurate. Today for the third time in a short period, The Rebels have had to lay to rest one of their loyal supporters, gone long before they should have done. David Pearcy, affectionately known throughout our community as Dave Programmes (owing to his matchday duties that he carried out in his own unique way) recently lost his battle with cancer at the age of 42. His passing made front page news in the local rags and there have been touching memories of him filling up social media timelines under the hashtag #DaveProgrammes He will be greatly missed by all of us who were fortunate to know him.

I couldn't make it to the funeral today. My youngest had an Ortho appointment at our local hospital during which he received a new pair of supportive boots and had his legs and feet cast to mould made to measure splints to help him as he learns to stand. Little man was dressed in his Slough Town colours this afternoon to show we were thinking of him. While I would have liked to have paid my respects to David in person, life has to go on.

This tweet from @brightonrebel rather sums up how I've felt about things today

Funerals are a kick up the arse. Love your family more, enjoy your friends, stop worrying about things that dont matter & make a difference
— Warren Carter (@brightonrebel) September 18, 2014

These are words that ring true. Earlier in the year I had a minor health scare, discovering a troubling amount of blood in my stool. One nervous weekend later when my mind was racing with thoughts ranging from death in service pension provision to my boys growing up without their dad, I went to see my GP to get checked out. We blokes aren't always the best at responding to health concerns, but I've had people close to me who have caught cancer early by getting themselves to a doctor. One uncomfortable examination later and I was reasonably assured that all was okay, though I've been keeping a close eye when I go to the loo just in case. Better to be safe than sorry, and I'd advise all gents to do the same, no matter how awkward they may feel.

Before taking the little man to hospital, I had a rare couple of hours to myself and used them to fit in a long run. I'm participating in the Royal Park Half Marathon on 12 October, and I laboured through 12km this morning. It is clear that I'm not in as good shape as I was back in March but I'm looking forward to the challenge, and as Warren succinctly wrote above, I'm not going to worry about the time as in the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter.

Where my run can make a difference though is through supporting David's family in their fundraising efforts for The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK. I hadn't planned for my run to be part of any charitable efforts but as a number of people have recently asked me if I was running for a cause, I will be encouraging them to donate to the Just Giving page sent up by the Pearcy family. They have already collected well over £2000, a measure of just how much Dave was loved by those who knew him.

Love your family more. Enjoy your friends. Be thankful for the Dave Pearcy's of this world who make it a much better place.

A New Beginning?

It has been a while but I'm back. I'd like to tell you that since my last blog entry I've been eating well, exercising lots and maintaining a high level of health and personal wellbeing. Inevitably I've not been doing any of the above and so I'm back here today in worse shape than when you last heard from me. 

If I had been in denial about weight gain to this point, there can be no hiding place today. This evening I had my first trouser splitting experience for the best part of two years. Now while it is better to find yourself outgrowing a 36" pair rather than a 42" pair as happened in December 2012 shortly before I started writing Year Of The Diet, it is rather disappointing that I'm doing it at all. I had hoped these days were behind me, but in the six months since I finished the Dorney Lake Half Marathon, standards have slipped.

It hasn't been a rapid decline. I've not expanded at the rate of knots and this evening I weigh in less than I did as a 28 year old on my wedding day. But I have crept up above 15st, while my fitness levels have nosedived. I'm less than 4 weeks away from my second half marathon, and on current form Ray Rice has more chance of winning NFL Man of the Year than I have of recording a sub 2hr time. Time isn't everything, but having managed to get round the course in just over 2 hours on one knee back in March, I had hoped to improve. A bit extra lumbar and significantly less training has rather put paid to that.

Physically I'm not at my peak, but the biggest barrier right now is a mental one. My motivation levels simply aren't where they used to be, and despite attempts to get back into the weightloss/exercise groove, I've not been able to make anything stick. A few good days here have been followed by a few bad days there, while my efforts at resurrecting a running career has spluttered in intermittent patches. 

I would be lying if I were to write with any certainty that this blog represents a turning point, but I very much hope that it does. I'm definitely not daft enough to think that I can reverse 6 months of inactivity in a 4 week period, but what I can do is take small measures of control which will help to arrest the decline and put me in a better place to tackle the Royal Parks Half.

Firstly, I've vowed not to have any alcohol until after the race. I decided this at the start of last week and have gone a week without a beer. It doesn't sound much but 5 weeks without booze will provide a useful detox, which will hopefully allow for me to upscale my physical training. Secondly, I'm taking bread of my menu. If this all sounds a bit deja vu it is probably because I've done this before, and it works. Salads for lunches. Cereals for breakfasts. Toast is the devil and sandwiches their evil cousin. A few weeks without won't hurt me, and may go some way to alleviating further trousers embarrassment.

There is a mere 26 days until I'm supposed to run 13.1 miles. Time for me to end a cycle of negativity and prove to myself what can be achieved with a little self belief.

Wednesday Weigh-In 6 August

Ok, so I'm writing this on a Thursday morning and therefore strictly speaking it is not a Wednesday Weigh-In, but the weight measurement was taken yesterday so same difference.

I've not yet reached the point where I want to suppress my appetite. Almost immediately after publishing last week's entry, I went in search of food and I've lacked the level of discipline I need to shift the extra lbs I'm currently carrying. The scales were pretty kind when all said and done, but if you take 2 five mile runs out of my weekly activity there would almost certainly have been a gain to report. As it is, there has been no movement.

