Joomla Software solutions Template

Fun, fat and flabby? (no idea what title to put in here :) )

It’s Winter time here in New Zealand and I’ve been thinking about the past of late and in particular my fitness and where I’m at. I’d say that currently I’m the fittest and healthiest that I’ve been since being a teenager- and that’s quite a statement isn’t it? Aside from the eminent pig disease, things are pretty chipper :) Last year I struggled beyond all belief to keep fit, but this winter it all seems a lot eaiser some how…and why is that? Well, I can attribute the majority of my health & weight loss to my fantastic nutritionist at the MINT clinic here in Christchurch who in turn gave me the insight and knowledge to eat well to provide me with energy to get fit, healthy and happ(ier). Hooorah.

I suppose this is an introduction post to what I hope to write more about in the future- nutrition, diet and fueling my riding/ sport. First things first though, if you want proper advice about your health and weight,please see a specialist…..these posts are based on my own experiences and I’m not a health professional..just some guy on the intertoobs :) Now we have that out of the way, lets get to it.

Bad lifestyle choices

People that know me here in New Zealand don’t really understand how much I’ve battled with weight issues and health over the years and in particular my time in Australia where I really let my shit go :D I had been a keen cyclist for 5 years or so prior to moving to Aussie from the UK, but I just lost the passion for the the bike when culture shock got in the way. Fast forward 6 years or so and I was at my heaviest, unhappiest and un healthiest state of my life. With the big “30? approaching I had to make some choices. So I did.

I could ramble on about a fair amount of stuff that has been part of my past “habits” that include being an ex-smoker, workaholic, sugar addict, junk food fiend, and terrible nutrition which comes hand in hand with being unfit etc… but we all know how we get to be overweight and unfit. Don’t we? Poor diet and lack of exercise is the bottom line, and I made choices about a lifestyle and they were the wrong ones. By the time I had got the “passion” back for my riding it was all a bit to late, and I could not even cycle around the block without chest pains and head spins….I was as the French say…fucked.  I’m sure that alot of you guys (and girls) can totally relate to this lifestyle/ event….and also the times when you just loose the buzz from riding and forget about the bike in the garage… with some terrible results. At 29 years of age I asked myself “DO I want to continue to smoke, eat garbage food and treat my body like crap or do I take back control of a life?”. I always had dreams of scaling mountains in a single leap or saving the world from eminent disaster…..but I had to start off somewhere :)  So I  quit smoking and dusted the trusty stead off  and got back on the saddle. That was about 5 years ago now.

The start

Once I had decided to get fitter, I would exercise and not loose weight and I’d get sick and depressed. I would participate in cycling events to see guys hammering it around the course who would then get up the next day and go to work as usual….and just get on with life. I was so envious, and confused with their ability to do so much sport and still get on with other stuff in their life. It seemed impossible to me. I’d participate in events to be totally flat the next week- totally drained. After battling this cycle for nearly 3 years, I arrived in Christchurch and finally admitted that I needed some help. So I called a nutritionist and I’ve never looked back since that day.

In reflection, my diet was absolutely terrible and It had basically consisted mainly of sugar, saturated fat and simple carbs for lots of years. I was addicted to sugar and that’s how I was getting by and the cravings were worse than the cigarettes….it was un believable. Have you ever known anyone to eat a large block of cheese a week? or a whole tub of cookie-cream icecream in one serve? I have ;) I also had a severe protein deficiency as well Vitamin B and other essential minerals. Like I said, my diet was shit. Being a vegetarian did not help either and contributed to the majority of my lack of protein. Overnight though, it all changed and 12 months later my weight has gone “down” and stayed there, while my energy, vitality and health is off the hook. As for the sugar cravings…..they are GONE. The dietitian changed my life. FACT.

Today

Currently at work I’m seen as the “guy” who cycles, runs and does alot of outdoor sports. The fact is though, that I’ve struggled (and let’s be honest- I always will) to get fit and healthy unlike a large majority of ’sporty people” and it’s a life time venture for me. What I want to share with you all in the next series of posts is how I managed to loose close to 20KG and get fit, and in particular 50% of that in the past 12 months! I’d like to talk a bit about my diet, mindset as well as my motivations and goals. I’m not wanting to get all wanky about it…but I do want to pass on some of my insights so that you might help you, or motivate you to at least look for good nutritionist. I’m also open to your advice and experiences too :)

Anyway, to much waffling and not enough photos. I remember the turning points of my path back to fitness and they are the Otway odyssey in Australia 2007, and 2008 and the 2009 SBS Half Marathon here in Christchurch New Zealand. There have been many others, some good and some terrible, but these events really stand out and are close to my heart because they signify the successes and goals that motivated my arse forwards. I’ve still got a fair way to go in my eyes with regards to my fitness and lots more events to do also….so the hunger ain’t ever going to stop now :D I’m never going to see 90KG on these weighing scales again. EVER :D

If you have any questions post them up! Once again, if you want proper advice about your health and weight,please see a specialist…..these posts are based on my own experiences and I’m not a health professional…just some guy on the intertoobs ;)