Big_Show in #OperationWeddingSuit

[Big_Show]

There’ll be pictures right?

Right back at ya

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[Big_Show]

Today sees the start of my next six week weight-loss effort.  After two weekends of trips away, lots of booze, and some very nice food, I weighed myself to find I had put a whole 0.2kg back on - apparently the eating & drinking habits I've been forming during the week have had enough of an effect to cancel out most of the damage I've been doing.  But now it's time to push one!

 

I figure I can lose at least 7lbs over the next 6 weeks if I carry on with what I was doing before, and possible even more - that would make me a lot more comfortable while sat shirtless at a pool.

 

So tonight after work I went for a run - target was to run non-stop for 24mins, so I extended my loop from Monday a little bit further and managed 2.7M in 24:44 @ 8:53/mile pace.  I won't pretend it didn't feel like hard work towards the end, but I successfully completed it and that means my next run will have a target of doing an actual 5k for the first time... not sure really, but probably August last year?  I'm not really counting the Spartan Beast as I don't think we ran anywhere near that far in any given stretch.  Just lots of walking really.

 

Very pleased with this.  My goal is to get back to running club by April, even if it's just jogging round in the slow group.

 

My turn to make dinner tonight.  It was an easy meal I've made us before - smoked haddock baked in foil, with new potatoes, carrots, and some roasted brussel sprouts.  Healthy and filling!

 

Tomorrow is a day off training due to Valentine's Day, but we're not going out this year - getting a Dine In meal package from M&S instead to save money.  Going out for a big fancy meal next month for our anniversary instead, plus we're already going out for food over the weekend with each set of parents, and we're supposed to be saving money...

 

On that note, I finished getting my finances all back on track through YNAB this week.  Definitely makes it easier to focus on saving the pennies!

[Big_Show]

Hmm, I'm getting a bit slack at updating this again.

 

Saturday - got up and (after lying on the sofa drinking coffee for a few hours) went out on my 5k attempt!  It actually felt really good, and I was slightly faster than I expected - 5k in 26:38 @ 8:25/mile average!  It helped that it was quite a nice morning, and probably all the caffeine had an effect to.  Very pleased with myself for sticking with the Couch to 5k programme and not trying to overdo it and get myself injured yet again.

 

Spent the next few hours meal prepping (scotch eggs for breakfasts and beef stew for lunches - pretty standard fare at the moment) then we got the train over to see my parents and go out for dinner.  Gourmet burger place - rather nice food indeed!

 

Sunday morning I set the alarm for early and headed to the gym for a Back & Biceps session.  Had the entire weights section to myself while doing my Deadlifts (still just over BW now, but this time I managed a few more reps) - very nice to get all that space compared to what I usually have to work around in the evenings!

 

Then we caught the train over to see the Welshman's parents - a proper Sunday lunch was on the cards, hence me wanting to get a good workout in first!

 

Today I was very definite about getting my head back in the game.  40 days until we go on holiday, and in that 6-ish weeks I can lose at least half a stone, preferably more.  So my eating was on point all day, and then after work I headed out for another 5k!

 

It was definitely harder work than on Saturday.  I'm putting this down to a combination of 1) being at work all day beforehand instead of lounging around on the sofa, and 2) yesterday's deadlifts.  Still completed the whole route through with the only stops being at traffic lights (don't like bouncing off oncoming traffic) - 5k in 28:21 @ 8:52/mile.

 

Slightly disappointed with the time, but I have to be realistic - 5k is a long way for me at the moment.  I amy have been able to go a lot further and faster in the past, but right here and right now I am wildly detrained from that.  So my realistic running goal is simply to do the same 5k route three times this week - no more, no less.  And probably not even think about going over that distance until at least next month.

 

Right, need to go find some other threads now - missed a lot of the new challenge forum in my sporadic updates!

[Big_Show]

Also, there is one of these in the office today. And they taste absolutely bloody lovely.



I won't be having any. But it's much easier to resist things when they're not actually there... [emoji28]

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[Big_Show]

I did not eat any.  Really wanted to though you know that's what I initally typed but then I realised it's not actually true.  When I first started refusing all the various office treats at the beginning of the year it was a struggle, but now whenever I see them they don't seem to appeal as much any more - I'd prefer to hit my weight loss goal than eat one.  The same seems to be happening with the idea of midweek drinking - for the most part I'm not doing it any more, or only having one and nursing it all evening.   Valentine's Day excepted.