No Score Draw

My foray back into the running world has been going well. After the first couple of runs I had tight thighs and quite a few aches and pains. The last two efforts have not resulted in anything other than sweat and satisfaction. It is becoming easier to run, maintain a decent pace and go for longer. On Friday and Tuesday night I managed just over 5 miles. I'd be lying if I said it was 5 unbroken miles as I did need to slow to walking pace periodically to catch my breath, but things are definitely going in the right direction. If I can manage 5 miles after barely a week back into training, I'm pretty positive that I'll be race ready for my next half marathon in October.

This week marks 6 years of wedded bliss. I'd like to pay tribute to my wife for putting up with me, my mood swings, my desire to get out of bed on a Saturday morning to abandon her and the boys to go running in a park, for supporting me over the years in my weight loss efforts and for loving me regardless of whether I was the 24 stone man who she moved in with or the 14 stone man who runs 13.1 miles for the fun of it. It takes a special sort of person to tolerate me, and I'm so grateful that I came to my senses all those years ago.

Wednesday Weigh-In 30 July

Did you miss me?

It has been a bit of a prolonged absence from the blog. More than 50 days away and probably lots of questions about what has been going on. In that time there has been the World Cup, a trip with the family to Disneyland Paris, the start of an interim promotion at work, a birthday, a wedding, my eldest finishing Reception Year at school and my youngest deciding that partial lower limb paralysis was not going to stop him getting vertical.

Who is a clever boy then?

I've not spent a great deal of time thinking about my weight. Until the last few days I've done very little exercise either, with my 6 week gym membership expiring with little usage. All the while my wife has been very proactively dieting and doing incredibly well. I'm very proud of what she has achieved to date thus far and only wish I had been more supportive in recent weeks.

I wouldn't say that I've been in self-destruct mode, but I've definitely not been at my best on the eating front. I'm carrying a bit more lumbar than a few months back but things could have been a whole lot worse. I briefly touched 15st a couple of weeks ago which I can't say was a tipping point, but has prompted some corrective action. Spending a few days with Mickey Mouse certainly helped as there is a hell of a lot of walking involved going round the park day after day. The prohibitive cost of food meant I was restricted to the picnic prepared every morning, cutting out top up snacks. The walking and hot Parisian sun certainly helped to burn the calories.

This week I've started to turn my attention back towards exercise. I signed up some time ago for the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October and it has dawned on me that it won't be long before that comes around. Barring a handful of sessions on a treadmill in my short lived gym experience, I had not run since my half marathon back in March. Knee and back injuries, apathy and the lazy lure of summertime have put paid to my fitness levels, and when I embarked at the weekend on my first parkrun since February it showed. I recorded my second slowest time over the 5k distance and it was one hell of a struggle.

Slow Slow Slow

Still, it was a starting point to move forwards from. My first meaningful run in months, exhausted from the week away. Probably a bit dehydrated. Lots of excuses I could draw upon, but ultimately down to my inactivity in recent times. With the cobwebs shaken and the body given a rude awakening to the concept of exercise, I felt better for it. Last night I went for another run and it was easier. Still a lot of mileage to cover in the next couple of months to get me race fit.

Tuesday night action

So where do I sit on the weight front. Better than expected to be honest. I'm approaching my 6th wedding anniversary and I'm virtually 1st lighter than the day I got hitched. The 14st target remains aspirational and not altogether out of sight, and with the upcoming surge in training I should be able to shift a few lbs without having to starve myself in the process.

Content

Onwards and upwards then. 73 days to go until I run this  Plenty of work needed to get me to the finish line.

Hour of Power?

A selfie too far?

Hello everyone. Hope you enjoyed the sunshine over the weekend. It was nice to spend a bit of time in the garden with the boys, particularly playing football with my eldest who seems to be really getting into just ahead of the World Cup. Unfortunately while the weather was pretty good, my appetite for the unhealthy showed now sign of abating, despite my lovely wife doing brilliantly with her diet plan. Lots of secret snacking and not being as supportive as I really should be.

So today it was important to get the week off to a good start as a means to move forward, and with only a couple of hours left it is a question of so far so good. Weetabix for breakfast, salad for lunch, avoiding buying anything supplementary when I popped to Tesco to buy some bits and bobs, plus a pasta dinner this evening.

The photo at the top of the page says quite a lot too. Firstly, I am clearly not cut out for being the focus of selfies. Second, I'm in desperate need of a haircut, and finally, I've spent a bit of tonight down the gym. Just over an hour in fact of cardio split between treadmill, cross trainer and reclined bike. Seeing as I've not yet quite got the diet back on track, the way forward in the short term is to build up a sweat.

Gym done. Bathroom scales friendlier after an hour of cardio #winning #fighttheflab
— Graham Kaye-Taylor (@bigfatrebel) June 9, 2014

I certainly did that tonight before being blessed with a refreshing summer shower on the way back to the car. My knee and back are still holding up, and there were far fewer complaints from my body about being put to work than there were on Thursday when everything felt extremely tight. Apparently I have 124 days until the Royal Park Half marathon, and that will come around in no time at all. The focus for the next few weeks is going to be on general fitness, trying to lose the extra lbs I've acquired in the last couple of months. I've another 8 gym sessions to use from my pass which will take me up nicely to my holiday. After that, August and September will be about getting miles in my legs and building up towards race fitness for October.

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