Losing and gaining

One more week has elapsed, and this week has been a little tougher than the previous two.

Towards the end of the week I was not feeling like a person that had lost any further weight, so was rethinking my strategy. It was a week without badminton, and fewer steps had been recorded than those of the previous week.

For six mornings I have walked "Blue" our faithful German Shepherd, one day I was unable, due to an old operation causing some discomfort, activity at work was the usual amount of walking. A big difference was also there was no walking to work, this week I needed to use the car.

After returning from walking Blue this morning, it was time to weigh myself, which I do only once a week at the same time and on the same scales, 80kg 

The doubts I had of not losing any weight this week were wrong, this was far better than expected. 80kg  was my target for the end of April, now I have lost 1 kilo each week for the last 3 weeks.

From now forward until April my target will be revised, to lose 1 kilo a month, roughly half a lb a week. This will put my weight around 77kg when we go to Scotland for our holiday.

As I am a novice, and no expert, the following statements re merely my opinion and not medical facts.

The fact that I have only had one can of beer, a packet of "wheat crunchies" and a small bowl of peanuts in the evening means I have consumed very little snack calories in the evenings, remains a significant factor.

The meals we eat have been a good balanced diet of vegetables, pasta, potatoes, fish, one meat dish, eggs, various beans, milk cereal, remain a stable food intake.

• Main meal menu for the week

• Saturday
• Chicken and spinach pasta with salad
• Sunday 
• Roast lamb potatoes & veg
• Monday
• Tuna and Tomato Rice with Salad
• Tuesday
• Vegetarian home made (Sort of)
• Wednesday
• Colcannon Jackets, with smoked cod, egg  & beans
• Thursday
• Fish cakes (Smoked haddock and spring onion) Potato wedges with paprika
• Friday
• Vegetable and Bean bake, home-made, Salad and garlic bread

Lunch at work, one sandwich, a yoghurt, raisins, pre biotic drink, cereal bar and one or two pieces of fruit, and no extras purchased.

One other activity last week was indoor climbing at  Reading Climbing Centre

(Screenshot of part of their web page)

Progress was up on my visit the previous week. I spent an hour mainly in the bouldering area, with one successful "Send" on the Auto Belay Grade 5; This included a climb from base to top using Orange holds, followed by a climb down using any hold.

After a brief rest Grade 5+ was a challenge unconquered only ascending a third of it's height.

Improvement in my climbing is put own to a few things;

1. Improved weight to strength ratio; A little lighter, with same strength
2. Technical awareness; Making better use of foot positioning
3. Mentality; Improvement on approach, positive attitude and most importantly fun

Wisdom and warning

So as I have shared my progress my goals and ambitions, I am keen to keep this progress steady and achievable without taking risks, cutting corners or meals, which is hoped to be sustainable.

Though I am seeking more from my climbing as a hobby, I know that there is much to learn but already I am more self-aware, but the spin-off I wasn't expecting has been the positive "can -do" approach at work.

Over the next few days I will be working out some training exercise and  routines, not for body building, but toning. These will be needed in order to progress safely with climbing, as well as strengthening pull muscles, giving attention to antagonistic muscles equally.

Feel I may be a way off a six pack, both from my abdominal muscles and the Supermarket shelf's, sat nicely between the two at the moment!!!