 

Anyway, today was a gym day.  By mid-afternoon I felt kinda knackered and was looking for excuses to sack it off, but instead I downed a train coffee and convinced myself just to simply walk through the front door of the gym instead of walking past.  From there I was able to get changed and do the full Chest, Shoulders & Triceps workout that I had planned.  Not done it in a whole three weeks for various reasons so I definitely felt the loss of gainz, but this just means there's some easy gainz to re-gainzify over the next couple of weeks!  I'm pleased I went.

 

Now I'm just lazing on the sofa - we're still working our way through The Walking Dead (just watched the first episode of Season 5) and it's not my turn to cook, so I've got a nice easy evening ahead of me.  Back to running again tomorrow!

[Big_Show]

Weighed in this morning - 1/2lb down despite multiple days of excess.

This week is a much more normal one though, so I'm planning on smashing it. If I can drop enough I could potentially hit the halfway mark towards my initial target, so that's quite a bit of motivation right there!

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[Big_Show]

Wednesday has been a good day.

 

Had an awful night's sleep last night - woke up loads, including for at least half an hour at one point.  Apparently zombie tv shows may not be entirely conducive to peaceful sleep?  Nevertheless, we shall be watching more tonight.

 

Very happy with today's weigh-in.  If I can achieve that on a week with multiple meals out and beaucoup de booze, I'm excited to see what I can achieve again on a regular, sensible week.

 

Today's workout was the smae 5k route after work - there were a few moments (admittedly brief) where I felt like I was properly flowing again as I ran.  They were few and far between and did not last long, but it was a tantalising glimpse of why I love running so much and have missed it,  Overall 5k in 27:52 @ 8:54/mile average.

 

Got my first Leg Day in a good few weeks tomorrow.  This is likely going to hurt...

[Big_Show]

Let's see, where was I.

 

Leg Day got postponed to Friday, but amazingly I then still actually went to the gym on the way home from work!

 

The session's a bit short at the moment though - a dodgy knee means no squats, and my dodgy achilles means I can't do the seated leg curl as it hurts like hell.  Trying to think of an alternative for it.  Any suggestions?

 

No training over the weekend. Saturday was a trip down to London on the train for one of the Welshman's Christmas presents - I got us tickets to go see Harlequins vs. Bristol Bears at Twickenham Stoop and it was a very fun day out!  And as a result, Sunday I was bit too hungover to train...

 

This week I am on my own for a few days while he visits family (I couldn't get time off work to go to Wales) so I'm mainly trying to eat really good food, go to the gym, and chip away at a few random jobs.  And also finish watching S1 od Discovery so I can catch up with the ongoing S2.

 

Also going to try to update this thing a bit more often so I remember more of what I wanted to talk about at the time!

[Big_Show]

Two updates in two days! Who would have thought it!

 

Looooooong day at work today.  Short-staffed, coworkers getting needlessly worked up about miniscule dramas seeing as there are no managers in the office - not the kind of atmosphere I enjoy being in.  So on the way home I got a coffee on the train and headed for my gym session.

 

Worked hard at my Leg Day session - in the end I decided to add some Kettlebell swings at the end to beef it up again.  Just started with three sets of twenty with a not-very-heavy weight and I'm definitely feeling it now!  Paging @Sloth the Enduring and any other Kettlebell afficionados for any insider tips & tricks, please!

 

Still on my own this evening so I'm watching more of S1 Discovery (should reach the finale tomorrow night) as well as more housework and chores.  I seem to be defaulting into the patterns I was in at the sandpit, only this time I have some better routines I've built since moving back.  Interesting to see certain habit routines are still there even though they haven't really been used much for the last two years.

 

Dinner is an experiment tonight - found some Nandos spice sachets in the supermarket, so I'm having a go at baking some chicken in them.  No way I could try this with the Welshman here as most things like this are above his heat tolerance!

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Sloth gave this to me and it has been great.

https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/the-20-minute-beginner-kettlebell-workout-build-muscle-and-burn-fat/

[Sloth the Enduring]

Sloth gave this to me and it has been great.

https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/the-20-minute-beginner-kettlebell-workout-build-muscle-and-burn-fat/

 

 

That’s a great all-in-one workout if that’s what you’re looking for.

