I decided enough was enough after a wedding in Liverpool 2 and a half weeks ago.
Met up with an ex army mate who now works as a personal trainer and realised that I've actually become a fat twat. All beer belly even though I hardly drink anymore. But its always been like that for me. Even when I was fit as fuck I was never an Adonis sort of figure. I was doing hilly half marathons in 1:30 ish at the time, playing footy, 5's, squash, normal army pt and I still didnt look like a fitty.
Since I left the army I sort of kept fit for a few years and then just let it go. Now, work is shit, drive in, sit on my arse all day, and drive home again. Cause works shit I tend to find myself going the tea machine all day, and probably having about 2/3 Snickers a day.
After the wedding, things have changed a little. But at 48 next month I'm not sure I have the metabolism anymore to actually lose that much weight. Oh, I stopped smoking over 3 months ago as well, and Ive found that its been easy considering I've been on 10-20 a day for nearly 30 years. No arsing about, just stopped them like that. Decided one morning and finished at lunchtime.
At the moment I'm back in the gym 3 times a week and enjoying it. Doing 3 miles (one at 6mph, one at 7mph and one at 8mph) and I'm going to up that next week to 4 and 5 miles. Then 15 mins on a fatbuster routine on the steppy thing. I'm not doing any weights which I really need to get into I suppose. But with only an hour and a half or so 3 times a week then its hard to fit that in as well as the cardio stuff.
Foodwise things have changed, and I'm doing probably less than 1200 cals a day now. Eating much better which considering I dont like any (much) veg really is going pretty well.
The only real prob I have is that I dont use all 1200 cals. I just really dont want it. I know about the starvation mode etc, but now I've got on this less calories malarky I just dont seem to be hungry enough to warrant eating more than what I'm having. Even after a workout, in which I'm burning 600ish cals I dont make this back up. probably on average I'll be taking 200 cals less than recommended on a normal night, and 5-600 if Ive been the gym. Drinking loads of water though.
I've lost 10-11 pounds in the last 2 1/2 weeks and feel much much better for it all round. My stomach doesnt seem to be going down much, although my Mrs says it is, but I'm certainly feeling a lot better.
I'm quite convinced that I'll adopt this new lifestyle and hopefully it'll mean a better fitter me. I'm enjoying the discipline of having to go the gym, and staying away from all the shite I used to eat so far has been easy. I know its only 2 1/2 weeks but it just feels normal now to be making stuff for work as opposed to going down the van at dinnertime.
I'm gonna give next week a go and decide whether or not to do the Glasgow half marathon on 4 Sept.
All I can say (and I'm only 2 weeks in so still a bit sproggy) is that if you are thinking about it, then as the adverts says - Just Do It. In the end, what harm is it going to do you?