 

If you’re looking for a finisher to torch some fat I’d suggest:

 

10 swings EMOM, this is also a great way to build your aerobic conditioning which will make your whole life better.

 

10 swings + 10 push ups, 10 swings + 9 pushups ... 10 swings + 1 push up. This one’s a killer. I do it on road trips as a quick & easy workout.

 

10 swings alternated by 10 sledgehammer tire smashes. I stole this from[mention=30614]Shello[/mention] . It hits the whole body.

 

Battle ropes for 30s on / 30s off for time is also a great finisher. I wish I had my own rope.

[mention=9708]Wolfpool[/mention] has done Pat Flynn’s KB complexes. He might have a favorite.

@Elastigirl is the one to ask for form tips and cues. The only cue I rely on is to treat it like you’re jumping up.

 

I’m excited to see more kettle ballers around here.

[Big_Show]

Cheers for the tips guys, I'll give those links a proper read tonight!

Weigh-in day: another 1lb down this week. Still on target, but I know I could be doing better at the weekends so I'm going to be VERY aware of my eating this week. See if I can build myself a bit of a buffer zone again.

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[Big_Show]

On 2/27/2019 at 12:17 AM, Sloth the Enduring said:

If you’re looking for a finisher to torch some fat I’d suggest:

 

10 swings EMOM, this is also a great way to build your aerobic conditioning which will make your whole life better.

 

 

Possibly a stupid question, but how many minutes would you do this for?

[Sloth the Enduring]

 
Possibly a stupid question, but how many minutes would you do this for?

Oops. I missed that part. Most trainers suggest 10 minutes. That may be because it’s a nice, round number, but it also feels like the point with the most bang for the buck.

[Big_Show]

Ok, so I've been consistently inconsistent over the last fortnight.  Including at updating this battle log.

 

Sometimes I went to the gym four days in a row, other times I did nothing for several days in a row.  Food and drink have been all over the place too, so it's time to just take a deep breath and get back on track from here on out again.

 

Today I went for my first run in three weeks after my damn plantar fasciitis flared up again.  I simply headed up to a trail that joins up with a local park and then back again - 2.4miles in 23:56 @ 9:55/mile pace.  Not exactly a blistering pace, but it was over muddy ground rather than flat pavement.  But it was a run nevertheless, and I have to remember that for me 2.4miles is still quite a long way as I've been injured and inconsistent for such a long time.

 

In just over two weeks we're heading off to Gran Canaria for a week in the sun, so I'm going to do my best to be as good consistent as possible until then.  I'll be on a beach and by a pool shirtless, so I need to be comfortable and make my peace with the state my body is currently in.  Hopefully we'll have another break later on in the year and I'll be much fitter by then.

 

For now, time to follow the plan properly again!

[Big_Show]

Ok, time for another quick catchup.

 

Saturday was Leg Day, then we spent the afternoon in the pub watching the rugby.  The Welshman was predictably happier with the outcome of the day than I was.

 

Sunday morning was Back & Biceps, which also included a deadlift PB for me - 120kg for 3x5!  Pleased with my gradual progress at this now I'm lifting vaguely consistently.

 

Today I went for a short run after work.  Still nothing far or fast - 2.3M in 20:54 @ 8:50/mile pace.  Probably still can't go much further or fast than this without risking injury again, so that's all I'm doing.  Still enjoying being able to do anything at all to be honest!

 

Starting to shop around for new programmes.  While I want to trim down my gut, I also kinda want to have a go at putting on a bit of muscle size in my upper body.  Not entirely sure what these programmes would actually look like in practice though, hence reading around at what they would entail and whether I could fit it into my schedule consistently enough.

[Big_Show]

Tuesday was a day off training because of Real Life Things that needing taking care of, but today it was back to the gym again after work for Legs.

 

It was a good session - made progress on my leg press and my lunges (getting better at them even though I hate them), and I was even finally able to add Leg Curls back in without the pad immediately triggering horrible crippling Achilles pain.  Which is nice.

 

Finished it off with [mention=3909]Sloth the Enduring[/mention]'s EMOM 10 kettlebell swings with a 16kg KB.  Definitely breathing (and sweating) heavily by the end, although I managed it ok.  Not sure if this means I have to up the weight or the reps next time, or if just the fact that I'm doing it at the end of a workout and it's not easy means it's already at the right level?

 

On my own this evening as the Welshman's away overnight at a coference, so I've done a couple of jobs then settled in to start S2 of Discovery.  We finally got a new oven installed yesterday so I was able to get back to cooking the mahoosive bacon omelettes I love so much:

 

 

...and as it was a very looooooong day at work with all the hallmarks of tomorrow also being a very looooooong day as well, I am finishing off my day with a nice large rhubarb & ginger gin.

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

3 hours ago, Big_Show said:

 

You are an attractive person.

[Sloth the Enduring]

You look good brother.

I’ll parrot the RKC, stay on this bell until you feel like you own the weight. Maybe a bit longer.

When you move up don’t be afraid to make a big jump (they used to say +8kg was best, now they’re ok with +4kg, which doesn’t sound like much, but it’s +25%). Mix in the new bell slowly - maybe add one or two sets at the new weight per week.

Strongfirst also says to own the weight before you move up. Their S&S standard is 10X10 swings in under 5 minutes before you make the jump.

[Big_Show]

Awww you guys...

I’ll parrot the RKC, stay on this bell until you feel like you own the weight. Maybe a bit longer.

Cheers mate, I'll keep doing it more often until it feels like a mere formality [emoji106]

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[Big_Show]

Thursday!

 

Work was an arsehole.  I was sorely tempted to just head straight to the pub, but when I got on the train I bought myself a coffee instead of a beer, and headed to the gym instead.

 

Chest, Shoulders & Triceps today - this workout basically includes all of my least favourite lifts, and they all feel pretty weak too.  But despite this I actually enjoyed it for a change!  Don't know what sparked the difference, but I'm actually looking forward to the next one now!  That's not something I expected at all.

 

Enjoyed it so much that I even packed my gym bag for tomorrow in case I feel like hitting it again on the way home from work - Friday workouts tend to be garbage for me because I'm so tired/braindead, but it really helped today so I'm at least giving myself the option.

 

Dinner tonight will be some bacon & egg cups with mixed veg when the Welshman gets back, but for now I have poured myself a nice big rum with a nice big ice cube.  It's that kind of Thursday...

 

 

 

[Endor]

16 hours ago, Big_Show said:

Work was an arsehole.  I was sorely tempted to just head straight to the pub, but when I got on the train I bought myself a coffee instead of a beer, and headed to the gym instead.

I want to be you! Well done big fella, you've got momentum! 

 

Also I miss M&S food....badly!

[Big_Show]

The joys of having an empty gym to yourself on a Sunday morning [emoji2]



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[Big_Show]

It was a busy few days over the weekend!

 

Despite the odds (i.e. the availability of a train beer and a vague sense of exhaustion) I had my pre-gym coffee and made it there for Back & Biceps on Friday after work.  Wasn't expecting a particularly good showing, but then I hit my deadlift PB at first attempt (3x5 at 122.5kg) and the rest of the lifts all made progress too!  After that we went to the pub for dinner, and then headed to bed quite early as we were both falling asleep into our pints...

 

Saturday morning I (eventuall) dragged myself out for a run.  I really couldn't be arsed, and my left achilles was feeling tight again, but I persuaded myself to do a proper warmup and then just run along to the other end of the Waterfront and back.  By the time I got there I was feeling better about it and continued along the the full 5k loop instead of cutting it short, so I was very pleased with myself about that!

 

Sunday morning I got to the gym again for a Chest, Shoulders & Triceps session.  Once again, wasn't expecting much success due to the beers the day before, but I hit my DB chest press target and my OHP target too, so that's a big success for me as these are consistently my worst & least favourite lifts!  Then it was off out for an early Mother's Day meal with NIck's Mum as we're away next week:

 

 

 

 

Today has been a total day off training as I hit it really hard last week and just need some time off for admin & recovery.  Another rest day tomorrow too (I need a trim before holiday), then I can hit the gym twice more before we go away.

 

 

[Sloth the Enduring]

You had me at train beer, but the brunch looked good too.